Department Website
Program Description
Animal Studies is a rapidly developing interdisciplinary field that draws from the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences to examine what nonhuman animals are like, how human and nonhuman animals relate to each other, and the aesthetic, moral, social, political, economic, and ecological significance of these relations.
NYU Animal Studies, active since 2010 and housed in the Department of Environmental Studies, is a central gathering place for people interested in these issues. Our students work with leading scholars in Animal Studies, Environmental Studies, and related fields; participate in intensive seminars, workshops, and conferences; and engage in a wide range of theoretical, practical, and creative pursuits upon graduation.
The NYU Animal Studies M.A. Program, active since 2018, empowers students to:
- examine the key debates that define the field of Animal Studies,
- perform original research that contributes to these debates, and
- understand the connections across animal issues, environmental issues, and social issues.
This program is designed for people who:
- plan to work in professions that provide care for animals,
- seek to advance understanding of animals in the world, or
- seek to improve the wellbeing of animals in the world.
We welcome applications from anyone interested, independently of background, and we work with each admitted student to create a personalized course of study that serves your interests and aspirations.
All applicants to the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) are required to submit a complete application for admission. A complete application includes the online application, academic transcripts, test scores (if required), letters of recommendation, a résumé or curriculum vitae, a Statement of Academic Purpose, and an application fee. Applicants also have the option of providing a short Personal History essay. Please refer to the Instructions section of the online application.
Admissions
All applicants to the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) are required to submit the general application requirements, which include:
See Animal Studies for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.
Program Requirements
Additional Program Requirements
Capstone/Thesis
Students also complete a thesis project with the support of individual mentors, fellow students, and a thesis instructor. This thesis project can be a research paper, policy proposal, or artistic project that explores central themes in Animal Studies in an original and rigorous way.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will have:
- A general understanding of what animals are like, how humans and other animals interact, and the moral, social, legal, political, economic, ecological, and aesthetic significance of animals and our interactions with them.
- A general understanding of how to engage with academic scholarship in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, and how to integrate insights from different fields together in a multidisciplinary research environment.
- The ability to complete a self-directed project (either a research project or a creative project with a supplementary essay) that draws from rigorous, systematic research in Animal Studies and illuminates important information or arguments in this field.
- The ability to communicate about important issues for a variety of audiences, including academics, advocates, policymakers, and the general public, and in a variety of media, including writing, speaking, and artistic expression.
Policies
Policies Applying to the Major
The following policies are specific to this program:
- GRE general test is not required. Please do not send us GRE test scores. If you do, the scores will not be reviewed or considered by the department’s Admissions Committee.
- Either the TOEFL or the IELTS is required of all applicants who are not native English speakers or who do not have a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an institution where the language of instruction is English.
- A Statement of Academic Purpose is required. Please describe your past and present work as it relates to your intended field of study, your educational objectives, and your career goals. The statement should not exceed two double-spaced pages.
- An academic writing sample is required. It can be a term paper, parts of a thesis, or a published article. Your writing sample should demonstrate your analytical and communication skills, should be written in English, and should not exceed 25 double-spaced pages. It does not need to be about Animal Studies.
- A second work sample is optional. It can be a second writing sample, a policy proposal, an artistic project, or any other work that you see as relevant. This work sample should be written in English (if applicable) and should not exceed 25 double-spaced pages or the equivalent. It does not need to be about Animal Studies.
NYU Policies
University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.
Graduate School of Arts and Science Policies
Academic Policies for the Graduate School of Arts and Science can be found on the Academic Policies page.