Get Ahead or Get Started
Whether you’re earning early college credit or preparing for graduate school, meet SUNY general education requirements online, on your time.
General Education Certificate
Offered 100% Online
A flexible, online certificate designed to help you meet SUNY general education requirements — whether you’re starting college, finishing a degree or preparing for grad school.
What Will I Learn?
This certificate helps you build the reading, writing, research, and communication skills needed for success in college-level and graduate-level study. You’ll take classes that expand your ways of thinking and give you a broad understanding of the world. Many of the courses will introduce you to fields you can choose to study in more depth as your education advances.
Courses in this program follow the SUNY General Education Framework and are part of SUNY Plattsburgh’s Cardinal Core Curriculum. You’ll strengthen your academic foundation and prepare for the next step in your education — whether that’s a bachelor’s degree, a master’s program (like our M.S.T. in teaching), or finishing prerequisites for another goal.
What is Unique About Our Program?
- This certificate is designed to be flexible. You can customize your course plan based on what you need and what’s available online each semester.
- All courses are part of our Cardinal Core Curriculum and are offered online to make learning accessible, no matter where you are.
- You may not need to complete the entire certificate — and that’s okay. Even taking just a few courses through this program can help you meet key requirements or strengthen your graduate school application.
What Are My Career Opportunities?
This certificate does not directly lead to a job. Instead, it helps you get ready for advanced college work and supports your future plans. Whether you’re preparing for graduate school, exploring college for the first time, or returning to finish a degree, this program gives you the skills and courses to take your next step with confidence.