Gateway Courses Into Majors

Although major requirements vary in most cases from one CUNY college to another, faculty committees have recently designated a minimum of three “gateway” courses leading into several of CUNY’s most popular majors. Students who anticipate pursuing one of these majors can take the designated courses and will be able to transfer them for major credit seamlessly between CUNY colleges that offer the major. Since course titles may vary across the colleges, it is essential that students and advisors consult their colleges for more information.

Biology Gateway Courses

*CUNY colleges differ in the sequencing of their two Introductory Biology courses. A faculty committee outlined topics to be covered in each course. One course will cover cellular and molecular biology, while the other course will cover organismic biology. The order in which the sequence is offered is to be left to the discretion of each college.

Business Gateway Courses

*Each college with a business major will offer “Introduction to Microeconomics” or “Introduction to Macroeconomics,” with some colleges offering both courses. Colleges that currently require only one of these courses will accept either course as fulfilling an incoming transfer student’s gateway requirement.

English Gateway Courses

Nursing Gateway Courses

Psychology Gateway Courses

*The Psychology major committee recommended the following: “Introduction to Psychology;” either “Abnormal Psychology” or “Personality Psychology;” either “Child Development” or “Lifespan Development.” The committee noted that some colleges offer both “Abnormal Psychology” and “Personality Psychology,” while others offer both “Child Development” and “Lifespan Development.” In these cases a college may accept both courses toward the major.

Political Science Gateway Courses

*Each college with a political science major will offer at least three of these courses and will accept any of these four courses for credit toward major requirements.

Sociology Gateway Courses

*The Sociology major committee identified three areas: “Introduction to Sociology,” “Social Institutions” and “Social Inequality.” Each college with a sociology major will offer either one course in each of the three areas or two courses in one area and one course in another area. No more than one course may be placed in the Introduction to Sociology area.

Teacher Education Gateway Courses