General Education Program (College Core Curriculum)

The revised General Education Program at SUNY Fredonia is better aligned with the overall SUNY general education template. The categories have been renumbered and renamed to match the SUNY categories, and the former Upper Level requirement was eliminated by Senate vote during the Spring semester of 2011. It is important to note that in the future, students will need only one Basic Communication - Oral course to meet the Basic Communication category requirements, rather than the former requirement of two Speaking Intensive courses.

Approved courses, distributed as follows. For more information on approved courses in each category, the General Education Master List can be found at the following link: http://www.fredonia.edu/department/gened/SUNY_Fredonia_General_Education_Program.asp.

Category

Credit Hours

1. Mathematics:

http://www.fredonia.edu/department/gened/mathematics.asp

3

2. Natural Sciences:

http://www.fredonia.edu/department/gened/naturalscience.asp

(Two courses from different disciplines; only one may be from Mathematical Sciences or Computer & Information Sciences. Requirements for certification or licensure may be different; check with program Advisor.)

6

3. Social Sciences:

http://www.fredonia.edu/department/gened/socialsciences.asp

(Two courses from different disciplines; only one may be from Business Administration, Education, History, Communication or Communication Disorders.)

6

4. American History:

http://www.fredonia.edu/department/gened/history.asp

(Students who scored below 85 on the NYS American History and Government Regents Exam must take either HIST 105 or HIST 106 or HIST 133 to meet this category; all other students may take a course in American History-A or American History-B.)

3

5. Western Civilization:

http://www.fredonia.edu/department/gened/westciv.asp

3

6. Other World Civilizations:

http://www.fredonia.edu/department/gened/worldhistory.asp

3

7. Humanities:

http://www.fredonia.edu/department/gened/humanities.asp

3

8. Arts:

http://www.fredonia.edu/department/gened/arts.asp

3

9. Foreign Languages*:

http://www.fredonia.edu/department/gened/forlang.asp

0-6

To demonstrate proficiency, all students may do one of the following:

  • Score 85 or higher on a N.Y.S. Regents Foreign Language Exam.
  • Complete the externally-administered standardized test for foreign language of either the AP (3 or higher) or CLEP (50th percentile or higher).
  • Have native fluency of a language other than English.
  • Study abroad with a language component (and submit a Course Appeal/Substitution request to the Office of the Associate Provost for Curriculum & Academic Support prior to traveling abroad), or
  • Successfully complete a 3-6 credit foreign language course at SUNY Fredonia in this category at the appropriate level (115 or 116 or 120/121).

Students enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts program must demonstrate a language proficiency at the 116 level or beyond; in some cases this may mean also taking a 115 level course as a prerequisite.  For BA students, this prerequisite course does not count as completion of this category.  

To demonstrate proficiency, students enrolled in some professional programs, those leading to certification in elementary or secondary education, or programs leading to careers where there is likely to be significant contact with the hearing impaired (e.g., Early Childhood Education, Childhood Education, Childhood Inclusive Education, Middle Childhood Education, Adolescence Education, Music Education, Communication Disorders and Sciences, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology), may successfully complete 3 or 6 credits of ASL).  Inquiries related to the ASL proficiency should be directed to the Associate Provost for Curriculum & Academic Support.

Students unsure of their proficiency in any area other than ASL should consult with the Chair of the Department of Modern Languages & Literatures. 

Only the completion of a 115, 116 SPAN 120/121 or ASL course will earn credit hours; all other options will fulfill this category but earn 0 credit hours.

10. Basic Communication (Written component)

http://www.fredonia.edu/department/gened/written.asp

3

11. Speaking-Intensive Requirement

(Oral component of the Basic Communication requirement for SUNY)

 http://www.fredonia.edu/department/gened/speakingguidlines.asp

0-3

Transfer students may receive credit in categories 1 through 11 of the General Education Program for similar courses taken at other colleges or approved advanced placement courses and exams. Any course approved for the SUNY General Education Requirements from a SUNY college or university will be accepted as a course in the corresponding Fredonia General Education Category.

*With the exception of American Sign Language, the Modern Language department will use its best professional judgment in determining when students have fulfilled the learning outcomes of the foreign language requirement in ways other than those sketched above. Issues related to American Sign Language are directed to the Communications Disorders and Sciences Department or the Chair of the General Education Committee. Moreover, under appropriate circumstances, waivers of the requirement will be taken under consideration by the Associate Provost for Curriculum & Academic Support.

Questions pertaining to the General Education Program may be directed to Dr. Melinda Karnes, Associate Provost for Curriculum & Academic Support at (716) 673-3717. More information on the General Education Program can be found on the general education web page at http://www.fredonia.edu/department/gened or by emailing ccc.office@fredonia.edu.