Frequently Asked Questions

What is CUNY Pathways?

The CUNY Pathways Initiative is a new general education structure and transfer system that applies to all colleges within the university. The CUNY Pathways system guarantees that general education curriculum requirements fulfilled at one CUNY college can be transferred to any CUNY college. Starting Fall 2013, all university students will follow Pathways guidelines. At Queens College, students will follow our liberal arts and sciences curriculum that is designed to meet the requirements of the CUNY Pathways Initiative. We call the new curriculum the QC Core.

What is the QC Core?

The QC Core consists of 14 courses, a minimum of 42 credits (For students in STEM majors, your courses may total more than 42 credits).  The QC Core contains three parts, the Required Core, the Flexible Core, and the College Core.  All Core courses are expected to introduce students to the many perspectives and ways of thinking that are the hallmark of a liberal arts education.

Does CUNY Pathways apply to me?

CUNY Pathways applies to every student entering Queens College in Fall 2013 and after. Continuing students who entered Queens College prior to Fall 2013 may choose to “opt-in” to the QC Core (CUNY Pathways) curriculum or can remain under their current general education requirements. 

Who must follow the QC Core (CUNY Pathways) Curriculum?

Students entering Queens College in the Fall 2013 semester or later follow the QC Core curriculum designed for CUNY Pathways.

Who must follow the Perspectives (PLAS) Curriculum?

Students who entered Queens College after Fall 2009 but before Fall 2013 follow the Perspectives on the Liberal Arts and Sciences (PLAS) curriculum.

How does CUNY Pathways affect transferring to a CUNY senior college?

CUNY Pathways allows for a seamless transfer of credits from one CUNY college to another. Once a student has completed a course that meets a Pathways requirement at a CUNY college, that requirement is accepted at any other CUNY college. 

I started Queens College before Fall 2013.  Should I Opt In to the QC Core curriculum?

You should consider a number of factors before you decide to opt-in to the QC Core curriculum. How many general education courses have you already completed?  What courses remain? How far are you from graduation? There are differences between the old curriculum and the new curriculum that may affect financial aid. The decision should be made in consultation with an academic advisor, who can help you consider your options.  You can compare the differences between the old and new curricula in the Crosswalks from Perspectives to Pathways.

Who can help me understand my Core Curriculum requirements?

Visit our Student page to see which core curriculum applies to you, then view our Core Curriculum Requirements pages to download complete degree requirements under your core curriculum. You can also log into CUNYFirst to view your requirements using Degreeworks or visit the Academic Advising Center at Kiely Hall Room 217 to speak with an advisor.

QC Core Frequently Asked Questions:

What are the three parts to the QC Core?

Required Core courses develop your critical academic abilities, such as the ability to read analytically, write clearly and coherently, research and interpret information, and communicate effectively. These courses prepare you for the challenges of advanced college coursework.

Flexible Core courses continue to cultivate your intellectual and practical abilities as you study various areas of knowledge from diverse perspectives. These liberal arts courses allow you to better understand yourself and the world around you as you develop the capacities for critical inquiry, innovation, and independent thinking.

College Core courses aim to broaden your perspective and further your education in the liberal arts and sciences. The College Core corresponds to CUNY Pathway’s “College Option”. While Pathways Required Core and Flexible Core requirements are common to all CUNY colleges, Pathways College Option requirements vary from campus to campus. Here at Queens College we’ve made this component of the Pathways framework truly our own and named it our College Core.

  What is an “RD”?

“RD” is shorthand for “Requirement Designation”. Every QC Core course is assigned a requirement designation or RD. Core curriculum courses are given RDs to denote that an area within the Pathways framework has been satisfied. This ensures that core curriculum requirements fulfilled at one CUNY college will carry over seamlessly if a student transfers to another CUNY college. For example English 110 satisfies “College Writing 1” within the QC Core and is denoted by the requirement designation “EC1” (English Composition 1), Mathematical and Quantitative Reasoning courses have the RD “MQR”, Creative Expression courses “CE”, and so on. Similarly, all College Core courses satisfy the requirement designation “CO”, which is short for “College Option”.

What is a STEM variant?

STEM is an acronym that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics and refers to the areas of study that fall into those four categories. STEM variants are courses in STEM fields that also serve as requirements for a major. STEM variants can be found in three areas of the QC Core: Life and Physical Sciences (LPS), Scientific World (SW), and College Core Science. All STEM courses can satisfy one of these areas and students may choose which RD they want the course to fulfill. STEM variants may also be more than three credits.

Should I take a STEM course to fulfill my LPS requirement?

Because STEM variants are also courses within a major, they can be more challenging than non-STEM courses. If you do not need to take a STEM variant to fulfill a requirement for your major, you may want to wait until more non-STEM courses are available in the Life and Physical Sciences (LPS) area of the Required Core. Consider satisfying your Scientific World or College Core Science requirements with non-STEM courses in the meantime.

Can I take QC Core courses that also satisfy requirements for my major?

Absolutely! Speak with an advisor to learn more about how you can plan your course career with classes that fulfill both QC Core and major requirements. For example, a student majoring in Biology might prefer to take a calculus course to satisfy their MQR requirement, Biology 105 to satisfy LPS, and Biology 106 to satisfy SW since these courses are also requirements for the major.

What is the Writing Intensive Requirement?

To encourage excellence in writing across the disciplines, all students are required to complete two Writing Intensive (W) courses, which may be taken within the QC Core, a major, or electives. Writing intensive courses incorporate writing as an integral part of coursework and are designed to help students practice their writing, discover writing as a tool for learning, and to introduce them to the writing practices of particular fields and disciplines.

What is the policy on Foreign Language?

Students may fulfill the College Core Language requirement by completing any course on the Language list in the College Core.  Not all of these courses are foreign language courses. Foreign Language is an option within the College Core Language requirement, and students choosing to take a foreign language should seek advisement on placement.

Can I satisfy the MQR requirement with a non-math course?

Yes, students may fulfill the Mathematical and Quantitative Reasoning requirement by taking any course on the MQR list. Not all of these courses are math courses. However, if you are considering a major that requires a math course, we strongly encourage you to take the CUNY Mathematics Skills Assessment Test (COMPASS). Several academic majors require students to take calculus: Accounting, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Mathematics, and Physics. Also, many health professions, pre-med, physical therapy, etc. also require one or two semesters of calculus. Students can arrange to take the COMPASS test through the Testing Center in Kiely Hall, Room 232 (718-997-5680).

What is DegreeWorks?

Degree Works is an online advising tool designed to assist you in reviewing your progress towards your degree at Queens College. DegreeWorks will show you which requirements have been met, which are in progress, which QC Core requirements you have yet to complete, as well as major and/or minor requirements and any other requirements you need for a Queens College degree. To access DegreeWorks, log into the CUNY Portal at www.cuny.edu and click Student Advisement Degree Audit.​