Social Science and Public Affairs

Degree Planning Resources

Guidelines and Course Maps

As you work with your faculty mentor to develop your degree program, make sure to consult the area of study guidelines for your registered area.

Social Science Area of Study Guidelines
Social Science Area of Study Course Map (PDF 158kB)
Previous Social Science Area of Study Guidelines (for students who matriculated prior to Fall 2021)

Public Affairs Area of Study Guidelines
Public Affairs Area of Study Course Map (PDF 149kB)
Previous Public Affairs Area of Study Guidelines (for students who matriculated prior to Fall 2021)

Security Studies Program Requirements

Other Resources

Degree Planning and Assessment (login required)
Accessibility Resources and Services (login required)
Educational Planning: Mapping your learning (OER text)
iPLA Worksheet and Guides

The college has a number of resources and tools to help you in your learning. Pay particular attention to writing support, support with math, academic support and study skills. Academic Support online workshops are also offered throughout the year on a wide range of topics. These resources and tools are available at the Academic Support website and in MyESC, Academic Support (login required).

The SUNY Empire State College Online Library also has many workshops and resources for students, including help with APA and MLA citation styles, and searching for and identifying scholarly sources.

Sample Degree Program Plans

Sample degree program plans illustrate the degree program format and provide examples of some different types of individualized degree programs. The degree program is divided into two columns. The column on the left lists all the courses in the concentration, while the column on the right lists all of the general learning courses. SUNY Empire State College students work closely with their faculty mentors to design their own degree programs that meet the student’s needs and goals.