Individual Studies, A.S.

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Associate in Science Degree Program

This program may be completed online or on campus.

Hegis Code: 5699
NYSED Code: 80327

Program Description

Students who complete this program earn an Associate in Science degree. Individual Studies is a multi‐purpose liberal arts and sciences program that enables students to plan a sequence of courses according to their individual needs and interests. The program is appropriate for students who want to combine career, professional, or technical courses with liberal arts courses; who want to concentrate in a particular area of the liberal arts; who are uncertain about their academic or career goals; or who want to expand a one‐year certificate or diploma program into an associate’s degree program.

In addition to the classroom‐based program, the College offers a complete Individual Studies program online through the SUNY Learning Network. Known as OASIS (Online Associate in Science Degree in Individual Studies), the program provides the opportunity for students to pursue this degree from remote locations and within flexible schedules.

Program Outcomes

At the completion of the AS Individual Studies Degree program, a student will be able to

Produce college‐level papers/essays and oral presentations, demonstrate the ability to research a topic and develop cogent, well-supported arguments;
Apply quantitative reasoning skills, and analyze data. Apply algebra, arithmetic, and geometry to problem solving;
Understand hypothesis development, evaluation of evidence, data collection, and experimentation and apply scientific data, concepts, and models in one of the natural sciences;
Analyze and develop arguments in their own or others work and use basic research techniques to locate, evaluate, and synthesize information from a variety of sources;
Demonstrate knowledge of the conventions and methods of at least four of the humanities or social science areas of the SUNY General Education requirements;
In addition all graduates will use the 24‐30 credits of open electives in the Individual Studies component to customize a specialized career or transfer track or to sample various disciplines in order to discover the career or transfer program best suited to their interests and abilities.

Employment Potential

An Associate’s Degree in Individual Studies provides a wide range of employment potential. Depending on the focus of the major, graduates are eligible for a number of entry‐level positions. Transfer options make career choices even broader.

Requirements for Program Entry

High school diploma or equivalent
Satisfactory placement in Entering Student Assessment

Developmental Assistance Available

For students who do not meet basic reading and math requirements or who have other learning issues, extra assistance is readily available through SUNY Ulster’s Learning Center, The Gary and Janaki Math Center, the Writing Center, the Peer and Friend Tutor Program, and English as a Second Language (ESL) tutors.

For More Information

For more information contact Admissions 1‐800‐724‐0833 ext. 5018 or 5022

Curriculum

The Individual Studies Program has two components: the Liberal Arts Distribution and the Individual Studies Distribution.

Liberal Arts Distribution

ENG 101 - College English I 3 cr.
ENG 102 - College English II 3 cr.
COM 103 - Oral Communication 3 cr. or
COM 105 - Public Speaking 3 cr.
LIB 111 - Information Literacy 1 cr.
MAT 105 - College Algebra 3 cr. or higher‐level math course 3‐4 cr.
Elective - Natural Science Elective 3‐4 cr.
General Education - Electives: Chosen from these categories: American History, Western Civilization, Other World Civilizations, Foreign Language, the Arts, Humanities, Mathematics, Natural Science or Social Sciences

All courses must be selected from the SUNY General Education Course List.

No more than two courses per category may count as General Education Courses.

(However, in the case of one or two credit courses such as courses in applied music, the limit is a total of six credits.)

Elective - General Education Elective 3 cr.
Elective - General Education Elective 3 cr.
Elective - General Education Elective 3 cr.
Elective - General Education Elective 3 cr.
Elective - General Education Elective or Liberal Arts 3‐4 cr.
Elective - General Education Elective or Liberal Arts 3‐4 cr.
Electives- Individual Studies Electives 3 cr.**

The minimum number of credits required for graduation 60‐64

* ENG 101 is a pre/corequisite for all history and 200‐level sociology courses.
** Students who have already fulfilled the SUNY Communications General Education Requirement at another institution have already met this requirement.
***Students will select 24‐30 credits of electives to customize a specialized career for transfer or to sample various disciplines in order to discover the career or transfer program best suited to their interests and abilities.
****200‐Level Credit Policy: The policy requires students graduating in the Individual Studies program complete a minimum of 12 credits in 200‐level course work as a graduation requirement.

Note:

Through advisement, students will also fulfill General Education Requirements .

All first time college students matriculated in a degree program, including Early College students, former Collegian students now attending the College and students with no prior college experience, are required to take the one-credit FYE 101 course.