Binghamton University students must successfully complete all General Education requirements as a condition of graduation. Generally speaking, General Education requirements are not waived for any students. However, we are aware that some students with special circumstances feel their situation warrants a waiver of one of the General Education requirements. Appeals of General Education requirements are considered by the University Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (UUCC), the committee which oversees Binghamton's General Education program. The UUCC's decision regarding an appeal is final.
Questions regarding waivers of General Education requirements should be directed to Liz Abate, Coordinator of General Education, at x72146 or labate@binghamton.edu.
IMPORTANT: Before you submit a petition, please read the following to see if your question is answered. Also check out the FAQ page for information on Advanced Placement, CLEP, the Pluralism requirement, and transfer courses.
I think the course I'm taking should fulfill a Gen Ed requirement even though it isn't listed as a Gen Ed course. What can I do?
Prior to the Add Deadline for a semester, instructors or departments can submit courses for designation as Gen Ed courses. The request has to come from the instructor or department, not students. If it is prior to the Add Deadline and you feel your course meets a Gen Ed requirement, we suggest you talk with your instructor to see if she or he is interested in submitting it for Gen Ed designation. It is up to the instructor whether he or she wishes to do so. Any course submitted after the Add Deadline will not be considered for designation.
I took a course last semester (last year, etc.) that I think should have fulfilled a Gen Ed requirement but it didn't. Is there anything I can do?
Unfortunately, once a course has been completed, it cannot be designated as meeting a Gen Ed requirement.
I need another C course. Can I count the course I am taking as a C?
There are two different types of writing requirements at Binghamton:
If you have questions about a C course, first check your DARS report. Is the General Education Composition requirement marked as complete?
I am taking MUSP courses. Can I use them to fulfill my Aesthetics requirement?
Yes. See the Frequently Asked Questions page for more information: http://gened.binghamton.edu/faq.html#musp
Students may only request to be proficiency tested in languages they did not study in high school. Non-native English speakers may fulfill the Foreign Language requirement by alternate means. For more information, read the downloadable form Policies on Proficiency Testing (in Microsoft Word format). If you have any additional questions, contact your advisor for more information.
I need an Activity (or Wellness, or Both Activity/Wellness) course. I run (or swim/work out at a local gym/teach karate, etc.). Can I use that to fulfill the requirement?
No. You cannot use any Physical Activity or Wellness experiences taken outside of a credit-bearing college course to fulfill General Education requirements. For example, you cannot use classes taken at health clubs or fitness facilities or self-directed fitness activities such as running, swimming, dance, or weightlifting. Basic training in one of the armed forces also cannot be used to fulfill Physical Activity or Wellness requirements.
My advisor said this Gen Ed requirement was fulfilled, but DARS says I still need the requirement. I think I was misadvised. Can I appeal this?
If you appeal on the grounds that you were misadvised about your General Education requirements, you must provide documentation of the advising error in order for your petition to be considered. Specifically, if you state in your appeal that your advisor told you that a particular General Education requirement was completed or that you did not need to take a course to fulfill a particular General Education requirement, you must provide a statement from the advisor in which he/she affirms that you were misadvised. This documentation is necessary for your appeal to be considered; it does not guarantee your appeal will be granted.
I had a DARS report that showed I was done with this Gen Ed requirement, but my new DARS says I still need to take the course. I think DARS misadvised me. Can I appeal this?
If you appeal on the grounds that you were misadvised about your General Education requirements, you must provide documentation of the advising error in order for your petition to be considered. Specifically, if you state in your appeal that your DARS report showed that a particular General Education requirement was completed and that you did not need to take a course, you must provide a hard copy of the DARS report with your petition. This documentation is necessary for your appeal to be considered; it does not guarantee your appeal will be granted.
I have a medical condition or disability that prevents me from taking Activity courses. Can the Y requirement be waived?
If you wish to request a waiver of the Activity requirement on the basis of a medical condition or a documented temporary or permanent physical disability, you should first contact the University Health Service. Students with serious medical conditions or temporary or permanent disabilities may be assigned to the ACR (adaptive, corrective, rehabilitative) program or have the requirement waived. Petitions for waivers on this basis must be accompanied by a letter from the Medical Director of the University Health Service stating that, in the doctor's medical opinion, the Activity requirement should be waived. Please be aware, however, that the doctor's decision may be to assign you to the ACR program rather than waiving the requirement.
I have a documented disability that affects my ability to fulfill a Gen Ed requirement. What should I do?
If you wish to request a substitution or waiver for a General Education requirement on the basis of a documented permanent disability, you must be registered with the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office. Petitions for substitutions or waivers on the basis of a documented disability must be accompanied by a letter from the SSD office, documenting that you have a disability that would significantly impede your ability to meet the requirement. Students with documented disabilities who feel their disabilities will impact their ability to learn a foreign language should also contact the SSD office. Please note: The SSD office has very strict requirements concerning documentation of disabilities, particularly those that cannot be visibly recognized and quantified. Prior to visiting the SSD Office, please refer to their documentation requirements on their website (http://ssd.binghamton.edu/).
(Links to University Bulletin)
(Links to PDFs)
Designed & maintained by Liz Abate. Last updated November 20, 2009