Undergraduate Degree Requirements

The requirements for a baccalaureate degree at SUNY Plattsburgh consist of a major and a general education program, which is intended to provide the skills, breadth of knowledge, and perspectives all university graduates should have beyond the major. The bachelor’s degree may also consist of electives and/or a minor. In addition, there are a number of overall degree or graduation requirements. 

Graduation Requirements

Candidates for bachelor’s degrees must meet the following requirements:

1. General Education Requirements
   Completion of all courses necessary to meet the general education requirements. Certain courses may satisfy both general education requirements as well as requirements in the major. For more information, see General Education: The Cardinal Core Curriculum . 
2. Major Requirements
   Completion of all courses required in the major, including departmental requirements, cognate requirements (if any), and for childhood education majors, the liberal arts concentration. Some majors also require course grades and GPAs above the university minimum.
3. Credit Hours
   1. A minimum of 120 credit hours is required for graduation. Because of certification requirements, students in some programs must complete more than 120 credit hours. For students in combined bachelors/masters programs, the first 12 hours of graduate credit will count toward the 120 total credits required for the undergraduate degree, as well as toward credit hours required for commencement honors eligibility.
   2. As part of the 120 credits, students must complete a minimum of 90 credits in the liberal arts to be eligible for the bachelor of arts or a minimum of 60 credits in the liberal arts to be eligible for the bachelor of science.
   3. Also as part of the 120 credits, students must complete courses in the university’s general education program as well as university elective courses. Some programs require a minor and all programs allow a minor to count toward the required number of university elective credits. Students may elect to pursue more than one minor and these credits will also apply toward the required number of university elective credits.
   4. Students may transfer a maximum of 67 credit hours from a two-year college.
   5. Students transferring from a four-year university may transfer a maximum of 84 credit hours provided that at least 17 of those credit hours were completed at the four-year university and that they meet other appropriate residency requirements at the university.
   6. A minimum of 45 credit hours of upper-division courses, designated by SUNY Plattsburgh as 300 or 400 level, or its equivalent is required for graduation. Of these upper-division credits, 21 credits must be earned at SUNY Plattsburgh. For students in combined bachelors/masters programs, the first 12 hours of graduate credit will count toward the 45 upper division credits required for the undergraduate degree.
   7. Students may apply a maximum of four credit hours of physical education activity courses (PED 100-PED 194) toward their degree.
4. Residency Requirements
   1. University Residency: A minimum of 36 credit hours must be completed through coursework offered by SUNY Plattsburgh, with the exception of active duty service members who must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours at SUNY Plattsburgh. Credit earned through examinations may not be counted toward this requirement.
   2. Senior Residency: A student must earn 30 of the last 36 credits in courses through SUNY Plattsburgh. Exceptions:
      1. students in programs that require final coursework to be completed off campus (i.e., medical technology, 3+2 pre-professional options);
      2. students completing final course work in SUNY-sponsored study abroad and/or student exchange programs such as the National Student Exchange program (sponsored by a university center or four-year liberal arts university);
      3. students completing final course work through approved cross registration; and
      4. students majoring in the upper division nursing (i.e. RN-to-BS) program; and
      5. active duty servicemembers.
   3. Major Residency: A student must complete at least 18 credit hours in the chosen major through coursework offered by SUNY Plattsburgh. These 18 credit hours may not include credit gained by proficiency examination. Note that some programs require that a larger number of credit hours in the major be completed through SUNY Plattsburgh courses.
   4. Commencement Honors Residency: A minimum of 36 credit hours of coursework graded A through E must be completed through coursework offered by SUNY Plattsburgh to be eligible for the designation of commencement honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, cum laude). 

5. Grade Point Average
   The minimum requirement to qualify for graduation is a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and an overall 2.0 average in courses which are required major courses (not including cognate courses). In addition, all students, including transfer students, must obtain a minimum grade of C (2.0) in College Writing II (ENG 101 ). Some academic departments also have approved policies requiring minimum grades in specific courses or major sequences. Students should see individual listings of major programs for specific requirements.

6. Commencement Honors
   Commencement honors are based on the student’s undergraduate GPA at Plattsburgh. Students must complete at least 36 credit hours of residence study graded A through E at SUNY Plattsburgh to be eligible for honors designations at graduation. Special recognition of superior scholastic achievement is given with the designation of summa cum laude (3.9-4.0 GPA), magna cum laude (3.7-3.89 GPA), and cum laude (3.4-3.69 GPA).

7. Special Consideration Readmission Requirement (Academic Amnesty)
   Students must complete a minimum of 24 credits at SUNY Plattsburgh after being readmitted under this policy.