Preface and Chapters 1 - 12

Table of Contents (PDF; 59 KB)

Message to Students from President Davis (PDF; 59 KB)

Preface - How to Use the Student Degree Planning Guide (PDF; 62 KB)

Chapter 1 - Your Degree Program From Planning to Approval (PDF; 54 KB)

Chapter 2 - Degree Types and Requirements (PDF; 88 KB)
Topics covered:

• Degree Types
• Requirements for Your Empire State College Degree
• Associate Degrees
• Bachelor’s Degrees
• Registered Areas of Study
• Concentrations
• General Learning
• Liberal Arts and Sciences Credits
• Advanced-Level Study
• Breadth In Empire State College Degree Programs
  

Chapter 3: SUNY General Education Requirements (PDF; 118 KB)
Topics covered:

• Who Must Meet the General Education Requirements
• How to Meet General Education Requirements
• General Education Knowledge and Skill Areas
• Competencies
• Reading the General Education Document In DP Planner
• Phase-In Period for Students Who Matriculated Between Sept. 1, 2000, and Sept. 1, 2004
• General Education Documents
  

Chapter 4 - Annotated Degree Program (PDF; 107 KB)
Topics covered:

• Helpful Tips
• Legend
• Annotated Bachelor of Science Degree Program
• General Education Document for Bachelor’s Degree
• Degree Plan Worksheet
  

Chapter 5 - Sources of Advanced Standing (PDF; 63 KB)
Topics covered:

• Credit: Overview
• Sources of Advanced Standing Credit
• Relationship of Available Prior Learning to the Degree Program
  

Chapter 6 - Transcript Credit (PDF; 61 KB)
Topics covered:

• Incorporating Transcript Credit Into Your Empire State College Degree Program
• Transcript Credit From Regionally Accredited Colleges and Universities
• Transcript Credit From Nonregionally Accredited Institutions
• Official Transcripts
• Credit Hours: Semester-Based Or Quarter-Based Credit
• Liberal Arts and Sciences Credits
• Advanced-Level Study
• Age of Credits
• Redundancy
• D Grades

Chapter 7 - Credit By Evaluation: Standardized .Examinations and Noncollegiate Sponsored Learning (PDF; 56 KB)
Topics covered:

• Standardized Examinations
• Noncollegiate Sponsored Learning and Empire State College “Generic” Evaluations
• Official Documentation

Chapter 8 - Credit By Evaluation: Individualized Prior Learning Assessment (PDF; 132 KB)
Topics covered:

• College-Level Learning
• Sources of Prior College-Level Learning
• Steps In Individualized Prior Learning Assessment
• PLA Planner
• Identifying Your Knowledge/Examining Your Experiences
• Determining Credit Amounts
• Mentor and Center Office of Academic Review Support
• Describing and Presenting Your Knowledge
• Learning Descriptions
• Outline for Submission
• Documenting Your Knowledge/Working With the Expert Evaluator
• The Evaluation Report: Official Documentation
• Sample Learning Descriptions and Evaluator Reports

Chapter 9 - Planning Your Empire State College Studies (PDF; 63 KB)
Topic covered:

• Types of Empire State College Studies

Chapter 10 - Writing Your Degree Program Rationale (PDF; 56 KB)
Topics covered:

• The Content of the Rationale
• Organizing the Rationale
• Reminders
• Guide for a Rationale

Chapter 11 - Portfolio Preparation and the Approval Process (PDF; 73 KB)
Topics covered:

• The Portfolio
• Steps Toward Approval
• Changes In A Concurred Degree
• Appeals
• Checklist for Degree Program Portfolio Submission

Chapter 12 - Fees Related to Degree Planning (PDF; 50 KB)
Topics covered:

• Portfolio Fee (Assessment Fee)
• Individual Evaluation Fee (IEF)
• Degree Program Amendment Fee
• Sources of Information

Supporting Materials

Supporting Materials, Section A. - How to Identify Prior .College-Level Learning (PDF; 66 KB)
Topics covered:

• General Guidelines for Identifying Creditable Learning
• Case Studies

Supporting Materials, Section B - Sample Degree Programs (PDF; 185 KB)

Supporting Materials, Section C - Area of Study and Concentration Guidelines (PDF; 273 KB)
Topics covered:

• Introduction to the Area of Study Guidelines
• Area of Study Guidelines – the Arts
• Area of Study Guidelines – Business, Management and Economics
• Area of Study Guidelines – Community and Human Services
• Area of Study Guidelines – Cultural Studies
• Area of Study Guidelines – Educational Studies
• Area of Study Guidelines – Historical Studies
• Area of Study Guidelines – Human Development
• Area of Study Guidelines – Interdisciplinary Studies
• Area of Study Guidelines – Labor Studies
• Area of Study Guidelines – Nursing
• Area of Study Guidelines – Science, Mathematics and Technology
• Area of Study Guidelines – Social Theory, Social Structure and Change

Supporting Materials, Section D - Writing Your Degree Program Rationale (PDF; 104 KB)
Topics covered:

• Preparing the Rationale
• Goals
• Academic Choices and Professional Expectations
• Foundation Skills
• Concentration
• Progression/Integration/Breadth
• General Learning
• Advanced Standing/Prior Learning
• Empire State College Studies
• Researching Your Program
• Writing the Rationale
• Sample Sections From Student Rationales
• General Learning/General Education
• Advanced Standing/Prior Learning
• Completing the Rationale Essay

Supporting Materials, Section E - Procedure for Obtaining Official Military Documents (PDF; 57 KB)
Topics covered:

• Army
• Navy/Marine
• Coast Guard
• Air Force

Supporting Materials, Section F - Empire State College Policies On Degree Programs and Academic Review (PDF; 184 KB)
Topics covered:

• Advanced Standing: Policies and Procedures That Govern the Assessment of Prior Learning
• The Assessment Process
• Policy and Procedures for Degree Program and Portfolio Review and Approval
• Policy On Educational Planning Studies
• Individual Prior Learning Assessment Policy and Procedures
• Degree Program Rationale
• Individualized Program Design: Bachelor’s Degrees
• Degree Designations
• Liberal Arts and Sciences and Advanced Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Concentration Titles
• The Concentration
• Individualized Program Design: Associate Degrees
• Second Bachelor’s Degree
• Graduation Clearance Policy

Supporting Materials, Section G - Empire State College “Generic” Evaluations (PDF; 53 KB)
Topics covered:

• Training Activities and Apprenticeships
• Licenses and Certificates
• License/Certificate/Trainings That Were Formerly Evaluated for Credit

Supporting Materials, Section H
Topics covered:

• DP Planner Quick Guide (PDF; 250 KB)
• PLA Planner Student Quick Guide (PDF; 57 KB)
• Teacher Certification Disclaimer (PDF; 59 KB)
• Accounting Certification Disclaimer (PDF; 34 KB)

Degree Planning Guide Glossary (PDF; 59 KB)

Index (PDF; 54 KB)