2019-2020 Undergraduate Bulletin

The Office of the Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education

The mission of the Office of the Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education is to provide pathways and guidance to develop students into informed and engaged scholars capable of achieving excellence in their academic, professional, and personal lives.

In addition to publishing the Undergraduate Bulletin each academic year, the Office of the Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education is responsible for the coordination of the academic experience of undergraduate students at this University. The Vice Provost works closely with the deans and faculty of the individual schools and colleges and with the Undergraduate Academic Council in developing, coordinating, and implementing undergraduate academic policy and curricula as well as actively promoting undergraduate opportunities in applied learning such as research and internships. The Vice Provost oversees the Office of Undergraduate Education, the Honors College, the Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (CURCE), the General Education Program, the Writing and Critical Inquiry Program, the Office of Transfer Student Services, the Student Engagement Initiative, the Center for Achievement, Retention, and Student Success (CARSS), and the Academic Support Center.

The Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education also provides coordination of and advisement for: independent study; student-initiated interdisciplinary majors and minors; interdisciplinary courses; and the New York State Senate and Assembly Internship as well as other University-wide internships. The Office coordinates with the Office of Access and Academic Enrichment, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, the Registrar's Office, and other University offices to implement changes in academic policies and curricula.

The Office provides assistance and counseling to undergraduate students who are contemplating leaving the University, who are seeking to take a Leave for Approved Study at another college or university, or who wish to re-enter the University after having been away for a semester or more. It also coordinates the Degree in Absentia process.

Visit the Undergraduate Education website for details about programs and services and for copies of relevant forms as well as petitions for exceptions to academic policies: www.albany.edu/undergraduateeducation/.

The Vice Provost is eager to facilitate help for all students who wish to explore academic issues and concerns. Students may contact the Office of the Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education by visiting Lecture Center 30, by calling (518) 442-3950, or by email to [email protected].

Schools and Colleges

Undergraduate study is offered through the faculties of each of the separate schools and colleges comprising the University.

The College of Arts and Sciences provides all undergraduates with study in most of the disciplines within the liberal arts and sciences. Those students wishing to explore many of these areas in depth may become majors within the college. Graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences may apply for graduate-level teacher certification programs in the School of Education.

The School of Business offers programs in accounting, business administration, and digital forensics as well as a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a faculty-initiated concentration in financial market regulation. Admission to these programs is competitive, open only to the best-qualified students and including specific courses outlined in the School of Business section of this bulletin.

The School of Criminal Justice offers a multi-disciplinary degree program, focusing on the study of criminal behavior and society’s response to it. Admission to this major is highly competitive, and students must complete specific requirements before applying for admission.

The School of Education offers a B.S. in Human Development and minors in Leadership and in Educational Studies. It also offers courses for undergraduates who are interested in education-related careers. College of Arts and Sciences undergraduate majors may apply to teacher certification programs at the graduate level.

The College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity offers academic programs to give students the knowledge and skills to prepare for, protect against, respond to, and recover from a growing array of natural and man-made risks and threats in New York State and around the world. The College offers an undergraduate major in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity. Depending on the concentration, the program leads to a B.A. or a B.S. and provides students with a broad overview of these three fields and develops critical thinking skills and subject area knowledge of public policy, management and risk analysis. The College also offers a minor in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity. Both a major and a minor in Informatics are also housed within the College.

The College of Engineering and Applied Sciences combines strong technical education and research with an application-oriented perspective. It is composed of the departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science, and Environmental and Sustainable Engineering. The College offers several majors and minors programs, including degrees in Computer Science as well as degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering and in Environmental and Sustainable Engineering. 

The School of Public Health offers an undergraduate major and a minor in Public Health and a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a faculty-initiated concentration in Bio-instrumentation. The field of public health addresses issues such as bioterrorism, violence prevention, health disparities, and obesity; prevents epidemics and the spread of disease; protects against environmental hazards; prevents injuries, promotes and encourages healthy behaviors; responds to disasters and assists community recovery; and assures the quality and accessibility of health services.

The Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy offers undergraduate degree programs in political science and public policy and management. These programs focus on issues of politics, public policy, and management in the public service in the local, state, federal, and international arena. Students have several concentrations to select from in both majors.

The School of Social Welfare offers a combined major and minor sequence that prepares students for beginning social work. This program serves the liberal education needs for students interested in the social sciences and human services professions. Admission to this major is competitive, and students have to complete specific requirements before applying for admission. The School also offers a minor in Social Welfare Studies.

The Interdisciplinary Studies Committee of the Undergraduate Academic Council works with the academic colleges and schools to develop and approve Interdisciplinary Studies majors with faculty-initiated concentrations and interdisciplinary minors. The approval of student-initiated Interdisciplinary Studies majors and interdisciplinary minors is also under the jurisdiction of this committee. In addition, the committee recommends and monitors University-wide independent study, internships, special projects, and interdisciplinary topics courses.