First-Year Students

All first-year students have a schedule that is created for them. But students must still follow the steps below in order to be registered for courses. The course schedule will be based on students’ major, student type, and their responses on the registration form.

Only students in BA/BS programs will receive their PIN in June and be able to make changes to their course schedule. Students in conservatory programs will not receive a PIN in their first term.

Step 1

Start by paying the enrollment deposit and activating your Purchase email account, if you haven’t done so already. If you need help with this process, then watch the short video on How to Activate and Check Your Purchase Email.

Step 2

Step 3

Login through the Admissions Portal to complete the online Registration Form. This will authorize the college to enroll you in a full course schedule based on your major and student type in accordance with the information on this web page.

Deadlines: For students admitted on or before May 1st, the deadline to complete the Registration Form is Friday, May 7th. Students admitted after May 1st must complete the form within one week of their acceptance.

Note: If you have submitted multiple applications, the registration form will only be available on your deposited program. You can select the deposited program in the top right hand corner of your Admissions Portal.

Step 4 - Optional

Once all of the registration forms have been processed, the Alternate PIN will be sent to your Purchase email address. The Alternate PIN is a unique code that enables students to make changes to their course schedule online through MyHeliotrope. The previous steps will prepare students to make informed decisions on how to modify their course schedule. No changes can be made prior to receiving the PIN.

PINS are scheduled to be sent to students’ Purchase email address by the end of June.

Note: Incoming students in a conservatory program have a first-semester course schedule that is entirely pre-determined. Students in these programs cannot make changes to their course schedule and they will not receive their Alternate PIN.

First-Year Course Registration Information

Students are responsible for understanding their academic degree requirements and for registering for appropriate courses.

Excelsior Scholarship

Students who receive free tuition funds from the New York State’s Excelsior Scholarship are required to complete a minimum of 30 credits by the end of each academic year in order to remain eligible for the program. Our academic year culminates with the spring term. To help ensure that students comply, first-semester registration will automatically include a course load of 15-17 credits. Students are discouraged from dropping below 15 credits. AP credits and college credits earned during high school may be counted toward the 30-credit requirement needed within the first year.

College Writing

College Writing WRI 1110 is a foundational course that provides the necessary critical thinking and writing skills for all other academic coursework at Purchase. College Writing must be completed within the first year. Note: A score of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement (AP) Language and Composition or Literature and Composition exam is equivalent to College Writing and will satisfy the Basic Communications core requirement.

EOP

All EOP students pursuing degrees in Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science programs will also be registered for College Writing WRI 1110 and an accompanying section of College Writing Lab WRI 1105 in their first term. Contact the Advising Center if you have already satisfied this degree requirement.

SUNY Upstate Medical University

All first-year students accepted to the SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Medicine’s Guaranteed High School MD Acceptance Program will be registered for the required General Biology I BIO 1550, General Biology I Lab BIO 1551, and Biology Freshman Seminar BIO 1880 in their first term.

Global Scholars

All first-year students accepted to the Global Scholars program will be registered for Global Scholars Seminar EDG 2010 in their first term, in addition to the seminar the corresponds with their academic program.

Student Athletes

Registration for student athletes will include Varsity Sports if your sport is in session during the fall term.

  • Varsity Men’s Soccer PED 2881
  • Varsity Men’s Golf PED 2883
  • Varsity Men’s Cross Country PED 2884
  • Varsity Men’s Basketball PED 2888
  • Varsity Men’s Swim PED 2890
  • Varsity Women’s Soccer PED 2882
  • Varsity Women’s Cross Country PED 2885
  • Varsity Women’s Tennis PED 2886
  • Varsity Women’s Volleyball PED 2887
  • Varsity Women’s Basketball PED 2889
  • Varsity Women’s Swim PED 2891

  • Varsity Men’s Basketball PED 2888
  • Varsity Men’s Swim PED 2890
  • Varsity Men’s Tennis PED 2893
  • Varsity Men’s Baseball PED 2894
  • Varsity Men’s Volleyball PED 2896
  • Varsity Women’s Basketball PED 2889

  • Varsity Women’s Swim PED 2891

  • Varsity Women’s Lacrosse PED 2892

  • Varsity Women’s Softball PED 2895

First-Semester Courses by Major

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

See the Course Search for course descriptions, faculty, days/times, credits, and the 5-digit course registration number (CRN). First-year students pursuing a B.A. or B.S. degree can find the full list of appropriate first-semester courses by selecting “Freshman Studies” within the Course Search. Only courses within this list have been approved for first-year students pursuing B.A./B.S. degrees.

  • Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology ANT 1500
  • First-Year Seminar EDG 1030
  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • A variety of liberal arts electives

  • History of Art Survey I (Ancient through Medieval) ARH 1010
  • First-Year Seminar EDG 1030
  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • A variety of liberal arts electives

  • Discovering the Arts (Lecture and Discussion) AOA 1000
  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • First-Year Seminar EDG 1030
  • A variety of liberal arts electives

  • General Biology I BIO 1550 Lecture
  • General Biology I BIO 1551 Lab
  • Biology Freshman Seminar BIO 1880*
  • A variety of liberal arts electives

* Biology majors enroll in Biology Freshman Seminar BIO 1880 en lieu of First-Year Seminar EDG 1030

  • General Chemistry I CHE 3310 Lecture
  • General Chemistry I CHE 1551 Lab
  • Calculus I MAT 1500
  • First-Year Seminar EDG 1030
  • A variety of liberal arts electives

  • Introduction to Cinema Studies CIN 1500
  • First-Year Seminar EDG 1030
  • A variety of liberal arts electives

  • Intro to Communication COM 1500
  • First-Year Seminar EDG 1030
  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • A variety of liberal arts electives

  • Narrative Techniques CWR 1100
  • First-Year Seminar EDG 1030
  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • A variety of liberal arts electives

  • Precalculus MAT 1150
  • First-Year Seminar EDG 1030
  • Macroeconomic Theory I ECO 1500 or Microeconomics I ECO 1510
  • A variety of liberal arts electives

  • Introduction to Environmental Science ENV 1500
  • Macroeconomic Theory ECO 1500 or Microeconomics ECO 1510 or Introduction to U.S. Politics POL 1570
  • First-Year Seminar EDG 1030
  • A variety of liberal arts electives

Note: Environmental Studies majors should not enroll in The Search for Life in the Universe ENV 1120

  • Introduction to Gender and Sexuality GND 1200
  • First-Year Seminar EDG 1030
  • A variety of liberal arts electives

  • Any one lower-level history course
  • First-Year Seminar EDG 1030
  • A variety of liberal arts electives

  • Introduction to Media JOU 1500
  • Journalism I JOU2515
  • First-Year Seminar EDG 1030
  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • A variety of liberal arts electives

  • First-Year Seminar EDG 1030
  • Intermediate French I FRE 2010* or Intermediate Spanish I SPA 2010*
  • A variety of liberal arts electives

* Please email the Advising Center at advising@purchase.edu to indicate whether you are concentrating in French or Spanish.

  • Introduction to Latin American Studies HIS 1600
  • First-Year Seminar EDG 1030
  • A variety of liberal arts electives

One of the following literature courses:

  • Any one lower-level literature course

And the following courses:

  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • First-Year Seminar EDG 1030

  • First-Year Seminar EDG 1030
  • Computer Science I MAT 1520
  • Calculus I MAT 1500
  • A variety of liberal arts electives

  • Introduction to Media Studies MSA 1050
  • First-Year Seminar EDG 1030
  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • A variety of liberal arts electives

  • Introduction to Media Studies MSA 1050
  • First-Year Seminar EDG 1030
  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • A variety of liberal arts electives

One of the following new media courses:

  • Design Principles NME 1160
  • Programming for Visual Artists NME 1450
  • Introduction to Digital Photography PHO 1100

  • History of Philosophy I: Philosophy and the Polis PHI 1515
  • First-Year Seminar EDG 1030
  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • A variety of liberal arts electives

  • Playwriting I PSW 1000 or Screenwriting I PSW 1010
  • History of Film Art CIN 1030 (seats permitting)
  • First-Year Seminar EDG 1030
  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • A variety of liberal arts electives

  • Introduction to U.S. Politics POL 1570
  • First-Year Seminar EDG 1030
  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • A variety of liberal arts electives

  • Any one lower-level course in psychology, anthropology, philosophy, or sociology
  • First-Year Seminar EDG 1030
  • A variety of liberal arts electives

  • Introduction to Sociology SOC 1500
  • First-Year Seminar EDG 1030
  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • A variety of liberal arts electives

  • Introduction to Theatre and Performance Studies THP 2020
  • Fundamentals of Acting ACT 1055
  • First-Year Seminar EDG 1030
  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • A variety of liberal arts electives

  • Discovering the Arts (Lecture and Discussion) AOA 1000
  • First-Year Seminar EDG 1030
  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • Any lower-level course that satisfies the Humanities core
  • A variety of liberal arts electives

Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), Bachelor of Music (B.M.), Bachelor of Science in Visual Arts (B.S.V.A.)

  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • Dramatic Structure ACT 1250
  • Acting 1 ACT 1010
  • Speech I & Tutorial ACT 1160
  • Voice I & Tutorial ACT 1210
  • Movement I ACT 1310
  • Script Analysis ACT 1030
  • Stage Combat I ACT 1355

  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • Ballet Technique DPB 1230
  • Modern Technique DPM 1230
  • Improvisation/Composition I DPC 1010
  • Dance Production I DPD 1710
  • Music I DPD 1650
  • Special Modern: 1st Year DPM 1800
  • Somatic Practice for Dancers DPM 1550
  • Men’s Class/Variation DPB 1650
  • Ballet Partnering
  • Dance Freshman Seminar DPD 1030.20

  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • Ballet Technique DPB 1230
  • Modern Technique DPM 1230
  • Improvisation/Composition I DPC 1010
  • Dance Production I DPD 1710
  • Music I DPD 1650
  • Special Modern: 1st Year DPM 1800
  • Special Ballet: 1st Year DPB 1800 or Ballet Tech: Advanced Pointe/Fr. DPB 1400
  • Somatic Practice for Dancers (H/W) DPM 1550
  • Dance Freshman Seminar DPD 1030.20

  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • Design Fundamentals TDT 1200
  • Stage Craft TDT 1100
  • Production I TDT 1120
  • Dramatic Structure (Hum Core) ACT 1250

  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • Exercises in Storytelling FLM 1090
  • Film Workshop FLM 1160
  • Intro to Cinema Studies (Hum Core) CIN 1500
  • Cinematography I FLM 2090

  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • Music Freshman Seminar MUS 1040
  • Composition Seminar MCO 3010
  • Keyboard Studies I MPE 1010
  • Private Study MPE 4110
  • Music Theory I MTH 1010
  • Solfege I MTH 1410
  • Survey of Music History I MTH 2510
  • Chorus MUS 1250

  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • Music Freshman Seminar MUS 1040
  • Models I MCO 1010
  • Studio Composition I MCO 1310
  • Studio Composition Seminar MCO 1410
  • Keyboard Studies I MPE 1010
  • Studio Ear Training I MTH 1415
  • Songwriting I MUS 1320
  • Composition Master Class MPE 4120

  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • Music Freshman Seminar MUS 1040
  • Models I MCO 1010
  • Keyboard Studies I MPE 1010
  • Studio Composition I MCO 1310
  • Studio Ear Training I MTH 1415
  • Digital Audio I MCO 4350
  • Production Master Class MPE 4125

  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • Music Freshman Seminar MUS 1040
  • Jazz Theory I MCO 1015
  • Keyboard Studies I MPE 1010
  • Jazz Ear Training I MTH 1430
  • Jazz Repertoire I MUS 1070
  • Jazz Improvisation I MUS 2050
  • Jazz Combos MPE 1700
  • Private Study MPE 4870

  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • Music Freshman Seminar MUS 1040
  • Symphony Orchestra MPE 1201
  • Music Theory I MTH 1010
  • Solfege I MTH 1410
  • Keyboard Studies I MPE 1010
  • Chamber Music MPE 1110

  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • Music Freshman Seminar MUS 1040
  • Symphony Orchestra MPE 1201
  • Brass Performance and Ensemble MPE 1220
  • Music Theory I MTH 1010
  • Solfege I MTH 1410
  • Keyboard Studies I MPE 1010
  • Brass Chamber Music MPE 1112

  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • Music Freshman Seminar MUS 1040
  • Chamber Music Class MPE 1110
  • Symphony Orchestra MPE 1201
  • Wind Performance Class MPE 1210
  • Music Theory I MTH 1010
  • Solfege I MTH 1410
  • Keyboard Studies I MPE 1010

  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • Music Freshman Seminar MUS 1040
  • Music Theory I MTH 1010
  • Private Study: Guitar MPE 4210
  • Solfege I MTH 1410
  • Keyboard Studies I MPE 1010
  • Chamber Music Class MPE 1110
  • Guitar Ensemble MPE 1450
  • Guitar Performance Class MPE 1400
  • Chorus MUS 1250

  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • Music Freshman Seminar MUS 1040
  • Private Study: Percussion MPE 4220
  • Percussion Performance Class MPE 1230
  • Music Theory I MTH 1010
  • Solfege I MTH 1410
  • Keyboard Studies I MPE 1010
  • Symphony Orchestra MPE 1201

  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • Music Freshman Seminar MUS 1040
  • Chamber Music Class MPE 1110
  • Slight Reading Workshop MPE 1850
  • Survey of Music History I MTH 2510
  • Music Theory I MTH 1010
  • Solfege I MTH 1410

  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • Music Freshman Seminar MUS 1040
  • Beginning Italian ITA 1010
  • Italian Art Song Literature I MPE 1370
  • IPA/Italian Diction I MPE 1380
  • Private Study MPE 4005
  • Music Theory I MTH 1010
  • Vocal Ear Training I MTH 1436
  • Keyboard Studies I MPE 1010
  • Chorus MUS 1250

  • College Writing WRI 1110
  • ComX (Freshman Seminar) VIS 1050
  • Visual Language VIS 1080

Plus:

  • Extended Media VIS 1070
  • Lens and Time VIS 1330

Or:

  • Foundation Drawing VIS 1060
  • 3D Processes VIS 2060

Transfers

Transfer Credit Evaluation Process

The Transfer Credit Policy and the Transfer Equivalencies Database indicate how the Registrar’s Office will apply transfer credit earned from courses taken at other colleges to your new academic degree requirements at Purchase College. While all transfer credits from former institutions are evaluated for credit articulation, some major-specific credits may be ineligible to transfer. In some cases, an evaluation for major-specific courses may be completed by your academic department or by an academic advisor who specializes in your conservatory program.

Note: Undergraduate transfer students in Acting, Design Technology, Film, and Dance must complete eight semesters of coursework within their major at Purchase College in order to graduate.

Step 1 - Get Set Up

Start by paying the enrollment deposit and activating your Purchase email account, if you haven’t done so already. If you need help with this process, then watch the short video on How to Activate and Check Your Purchase Email.

Step 2 - Send AP Scores and Official Transcripts

Send all AP scores from College Board to Purchase College. Our college code is 2878.

Send official college transcripts with final grades from each college you attended. Request that official transcripts be emailed directly to the Registrar’s Office at registrar@purchase.edu. Or request the transcripts to be mailed to the address below. Unfortunately, email attachments from the student are considered unofficial and cannot be used to evaluate credits.

SUNY Purchase College
Registrar’s Office
735 Anderson Hill Rd
Purchase, NY 10577

Step 3 - Prepare for Your Advisement Appointment

  • Review the academic requirements for your major. Go to Academics, select your major, then click on “Requirements” from the right side bar.
  • Watch the two short videos that will teach you How to Understand the Degree Progress Report (DPR) and How to Use the Course Search.
  • Login to MyHeliotrope to review your Degree Progress Report to see how your transfer credits are being applied to your new degree program, and to understand your remaining degree requirements.
  • Use the Course Search and the Add/Drop form to prepare a list of open and available courses that satisfy your academic interests and degree requirements that you can review during your advising appointment.
  • Prepare a list of questions to ask during your advisement appointment.

Step 4 - Schedule Your Advisement Appointment

Schedule a Zoom appointment to discuss your academic plan with a member of the Advising Center through our online calendar in Starfish. You will receive your Alternate PIN during your advisement appointment, which will enable you to register yourself for courses online through MyHeliotrope.

Music Majors: Schedule your appointment directly with Nick Dorot.
Visual Arts Majors: Schedule your appointment directly with Alexandria Schaefer.

Advising and Course Registration Appointments will Begin June 1st.
Transfers will not receive their PIN prior to June 1st.

Schedule Your Appointment

On-Campus Housing

Fall 2021

First-Year Students: If you receive an on-campus housing assignment, then you must be registered for at least 12 credits by July 1, 2021.

Transfer Students: If you receive an on-campus housing assignment, then you must be registered for at least 8 credits by July 31, 2021 and at least 12 credits by the end of the add/drop period. If you receive a housing assignment after August 1, then you must be registered for at least 8 credits by the first day of the spring semester and at least 12 credits by the end of the add/drop period. However, students typically need to register for 15-17 credits each term in order to stay on track to graduate.

Spring 2022

All new students who receive an on-campus housing assignment must be registered for at least 8 credits by January 15, 2022.