Purpose

This policy states the credit requirements and residency requirements for each type of undergraduate
degree offered at Empire State University.

Definitions

Advanced Level: Study that builds on introductory level learning that involves higher levels of
abstraction, increasingly extensive knowledge, complex content, and greater methodological
sophistication. It is also known as upper-level study.

Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: Liberal Arts and Sciences studies have a strong theoretical
content, generally from the disciplines of the humanities, natural sciences, mathematics, and social
sciences. Department Expectations: Curriculum | New York State Education Department (nysed.gov)

Residency Requirement: The minimum number of earned SUNY Empire credits required to be awarded a
degree from the institution.

Specialized Baccalaureate Degree: A bachelor’s degree often focused on a professional field and that
does not fit in the B.A. or B.S. category (e.g. B.P.S. or B.B.A.).

Statements

SUNY Empire degrees must meet the minimum number of credit requirements identified in SUNY and
New York State Education Department policy, which vary by type of degree.
Students seeking to enroll for a second bachelor's at SUNY Empire should first consider that they might
be better served by enrolling in an appropriate certificate program, master's program, or taking courses
as non-matriculated SUNY Empire students.

Degree Designations

Associate Degree

• Associate degrees require a minimum of 60 credits.
• The Associate in Arts designation requires a minimum of 45 liberal arts and sciences credits.
• The Associate in Science designation requires a minimum of 30 liberal arts and sciences credits.

Bachelor’s Degree

• Bachelor’s degrees require a minimum of 120 credits.
• The Bachelor of Arts degree designation requires a minimum of 90 liberal arts and sciences credits.
• The Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees require a minimum of 60 liberal arts and sciences credits.
• Specialized baccalaureate degrees, such as the Bachelor of Professional Studies (B.P.S.) and the Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) must contain at least 30 credits of liberal arts and sciences.
• All bachelor’s degrees require at least 45 credits of advanced-level studies.
• Bachelor’s degrees with a double concentration within the single degree will not receive two degrees.

Second Bachelor’s Degree

• Students with a completed SUNY Empire bachelor's degree must reapply for admission to pursue a second bachelor's degree.
• Second bachelor’s degrees require a minimum of 120 credits with at least 30 new credits of learning.
• Previous credit from Empire State University, from other accredited degree granting institutions, and awarded individualized prior learning may be credited toward a second bachelor's degree up to a limit of 90 credits.
• A second bachelor's degree must meet a significantly different educational objective from the first degree.

Residency Requirements

• For an associate degree, a minimum of 24 credits must be taken at SUNY Empire unless stated otherwise in the program requirements in the university catalog
• For a bachelor’s degree, a minimum of 30 credits must be taken at SUNY Empire
• Assessed prior learning (including PLA and PLE) does not count toward the residency requirement.

Applicable Legislation and Regulations

• Minimum Credit Requirement
• Policy and Guidance: Seamless Transfer Requirements
• Program Registration Guidance Documents

Related References, Policies, Procedures, Forms and Appendices

• Individualized Degree Program Design, Review, and Approval Policy
• Individualized Prior Learning Assessment Policy