General Education

Students who complete the Russell Sage College General Education program will be empowered, informed, participatory citizens in a dynamic and diverse society. Undergraduate students will develop practical knowledge, as well as, creative and critical thinking skills to thrive in an ever-changing world where multi-layered problems demand innovative solutions. Student learning outcomes are assessed and documented through a variety of artifacts, course assignments, and transcripts. For General Education information in the Undergraduate Catalog – click here.

WRT 101 Writing in the Community : 3 credits
WRT 201 Researching in the Community : 3 credits
RSC 101 Thriving at Sage : 3 credits *
RSC 201 Intercultural Perspectives : 3 credits * *
RSC 301 Innovate to Engage : 3 credits
Culminating Experience (in major program)

Arts : 3 credits
100- or 200-level course from: AEM, AFA, ARH, DAN, GMD, ISD, MUS, THR, or VPA

Humanities : 3 credits
100- or 200-level course from: COM, ENG, HST, HUM, or PHL, and foreign languages: ARA, CHN, FRE, GER, ITA, POR, RUS, or SPA.

Natural Sciences : 3 credits
100- or 200-level course from: BIO, CHM, PHY, or SCI

Quantitative Reasoning : 3 credits
MAT 109 or higher course or a Statistics course: MAT 220 or ECO 215 or PSY 207

Social Sciences : 3 credits
100- or 200-level course from: CRM, ECO, POL, PSY, or SOC

Wellness : 3 credits
ARH 310, BUS 110, BUS 369, CAT 201, CAT 211, CAT 216, CAT 218, HSC 215, HST 238, HUM 314, NSG 201, PBH 201, PED 225, or PSY 219

Distribution Elective : 3 credits
Complete 3 credits from one of the Distribution areas above that is outside of your major requirements.

*RSC 101 is waived for transfer students with 15 or more transfer credits upon admission or who have earned an associate degree prior to enrollment.
**RSC 201 is waived for transfer students with 54 or more transfer credits upon admission or who have earned an associate degree prior to enrollment.

The core is designed to address student academic, social, and emotional needs as developing learners, to create a strong assessment pathway with both entry and end points, and to promote a sense of identity among different cohorts: student to student, student to faculty, and student to the institution.

Writing Sequence
WRT 101 and WRT 201 completed in the first year will focus on writing, critical reading and thinking, and research as social processes. The second course will build upon the first, with further instruction in conducting and writing academic research.

Year-One Signature Course (First-Year Seminar)
RSC 101 Thriving at Sage will be anchored by a common theme and expose students to experiences and content that supports college success, including academic strategies, campus resources, finding an affinity group, and wellness.

Year-Two Signature Course (Intercultural Studies)
RSC 201 Exploring Intercultural Perspectives explores human diversity and the historical, cultural, global, and systemic forces that shape experiences and world views. This course will also provide avenues for students to get involved with the Russell Sage College Women’s Institute and Sage THRIVE initiative.

Year-Three Signature Course (Engaging in a World with Multifaceted Issues)
In RSC 301 Innovating to Impact, students will engage with in complex problems to encourage communication across disciplines and cultural boundaries.

Liberal arts and sciences comprise the disciplines of humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences. Liberal arts courses are not directed toward specific occupational or professional objectives.

At Russell Sage College, liberal arts and sciences courses are courses with the following prefixes: ARH, ASL, BIO, CHM, COM, CRM, ECO, ENG, HST, HUM, MAT, PBH, PHL, PHY, POL, PSY, RSC, SOC, SCI, SST, WRT, and foreign languages.

Second degree students possessing an undergraduate bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in the United States are exempt from all general education requirements. Those holding bachelor’s degrees from international institutions may appeal to the Academic Dean for a waiver of all or a portion of general education requirements.