General Education Program
The General Education Program at the University at Albany promotes breadth, coherence, critical inquiry, and public responsibility in the intellectual life of every undergraduate.
It promotes breadth through a distribution of courses in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences.
It promotes coherence by emphasizing historical, social, aesthetic, and philosophical contexts that shape knowledge and culture.
It promotes critical inquiry into the assumptions, goals, and methods of various academic fields of study.
It promotes public responsibility by emphasizing cultural pluralism, human diversity, a respect for difference, and a commitment to civic dialogue.
In addition, general education aims to develop the reasoning abilities, the writing, reading, and computational abilities, the interpretive, analytic, and synthesizing abilities, central to the intellectual life of the University.
The majority of General Education courses are at the 100 and 200 level. Students are encouraged to complete the requirements in their first two years.
The program includes four interrelated kinds of courses:
- those intended to introduce the variety of disciplines comprising a university;
- those intended to promote understanding of the diversity of social groups and practices in American society;
- those intended to promote understanding of the world's cultural diversity and historical change;
- those intended to develop writing abilities as a means of composing, learning, and sharing disciplinary knowledge.
Requirements
A minimum of 24 graduation credits as follows:
Courses in the disciplines (18 credits)—Students must complete two approved courses (6 credits) in each of the following categories: Humanities and the Arts, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences.
An approved course in Cultural and Historical Perspectives (3 credits)
An approved course in Human Diversity (3 credits)
In addition, for students matriculating Fall 1997 and thereafter, a student must complete two approved writing intensive courses, with minimum grades of C or higher or S, at least one of the courses must be at or above the 300 level. For students matriculating before Fall 1997, a student must complete two approved writing intensive courses, with minimum grades of C- or higher or S, at least one of the courses must be at or above the 300 level.
General Education CHP = Cultural and Historical Perspectives HA = Humanities and the Arts HD = Human Diversity NS = Natural Sciences SS = Social Sciences WI = Writing Intensive If more than one category is listed for a particular course, that course satisfies more than one General Education requirement.
General Education Course Lists by Category:
Note: For some categories suffix letters were intended to indicate that a course fulfills a General Education requirement, but there have been many exceptions. A course listed below will satisfy the requirement indicated, without regard to any suffix letters. Therefore, in the lists that follow, all suffix letters have been intentionally omitted.
* Italicized courses = former courses or former course numbers.
CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVESA Aas 220 Black & White in America A Aas 269 Caribbean: Peoples, History, & Culture A Aas 286 African Civilizations A Aas 287 Africa in the Modern World A Ant 131 Ancient Peoples of the World A Ant 146 Puerto Rico: People, History,& Culture A Ant 233 Aztecs, Incas & Mayas A Ant 236 American Indian Archaeology A Ant 240 The North American Indian A Ant 243 Peoples & Cultures of Middle East A Ant 269 Caribbean: People, History & Culture A Ant 341 Ethnology of Mesoamerica A Arh 280 Chinese Painting A Bio 311 World Food Crisis A Cas 220 Literature of the World I A Cas 221 Literature of the World II A Cas 348 America's Radical Past: 1848-77 A Cla 131 Ancient Peoples of the World A Cla 207 Egyptian Archaeology A Cla 208 Greek Archaeology A Cla 209 Roman Archaeology *A Cla 210 The Art & Archaeology of Cyprus A Clc 105 Myths of the Greek World A Clc 110 Classical Roots: Great Ideas of Greece & Rome A Clc 125 Latin & Greek Elements in English A Clc 133 History of Ancient Greece A Clc 134 History of Ancient Rome A Clc 300 The Greeks & Their Neighbors A Clc 301 Rome & the Mediterranean World A Clc 310 Women in Antiquity A Clg 101 Elementary Greek I A Clg 102 Elementary Greek II A Clg 103 Intro to New Testament Greek I A Clg 104 Intro to New Testament Greek II *A Clg 203 Intro to Greek Literature I *A Clg 204 Intro to Greek Literature II A Cll 101 Elementary Latin I A Cll 102 Elementary Latin II *A Cll 200 Intermediate Latin I A Cll 201 Intro to Latin Literature I A Cll 202 Intro to Latin Literature II A Dch 101 Elementary Dutch I A Dch 102 Elementary Dutch II A Dch 201 Intermediate Dutch I A Dch 202 Intermediate Dutch II A Eac 101 Elementary Chinese I A Eac 102 Elementary Chinese II A Eac 150 China Through Western Eyes A Eac 160 China: People & Places in the Land of One Billion A Eac 170 China: Its Culture & Heritage *A Eac 200 Intermediate Chinese A Eac 201 Intermediate Chinese I A Eac 202 Intermediate Chinese II A Eac 210 Survey of Classical Chinese Lit in Translation I A Eac 211 Survey of Classical Chinese Lit in Translation II A Eac 212 Modern Chinese Lit in Translation A Eac 280 Chinese Painting A Eaj 101 Elementary Japanese I A Eaj 102 Elementary Japanese II A Eaj 170 Japan: Its Culture & Heritage A Eaj 201 Intermediate Japanese II A Eaj 202 Intermediate Japanese II A Eaj 210 Survey of Traditional Japanese Literature A Eaj 212 Modern Japanese Lit in Translation A Eak 101 Elementary Korean I A Eak 102 Elementary Korean II A Eas 103 Sources of East Asian Civ I A Eas 104 Sources of East Asian Civ II A Eas 140L Introduction to East Asian Cinema A Eas 177 Cultures & Societies of Asia II A Eas 180 Asian America A Eas 270 Women in East Asian Literature A Eas 321 Exploring the Multicultural City A Eas 350 Geography & Development in Pacific Asia A Eng 221 The Bible as Literature A Fre 101 Beginning French I A Fre 102 Beginning French II *A Fre 200 Intermediate French I *A Fre 210 Intermediate French II A Fre 218 French Culture in English A Fre 221 Intermediate French I A Fre 222 Intermediate French II A Fre 238 Classics of French Cinema in English A Fre 315 Intro to French Cinema *A Ger 101 Elementary German I *A Ger 102 Elementary German II *A Ger 200 Intermediate German I *A Ger 201 Intermediate German I *A Ger 202 Intermediate German II *A Ger 207 Intermediate German II A Gog 102 Intro to Human Geography A Gog 120 World Cities A Gog 160 China: People & Places in the Land of One Billion A Gog 180 Asian America A Gog 220 Introductory Urban Geography *A Gog 221 Geographic Explorations in Multicultural City A Gog 250 Geography of Latin America A Gog 310 World Food Crisis A Gog 321 Exploring the Multicultural City A Gog 350 Geography & Development in Pacific Asia A Heb 101 Elementary Hebrew I A Heb 102 Elementary Hebrew II A Heb 201 Intermediate Hebrew I A Heb 202 Intermediate Hebrew II *A Hfa 348 America's Radical Past: 1848-77 A His 100 American Political & Social History I A His 101 American Political & Social History II A His 130 History of European Civilization I A His 131 History of European Civilization II A His 170 Intro to Caribbean History A His 176 Cultures & Societies of Asia I A His 177 Cultures & Societies of Asia II A His 235 Early & Medieval Christianity A His 253 Medieval Jews Among Muslims & Christians A His 255 The Holocaust: Lessons & Legacies A His 275 Antisemitism in Historical Perspective A His 286 African Civilizations A His 287 Africa in the Modern World A His 292 Trials in History A His 293 History of Women in the Americas A His 316 Workers & Work in America: 1600-Present A Ita 100 Elementary Italian I A Ita 101 Elementary Italian II A Ita 103 Intermediate Italian I A Ita 104 Intermediate Italian II *A Ita 200 Intermediate Italian *A Ita 201 Intermediate Italian II A Jst 150 Survey of Jewish Civilization A Jst 242 The Bible as Literature A Jst 243 Peoples & Cultures of Middle East A Jst 248 Women in Jewish Life & Literature A Jst 251 Early Israel & Biblical Civilization A Jst 252 Jews, Hellenism, & Early Christianity A Jst 253 Medieval Jews Among Muslims & Christians A Jst 254 The Jews in the Modern World A Jst 255 The Holocaust: Lessons & Legacies A Jst 272 Modern Hebrew Lit in Translation A Jst 275 Antisemitism in Historicales Perspective A Jst 291 Messianism in Judaism & Christianity A Lcs 100 Cultures of Latin America A Lcs 102 Intro to Caribbean History A Lcs 150 Puerto Rico: People, History, & Culture A Lcs 216 Music & Society in Latin America A Lcs 233 Aztecs, Incas & Mayas A Lcs 250 Geography of Latin America A Lcs 269 Caribbean: Peoples, History, & Culture A Lcs 315 Latin America Through Film A Lcs 317 Latin American Civilization A Lcs 321 Exploring the Multicultural City A Mus 216 Music & Society in Latin America A Phi 116 World Views A Phi 214 World Religions A Pln 220 Introductory Urban Planning A Pol 101 Elementary Polish I A Pol 102 Elementary Polish II A Por 100 Elementary Portuguese I A Por 101 Elementary Portuguese II A Por 102 Intensive Elementary Portuguese A Por 201 Intermediate Portuguese A Rel 100 Intro to the Study of Religion A Rel 103 Intro to New Testament Greek I A Rel 104 Intro to New Testament Greek II A Rel 116 World Views A Rel 214 World Religions A Rel 221 The Bible as Literature A Rel 252 Jews, Hellenism, & Early Christianity A Rel 253 Medieval Jews Among Muslims & Christians A Rel 254 The Jews in the Modern World A Rel 275 Social Morality & Citizenship Education A Rel 291 Messianism in Judaism & Christianity A Rus 101 Elementary Russian I A Rus 102 Elementary Russian II A Rus 103 Russian for Bilingual Students I A Rus 104 Russian for Bilingual Students II A Rus 105 Intensive Introductory Russian A Rus 161 Russian Civilization *A Rus 162 The Rise & Fall of Soviet Civ A Rus 171 Women in Russian Culture *A Rus 200 Intermediate Russian I A Rus 201 Intermediate Russian I A Rus 202 Intermediate Russian II *A Rus 203 Intermediate Russian II A Soc 210 Sociology of Culture A Spn 100 Elementary Spanish I A Spn 101 Elementary Spanish II A Spn 103 Intermediate Spanish I A Spn 104 Intermediate Spanish II A Spn 105 Spanish for Bilinguals I *A Spn 200 Intermediate Spanish I *A Spn 201 Intermediate Spanish II A Spn 314 The Rise & Fall of Spanish Empire A Spn 315 Conflict & Progress Modern Spain A Spn 317 Latin-American Civilization A Thr 221 Development of Theatre/Drama I A Thr 222 Development of Theatre/Drama II A Thr 225 American Theatre History A Ukr 101 Elementary Ukrainian I A Ukr 102 Elementary Ukrainian II A Wss 171 Women in Russian Culture A Wss 248 Women in Jewish Life & Literature A Wss 260 History of Women & Social Change A Wss 270 Women in East Asian Literature A Wss 308 Global Perspectives on Women A Wss 311 Women in Antiquity E Edu 275 Social Morality & Citizenship Education U Uni 101 Foundations of Great Ideas I U Uni 155 Project Ren 1: Human Identity U Uni 310 World Food CrisisHUMAN DIVERSITYA Aas 142 African/Afro-American Literature A Aas 213 History of Civil Rights Movement A Aas 220 Black & White in America A Aas 240 Classism, Racism & Sexism: Issues A Ant 100 Culture, Society, & Biology A Ant 172 Community & Self A Ant 351 Ethnicity in North America *A Ant 371 Theories Interculturales Communication A Cas 125 Diversity of Voices in Literature & the Arts A Cas 131 Diversity & Equity in America A Cas 141 Concepts of Race & Culture in the Modern World A Cas 150 Cultural Diversity & Human Condition A Cas 240 Images & Issues of Diversity in the Visual Arts A Com 371 Theories of Intercultural Communication A Eac 272 The Chinese & Chinese World View A Eas 180 Asian America A Eco 130 The Third World Economies A Eng 240 Growing Up in America A Fre 208 New World Cultural Diversity A Fre 281 Francophone Cultures: New World & Third World A Gog 125 The American City A Gog 180 Asian America *A Gog 221 Geographic Explorations in Multicultural City A Gog 240 Patterns of American Immigration *A Hfa 125 Diversity of Voices in Literature & the Arts *A Hfa 150 Cultural Diversity & Human Condition *A Hfa 240 Images & Issues of Diversity in the Visual Arts A His 158 The World in the 20th Century A His 275 Antisemitism in Historical Perspective A Jst 155 Judaism: Traditions & Practices A Jst 221 The American Jewish Experience A Jst 260 Jews & Immigrant Experience in America A Jst 270 Jewish-Christian Relations A Jst 275 Antisemitism in Historical Perspective A Jst 351 Jewish American Ethnic Groups A Lcs 201 Hispanic Cultures in the United States A Lcs 216 Music & Society in Latin America A Lcs 240 Classism, Racism & Sexism: Issues A Lcs 282 Minority Groups A Lcs 302 Las Culturas Latinas en los Estados Unidos *A Lcs 383 Social Psych of Ethnic Relations A Mus 216 Music & Society in Latin America A Phi 214 World Religions A Phi 328 Philosophy & Race *A Psy 383 Social Psych of Ethnic Relations A Rel 100 Intro to the Study of Religion A Rel 155 Judaism: Traditions & Practices A Rel 214 World Religions A Rel 270 Jewish-Christian Relations A Rel 275 Social Morality & Citizenship Education *A Sbs 131 Diversity & Equity in America *A Sbs 141 Concepts of Race & Culture in the Modern World A Soc 262 Sociology of Gender A Soc 282 Race & Ethnicity A Soc 375 U.S. Urban Neighborhood Diversity A Spn 322 Las Culturas Latinas en los Estados Unidos A Thr 228 Voices Diversity Contemp Amer Theatre/Drama A Wss 101 Intro to Feminisms A Wss 106 U.S. Women Who Changed Our World A Wss 202 Intro to Lesbian & Gay Studies *A Wss 210 Intro to Feminism A Wss 240 Classism, Racism & Sexism: Issues A Wss 262 Sociology of Gender E Edu 275 Social Morality & Citizenship Education E Edu 375 Concepts Schools & Education in Pluralistic Society R Crj 210 Policies of Crime in Heterogeneous in Societies R Ssw 220 Value Issues in Social Welfare U Uni 153 Project Ren 2: Human IdentityHUMANITIES AND THE ARTS
A Aas 142 African/Afro-American Literature A Ant 175 Anthropology & Folklore A Ant 268 Ethnology of Pre-Columbian Art A Arh 170 Survey of Art in Western World I A Arh 171 Survey of Art in Western World II A Arh 280 Chinese Painting A Cas 202 Understanding the Arts A Cas 220 Literature of the World I A Cas 221 Literature of the World II A Cas 360 Passion & Choice A Cla 207 Egyptian Archaeology A Cla 208 Greek Archaeology A Cla 209 Roman Archaeology *A Cla 210 The Art & Archaeology of Cyprus A Clc 105 Myths of the Greek World A Clc 110 Classical Roots: Great Ideas of Greece & Rome A Clc 223 Masterpieces of Greek Tragedy & Comedy A Clg 101 Elementary Greek I A Clg 102 Elementary Greek II A Clg 103 Intro to New Testament Greek I A Clg 104 Intro to New Testament Greek II *A Clg 203 Intro to Greek Literature I *A Clg 204 Intro to Greek Literature II A Cll 101 Elementary Latin I A Cll 102 Elementary Latin II *A Cll 200 Intermediate Latin I A Cll 201 Intro to Latin Literature I A Cll 202 Intro to Latin Literature II A Dch 101 Elementary Dutch I A Dch 102 Elementary Dutch II A Dch 201 Intermediate Dutch I A Dch 202 Intermediate Dutch II A Eac 101 Elementary Chinese I A Eac 102 Elementary Chinese II A Eac 150 China Through Western Eyes A Eac 170 China: Its Culture & Heritage *A Eac 200 Intermediate Chinese A Eac 201 Intermediate Chinese I A Eac 202 Intermediate Chinese II A Eac 210 Survey of Classical Chinese Lit in Translation I A Eac 211 Survey of Classical Chinese Lit in Translation II A Eac 212 Modern Chinese Lit in Translation A Eac 280 Chinese Painting A Eaj 101 Elementary Japanese I A Eaj 102 Elementary Japanese II A Eaj 170 Japan: Its Culture & Heritage A Eaj 201 Intermediate Japanese II A Eaj 202 Intermediate Japanese II A Eaj 210 Survey of Traditional Japanese Literature A Eaj 212 Modern Japanese Lit in Translation A Eak 101 Elementary Korean I A Eak 102 Elementary Korean II A Eas 103 Sources of East Asian Civ I A Eas 104 Sources of East Asian Civ II A Eas 140L Introduction to East Asian Cinema A Eng 121 Reading Literature A Eng 122 Reading Prose Fiction A Eng 123 Reading Drama A Eng 124 Reading Poetry A Eng 144 Reading Shakespeare A Eng 215 Methods of Literary Criticism A Eng 222 Masterpieces of Literature A Eng 223 Short Story A Eng 226 Studies of a Literary Theme, Form or Mode A Eng 232 Modern Novel A Eng 233 Modern Drama A Eng 234 Modern Poetry A Eng 241 Popular Literature A Eng 242 Science Fiction A Eng 260 Forms of Poetry A Eng 261 American Poetic Tradition A Eng 291 The English Literary Tradition I A Eng 292 The English Literary Tradition II A Eng 295 Classics of Western Lit I: Epic to Modern Drama A Eng 296 Classics of Western Lit II: Epic to Modern Novel A Eng 311 History of the English Language A Eng 325 American Drama A Eng 362 Critical Approaches to Women in Literature A Eng 368 Women Writers A Fre 101 Beginning French I A Fre 102 Beginning French II *A Fre 200 Intermediate French I *A Fre 210 Intermediate French II A Fre 221 Intermediate French I A Fre 222 Intermediate French II A Fre 241 Intro to French Studies *A Ger 101 Elementary German I *A Ger 102 Elementary German II *A Ger 200 Intermediate German I *A Ger 201 Intermediate German I *A Ger 202 Intermediate German II *A Ger 207 Intermediate German II *A Ger 225 From Goethe to Thomas Mann *A Ger 240 Hermann Hesse: Life & Work *A Ger 247 Goethe's Faust in Translation A Heb 101 Elementary Hebrew I A Heb 102 Elementary Hebrew II A Heb 201 Intermediate Hebrew I A Heb 202 Intermediate Hebrew II *A Hfa 202 Understanding the Arts *A Hfa 250 Creative Minds *A Hfa 360 Passion & Choice A His 263 Art, Music, & History: A Multimedia Approach I A His 264 Art, Music, & History: A Multimedia Approach II A His 297 Religion & Society in History A Ita 100 Elementary Italian I A Ita 101 Elementary Italian II A Ita 103 Intermediate Italian I A Ita 104 Intermediate Italian II *A Ita 200 Intermediate Italian I *A Ita 201 Intermediate Italian II A Ita 223 Intro to Literary Methods A Lcs 216 Music & Society in Latin America A Lcs 268 Ethnology of Pre-Columbian Art A Lcs 275 Four Caribbean Writers A Lcs 315 Latin America through Film A Mus 100 Intro to Music A Mus 102 The "Golden Age" of Piano Music A Mus 115 Jazz: America's Music A Mus 125 Russia: Its Music & Its People A Mus 208 Intro to Opera A Mus 211 The Concerto A Mus 212 Chamber Music A Mus 213 Survey of Symphonic Music A Mus 214 American Music A Mus 216 Music & Society in Latin America A Mus 217 Women & Music A Mus 230 Music History I A Mus 231 Music History II A Mus 334 Survey of American Music A Mus 338 Survey of Opera A Phi 110 Intro to Philosophical Problems A Phi 112 Critical Thinking A Phi 114 Morals & Society A Phi 115 Moral Choices A Phi 116 World Views A Phi 210 Intro to Logic A Phi 212 Intro to Ethical Theory A Phi 218 Understanding Science A Phy 201 Physics & Buddhism A Pol 101 Elementary Polish I A Pol 102 Elementary Polish II A Por 100 Elementary Portuguese I A Por 101 Elementary Portuguese II A Por 102 Intensive Elementary Portuguese A Por 201 Intermediate Portuguese A Rel 100 Intro to the Study of Religion A Rel 103 Intro to New Testament Greek I A Rel 104 Intro to New Testament Greek II A Rel 116 World Views A Rel 175 Anthropology & Folklore A Rel 200 Intro to the Bible A Rel 201 Physics & Buddhism A Rel 297 Religion & Society in History A Rus 101 Elementary Russian I A Rus 102 Elementary Russian II A Rus 103 Russian for Bilingual Students I A Rus 104 Russian for Bilingual Students II A Rus 105 Intensive Introductory Russian A Rus 125 Russia: Its Music & Its People A Rus 171 Women in Russian Culture *A Rus 200 Intermediate Russian I A Rus 201 Intermediate Russian I A Rus 202 Intermediate Russian II *A Rus 203 Intermediate Russian II A Rus 251 Masterpieces of 19th-Century Russian Literature A Rus 252 Masterpieces of 20th-Century Russian Literature A Rus 253 Contemporary Russian Literature A Rus 261 Dostoevsky & Tolstoy in English Translation A Rus 354 The Russian Novel in Its Western Context A Spn 100 Elementary Spanish I A Spn 101 Elementary Spanish II A Spn 103 Intermediate Spanish I A Spn 104 Intermediate Spanish II A Spn 105 Spanish for Bilinguals I *A Spn 200 Intermediate Spanish I *A Spn 201 Intermediate Spanish II A Spn 223 Intro to Literary Methods A Spn 312 Representative Spanish Authors II A Thr 107 Intro to Dramatic Art A Thr 221 Development Theatre & Drama I A Thr 222 Development Theatre & Drama II A Thr 225 American Theatre History *A Thr 227 Comparative Genres Drama & Theatre A Thr 230 Great Drama on Film & Video A Thr 235 Fundamentals of Theatrical Design *A Thr 241 Performance: Physicality of Communication A Thr 380 History of Costume A Ukr 101 Elementary Ukrainian I A Ukr 102 Elementary Ukrainian II A Wss 171 Women in Russian Culture A Wss 217 Women & Music A Wss 362 Critical Approaches to Women in Literature A Wss 368 Women Writers E Tap 233 Landmarks in Literacy U Uni 102 Foundations of Great Ideas II U Uni 151 Project Ren 1: Human Identity U Uni 156 Project Renaissance 1: TechnologyNATURAL SCIENCES
A Ant 110 Intro to Human Evolution A Ant 111 Intro to the Primates A Ant 119 The City & Human Health A Atm 100 The Atmosphere A Atm 101 The Upper Atmosphere A Atm 102 Science & Major Environ Issues A Atm 105 Oceanus & Gaia A Atm 107 The Oceans A Bio 102 General Biological Sciences A Bio 110 General Biology I A Bio 111 General Biology II A Bio 117 Nutrition *A Bio 207 Cells: Modern Cell Biology A Bio 208 Marine Biology A Bio 209 The Human Organism A Bio 230 People & Resources in Ecological Perspective A Bio 241N The Biology of Sex A Bio 311 World Food Crisis A Chm 100 Chemical ABCs: Atoms, Bonds, Citizen Consumers A Chm 110 The DNA Double Helix & the Chemistry of Cancer A Chm 120 General Chemistry I A Chm 121 General Chemistry II A Csi 101 Elements of Computing A Csi 120 Computational Principles & Issues A Csi 201 Intro to Computer Science A Geo 100 Planet Earth A Geo 105 Environmental Geology if taken Fall 1997 or thereafter A Geo 190 Earth Resources: Problems & Choices A Gog 101 Intro to the Physical Environment A Gog 310 World Food Crisis A Mat 102 Mathematics by Visualization A Phy 100 Contemporary Astronomy: Cosmic Connection A Phy 103 Exploration of Space A Phy 104 Physical Science for Humanists A Phy 105 General Physics I A Phy 108 General Physics II A Phy 120 Introductory Physics I A Phy 124 Introductory Physics II A Phy 202 Environmental Physics A Wss 109 Women, Biology & Health U Uni 154 Project Renaissance 2: Technology U Uni 158 Project Renaissance 2: Technology U Uni 160 Math, Art, & the Creative Process U Uni 310 World Food CrisisSOCIAL SCIENCES
A Ant 106 Linguistic Anthropology A Ant 108 Cultural Anthropology A Ant 131 Ancient Peoples of the World A Ant 160 Symbol & Human Nature *A Ant 200 Cultural Anthropology A Ant 220 Intro to Linguistics *A Ant 221 Linguistic Anthropology A Ant 240 The North American Indian A Ant 341 Ethnology of Mesoamerica A Cla 131 Ancient Peoples of the World A Com 100 Human Communication: Language & Social Action A Eac 160 China: People & Places in the Land of One Billion A Eas 321 Exploring the Multicultural City *A Eco 102 The American Economy A Eco 202 The American Economy: Its Structure & Institutions A Eco 110 Principles of Eco I: Microeconomics A Eco 111 Principles of Eco II: Macroeconomics A Eng 217 Intro to Linguistics A Gog 102 Intro to Human Geography A Gog 125 The American City A Gog 155 Geography & Contemporary Affairs A Gog 160 China: People & Places in the Land of One Billion A Gog 220 Introductory Urban Geography *A Gog 221 Geographic Explorations in Multicultural City A Gog 321 Exploring the Multicultural City A His 220 Public Policy in Modern America A Lcs 282 Race & Ethnicity A Lcs 321 Exploring the Multicultural City A Lcs 341 Ethnology of Mesoamerica A Lin 100 Understanding Language A Lin 220 Intro to Linguistics A Pln 220 Introductory Urban Planning A Psy 101 Intro to Psychology A Psy 102 Advanced Intro to Psychology A Soc 115 Intro to Sociology A Soc 180 Social Problems A Soc 210 Sociology of Culture A Soc 262 Sociology of Gender A Soc 270 Social & Demographic Change A Soc 282 Race & Ethnicity A Soc 283 Juvenile Delinquency A Soc 359 Medical Sociology A Wss 220 Perspectives on Women A Wss 262 Sociology of Gender R Pos 101 American Politics R Pos 102 Comparative & Internatl Politics R Pos 103 Political Theory R Ssw 299 Families: Middle Age & Late Life U Uni 152 Project Renaissance 1: Technology U Uni 157 Project Ren 2: Human Identity* Italicized courses = former courses or former course numbers.
Approved courses for the General Education requirements have these features:
- They offer general, nonspecialized introduction to central topics in a discipline or interdisciplinary field; while they may satisfy major or minor requirements, their purpose is to serve students who do not intend to pursue more advanced work;
- They encourage reflectiveness about disciplinary knowledge; they explain what it means to be a practitioner of a discipline; they convey explicit rather than tacit understanding of the nature and importance of a discipline;
- They encourage active rather than passive learning; they attend, as appropriate, to reasoning and/or aesthetic aptitudes, and to reading, writing, and computational abilities;
- They are sensitive to the multiple perspectives of a pluralistic culture both within and beyond the university.
Cultural and Historical Perspectives:
Approved courses in this category share the features described above while also involving students in the study of cultures, civilizations, or geographic regions as they change through time, providing students with knowledge of various critical approaches to interpreting history and with an understanding of diverse cultural vantage points and world views.
Human Diversity Requirement:
All students entering the University in Fall 1990 semester and thereafter are required, as part of their undergraduate degree requirements, to complete a course from an approved list of `Human Diversity' courses.
Courses approved for this requirement may, but need not, also be applicable to other General Education requirements. Ideally, students should satisfy the requirement with a course that deals with a culture other than their own. Students who are waived from the General Education requirements, by virtue of having completed an Associates of Arts (A.A.) or Associates of Science (A.S.) at an accredited institution are also waived from Human Diversity. Students may still wish, however, to take a human diversity course to enhance and broaden their education.
A course shall be considered for designation as "Human Diversity Requirement" by the Curriculum Committee, subject to Undergraduate Academic Council approval, under the following criteria:
- They should relate directly to contemporary United States experiences of students or contain components that compare, on a fairly regular basis, aspects of other cultures to those experiences.
- They should compare and relate aspects of racial and/or ethnic diversity, including gender-related concerns, to the topic of the course. In this context, the terms "racial" and "ethnic" may include groups of self-and/or societally defined on such bases as of nationality, religion, etc.
- They should provide substantial knowledge of diversity as expressed through sociopolitical ideological, aesthetic, or other aspects of human endeavor. This criterion is intentionally defined broadly to accommodate a variety of approaches. It is not a requirement or expectation that the content will focus on controversy or those aspects that result in conflict with other persons, groups, or cultures; see, however, the next criterion.
- They should provide sufficient knowledge to permit the student to understand better the sources and manifestations of controversy and conflicts in cultural values arising from human diversity.
- Opportunities for student writing and discussion are central to the objectives of the program. Courses should include at least one writing component. For discussions to be effective, classes of sixty or more students should require discussion sections, breakout sessions, in-class groups or comparable mechanisms permitting discussions within groups of twenty students.
- Courses should focus on the theories, histories, dynamics, mechanisms, and results of human and social diversity, drawing on the experience of specific groups to illustrate those principles. Thus, whatever specific cultural heritages the students study should be placed in the larger context of cultural diversity.
Exceptions to the General Education Requirements
Transfer students who are recipients of an Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.) degree from a State of New York operated campus, a SUNY or CUNY community college shall be considered to have completed all lower division University at Albany General Education Requirements (this does not include the upper-level writing requirement).
In addition, transfer students who are recipients of an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) or an Associate in Occupational Science (A.O.S.) degree from a State of New York operated campus, a SUNY or CUNY community college shall be considered to have completed all lower division University at Albany General Education Requirements (this does not include the upper-level writing requirement) if all the following conditions are met for the associate degree:
- the student has satisfactorily completed a minimum of 30 credits that are acceptabled to Albany as "liberal arts and sciences" courses (consult the section of this bulletin entitled Liberal Arts and Science Courses);
- the associate program included a writing requirement and the student fulfilled theg requirement;
- the student satisfactorily completed at least one course in each the following areas: literature or fine arts; social or behavioral sciences; and physical or life sciences.
By action of the Dean of Undergraduate Studies, all transfer students shall be exempted from all lower division General Education requirements IF they have satisfactorily completed PRIOR TO MATRICULATION at Albany all of the following:
- at least 30 credits which are acceptable to the University at Albany as "liberal arts and sciences" courses;
- one course in literature or in the fine arts or in a humanities department or with General Education suffix "L" or "E";
- one course in a social science or a behavioral science or in a behavioral science department or with General Education suffix "M" or "G";
- one course in a physical science or a life nscience or in a natural or physical science department or with General Education suffix "N" or "F"; and
- a satisfactorily completed writing course These exemptions DO NOT apply to any upper division General Education courses or categories of courses required of all Albany undergraduates, currently the requirement of a Writing Intensive course at the 300 level or above.
Writing: Transfer students who enter the University at Albany with credit for an English Composition course or a two-semester sequence combined literature and writing course will be considered to have completed the lower level writing intensive requirement at this University.
In exceptional circumstances, individual exceptions to the general education requirements may be granted by the Curriculum and Honors Committee of the Undergraduate Academic Council. Students seeking additional information regarding or requesting an exception to the general education requirements, for example, by virtue of having completed an associates' degree at a non-state operated institution should contact the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Studies (AD 118).
