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General Education Requirements

CUNY Pathways

In Fall 2013, CUNY implemented the Pathways initiative across its undergraduate colleges. Pathways has established a new system of general education requirements and new transfer guidelines across the University–and by doing so has reinforced CUNY’s educational excellence while easing student transfer between CUNY colleges. The centerpiece of this initiative is a 30-credit general education Common Core. Importantly, once fulfilled at one CUNY college, these general education credits will carry over seamlessly if a student transfers to another CUNY college. Learn more about how credits transfer in the Pathways curriculum structure for CUNY and non-CUNY Associate and Bachelor degree holders on CUNY’s Pathways website.

CUNY GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS CONSIST OF:

  • Common Core (all students)

  • College Option (students in bachelor’s degree programs)

COMMON CORE

  • Required Common Core (12 credits / 4 courses) **

  • English Composition (2 courses)

  • Mathematical and Quantitative Reasoning (1 course)

  • Life and Physical Sciences (1 course)

FLEXIBLE COMMON CORE (18 credits / 6 courses) **

  • World Cultures and Global Issues (1 course)

  • U.S. Experience in Its Diversity (1 course)

  • Creative Expression (1 course)

  • Individual and Society (1 course)

  • Scientific World (1 course)

  • One additional course will be taken from one of the above areas.***

**For students in AA, AS and bachelor’s degree programs.

***In many cases, individual colleges will specify how the sixth course must be chosen. In addition, in most cases, students can complete for Common Core credit no more than two courses in any single discipline (e.g., history) or interdisciplinary field (e.g. women’s studies). Again, it is essential to consult college guidelines.