General Education

What is General Education?

By completing the General Education program requirements, you are becoming a well-rounded citizen who will have gained knowledge and skills that will prepare you for your future career endeavors.

Another way to answer that question is to try to imagine a meeting of all the faculty where your instructors answer two important questions:

  • What characterizes an educated person? 
  • What courses will assist students in becoming that kind of person? 

The answer to the first question is in the page, The Potsdam Graduate. The Potsdam Graduate is what your instructors are committed to helping you become.

The answer to the second question is the General Education Program itself.

You may find it useful to first visit When did you enter SUNY Potsdam?, which will help you determine whether you need to fulfill the General Education Foundation (GEF) requirements or the First Year Experience Requirements.

The other requirements, (Modes of Inquiry, writing & speaking intensive, modern language and physical education requirements) are also further explained in this site.

For Questions & Concerns contact:
Caroline Downing
712 Raymond Hall
(315) 267-2138



Use this website as your reference, guide and planner for the next four years.

It contains essential information that will allow you to successfully design an educational experience that will serve you for the rest of your life.