Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree

The University awards the degree of Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) to those matriculated students who have completed an approved sequence of courses and study totaling a minimum of 120 credits and who, by vote of the faculty, are certified as having fulfilled all degree requirements. Matriculated students may fulfill their degree requirements while classified as either full-time or part-time students for individual academic semesters. The following B.A. and B.S. degree requirements must be fulfilled by all students matriculating in 2017-2018.

Bachelor of Arts Requirements

1. A minimum of 120 credits
2. At least 90 credits in the liberal arts and sciences
3. The completion of the General Education Program [The specific general education requirements are determined by the student’s matriculation date and basis of admission to the University—see the General Education section of this bulletin.]
4. 30–36 credits in a major that has been registered with the education department of the state of New York
5. The completion of a minor consisting of 18–24 graduation credits which must include a minimum of 9 graduation credits in coursework requiring one or more prerequisite courses or courses at or above the 300 level. The minor requirements may be combined with the major requirements but the total may not exceed 60 graduation credits

Bachelor of Science Requirements

1. A minimum of 120 credits 
2. At least 60 credits in the liberal arts and sciences
3. The completion of the General Education Program [The specific general education requirements are determined by the student’s matriculation date and basis of admission to the University—see the General Education section of this bulletin.] 
4. 30–42 credits in a major that has been registered with the education department of the state of New York
5. The completion of a minor consisting of 18–24 graduation credits which must include a minimum of 9 graduation credits in coursework requiring one or more prerequisite courses or courses at or above the 300 level. The minor requirements may be combined with the major requirement but the total may not exceed 66 graduation credits

Grade Point Average Required for Degree

To be eligible for graduation from the University, matriculated students must have achieved a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 in all course grades earned at the University.

Grade Point Average in the Major

Students must achieve a minimum grade point average of at least 2.00 in all University at Albany course work used to fulfill requirements in the major, combined major/minor, or departmental major.

Grade Point Average in the Minor

Students must achieve a minimum grade point average of at least 2.00 in all University at Albany course work used to fulfill requirements in the minor(s).

Residence Requirements

The University requires degree candidates to earn a minimum of 30 of their last 60 graduation credits in courses at the Albany campus. Degree candidates who complete two approved study abroad semesters during their junior or senior year must earn a minimum of 30 of their last 69 credits in courses at the Albany campus. An “approved” study abroad program is any program from which the University accepts credits.

Major and Minor Residence Credits

Major Residence

For the B.A. and B.S. degrees, a minimum of 18 graduation credits, including 12 credits at or above the 300 level, must be completed in the major on the Albany campus, or through a State University of New York sponsored Study Abroad Program sponsored by a university center or four-year liberal arts college. Study abroad coursework completed at SUNY Community, Agriculture, or Technology Colleges may not generally be used to satisfy this requirement.

Minor Residence

For the B.A. and B.S. degrees, a minimum of 6 graduation credits of advanced courses (courses at or above the 300 level or courses which require a prerequisite) must be completed in the minor on the Albany campus, or through a State University of New York sponsored study abroad program sponsored by a university center or four-year liberal arts college. Study abroad coursework completed at SUNY Community, Agriculture, or Technology Colleges may not generally be used to satisfy this requirement.

Combined Major/Minor Residence

For the B.A. and B.S. degrees, a minimum of 24 graduation credits, including 12 credits at or above the 300 level, must be completed in a combined major and minor program on the Albany campus, or through a State University of New York sponsored study abroad program sponsored by a university center or four-year liberal arts college. Study abroad coursework completed at SUNY Community, Agriculture, or Technology Colleges may not generally be used to satisfy this requirement.

Graduation Application

Degrees are awarded at the conclusion of the fall, spring, and summer terms. The student must file a degree application online via MyUAlbany in accordance with the date specified in the official University academic calendar for the term in which all degree requirements will be completed. All incomplete grades and grades not reported must be resolved before the degree can be awarded. If reasonable attempts to contact the instructor fail, the student with an incomplete or “blank” (not reported) grade may appeal to the Committee on Academic Standing or, if that body is unable to meet to resolve the issue in timely fashion, to the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education.

Students may elect more than one major, designating which is to be considered the "first major," the "second major," etc. The University at Albany diploma lists only the degree of the first major and any Latin Honors, if applicable. Only one diploma is awarded to each undergraduate student indicating a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science. A degree review will be conducted at the end of each term for those students who have properly applied for graduation. The Registrar’s Office will notify the student if the degree is not awarded because the degree requirements have not been met. If the student has completed all requirements for the degree, a confirming email will be sent to the student via the University email address.

Waiver of Requirements

In rare and exceptional cases, a waiver of the requirements listed in this section may be granted to an individual student. Petitions for waiver of major or minor requirements should be addressed to the academic unit offering the major or minor. Petitions for waiver of any other requirements in this section should be addressed to the Committee on Academic Standing of the Undergraduate Academic Council and submitted to the Office of Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, LC 30. Please note that the Committee on Academic Standing only reviews these petitions for waivers during the Fall and Spring semesters.

Classification of Courses, Credits

To graduate from the University at Albany, a student must have at least 120 graduation credits, fulfill the requirements of the major(s)/minor(s) chosen by the student, complete all General Education requirements that apply to the student, and fulfill the University, major and minor residence requirements. For a Bachelor of Arts degree, a minimum of 90 credits in courses designated "liberal arts and sciences" must be completed; for a Bachelor of Science degree, a minimum of 60 credits in courses designated "liberal arts and sciences" must be completed. Courses may be classified as “liberal arts and sciences” or as “non-liberal arts and sciences” or as a course carrying no credit applicable to graduation.

Liberal Arts and Sciences Courses: University at Albany undergraduate courses classified as "liberal arts and sciences" have a content, either formal or systematic, that provides the student with an appreciation for and knowledge of the arts and written and spoken expression, humanities, world cultures and language, biological and physical sciences, social and behavioral sciences, mathematics and statistics, computing and information literacy, history, philosophy, or religion, or interdisciplinary studies involving one or more of these areas or otherwise contributing to the student’s understanding of the social or physical environment. The University definition of “liberal arts and sciences” also extends to the skill, technique and methods courses, performance and practicum courses, internships, and service learning that serve to enhance a student’s abilities and appreciation for study in these areas. In accordance with this definition, the majority of undergraduate courses taught at the University at Albany (as well as comparable courses transferred from another institution or offered in an Albany graduate program) are considered “liberal arts and sciences.”

Non-Liberal Arts and Sciences Courses: Each UAlbany college and school offering undergraduate courses determines whether its courses are “liberal arts and sciences” or “non-liberal arts and sciences” and submits to the Curriculum and Honors Committee of the Undergraduate Academic Council a rationale for excluding one or more of its courses from its “default” classification. By request of a department or program to the Committee, a course’s classification may later be changed. A department or program may also modify the classification of one of its courses or a transferred course in its discipline for an individual student upon petition to the department or program. The “default” classification for each college and school and the list of courses that are exceptions to the college’s or school’s default classification shall be printed in the Undergraduate Bulletin. In addition to the “non-liberal arts and sciences” courses mentioned, the following three categories of courses are also classified as “non-liberal arts and sciences” courses.

ROTC Courses: Students may apply toward their undergraduate degree requirements up to a maximum of twelve credits for ROTC courses completed successfully at the University at Albany and/or from other accredited institutions. All ROTC credit is designated "non-liberal arts and sciences."

Physical Education Courses: Although the University no longer offers physical education courses for credit, students may apply toward their degree a maximum of six credits of physical education activity credits. These and credit for courses in coaching, recreational studies, etc., will ordinarily be designated "non-liberal arts and sciences" credits.

Applied Elective Courses: The term “Applied Elective” designates a transfer course of a relatively non-theoretical and predominantly “skill” or “application” nature only tangentially connected to the objectives or study of the liberal arts and sciences. Such courses typically are intended to prepare a student for a specific vocational pursuit rather than for future academic, graduate or professional study or practice. Students may apply toward their undergraduate degree requirements up to a maximum of twelve credits from transferred "applied elective" courses. (Cf. "Types of Transfer Credit" section below.)

Courses Yielding No Graduation Credit: The following types of courses do not carry credit applicable toward graduation at the University at Albany:

1. Developmental courses offered by the Educational Opportunities Program or their transfer equivalents
2. Written and oral language skills courses offered by the Intensive English Language Program or their transfer equivalents
3. Mathematics courses at or below the level of the New York State “Course B” Regents Examination in Mathematics (algebra and geometry, trigonometry, probability and statistics). However, in some cases such courses may fulfill the "Mathematics and Statistics" requirement in the General Education Program  
4. Introduction to typing/keyboarding or shorthand, driver education, or other courses of an elementary manual skill nature with little or no theoretical content
5. Some religious studies courses: “Religious studies courses transfer if they are not doctrinal, confessional, or sectarian in nature. Religious studies courses from public institutions transfer without special review; religious studies courses from all other institutions will be evaluated by the appropriate departmental faculty." (Quoted material was adopted from the University of Minnesota’s policy on transfer credit and is used with their permission.)  
6. Courses from institutions or programs determined by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions as not acceptable as a source for transfer credit to the University

Types of Transfer Credit

Equivalent Transfer Courses: A department, school or program may designate a course taken elsewhere as equivalent to one of its courses. It is considered "liberal arts and sciences" if the Albany equivalent is so considered; it is considered “non-liberal arts and sciences” if the Albany equivalent is so considered.

Departmental Electives: A department, school or program may designate a course taken elsewhere as "departmental elective credit." For example, an English course may be designated A ENG 000 (an English course not applicable to the major or minor in English), A ENG 010 (a lower division English course) or A ENG 030 (an upper division English course). Unless expressly stated otherwise in the Undergraduate Bulletin, such credit is considered "liberal arts and sciences" credit if that is the Albany college's or school’s default classification; it is considered "non-liberal arts and sciences" credit if that is the Albany college's or school’s default classification.

Applied Electives: A department, school or program may decide whether a transfer course that is in its discipline should be designated as an “applied elective.” Courses that are not represented by comparable study in the University at Albany’s colleges and schools are generally designated “applied electives” (engineering, architecture, agricultural sciences, pharmacy, legal assistant, etc.). However, courses that appear roughly comparable to arts and sciences offerings (engineering courses comparable to physics, architecture comparable to art history or drawing, etc.) may be designated as "liberal arts and sciences" or may have their designation changed to "liberal arts and sciences" based on a student's appeal. A student may receive a maximum of 12 credits for transferred applied electives.

Limits on Transfer Credits

The following limits and restrictions apply whether or not these credits are taken pre-matriculation or post-matriculation.

Maximum Limit on Transfer Credit: Since Albany requires at least 30 credits to be completed at the University, the most transfer credit that can be applied toward graduation is 90 credits. (Since some SUNY and other technical and community colleges now award baccalaureate degrees, the University no longer distinguishes between "two-year" and baccalaureate-granting institutions in determining the maximum credits that may be transferred.)

Non-Liberal Arts and Sciences Courses: Bachelor of Arts degree programs require a minimum of 90 credits in "liberal arts and sciences." Therefore, for students pursuing the B.A. degree the most credit from "non-liberal arts and sciences" courses that can apply to the degree is 30 credits. Bachelor of Science degree programs require a minimum of 60 credits in "liberal arts and sciences." Therefore, for students pursuing the B.S. degree the most credit from "non-liberal arts and sciences" courses that can apply to the degree is 60 credits.

Of a student's transfer credits in courses that are designated "non-liberal arts and sciences," no more than 6 credits may be in physical education activity courses, no more than 12 credits may be in ROTC courses, and no more than 12 credits may be in courses equated to "applied electives."

Although credits successfully completed at other institutions after the student has matriculated will appear on the student's record, the limits and restrictions mentioned above will determine whether or not the student is able to apply all of those credits toward the minimum 120 credits needed for graduation.

Graduation Credits

A student must earn a minimum of 120 acceptable graduation credits to be eligible for graduation from the University. Acceptable graduation credit is as follows:

1. Credit accepted by transfer
2. Credit earned through approved proficiency examinations. Such credit may be awarded on the basis of a student’s performance on such external examinations as CLEP, RCE, AP, USAFI, etc., or an examination established for this purpose by a University at Albany department, school or program. Proficiency examination credit shall be clearly distinguished as such on a student’s academic record, and shall have no bearing on a student’s academic average. Proficiency examination credits shall not count within a semester load, hence shall not be counted when determining whether a student is full-time or part-time, and shall not be applied to University, major or minor residence requirements or semester retention standards. Any academic unit at the University may award proficiency credit by examination provided it does so openly and applies standards consistently to all students seeking credit. In no case may award of credit be contingent upon auditing a course (formally or informally), private tutelage (paid or otherwise), or participation in University or extracurricular activities or productions; however, the payment of a modest fee may be charged for administering the examination
3. Credit completed with the grades of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D- or S. An academic unit may award credit with an A–E or S/U grade only in a University at Albany course for which the student was formally registered in a fall or spring semester or summer or winter session in accordance with established registration and program adjustment procedures and deadlines
4. No credit graded D from another institution will transfer

Major and Minor Credits

A University at Albany grade of D- is minimally acceptable for graduation credit in the major and minor. Note, however, that a 2.00 average within each major and minor is a requirement for graduation.

Students cannot transfer in any grades of D.