About the Pathways

The Pathways connect classes by theme or concept, allowing you to pursue ideas across a broad range of disciplines, methodologies, and modes of experience. As opposed to simply checking off requirements, the Pathways invite you to approach learning as a continuum, and to actively make connections between classes by drawing various strands together to create a larger whole.

Integrative learning of this kind has been shown to improve critical thinking, as well as help students to gain a greater appreciation of complexity and nuance as they encounter the tensions and similarities that exist between disciplines and practical applications in the world.

• Model integrative learning and global perspectives.
• Complement student work in the major and provide the major with critical context.
  
• Provide opportunities for employing foundational skills and making cross-disciplinary connections vital to identifying and addressing real-world problems.
• Facilitate structured student reflection through use of the eportfolio.
  
• Encourage sustained engagement with multi-disciplinary issues such as justice in America, global health challenges, or policy implications of climate change.
  

The Pathways are built on the broad disciplinary areas that serve as the building blocks of a liberal arts education. These “UB Areas” correspond to the knowledge areas of the State University of New York General Education Requirements (SUNY-GER):

Students will be required to complete a minimum of FOUR separate UB Areas as they fulfill their Pathways (two for each Pathway). All remaining credits may come from anywhere in the university, including courses that correspond to UB Areas already taken as long as there is no duplication of coursework, and the additional courses participate in the overall Pathway theme. Articulated transfer courses may also be used in Pathways.