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.
  •  
How A Geneseo Education for a Connected World fulfills SUNY General Education:
SUNY GE Category Credits Geneseo Requirement Courses
  1. Communication 
 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
1 course with DPP attribute  
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.

Geneseo students complete all four required categories, at least four of the remaining six, and all SUNY competencies.