- Only those students who have been formally admitted to the university through the general admission process are considered to be degree candidates.
- No student may graduate under degree requirements obsolete more than 10 years.
Student are eligible for a New Paltz degree upon completion of:
At least 120 academic credits
The General Education program*
A minimum number of Liberal Arts credits
The difference between degree types is the minimum number of credits completed in liberal arts courses:
- 90 for the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree
- 60 for the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree
- 30 for the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree
Most courses offered by the university are liberal arts courses and are designated as such in the Schedule of Classes. Courses which are technical or skill oriented are "non-liberal arts" courses and have no designation in the Schedule of Classes. Transfer credits evaluated as liberal arts credits are applied to the Liberal Arts requirement.
At least 45 upper-division credits
Any course at the 300 or 400 level (e.g., ECO303) is an upper-division course and its credits are applied to this requirement. Transfer credits evaluated as upper division are also applied to this requirement.
At least 30 credits in residence
Work taken "in residence" comprises courses offered by SUNY New Paltz or in an overseas program sponsored by SUNY New Paltz or any SUNY-funded overseas program. Residential credit also includes:
- Courses taken while enrolled as a non-matriculated student at the university;
- SUNY New Paltz courses offered at locations other than the main campus;
- New Paltz courses offered online.
Credits that do not count toward the university's residency requirement include:
- Transfer credits;
- Credit earned through examination;
- Online courses taken elsewhere, including courses taken through Open SUNY. These are considered transfer credits.
Academic major requirements
Students will be expected to fulfill the major requirements that are in effect at the date of the declaration or redeclaration of their major. One-half of the major credits must be taken in residence, as defined above. See also Progress Towards Degree, "Degree Time Limitation" section.
A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of C (2.00 on a 4.00 grading scale)
For information on how to compute a cumulative average, see Academic Policies: Grade Point Average (GPA).
A Writing Intensive (WI) course taught at New Paltz
This applies to all New Paltz students, including transfer students, except those who are pursuing a second Bachelor's degree.
*Notes for readmitted students:
- Students who leave New Paltz and are readmitted within 3 years (6 consecutive semesters) may continue under the General Education program in effect at the time of their separation from the university.
- Students who are readmitted more than 3 years (6 consecutive semesters) after separation must meet all requirements of the General Education program in effect at the time of their readmission.
- Students who are readmitted after a dismissal must meet all requirements of the General Education program in effect at the time of their readmission.
