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Liberal Arts and Science Requirement for Degrees

Courses are classified as liberal arts and sciences (RLA) or as non-liberal arts and sciences (RNL).  These designations appear on each course in both the undergraduate catalog and CUNYfirst. For undergraduate degrees, the New York State Department of Education requires that a portion of the credit hours in the degree program must be in the liberal arts and sciences. These requirements are:

  • Associate in Arts (AA), three-quarters of the credits shall be in the liberal arts and sciences

  • Associate in Science (AS), one-half of the credits shall be in the liberal arts and sciences

  • Associate in Applied Science (AAS), one-third of the credits shall be in the liberal arts and sciences

  • Bachelor of Arts (BA), three-quarters of the credits shall be in the liberal arts and sciences

  • Bachelor of Science (BS), one-half of the credits shall be in the liberal arts and sciences

  • Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), one-forth of the credits shall be in the liberal arts and sciences.

For more information, please refer to the NYSED Department Expectations: Curriculum.