Liberal Arts and Science-General Studies, A.S.

Degree: Associate in Science
HEGIS Code: 5649
Curriculum Code: 0250
Campus Location: City, North, South, Distance
Liberal Arts Division

Pre-Admission Recommendations: HS or HSE (High School Equivalency) Diploma
Career Opportunities/Further Education: Transfer to Bachelor’s Degree Program

SUNY General Education Student Learning Outcomes
Program Description
Program Competencies
SUNY Transfer Path Requirement
Required Courses

The Liberal Arts General Studies curriculum has a dual purpose. The courses provide students subject matter enabling them to transfer to a four-year college or university by providing comprehensive general education, but the curriculum is also designed to provide students a chance to explore other academic programs through open college electives.

Students interested in a flexible, exploratory course of study and the option of a self-structured curriculum may pursue Liberal Arts-General Studies. This program offers the student a course of study leading to an Associate in Science degree and an opportunity to experience courses in other curricula.

SUNY General Education Student Learning Outcomes

The SUNY General Education knowledge and skills areas and the two competencies now function as the basis for the Liberal Arts degree program outcomes. These General Education requirements are detailed in the academic information section of the college catalog.

Program Description

The General Studies curriculum is designed to provide the student with a flexible, exploratory course of study and the option of self-structured curricula without a prior commitment to either specific academic or vocational goals. It is offered day and evening on all campuses, as well as online as a distance learning program. Students may attend on a part-time or full-time basis.

This program serves the needs of students interested in transferring to four-year institutions by ensuring SUNY General Education requirements are fulfilled. The program is also ideal for the student who has an inquisitive mind and wishes to explore a variety of academic options. Graduates may find numerous entry-level positions available in banking, sales, real estate and health and human services.

An applicant for General Studies should contact a college admissions counselor. After notification of acceptance and receipt of placement test scores, the applicant is required to contact the General Studies department for course advisement.

Students matriculated in the General Studies program must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours in SUNY General Education courses. SUNY requires that students earning an AA or AS degree complete core courses in seven (7) of the ten (10) knowledge areas. The 30 core credits required in the General Studies degree must meet this requirement. A minimum of 60 degree credit hours is required to graduate. After SUNY General Education requirements are met, courses may be taken in any college degree course for which the General Studies student qualifies for registration under guidelines established by college academic units or departments.

Program Competencies

Upon graduation with a Liberal Arts and Science-General Studies (AS) degree, the graduate will be able to:

demonstrate an ability to research a topic and provide supportive details;
demonstrate basic literacy in educational technologies;
articulate the connections between different academic disciplines and experiences; and
conduct independent career research.

SUNY Transfer Path Requirement

It is recommended that students matriculating in this program fulfill the SUNY Transfer Path Requirement that most closely aligns with their interest area. Speak to your adviser for details.

Required Courses

Total Degree Credits: 60.0

Required Courses

GS 111 - College Success Skills Credit Hours: 3
GS 299 - Integrative Capstone Credit Hours: 3
EN 110 - College Composition Credit Hours: 3
EN 111 - Composition and Interpretation of Literature Credit Hours: 3
Math Elective Credit Hours: 3-4
2 Social Science Electives Credit Hours: 6
2 Humanities Electives Credit Hours: 6
2 Science Electives Credit Hours: 6-9
1 History/Foreign Language Credit Hours: 3
(Western Civilization, American History, Other World Civilization, or Foreign Language (AN 102 fulfills this category))
Open College Electives to complete a total of 60 credit hours required for the degree.
SUNY General Education Requirement - Note 7

Note:

Student placement in an appropriate English course depends upon the results of a reading and writing placement test.
Student placement in an appropriate mathematics course depends upon the results of a mathematics pretest. Developmental mathematics courses cannot be used for degree credit.*
Social Science: anthropology (AN), economics (EC), government (GO), history (HI), human services (HU), psychology (PS), sociology (SO), geography (GP), social science (SS).
Humanities: EN 114, 140, 141, 150, 151, and EN 205 or higher, music (MU), dance (DN), drama-theatre (DT), art (AT), philosophy (PY), French (FR), Sign Language (SL), Spanish (SP), communication media (CA).
A student may fulfill the open college elective requirement with any degree level course offered through SUNY Erie. However, registration for open college electives will be determined by the availability of space and academic advisement.
Science: astronomy (AS), biology (BI), chemistry (CH), geology (GL), physics (PH).
General Education Requirement: 30 credit hours of SUNY General Education courses are required to graduate. The requirement also calls for at least seven out of ten of SUNY’s General Education Knowledge areas to be fulfilled . General Education credits can simultaneously fulfill requirements in the General Studies major.
PY 102 will not be accepted as a Math elective.
Students who have completed a college degree or certificate program prior to entering the General Studies program will be exempt from GS 111.
A student may substitute GS 299 with SS 250 - Theory and Methods in Social Science.

* See reference to developmental studies elsewhere in catalog

Advisement considers placement test scores.

NOTE: Student should consult his/her academic adviser prior to registering.