Undergraduate students at the State University of New York, New Paltz, must satisfy New Paltz general education requirements, known as GEIII. These campus requirements encompass the State University of New York's system-wide general education requirements.
The State University of New York (SUNY) requires baccalaureate-degree students to complete no fewer than 30 credit hours of general education, including at least three credit hours each of course work to instill knowledge and skills in mathematics and basic communication. Also required are at least three credits each in at least five of the following eight academic areas: Natural Science, Social Science, American History, Western Civilization, Other World Civilizations, Humanities, the Arts, and Foreign Languages. In addition, students must demonstrate overall competency in the areas of critical thinking and information management.
General Education III (GEIII)
The GEIII Program was developed collaboratively by the faculty and students of New Paltz. It reflects the mission and characteristics of the college and an appreciation for the changing conditions of knowledge, pedagogy, and the contemporary world. The program exposes students to the areas of knowledge that characterize a broadly educated person, and it is designed to assist them in developing a global perspective as well as an understanding of the traditions and complexities of a democratic society. Balancing learning experiences in four different knowledge areas — Arts & Humanities, Scientific Investigations, Global Perspectives, and The United States & Its Traditions — GEIII provides both discipline-based and interdisciplinary opportunities for advancing knowledge. Within these broad knowledge areas, eleven academic categories have been identified: Composition, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, United States Studies, Western Civilization, World Civilizations & Cultures, Humanities, Arts, Foreign Languages, and Diversity.
A defining feature of the program is its attention to developing the capacities of students to think critically while providing them with the breadth and depth of knowledge that will allow them to become active citizens and productive members of their society. Students develop the capacity for critical thinking as their competencies in the areas of Effective Expression, Systematic Inquiry, Information Literacy, and Ethical Reflection are addressed in both lower-division and upper-division courses throughout the program.
A Comparison of
SUNY General Education (GE) and New Paltz General Education (GEIII) Requirements
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SUNY system-wide GE requirements |
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New Paltz GEIII requirements |
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Category |
Requirement |
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Category |
Requirement |
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Basic Communication |
1 course |
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Composition II |
1 course |
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Mathematics |
1 course |
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Mathematics |
1 course |
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* Natural Science |
1 course |
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Natural Sciences |
2 courses** |
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* Social Science |
1 course |
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Social Sciences |
1 course |
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* American History |
1 course |
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United States Studies |
1 course |
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* Western Civilization |
1 course |
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Western Civilization |
1 course |
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* Other World Civilizations |
1 course |
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World Civilizations & Cultures |
1 course |
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* Humanities |
1 course |
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Humanities |
1 course |
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* The Arts |
1 course |
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Arts |
1 course |
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* Foreign Languages |
1 course |
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Foreign Language |
1 or 2 courses |
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* Students must demonstrate knowledge |
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Diversity |
1 course** |
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** indicates a New Paltz requirement that exceeds |
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Minimum total credits = 30 |
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Minimum total credits = 36 |
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The critical thinking competencies of Effective Expression, Systematic Inquiry, Information Literacy, and Ethical Reflection are infused throughout the New Paltz categories of academic knowledge. |
Students Who May Follow a Modified GEIII Program
Students with Written and Oral Proficiency in a Language Other Than English
The policy at New Paltz is to allow a waiver of the Foreign Language requirement in instances where a student has had significant, documentable education in a country where English is not the language of instruction. A student who can demonstrate through appropriate documentation competencies in oral, reading and written expression in a language other than English may also apply for a waiver. Approval must be obtained through the Foreign Language Department.
Students Majoring in Engineering
Engineering students must meet a modified General Education requirement. For details, please refer to the following pages:
Computer Engineering majors: http://www.newpaltz.edu/ugc/science/engineering/major_computer.html
Electrical Engineering majors: http://www.newpaltz.edu/ugc/science/engineering/major_electrical.html
New Paltz Policy on General Education Courses for Native and Transfer Students
Courses taken at New Paltz:
Students must earn a passing grade in a course to apply it toward a GE requirement. If a student chooses the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading option for a course, it may not be applied toward a GE requirement. However, students have the option to change a grade of Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory back to a letter grade.
Courses taken at another institution:
High school courses: First-year students who took college-level course work in high school and earned a grade of C or better will receive transfer credit for such course work; GE credit will also be granted for courses that meet the SUNY GE requirement.
Courses taken at another SUNY: Students who transfer from another SUNY institution and who earned a grade of C or better in courses that met the SUNY GE requirement will fulfill that requirement at New Paltz and will receive transfer credit for the courses. Earned grades of D+, D or D- in such courses will fulfill the SUNY GE requirement at New Paltz, but transfer credit will not be granted. Upon matriculation at New Paltz, transfer students will be expected to meet New Paltz GE requirements.
Courses taken at an institution outside the SUNY system: Students who transfer from a non-SUNY campus will have their transcript evaluated upon acceptance to New Paltz. A preliminary determination of credits accepted toward the SUNY and New Paltz GE requirements, as well as toward college-wide and major requirements, will be made at that time.
Students transferring to New Paltz:
Although the SUNY system-wide general education requirements have recently undergone revision, each individual campus develops its own GE curriculum and requirements. The New Paltz faculty developed our General Education III program as a fundamental aspect of the character and strength of a New Paltz degree. Therefore, any student who transfers to New Paltz will be required to fulfill the New Paltz GE III requirements. Students may, however, apply waivers to the following categories of New Paltz GEIII requirements that exceed the minimum SUNY system-wide requirements:
Natural Science (the second course may be waived)
Foreign Language (the second course may be waived)
Diversity
Students without a degree are eligible for waivers based on the total number of pre-matriculated credits transferred:
45 credits transferred yields one 3-credit waiver
60 credits transferred yields two 3-credit waivers
75 credits transferred yields three 3-credit waivers
Students transferring to New Paltz with a completed AA or AS degree:
Students who are transferring to New Paltz with an AA or an AS degree are required to meet only the system-wide categories. The New Paltz requirements that exceed the system-wide minimums will be considered met by virtue of degree upon receipt of the final transcript showing the degree award.
Contact Us
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Current Students |
Prospective Students Office of Undergraduate Admission admissions@newpaltz.edu |
