Zero Textbook Cost Courses

Graphic of a blue with 'CUNY SPS' writte on it and a ribbon that says 'Z-Degree'

The CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) is home to CUNY's first bachelor's "Z Degrees." Communication & Media, Sociology, and Liberal Studies undergraduate degree programs can be completed without ever purchasing a textbook.

As of Fall 2023, 97% of General Education sections are ZTC (zero-textbook-cost) or LTC (low-textbook-cost, under $25). The number of ZTC sections offered by the School has grown from 35 sections in Spring 2017 to 281 in Fall 2023, saving CUNY SPS students over $3,100,000 or approximately $80 per ZTC section.

CUNY SPS faculty and instructional designers continue to convert courses that use expensive textbooks to Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) sections. Additional course conversions and Z Degrees are planned to launch this year.

Graphic of a blue textbook with 'Zero Textbook Cost' written on it and the CUNY SPS logo on the bottom right corner

Instead of publisher's textbooks, ZTC courses use a mix of Open Education Resources (OER), links to scholarly and professional websites, resources from CUNY library databases, and multimedia lectures created by CUNY SPS professors. This work is made possible through generous funding from New York State to promote the use of OER in the CUNY and SUNY systems.

Zero Textbook Cost Sections

To find Zero Textbook Cost and Low Textbook Cost (textbook cost under $25) sections, search for the Zero Textbook Cost and Low Textbook Cost Attributes in CUNYfirst or CUNY Global Search. See the video above for instructions.

ZTC At A Glance

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$3,100,000

CUNY SPS student savings

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97%

Gen Ed courses are ZTC or low-cost

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281

Total zero textbook cost sections