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 are typically satisfied by completing three courses of three or more credit hours from the same topic, with the first selected from “List 1”, the second selected from “List 2”, and the third selected from “List 3.” Students who select a language and culture track for the Global pathway may only need to complete two courses, as some introductory language courses are more than three credit hours.
Courses already completed, transferred to UB, or enrolled in are shown in the Path Finder tool and can be selected where applicable in each List or topic. Students may review the full list of applicable courses in the Course Filter tab of the Path Finder tool.
Transfer credit with a direct articulation will appear directly in the List where the UB course has been approved. All applicable transfer courses that do not coincide with a direct articulation to a Pathway course will appear in the Path Finder tool as “wildcards”, in List 1 and List 2.
Test credit may be used only where a direct articulation to a Pathway course exists.
Students may find that choosing pathways with courses related to their major can help them make meaningful connections between their field of study and the UB Curriculum, while potentially streamlining their progress through the pathways.
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 (admitted before Fall 2025) or MAE 474 (admitted after Fall 2025)
- 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 450 and MDI 471
- Mechanical Engineering: MAE 494 and MAE 451
Computer Science Majors
Computer Science BS and BA majors should select any List 3 classes that do not have prerequisites.
Explore pathways by course or by term.
This tool provides a means to filter Pathway courses by Term, UB Area, Pathway, List Level, and Diversity Learning designation. Click on a column heading to sort the data. Use the drop-down menus to select options of interest.
| Course | Term | Pathway | Open Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAS 280LEC: Survey of African Studies | Winter 2027 | - Global Reflections (List 2) | 15 |
| AAS 280LEC: Survey of African Studies | Winter 2027 | -Humanity (List 3) | 15 |
| AAS 280LEC: Survey of African Studies | Winter 2027 | Justice (List 3) | 15 |
| AAS 358SEM: Africa Diaspora:Soc Evol | Winter 2027 | - Global Reflections (List 2) | 15 |
| AAS 358SEM: Africa Diaspora:Soc Evol | Winter 2027 | Justice (List 1) | 15 |
| AHI 102LEC: Survy Ital Renais to Cntm | Winter 2027 | - Global Reflections (List 2) | 30 |
| AHI 102LEC: Survy Ital Renais to Cntm | Winter 2027 | -Humanity (List 3) | 30 |
| AHI 102LEC: Survy Ital Renais to Cntm | Winter 2027 | Environment (List 3) | 30 |
| AHI 102LEC: Survy Ital Renais to Cntm | Winter 2027 | Health (List 3) | 30 |
| AHI 102LEC: Survy Ital Renais to Cntm | Winter 2027 | Justice (List 3) | 30 |
| AMS 107LEC: Intro American Studies | Winter 2027 | -Humanity (List 1) | 15 |
| AMS 107LEC: Intro American Studies | Winter 2027 | Innovation (List 1) | 15 |
| CIE 359LEC: Sustainability in Costa Rica | Winter 2027 | - Global Reflections (List 3) | 30 |
| COM 202SEM: Intercultural Communication | Winter 2027 | - Global Reflections (List 3) | 45 |
| COM 202SEM: Intercultural Communication | Winter 2027 | -Humanity (List 2) | 45 |
| COM 317DIS: Intro Bus & Prof Communic | Winter 2027 | Innovation (List 2) | 30 |
| DMS 107LEC: Film & Media History 1 | Winter 2027 | -Humanity (List 3) | 40 |
| DMS 107LEC: Film & Media History 1 | Winter 2027 | Innovation (List 3) | 40 |
| DMS 213LEC: Immigration and Film | Winter 2027 | - Global Reflections (List 2) | 40 |
| DMS 213LEC: Immigration and Film | Winter 2027 | -Humanity (List 1) | 40 |
| DMS 213LEC: Immigration and Film | Winter 2027 | Justice (List 1) | 40 |
| DMS 333LEC: World Cinema | Winter 2027 | - Global Reflections (List 2) | 40 |
| DMS 333LEC: World Cinema | Winter 2027 | -Humanity (List 3) | 40 |
| DMS 333LEC: World Cinema | Winter 2027 | Innovation (List 3) | 40 |
| DMS 333LEC: World Cinema | Winter 2027 | Justice (List 3) | 40 |
| ECO 181LD: Intro to Macroeconomics | Winter 2027 | Innovation (List 2) | 35 |
| ECO 182LD: Intro to Microeconomics | Winter 2027 | -Humanity (List 2) | 35 |
| ECO 182LD: Intro to Microeconomics | Winter 2027 | Innovation (List 2) | 35 |
| ENG 256LEC: Film | Winter 2027 | -Humanity (List 3) | 30 |
| ENG 256LEC: Film | Winter 2027 | Innovation (List 3) | 30 |
| ENG 381LEC: Film Directors | Winter 2027 | - Global Reflections (List 2) | 30 |
| ENG 381LEC: Film Directors | Winter 2027 | -Humanity (List 3) | 30 |
| ENS 493SEM: Capstone Design 1 | Winter 2027 | -Humanity (List 3) | 1 |
| ENS 493SEM: Capstone Design 1 | Winter 2027 | Environment (List 3) | 1 |
| ENS 493SEM: Capstone Design 1 | Winter 2027 | Health (List 3) | 1 |
| ENS 493SEM: Capstone Design 1 | Winter 2027 | Innovation (List 3) | 1 |
| ENS 493SEM: Capstone Design 1 | Winter 2027 | Justice (List 3) | 1 |
| GEO 100LEC: World Regions & Issues | Winter 2027 | - Global Reflections (List 1) | 30 |
| GEO 100LEC: World Regions & Issues | Winter 2027 | -Humanity (List 2) | 30 |
| GEO 100LEC: World Regions & Issues | Winter 2027 | Innovation (List 2) | 30 |
| GEO 100LEC: World Regions & Issues | Winter 2027 | Justice (List 2) | 30 |
| GEO 334LEC: International Bus Cultures | Winter 2027 | - Global Reflections (List 1) | 30 |
| GEO 334LEC: International Bus Cultures | Winter 2027 | -Humanity (List 2) | 30 |
| GEO 334LEC: International Bus Cultures | Winter 2027 | Innovation (List 2) | 30 |
| GEO 334LEC: International Bus Cultures | Winter 2027 | Justice (List 2) | 30 |
| GGS 101LEC: Intro Gender & Wmn Studies | Winter 2027 | -Humanity (List 1) | 30 |
| GGS 101LEC: Intro Gender & Wmn Studies | Winter 2027 | Health (List 1) | 30 |
| GGS 101LEC: Intro Gender & Wmn Studies | Winter 2027 | Justice (List 1) | 30 |
| HIS 162LR: US History 2 | Winter 2027 | -Humanity (List 1) | 21 |
| HIS 162LR: US History 2 | Winter 2027 | Innovation (List 1) | 21 |
| HIS 162LR: US History 2 | Winter 2027 | Justice (List 1) | 21 |
| KOR 101LEC: 1st Yr-1st Sem Korean | Winter 2027 | KOR 101: Introductory Korean (List 1) | 30 |
| KOR 102LEC: 1st Yr-2nd Sem Korean | Winter 2027 | KOR 101: Introductory Korean (List 2) | 30 |
| MGG 105SEM: First-Year Global Exp: UN SDGs | Winter 2027 | - Global Reflections (List 3) | 60 |
| MGG 105SEM: First-Year Global Exp: UN SDGs | Winter 2027 | -International Experience (List 3) | 60 |
| MGG 302LEC: Soc Innov & Ent Lead: LAC | Winter 2027 | - Global Reflections (List 1) | 0 |
| MUS 115LEC: Understanding Music: A Global | Winter 2027 | - Global Reflections (List 2) | 60 |
| MUS 115LEC: Understanding Music: A Global | Winter 2027 | -Humanity (List 3) | 60 |
| MUS 364LEC: World Music | Winter 2027 | - Global Reflections (List 2) | 30 |
| MUS 364LEC: World Music | Winter 2027 | -Humanity (List 3) | 30 |
| PHI 101LEC: Intro to Philosophy | Winter 2027 | - Global Reflections (List 2) | 40 |
| PHI 101LEC: Intro to Philosophy | Winter 2027 | -Humanity (List 3) | 40 |
| PHI 105LEC: Contemporary Moral Problems | Winter 2027 | -Humanity (List 3) | 40 |
| PHI 105LEC: Contemporary Moral Problems | Winter 2027 | Health (List 3) | 40 |
| PHI 105LEC: Contemporary Moral Problems | Winter 2027 | Innovation (List 3) | 40 |
| PHI 105LEC: Contemporary Moral Problems | Winter 2027 | Justice (List 3) | 40 |
| PSC 101LEC: Intro American Politics | Winter 2027 | -Humanity (List 2) | 30 |
| PSC 101LEC: Intro American Politics | Winter 2027 | Environment (List 2) | 30 |
| PSC 101LEC: Intro American Politics | Winter 2027 | Justice (List 2) | 30 |
| PSC 102LEC: Intro Internat Politics | Winter 2027 | - Global Reflections (List 1) | 30 |
| PSC 102LEC: Intro Internat Politics | Winter 2027 | -Humanity (List 2) | 30 |
| PSC 102LEC: Intro Internat Politics | Winter 2027 | Justice (List 2) | 30 |
| PSC 301LEC: Cases in Civil Liberties | Winter 2027 | Health (List 1) | 30 |
| PSC 301LEC: Cases in Civil Liberties | Winter 2027 | Innovation (List 1) | 30 |
| PSC 301LEC: Cases in Civil Liberties | Winter 2027 | Justice (List 1) | 30 |
| PSC 326LEC: War & Int'l Security | Winter 2027 | - Global Reflections (List 1) | 30 |
| PSC 326LEC: War & Int'l Security | Winter 2027 | Innovation (List 2) | 30 |
| PSC 326LEC: War & Int'l Security | Winter 2027 | Justice (List 2) | 30 |
| PSY 101LEC: Introductory Psychology | Winter 2027 | -Humanity (List 2) | 170 |
| PSY 101LEC: Introductory Psychology | Winter 2027 | Justice (List 2) | 170 |
| PSY 323LEC: Community Psychology | Winter 2027 | -Humanity (List 2) | 65 |
| PSY 323LEC: Community Psychology | Winter 2027 | Health (List 2) | 65 |
| PSY 325LEC: Health Psychology | Winter 2027 | Health (List 2) | 65 |
| SOC 101LEC: Introduction to Sociology | Winter 2027 | -Humanity (List 1) | 90 |
| SOC 101LEC: Introduction to Sociology | Winter 2027 | Health (List 1) | 90 |
| SOC 101LEC: Introduction to Sociology | Winter 2027 | Justice (List 1) | 90 |
| SOC 206LEC: Social Problems | Winter 2027 | -Humanity (List 1) | 15 |
| SOC 206LEC: Social Problems | Winter 2027 | Innovation (List 1) | 15 |
| SOC 206LEC: Social Problems | Winter 2027 | Justice (List 1) | 15 |
| SOC 211LEC: Sociology of Diversity | Winter 2027 | -Humanity (List 1) | 30 |
| SOC 211LEC: Sociology of Diversity | Winter 2027 | Health (List 1) | 30 |
| SOC 211LEC: Sociology of Diversity | Winter 2027 | Innovation (List 1) | 30 |
| SOC 211LEC: Sociology of Diversity | Winter 2027 | Justice (List 1) | 30 |
| SOC 330LEC: Sociology Through Film | Winter 2027 | -Humanity (List 2) | 0 |
| SOC 330LEC: Sociology Through Film | Winter 2027 | Justice (List 2) | 0 |
| SOC 358LEC: Sociology of Food | Winter 2027 | - Global Reflections (List 3) | 49 |
| SOC 358LEC: Sociology of Food | Winter 2027 | -International Experience (List 3) | 49 |
| SW 111LEC: Media Advocacy and the UN | Winter 2027 | - Global Reflections (List 3) | 30 |
| SW 112SEM: Children's Rights and SDGS | Winter 2027 | - Global Reflections (List 3) | 0 |
| SW 112SEM: Children's Rights and SDGS | Winter 2027 | Health (List 2) | 0 |
| TH 325SEM: Performance & the Critic | Winter 2027 | - Global Reflections (List 2) | 0 |
| TH 325SEM: Performance & the Critic | Winter 2027 | -International Experience (List 2) | 0 |
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.