Thematic and Global Pathways

Admitted before Fall 2023?

Students admitted to UB prior to Fall 2023 should visit the older pathways requirements here

Take ownership of your education by choosing topics of interest to you and applying them to your major or using them as a platform to explore another field of study. 

Pathways are a central component of the UB Curriculum. Students are required to complete both a Global and Thematic pathway. Each pathway requires a minimum of nine credit hours, typically satisfied by completing three courses of three or more credit hours.

The university provides a Path Finder Tool, a planning tool to aid in the selection of your pathway courses. This page provides additional resources to help guide engineering and computer science students with respect to course selection. If you have any issues using the tools provided below or need assistance, contact the SEAS Office of Academic Affairs to meet with an academic advisor.

On this page:

Learn how to use the UB Pathfinder tool in this instructional video.

Pathways Requirements

Pathways are typically satisfied by completing three 3 credit hour courses, with the first selected from a “List 1”, the second selected from a “List 2”, and the third selected from a “List 3.” Students who select an introductory foreign language sequence for the Global pathway will complete two 5 credit hour courses.

List 3 Recommendations

Engineering Majors

Engineering majors are advised to select the following courses as “List 3,” as they are also major requirements:

  • Aerospace Engineering: MAE 434 and MAE 451
  • Biomedical Engineering: BE 493 and BE 436
  • Chemical Engineering: CE 408 and CE 404
  • Computer Engineering: CSE 450 and CSE 453
  • Civil Engineering: CIE 340 and CIE 415
  • Electrical Engineering: EE 383 and EE 336
  • Engineering Physics: EE 494 and EE 336 
  • Engineering Science: ENS 493 and ENS 494
  • Environmental Engineering: CIE 344 and CIE 415
  • Industrial Engineering: IE 494 and IE 323
  • Material Science and Engineering: MDI 494 and MDI 471
  • Mechanical Engineering: MAE 494 and MAE 451
     

Computer Science Majors

Computer Science BS and BA majors should select CSE 442 as “List 3” in Thematic, and any class as “List 3” in Global that does not have prerequisites.

Pathways Course Selection Recommendations

Selecting pathways that contain courses within the major requirements allows a student to connect ideas from their major with the UB Curriculum and allows a student to move through the pathways most expeditiously.

Students coming in with transfer courses have the flexibility to use their courses in many List 1 and List 2 sections. Specific details can be found under each List by logging into the Pathfinder Tool.

Students coming in with AP or exam credit can use a course if it is identified within a specific List. They can also use the Course Filter tab in the Pathfinder Tool.
 

SEAS Pathways Resources

Explore pathways by course or by term.

By Course By Term

PathwayTypeList 1List 2List 3

If you have any issues using pathways tools or need assistance, please contact the SEAS Office of Academic Affairs to meet with an academic advisor.