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SUNY GCC - Genesee Community College

The General Education program at GCC is a one year certificate program. The General Education program enables you to complete lower-division general education requirements in ten knowledge and skill areas that are guaranteed to be accepted by all SUNY campuses and universities. By completing all the courses required in the program, you will develop critical thinking and information-management skills required by all SUNY colleges and universities.

Degree Types

Certificate (CERT)

CERT Program Learning Outcomes (PLO)

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate the skills and knowledge needed to think critically and employ creative problem‐solving.
  2. Develop sufficient background in a Humanities or Social Science discipline to qualify for upper division study.
  3. Recognize, employ and assess effective communication skills, textually, and orally.
  4. Demonstrate quantitative reasoning skills.
  5. Recognize and apply scientific methods to explore social and natural phenomena.
  6. Demonstrate foundational knowledge and information technology research skills required to be an informed citizen in the global community.
  7. Demonstrate the basic skills required to communicate in a foreign language.
  8. Engage in recognition, analysis, and creation of artistic and literary expression.
  9. Demonstrate awareness of self in connection with academic and personal goals.

Download the 2024-2025 Curriculum Worksheet for CERT [PDF]

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Career Outlook

Please contact Career Services for more information.

Transfer Opportunities

Starting at GCC saves many students and their families thousands of dollars in tuition. The General Education Certificate covers the 10 SUNY General Education silos required at all SUNY Institutions. These General Education silos also mirror the general education requirements at many 4-year private institutions.

With an A.S. or A.A. degree you will be able to seamlessly transfer within the SUNY network of 64 college and universities as well as to many 4-year private institutions. GCC’s A.S. and A.A. programs were developed as part of the SUNY seamless transfer initiative allowing students to complete the first two years of a bachelor’s degree as a freshman and a sophomore at a community college, then seamlessly transfer to a SUNY four-year institution to earn a bachelor’s degree. Please reference the SUNY Transfer Pathways for degree programs to learn about any campus specific requirements. Visit the SUNY Core Course Finder to plan out the courses you should complete to transfer to a 4-year SUNY School.

If you are planning to transfer to a 4-year private institution you should work with our Transfer Services office to learn about possible articulation agreements and pathways that exist for many or our degree programs. Some GCC A.A.S. programs also have transfer opportunities.

To learn more about these opportunities and agreements contact the Transfer Services Office, we are more than happy to work with you and answer any questions you may have on building your own personalized transfer plan.