Frequently Asked Questions

Should I plan to take all my general education courses first, before I begin exploring areas that might eventually fit in my major or minor?

No. The best course of action is to be aware of your responsibility to complete all the categories of general education for graduation. You can explore areas of interest and begin work in your major or minor AND make progress on satisfying your general education program. Basic courses in almost every department in the University contribute to the General Education program. Try to complete a few of the requirements each semester. Some requirements, like those for Information Literacy and Language, should be completed by the end of your sophomore year. Consult the advice under Student Planning on this web page for some special considerations that may apply to different programs and plans.

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I see many courses count for more than one category in the General Education program, if I take one of those courses will it fulfill my requirements for both categories?

Yes, some courses satisfy more than one requirement and will count for both, however students are required to take a minimum of 30 credits in general education during the course of their studies. There is an important exception to double counting for courses that satisfy both Arts and Humanities: courses designated as fulfilling both of these categories can only used to satisfy one or the other. You will need to take a course in each of those categories.

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Can a course count as a General Education requirement AND satisfy a requirement in my major or minor?

Yes.

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I plan to study abroad in my junior or senior year. Can I expect any of my courses there to satisfy General Education requirements?

It is very likely that some of your courses abroad will satisfy General Education requirements. It depends, of course, on where you are studying and what is available. Discuss your plans with an adviser at the Study Abroad and Exchanges office (albany.edu/studyabroad), located in LI 66, and make them aware of your interest in continuing work on General Education while you are abroad. They will be able to direct you to courses that are likely to count as satisfying those requirements and assist you with the process of having them reflected that way on your audit once you return.

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I am a non-native English speaker. Do I have to complete the General Education foreign language requirement?

If you attended high school in another country or are proficient in a foreign language, it is likely that your skills and experience will satisfy the requirement. If you are currently being advised in Advisement Services Center, you should speak to your adviser there about what to do. If you are under advisement in your major department, you should visit the Office of Undergraduate Studies, LC31, to speak to someone about ways to establish your language proficiency.

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I took a language in high school but I did not take the New York State Regents exam, do I have to start all over again?

Probably not, and students should begin their college study of languages at the most appropriate level, given any prior experience or training. Students from states other than New York, or who studied in schools that did not require the Regents exam, can consult this chart for assistance in understanding how time and experience could factor into determining language placement. The Advisement Services Center in LI 36 (down the steps from the library) administers a placement exam for students who believe their training in a language would satisfy the requirement. In some cases it might make sense for students to visit the department that represents the specific language that interests them to get assistance in determining where they should be placed. The Advisement Services Center can help a student decide whether their situation requires consultation with the department and identify the appropriate person in the language.

If you are a transfer student who attended high school in New York, your performance on a language Regents is not included as part of your admissions file. If you did receive an 85 or above, it is necessary for you to obtain these records from your high school to have the fact that you have satisfied the requirement reflected on your audit. Once you have a record of your transcript from high school, go to LC30 to make an appointment to speak to someone in the Office of Undergraduate Studies.

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I took the full course of language available in high school but got less than 85 on the Regents exam, is there any way I can the language requirement waived?

General education requirements are not waived, but your experience in the language may be sufficient to satisfy the requirement. First, consult this chart developed to assist students in placing themselves given different types of experience. The Advisement Services Center administers a placement exam for students who believe their training in a language would satisfy the requirement. In some cases it might make sense for students to visit the department that represents the specific language that interests them to get assistance in determining where they should be placed. The Advisement Services Center (in LI 36, down the steps from the library) can help a student decide whether their situation requires consultation with the department and identify the appropriate person to speak with in the language.

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The Professor/My Advisor said a course would count as a General Education course, but it isn’t appearing on my audit in the category. How can I make it count?

If you still think it should be considered for that category, bring a course description or a copy of the syllabus to the Office of Undergraduate Studies in LC30 and make an appointment to speak to someone further.

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I took a course here that seems to fit the description of a category perfectly, but it isn’t showing up on my audit as fulfilling the requirement. What should I do?

There are a number of specific criteria that a course needs to fulfill in order to be included in the General Education program; some criteria are ‘locally’ determined by faculty and administrators on this campus and some are determined by SUNY system administrators. So, there are a range of factors that could lead to a course seeming to fit a category but not being designated as a part of the General Education program. At the same time, if a course does reflect the goals and content of a General Education course, it should be considered for the program. If you think the course you took could substitute in a General Education category, bring a copy of the course description or syllabus to the Office of Undergraduate Studies in LC30 and make an appointment to speak to someone further.

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I took a course at another school that seems to fit the description of a category perfectly, but when I transferred it in it does not appear on my audit as fulfilling the requirement. What should I do?

It is possible to that a course you have taken at another institution should fulfill a General Education requirement but is not appearing that way on your audit. Bring a course description or a copy of the syllabus, and a current copy of your degree audit to the Office of Undergraduate Studies in LC30 and make an appointment to speak to someone further.

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I’m a graduating senior and I still need to fill one of my General Education requirements. Can I have it waived?

It is not possible to waive a General Education requirement. You should talk with your major department’s Undergraduate Director or your academic advisor in the major about options available to you to complete the requirement.

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I want to take a course over the summer at another college and make sure it transfers in as a General Education course. Can I do that? What do I do?

Many courses offered at community colleges satisfy our General Education requirements. If the course is offered at a New York State school, you may be able to check the direct equivalency through the Registrar’s equivalency database. If the course is equivalent to a course already designated as a General Education course on this campus, it will indicate that on the database and it will automatically transfer in fulfilling that requirement. If you think it should be considered for that category but it is not designated as filling the requirement, or if you are attending an institution not included in that database, bring a course description and, if possible, a copy of the syllabus, and a current copy of your degree audit to the Office of Undergraduate Studies in LC30 and make an appointment to speak to someone further.

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