SUNY Geneseo General Education Requirements
For students entering in Fall 2022 and later:
General education is an important component of A Geneseo Education for A Connected World. It consists of 7-10 courses to be completed in the first two years of study.
1. Communication and Scientific Literacy (3-5 courses)
- Basic Communication: WRTG 105 or HONR 101
- Language other than English through the 2nd elementary level: 0-2* classes in a single language
- Quantitative, Computational, Symbolic Reasoning: 1 course
- Natural Science: 1 course with lecture and lab components
2. Participation in a Global Society** (4-5 courses)
In fulfilling the following five areas, students must take one course each in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.
- Diversity, Pluralism, and Power (DPP): 1 course
- World Cultures and Values (WCV): 1 course
- Contemporary Global Challenges (CGC): 1 course
- Creativity and Innovation (CAI): 1 course
- Sustainability (SST): 1 course
*Students who have credit for two college semesters of a language or four high school years have no language requirement at Geneseo. Students with less language study take a placement exam, and any student may study a new language.
**Notes on Participation in a Global Society:
- Coursework outside the arts, humanities, and social sciences may be used to satisfy these areas.
- Double-dipping is permitted once in the five "Participation in a Global Society" areas; that is, one course may be taken to satisfy two of the "Participation in a Global Society" areas.
- No more than one course from a student's primary major may be used to satisfy "Participation in a Global Society" area requirements.
- Courses used to satisfy the "Communication and Scientific Literacy" requirements cannot double dip for "Participation in a Global Society."
- Coursework must be in at least four different prefixes.
| SUNY GE Category | Credits | Geneseo Requirement | Courses | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
and | Scientific | Literacy (3-5 courses) | ||
| Communication - written and oral (required) | 3-4 | Basic Communication | WRTG 105 or HONR 101 | ||
| World Languages | 0-8 | Communication: Language other than English through second elementary level | 0-2 courses in a single language, with World Language attribute | ||
| Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning) (required) | 3-4 | Quantitative, Computational, Symbolic Reasoning | 1 course with Quantitative Reasoning attribute | ||
| Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) (required) | 3-4 | Natural Science | 1 course with Natural Science Lecture and Lab attributes | ||
| 2. Participation | in a | Global Society | (5 total areas, minimum 4 courses) | ||
| Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (required) | 3-4 | Participation in a Global Society: Diversity, Pluralism, and Power |
|
||
| Humanities | 3-4 | Participation in a Global Society: (any area) | 1 course with Humanities attribute | ||
| Social Sciences | 3 | Participation in a Global Society: (any area) | 1 course with Social Science attribute | ||
| The Arts | 3-4 | Participation in a Global Society: (any area) | 1 course with Arts attribute | ||
| World History and Global Awareness | 3-4 | Participation in a Global Society: World Cultures and Values | 1 course with WCV attribute |
All students must complete 30 hours in SUNY-aligned general education courses. Total credits = 30-39.
For students entering between fall 2014 and summer 2022:**
| SUNY GER Category | Credits | Former Name of Geneseo Category |
Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Mathematics (R/) | 3-4 | Quantitative Reasoning | Choose one course from R/ list |
| 10. Basic Communication |
3 | Writing Seminar |
INTD 105: Writing Seminar: (subtitle) |
| 2. Natural Sciences (NLEC/ and NLAB/) | 8-10 | Natural Sciences | Choose two lec/lab courses in two different prefixes, from N/ list. For students graduating after summer 2022, this requirement is reduced to one lec/lab course. |
| 3. Social Sciences (S/) | 6 | Social Sciences | Choose two courses in two different prefixes, from S/ list. For students graduating after summer 2022, this requirement is reduced to one course. |
| 4. American History (U/) | 0-3 | U.S. History | Choose one course from U/ list |
| 5. Western Civilization (W/) | 4 | Humanities | Choose one course from W/H/HUMN 220 or W/H/HUMN 221 or W/H/HUMN 222 |
| 6. Other World Civilizations (M/) | 0-3 | Multicultural | Choose one course from M/ list |
| 7. Humanities (H/) | 0-4 | Humanities | Choose one course from W/H/HUMN 220 or W/H/HUMN 221 or W/H/HUMN 222 |
| 8. The Arts (F/) | 6 | Fine Arts | Choose two courses in two different prefixes from F/ list. For students graduating after summer 2022, this requirement is reduced to one course. |
| 9. Foreign Language (L/) | 0-8 | Foreign Language | Choose language courses through 102 from L/ list |
| Total credits (Must be at least 30 per SUNY Policy) | 30-52 |
Students who started in Geneseo before Fall 2014 are required to complete the General Education requirements as stated in the Undergraduate Bulletin of their Catalog Year.
Comparison of the SUNY-GER* and Geneseo Gen Ed (with local requirements).
*SUNY's GER requirements apply to students earning degrees through summer 2023, after which a revised general education will apply.
| SUNY-GER (7-10-30) | Geneseo General Education Curriculum |
|---|---|
| 10 general education areas -- 7 out of 10 required. | 10 general education areas -- all 10 areas required. |
| Mathematics required. |
Mathematics required. Transfer courses that fulfill this category completed at the sending institution accepted. |
| Basic Communication required. AP credits accepted. |
Basic Communication required -- writing course INTD 105. Transfer courses that fulfill this category completed at the sending institution accepted. AP not accepted (even if accepted at sending institution). |
| Choice of 5 out of the 8 remaining Only one course per category needed to fulfill each category. Double-dipping allowed (e.g., S/U) More than two courses per category permitted to bring total number of credits to 30. |
All 8 remaining areas are required. Two courses with different prefixes from N/, S/, and F/ areas. S/ area courses have additional writing component. F/ area courses at Geneseo are limited to Fine and Performing Arts. Double-dipping allowed (S/U, S/M, F/M) Lab required for N/ requirement. Lecture-only transfer courses do not fulfill the N/ requirement. Western Civilization: HUMN 220 OR HUMN 221 OR HUMN 222 (Transfer courses that fulfill these areas at sending institutions not allowed.) Humanities: HUMN 200 OR HUMN 221 OR HUMN 222 (Transfer courses that fulfill these areas at sending institutions not allowed.) Foreign Language: Intermediate level (201) required. ASL is not accepted except for Education majors. |
| Total: 30 credits required |
Total: 30-52 credits, depending on HS foreign language, 3 or 4 credit courses, 2-credit labs, double-dipping S/U and S/M, etc. |