The associate degree General Education program consists of 21 credits that are distributed among two General Education components:
- Foundations courses in writing, speaking, and quantification (6 credits)
- Knowledge Domains in the Arts, Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 credits).
A summary of the applicable attributes to determine if a course satisfies a requirement is available on the University Course Description page. The keystone symbol appears by the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements that may also satisfy General Education requirements vary for each program and are detailed on each degree requirements page.
A restriction (commonly referred to as the General Education Firewall) is placed on students in majors that are closely linked to the Knowledge Domains areas of Natural Sciences, Arts, Humanities, and Social and Behavioral Sciences, in order to ensure that they participate in the full breadth of General Education. These students may not use a course in their academic major to satisfy one of the Knowledge Domains area requirements. For example, an ECON major may not use an ECON course to fulfill their social and behavioral sciences requirement.
The General Education requirements for students who enrolled at Penn State prior to Summer 2021 can be found in the Archive.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ASSOCIATE DEGREE GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Associate Degree Requirements
Foundations
Total 6 credits
Associate Degree Requirements General Education| Writing/Speaking (GWS) * | 3 |
| Quantification (GQ) * | 3 |
Requires a grade of C or better
Knowledge Domains
Total 15 credits
Associate Degree Requirements General Education| Natural Sciences (GN) | 3 |
| Arts (GA) | 3 |
| Humanities (GH) | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS) | 3 |
| Any additional General Education course | 3 |
Note: Up to six credits of Inter-domain courses may be used for any Knowledge Domain requirement, but when a course is used to satisfy more than one requirement, the credits from the course can be counted only once.
Flexibility of the Associate Degree Requirements
The General Education program extends the concept of flexibility to all aspects of the degree program. Penn State wants students to use General Education as an opportunity to experiment and explore, to take academic risks, to discover things they did not know before, and to learn to do things they have not done before.
To these ends, students may, with the permission of their adviser and dean's representative, substitute a 200- to 499-level course for an Arts, Humanities, Natural Sciences, or Social and Behavioral Sciences course found on the General Education list. For example, a student may take a 400-level course in history and use it to meet the General Education requirement satisfied by a comparable lower level history course.
Additional University Requirements
These requirements may be completed by designated courses that also complete other degree or General Education requirements.
Total 6 credits
Associate Degree Requirements General Education| United States Cultures (US) or International Cultures (IL) or combined designation (US;IL) ‡ | 3 |
| Writing Across the Curriculum | 3 |
Students may, with the permission of their adviser and dean's representative, meet the United States Cultures (US) and International Cultures (IL) requirement through completion of an experiential learning program or practicum (one-semester or year long) approved by their college dean's Office. Approved Penn State Education Abroad Programs may be used to satisfy the International Cultures (IL) requirement.
Earn your General Studies Degree at SUNY Empire State College
Our Associate in Arts or Associate in Science in General Studies is a 64-credit program that is a great option for students who have completed some college credits but have not yet earned a degree, as well as for students who are just beginning their college careers. This degree is also a good choice for students who want to develop strong foundational learning on their way to a bachelor's degree.
Of the 64 credits required to complete the program, up to 52 credits of advanced standing credit will be accepted, an exception to the college's regular residency requirement of 24 credits for an associate degree, with the remaining 12 credits to be completed in residence at SUNY Empire State College. Within the 64 required credits, students must complete at least 30 credits across seven of ten SUNY General Education areas, including at least three credits each in Mathematics and Basic Communication. Four credits of Educational Planning are also required. The program must fulfill breadth, meaning that it covers diverse knowledge areas, and depth by which students may take multiple courses in one or more subject areas.
Students work with a mentor to individually design a degree plan that maximizes previously earned credits while completing college learning objectives. In order to graduate, students must have a degree plan concurred by the Office of Academic Review. Each degree plan must contain at least 32 credits designated as liberal studies. Students with between 32 and 48 liberal arts credits will earn an Associate in Science degree (A.S.), while those who earn more than 48 credits in liberal studies will earn an Associate in Arts degrees (A.A.). These credits may then become part of bachelor’s degree or certificate program for students who choose to continue beyond the associate degree.
Admission
The admissions requirements for the A.A. or A.S. in General Studies will be the same as current undergraduate admissions requirements. The program is an an exception to the college's regular residency requirement of 24 credits for an associate degree, with students needing to complete a minimum of 12 credits at SUNY Empire.
A.A./A.S. in General Studies Program Requirements
This program allows for a maximum of 52 advanced standing credits with a minimum of 12 credits earned at SUNY Empire State College for a total of 64 credits.
Of these 64 credits, 30 must meet SUNY General Education requirements in a minimum of seven out of ten areas.
Students with a minimum of 48 Liberal Arts and Sciences courses will be awarded an Associate in Arts, while students with fewer than 48 but with a minimum of 32 Liberal Arts and Sciences courses will earn an Associate in Sciences degree.
Course List
Maximum Advanced Standing | 52 |
Minimum Residency Requirements: | |
Required Course #1: Educational Planning | 4 |
Required Course #2: Elective | 4 |
Required Course #3: Elective | 4 |
Total Credits | 64 |
Program Outcomes
The interdisciplinary and general studies approach of the program makes it possible for students to broadly explore their academic interests without having to define a disciplinary focus, while laying a foundation for the next step in their educational path. Further, the educational objectives include:
- Demonstration of breadth and progression in college level learning, including SUNY Empire's college learning goals.
- Meeting SUNY general education requirements in at least seven content areas, including Math and General Education.
- Completion of Educational Planning.
- Consideration of college-level learning prior learning assessment options.
Tips for Mentors and Students
Students at SUNY Empire State College write a rationale essay as part of the Educational Planning process. Students in the General Studies program may instead use this worksheet Associate Degree in General Studies Worksheet
Contact Us
Administrative Assistant for the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Liza Rieger
914-948-6206 ext. 3589
Coordinator for Interdisciplinary/Multidisciplinary Studies
Cindy Conaway, PhD