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Information for Students Who Joined Lehman College Before Fall 2013

You can choose between the old (before Fall 2013) and the new General Education model. To help you make a choice, here is what we suggest:

  • See an Academic Advisor in the Academic Advisement Center (link) to discuss which General Education model is a better fit for you, given your degree progress, your interests, and your professional/graduate school goals.
  • Use the comparison chart (click) or follow these steps (click) to consider what kinds of requirements you still need to complete in each of the General Education models, and ask yourself which ones are most appealing to you.

Comparison chart (old vs. new General Education models)

 

OLD
(Pre-2013 LEHMAN GEN ED)

Credits

NEW
(2013 GEN ED = CUNY PATHWAYS)

Credits

Foundation (4 courses)

 

Required Core (6 courses)

ENG110

3

ENG111

3

ENG120

3

ENG121

3

MAT (1 mathematics course above MAT125)

4

MAT126 (or a STEM Variant in Mathematical and Quantitative Reasoning)

3 to 4

Foreign Language (1 200-level, or 2 100 level)

3 to 9

Foreign Language* (2 courses in one language)
*Note: This is called "College Option" by CUNY)

6

 

Laboratory Science (or a STEM Variant in science)

3 to 5

 

13 to 19

Total 

18 to 21

 

 

Distribution (9 courses)

 

Flexible Core (6 courses)

Natural Science (two courses)

8 to 10

 

Areas: Once course from each area

21

One from each area, and one from any

18

1. Individuals and Society

1. World Cultures and Global Issues

2. Socio-Political Structures

2. US Experience in Its Diversity

3. Literature

3. Creative Expression

4. The Arts

4. Individual and Society

5. Comparative Culture

5. Scientific World*

6. Historical Studies

 

7. Knowledge, Self and Values

*If a STEM Variant, then add 1 to 2 credits 

1 or 2

 

29 to 31

Total

 

18 to 20

Integration (2 courses)

 

College Option (2 courses)

Choose two not in the area of the major:

6

Choose two not in the area of the major:

6

LEH 351 Studies in Sci & Applied Perspectives

LEH 351 Studies in Sci & Applied Perspectives

LEH 352 Studies in Literature

LEH 352 Studies in Literature

LEH 353 Studies in the Arts

LEH 353 Studies in the Arts

LEH 354 Historical Studies

LEH 354 Historical Studies

LEH 355 Studies in Phil, Theory & Abstract Thinking

LEH 355 Studies in Phil, Theory & Abstract Thinking

 

 

 

6

Total

 

6

Total Credits

48 to 56

 

Total Credits

42 to 47

 

Step-by-step Decision Guide

Students who are currently enrolled at Lehman and who are fulfilling the Lehman pre-2013 Gen Ed Program requirements may elect to change to the new CUNY 2013 Gen Ed Program requirements.

Follow these steps to help you decide whether you should opt-in to the New CUNY 2013 Gen Ed Program, because it could potentially reduce your time, credits, and money needed for graduation.

Compare the courses and credits you still have to complete under the current Lehman pre-2013 Gen Ed with the courses and credits that you would have to complete under the new CUNY 2013 Gen Ed.

  • Use this chart to understand how the Lehman pre-2013 and CUNY 2013 Gen Ed Programs differ: Click here to see a Comparison Chart.
  • Print and fill in the Old General Education Requirements checklist. General Education Requirements Checklist 2002 Curriculum
  • Print and fill in the New General Education Requirements checklist. Check list for the CUNY 2013 General Education Program
  • Use these forms and the chart to calculate whether you have fewer courses and credits to complete under the new CUNY 2013 Gen Ed curriculum.
  • Check your calculations by using the Degree Works audit (click) to confirm how many of the old pre-2013 Lehman Gen Ed requirements you’ve already completed and how many more you would still need to complete.  Do the same with the new CUNY Gen Ed requirements.
  • Consider what kinds of requirements you still need to complete in each of the Gen Ed Programs, and ask yourself which ones are most appealing to you (e.g. the old Gen Ed model requires two lab sciences while the New Gen Ed model requires one lab science and another non-lab science; the old Gen Ed model requires 7 Distribution courses not including science, while the new Gen Ed model requires 6 Distribution courses including science). Bear in mind that it is difficult to predict which Gen Ed will be best for you unless you check every required course: just because the new CUNY 2013 Gen Ed may require fewer courses and credits, this does not mean that it will necessarily be to your advantage to change.  Much depends on the courses you have already taken and which requirements they fulfill under each Gen Ed model.
  • If you think it will be to your advantage to choose the new CUNY 2013 Gen Ed, make an appointment to see an advisor or click here to opt-in to the new model. You may schedule an appointment with an advisor online: Click here for instructions.
  • If you decide to "opt-in" to the new Gen Ed model, your academic advisor will make the Opt-In Checklist available to you within your CUNYfirst account. You can make the decision to "opt in" only once: your decision to choose the new CUNY 2013 Gen Ed requirements is final and cannot be changed.  (Can this option be available to all pre Fall 2013 students without advisor’s input? See JJ)

Within your CUNYfirst account, you will be asked to accept the following opt-in declaration:

Students who opt-in to Pathways are subject to the following terms:

  • Changing to Pathways will change the existing degree requirements need to obtain an Undergraduate degree.
  • Changing to Pathways will require students to take Pathways approved courses.
  • Changing to Pathways may require students to take additional credits, which may extend the anticipated graduation date.
  • Changing to Pathways may cause previously completed general education coursework to NOT count towards general education Pathways requirements.
  • Once a Pathways requirement is completed, this requirement is also considered fulfilled upon transfer to any other CUNY college.
  • Due to the change of general education requirement under Pathways, a student’s eligibility to receive Federal and State Financial Aid may be affected.
  • Students who decline to Opt-In to Pathways will still be required to fulfill Pathways requirements at all other CUNY colleges upon transfer.
  • Pathways ensure courses successfully completed for credit transfer to any other CUNY college; however, students must still meet transfer admission requirements to be accepted to specific CUNY programs and colleges.

After reading the above stated terms and with consultation of an academic advisor, I hereby accept and agree to OPT-IN to Pathways  I understand that once I opt-in, I cannot reverse this decision and must complete the new Pathways requirements and major curricula requirements to earn a CUNY degree.

  • Yes, I choose to Opt-In to Pathways
    By selecting Yes, I understand that my Catalog Requirement Term will change
  • No, I choose to follow my current Catalog Requirements

The old General Education Requirements:

The old General Education Requirements

Foundation

  • English Composition (1-2 courses)
  • Mathematics (1 course)
  • Foreign Language (1-2 courses)
  • Writing Intensive (4 courses)

Distribution

  • Individual and Society (1 course)
  • Literature (1 course)
  • Knowledge, Self and Values (1 course)
  • Socio-Political Structures (1 course)
  • The Arts (1 course)
  • Natural Sciences (2 courses with lab)
  • Comparative Culture (1 course)
  • Historical Studies (1 course)

Integration

  • Multidisciplinary courses (2) on Liberal Arts & Sciences and
  • The American Experience

Details:

Foundation

Courses that build a strong basis in communication and quantitative skills for successful general and specialized learning

English

  • ENG 110: Principles of Effective Writing I
  • ENG 120: Principles of Effective Writing II
  • Complete a 6-credit sequence in English composition: students must enroll in the appropriate English composition course each semester until ENG 120 is passed.

Foreign Language

All students must complete at least one semester of a foreign language. Students may take a new (beginning or introductory) foreign language, in which case two semesters are required (numbered 111-112, or 113-114, or 103-104); or, students may complete one foreign language course at the intermediate level or above of a language previously studied (such as those numbered 201 or higher);

Students who continue in a foreign language previously studied in high school or college must be placed in the proper sequential course by the Languages and Literatures Department. The Department conducts regular placement examinations and advising for placement in foreign languages.  All students need to receive permission from the Department in order to register for any foreign language course. The Department of Languages and Literatures is located in Carman Hall, Room 257, telephone 718.960.8215.  Click here for complete contact information. (More information - click). 

Some students for whom English is a second language may fulfill the requirement by successfully completing two courses in ESL at the 103 level or above.

Languages offered:

 Foreign Language Requirement for Heritage Speakers and Foreign Transfer Students - click

Quantitative Skills (1-3 courses)

Unless exempted, successfully complete one three- or four-credit college-level mathematics
course numbered 125 or higher, or three one-credit mathematics courses numbered between
180 and 199. Many students take one of these courses:

  • MAT 132: Introduction to Statistics. (Recommended for social science majors and
    majors in the Health Services)
  • MAT 171: Problem Solving for Management, Economics, and Life Sciences.
    OR MAT 172: Precalculus. (Recommended for students majoring in Accounting, Business Administration, Computer Information Systems, and Economics)
  • MAT 174: Elements of Calculus (Recommended or required for students majoring in
    Accounting, Computer Information Systems, Economics, and Business Administration) OR
  • MAT 175: Calculus I (Required for students in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Graphics
    and Imaging, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Pre-engineering, and Pre-med)

NOTE: Consult the Mathematics and Computer Science Department (Gillet 211) about
which courses you will need to take in order to complete your mathematics requirement.

Distribution

Courses that extend critical thinking across a range of liberal arts and sciences disciplines to provide a broad learning experience. Note: No more than two courses from the same department may be used to satisfy the distribution requirement.

Individuals and Society (Area I)

Choose One Course

A systematic study of individuals, their impact on society and society's impact on them: introduction to typical modes of inquiry and systematic ways of thinking about the topic

  • ANT (WST) 206: Women and Men: Anthropological Perspectives
  • AAS (WST) 239: Black Women in America
  • LAC 231: Latinos in the United States
  • LAC 232: Family and Gender Relations among Latinos
  • LNG 150: The Phenomena of Language
  • POL 230: Immigration and Citizenship
  • PSY 166: General Psychology
  • SOC 166: Fundamentals of Sociology

Socio-Political Structures (Area II) - Choose One Course

Systematic study of the organizations and institutions of modern society: introduction to typical modes of inquiry and thinking

  • ANT 211: Intro. to Cultural Anthropology
  • AAS 166: Intro. To African and African American Studies
  • AAS (HIS) 248: African History
  • ECO 166: Intro. To Macroeconomics.
  • GEH 101: Intro. to Geography
  • GEH 235: Conservation of the Environment
  • GEP 204: Basic Mapping: Applications and Analysis
  • GEP 210: Intro. To Environmental Science
  • POL 150: Contemporary Political Issues
  • POL 166: American Political System
  • POL 211: Public Policy
  • POL 217: Criminal Justice

Literature (Area III) - Choose One Course

Close readings of texts from various authors, periods, genres and the critical methods

  • AAS(LAC) 241:Literature of the English and Francophone Caribbean
  • AAS 242: African Literature
  • AAS 267: African American Literature
  • ENG 222: Literary Genres
  • ENG 223: English Literature
  • ENG 226: Shakespeare
  • ENG 227: American Literature
  • ENG 229: Contemporary Urban Writers
  • ENG (WST) 234: Women in Literature
  • ENG 260: American Minority Literature
  • FRE 232: Francophone World
  • IDW (CLT) 211: Classics of Western World:  Ancient & Medieval
  • IDW (CLT) 212: Classics of Western World:  Renaissance & Modern
  • IDW(CLT) 213: Classics of the Asian World
  • LAC (PRS) 214: Literature of the Caribbean
  • SPA (LAC ) 233: Latin American Literature in Translation

The Arts (Area IV) - Choose One Course

Introduction to art, music, dance, theatre and the terminology, techniques or tools of each: to
learn a medium of creative expression and to actively participate in individual aesthetic and
creative experiences

  • ARH 135: Introduction to the History of Asian Art - Islamic, Buddhist, and Hindu Cultures
  • ARH 137: Introduction to the History of Non- Western Art
  • ARH141:Introduction to the History of Modern Art
  • ARH 167: Tradition and Innovation in Art of the West
  • ART 109: Observation and Visual Experience
  • ART 110: Elements of Visual Communication
  • AAS 266: Contemporary Black Music
  • COM 212: History of the Cinema I
  • COM 213: History of the Cinema II
  • DNC 235: Dance Perspectives
  • HUM 250: The City & the Theatre
  • MSH 114: Intro. to Music
  • THE 241: The Art of the Theatre
  • THE 243: Alternative Lifestyles in Drama

Comparative Culture (Area V) - Choose One Course

Systematic thinking about similarities and differences among cultures to develop an appreciation
of cultural dynamics from a comparative perspective.

  • ANT (WST)(LAC) 210: Women in Latin America
  • ANT 230-238: Selected Studies in Society and Culture
  • AAS 232: African Civilizations
  • AAS(LAC) 235: Afro-Caribbean Societies
  • AAS(WST) 240: Women In African Society
  • GEH 240: Urban Geography
  • HIS 240: East Asian Civilization
  • HIS 249 Islamic Civilization
  • IAS(ANT)(SOC) 250: The Italian-American Community
  • MES 245: Middle Eastern Studies
  • MLJ 211: Intro to Multilingual Media
  • POL 266: Politics and Culture
  • POL (RUS) 220: Russia Today
  • PRS 213: Puerto Rican Culture

Historical Studies (Area VI) - Choose One Course

Systematic historical study of the world’s major events, ideas, institutions and personalities: understanding of and critical thinking about these topics

  • ANT 212: Ancient Peoples and Cultures
  • AAS (HIS) 245: History of African Americans
  • HIS 241: Modern Western Civilization 17-19th Century
  • HIS 242: Contemporary European History
  • HIS 243: The Foundation of the U.S.
  • HIS 244: Modern United States History
  • HIS 246: Civilizations of the Ancient World
  • HIS 247: Medieval Civilization
  • HIS 250: Understanding History: Selected Topics
  • LAC (HIS) 266: Introduction to Latin America & The Caribbean I
  • LAC (HIS) 267: Introduction to Latin America & The Caribbean II
  • POL 241: Globalization
  • PRS 212: History of Puerto Rico

Knowledge, Self, and Values (Area VII) - Choose One Course

Systematic and critical thinking about central moral and philosophical issues such as freedom and justice; right, good, and evil; mind and matter; knowledge, belief, and opinion; cause, reason, and explanation.

  • ACU 266: Classical Myth & the Human Condition
  • AMS 111: American Culture: Value & Traditions
  • AAS (PHI) 169: Intro. to African Philosophy
  • PHI 170: Introduction to Logic
  • PHI 171: Problems of Philosophy
  • PHI 172: Contemporary Moral Issues
  • PHI 173: Justice and Society
  • PHI 174: Theories of Human Nature
  • PHI 175: Philosophy of Religion
  • POL 172: Great Political Thinkers

Natural Science - Choose Two Courses (with labs)

Complete two semesters of natural science courses with an attached laboratory course.

Select from the following courses:

  • ANT 171: Intro. to Human Evolution
  • ANT 269: Intro. to Human Variation
  • AST 117: Astronomy of Stellar Systems
  • AST 136: Astronomy of Solar Systems
  • BIO 166: Intro. to Organismic Biology
  • BIO 167: Principles of Biology
  • BIO 183: Human Biology
  • BIO 184: Plants and People
  • CHE 114/5: Essentials of General Chemistry
  • CHE 136: Elements of Chemistry
  • CHE 166/167: General Chemistry
  • GEO 100: Marine Science
  • GEO 101: Physical Geology
  • GEO 166: Processes of Global Change
  • GEO 167: Evolution of the Earth
  • PHY 135: Fund. Concepts of Physics
  • PHY 140: Physics of Sound

Integration (for Juniors and Seniors)

Two interdisciplinary courses, each involving at least three different disciplines, writing assignments, and computer-based work along with research involving the library and Internet.

Pre-requisite 60 credits.

  • LEH 300: Studies in the Humanities and the Sciences Selected topics in the humanities and
    the sciences studied from different disciplinary perspectives.
  • LEH 301: The American Experience. An in-depth and interdisciplinary analysis of aspects of
    American society and culture with an emphasis on the question of what it means to be American

Writing Intensive Sections - 3 before 60, 1 after 60 credits

Complete 4 sections designated as writing-intensive, 3 prior to earning the 60th credit and 1 following. Individual sections of courses will be designated as writing-intensive (by a W) and are offered in General Education, major, minor, and elective courses.