Academic Policies
- General Degree Requirements
- Residency Requirements
- The Major
- Double Majors and Policy on Double Counting of Courses
- The Minor
- Regulations Pertaining to Both the Major and Minor
- Transfer Students
- Apply to Graduate and Degree Conferral
- Graduation Ceremonies
- Transcripts of Record
- Awarding of Credit
- Transfer and Articulation Agreements
- Grading
- Academic Standing and Progress
- Attendance
- Religious Holidays and Attendance
- Change of Program
- Adding Courses
- Degree Progress
- Auditing
- Petitions
- Academic Concern and Dismissal, Notices of
- Notice of Academic Concern
- Notice of Continued Academic Concern
- Notice of Academic Concern: Required Leave
- Notice of Academic Concern: Pre-dismissal Notice
- Academic Dismissal
- Academic Program
- Time Limit
- Graduating With Less than 128 Credits
- Leaves of Absence
- Withdrawing from and Dropping Courses
- Standards of Conduct
- Disciplinary Measures
- Redress of Grievances
- Internships
- Placement Exams
- Honors and Awards
- Arts and Science Committees
- University Policies and Campus Safety
General Degree Requirements
The general degree requirements are the same for the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and the Bachelor of Science (BS), with the exception of the dual degree (BS/BS) programs in Engineering. The BA degree is the most common credential conferred in the College. The following programs of study confer only the BS degree: Neural Science; Global Public Health/Science (concentration in Biology and concentration in Chemistry); and Engineering. The BS degree is an option in both Chemistry and Physics. Note well that pursuing dual degrees in the Engineering program is the only way to earn a BS in Biology, Computer Science, and Mathematics, except for the Global Public Health/Science major with a concentration in Biology.
To be eligible for the bachelor's degree, students must complete 128 credits with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0. Within these credits, students must fulfill the requirements of both a major (also completed with a minimum grade point average of 2.0) and the College Core Curriculum. A minor is optional, but if elected, must also be completed with a 2.0 minimum grade point average.
The degree requirements to be fulfilled are those in effect during the term of the student's first registration in the College. Registration in another division of New York University does not constitute a registration in the College of Arts and Science. Readmitted students must fulfill the requirements as listed in the College of Arts and Science Bulletin published during the year of their readmission, unless their readmission letter states otherwise.
In very exceptional cases, a student may petition the Committee on Undergraduate Academic Standards for approval of a change in the requirements as stated in the Bulletin. Petitions are filed through the Office of the Associate Dean for Students (25 West 4th Street, 6th Floor; 212-998-8140).
College Core Curriculum Requirements
Students must earn a grade of D (1.0/4.0) or better to apply a course toward completion of a College Core Curriculum requirement (courses graded Pass/Fail do not count). They are strongly urged to aim above this bare minimum, as any passing grade below a C (2.0/4.0) can bring a student's term and cumulative GPA below the minimum 2.0 that is required to remain in good academic standing (which determines eligibility for both financial aid and graduation). An exception is allowed for students pursuing a foreign language sequence; here only the Intermediate II level (which satisfies the Core language requirement) must be taken for a letter grade and earlier courses in the sequence may be taken Pass/Fail.
For full information on Core requirements as well as important further detail on minimum grades in expository writing courses (and on the writing proficiency exam), consult the page on the College Core Curriculum and First-Year Seminars in this Bulletin.
Residency Requirements
Once a student enrolls in the College of Arts and Science (first year and/or transfer), all course work used to satisfy the 128-credit degree requirement must be completed at NYU. All students must complete a minimum of 64 credits in College of Arts and Science coursework (-UA suffix). Courses taken in other NYU schools (i.e., without a -UA suffix) do not count toward the 64-credit minimum. Neither do NYU Abu Dhabi (-AD/UH) or NYU Shanghai (-SHU) courses. (However, -UA study away courses do count toward the 64 credits.)
Students must complete their last 32 credits while registered in the College. In addition, students must be registered in the College during the semester immediately prior to graduation, unless officially approved for a leave of absence in that semester.
One-half of the courses used to complete the major or the (optional) minor must be taken in the College. Any transfer courses to be applied toward major or minor requirements must be approved by the department, and in no case can transfer credits be used to meet more than one-half of these departmental requirements.
The Major
Major requirements, varying from department to department, are specified in the sections of this Bulletin devoted to the course listings of individual departments and programs. Generally, a little more than one-third of the total credits are earned in the major.
Every student must complete a major with a cumulative grade point average in the major of at least 2.0. At least one-half of the courses (and in some departments, at least one-half of the credits) used to complete the major must be taken in the College of Arts and Science. A student may not register for courses in the major outside of NYU.
The student must be accepted as a major in the department and must review his or her program with a department adviser each term.
College of Arts and Science students may not major in other divisions of the University, with the exception of Cinema Studies (with Tisch School of the Arts), Engineering (a dual-degree program with the Tandon School of Engineering), Global Public Health (combined majors with the School of Global Public Health), and Public Policy (a joint major with the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service).
Students in the NYU Tandon School of Engineering may not declare a major or minor in the College if the desired field of study is offered at Tandon.
Declaration of the Major
Students must visit the office of the department or program to declare a major and have it posted in the Student Information System (Albert). Departments have information on their webpages with instructions on how to declare and any criteria that must be met prior to declaration. Students who have earned 64 or more credits must declare a major. Those with fewer than 64 credits are strongly encouraged to declare a major as early in their academic career as possible.
Double Majors and Policy on Double Counting of Courses
Students may take a double (second) major. The same requirements, including the maintenance of a minimum grade point average of 2.0, apply to the second major as to the first. The second major is declared in the same way as the first (see above).
In some cases, courses may be applicable to both majors if the academic departments consider this appropriate. Students must then obtain written approval for the shared course(s) from the directors of undergraduate studies of both departments. No student may double count more than two courses between two majors (or between a major and a minor, or between two minors); some departments have set more restrictive sharing rules (a limit of one shared course, or none at all) as indicated in their sections of this Bulletin. No course may ever be triple-counted among any combination of three majors and/or minors.
The Minor
The minor requirements are found in the departmental sections of the Bulletin. The (optional) minor must be completed with a minimum grade point average of 2.0.
The minor is declared at the office of the sponsoring department or program. No more than one minor can be completed outside of the College in the other divisions of NYU, as the limit on non-CAS credits is set at 16 credits.
Regulations Pertaining to Both the Major and Minor
The major and minor requirements to be followed are those stated in the departmental sections of the Bulletin in effect during the semester of the student's first registration in the College. No credit toward the major or minor is granted for grades of C- or lower, although such grades will be computed into the grade point average of the major or the minor, as well as into the overall grade point average.
No course to be counted toward the major or minor may be taken on a Pass/Fail basis. (See "Pass/Fail option" under academic policies in this Bulletin.)
Transfer students from other colleges and universities must have the written approval of the director of undergraduate studies to count transfer courses toward the major or the minor. Once a student transfers to the College, all course work must be completed at NYU. (See also "Transfer Students," below.)
Note that in February 2020, the Faculty of Arts and Science approved this motion of the College’s Committee on Undergraduate Curriculum:
The committee recommends that for students who matriculate in the College as first-years (i.e. they are not transfer students) no more than two non-CAS NYU courses be counted toward a CAS major and no more than one non-CAS NYU course be counted toward a CAS minor. Ultimate decision making will still lie within the departments, spearheaded by the director of undergraduate studies. This recommended policy does not apply to joint degrees and other majors that have preapproved arrangements.
Transfer Students
Transfer students, whether external or internal, must complete 64 credits in College of Arts and Science coursework (-UA suffix) and must earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 overall in their major as well as any minor they decide to pursue.
Courses taken in other NYU schools (i.e., without a -UA suffix) do not count toward the 64-credit minimum. Neither do NYU Abu Dhabi (-AD/UH) or NYU Shanghai (-SHU) courses. (However, -UA study away courses do count toward the 64 credits.)
At least one-half of the courses used to complete the major and any minor must be courses offered by the College (-UA suffix). Any transfer courses to be applied toward major or minor requirements must be approved by the department and may not exceed one-half of the required coursework for the major or minor.
Courses in which a grade of C- or lower was earned are not transferable. Grades earned in external transfer courses are not calculated in the NYU grade point average.
Please note that the College follows the University's Undergraduate Transfer Credit Policy.
Apply to Graduate and Degree Conferral
To graduate in a specific semester, students must apply for graduation within the application deadline period. It is recommended that students apply for graduation no later than the beginning of the semester in which they plan to complete all program requirements. They must be enrolled for either course work, a leave of absence, or maintenance of matriculation during their final semester, unless that final semester is a January or summer term.
The Albert Degree Progress Report is the assessment tool used by the University to determine degree completion. Students should work closely with their advisers, major/minor departments, and the Registrar to ensure degree requirements are met. Students who do not successfully complete all academic requirements by the end of that semester must reapply for graduation for the following term.
NYU confers degrees three times a year: in January (Fall and January term conferral), May (Spring term conferral), and August (Summer term conferral).
Graduation Ceremonies
CAS Baccalaureate Ceremony and All-University Commencement are held in May. These events are a celebratory recognition of degrees. Participation does not replace working with the Registrar to document completion of degree requirements to earn a diploma.
Transcripts of Record
Unofficial transcripts are available on Albert, NYU's Web-based registration and information system. Albert can be accessed via NYUHome.
Students requiring a stamped and sealed copy of their New York University records should request an official copy of their University transcript from the Office of the University Registrar. Requests for official transcripts require the signature of the student/alumnus requesting the transcript, unless the student/alumnus has a valid NetID.
Current students and graduates with a valid NYU NetID (able to access NYUHome/Albert) who attended NYU in or after 1990 can request an official transcript from the Albert Student Center. The Official Transcript link can be found under the Grades & Transcripts section of the Student Center.
Alumni who attended NYU prior to 1990 and have a valid NetID can go to the secure online transcript request form and log in with their NetID and password. A signed consent form is not required.
Before completing their transcript request, current students should check to ensure that all their grades have been posted. Recent graduates should check to ensure that their degree has been recorded.
Any transcript request that requires any special handling must go through the secure online transcript request form and cannot be requested on Albert. Special handling includes: (1) sending transcripts by express mail; (2) transcripts sent to the student or alumnus/a in separate sealed envelopes addressed to admissions offices of other universities; (3) including additional documents to be sent along with the NYU transcript.
Former students who no longer have a valid NetID (unable to access NYUHome/Albert) or who attended New York University prior to 1990 must complete the secure online transcript request form and mail/fax/email the signature page to the Office of the University Registrar. Alternatively, they may write a letter to request transcripts and send this to the registrar. A signed consent form is required. The request letter must include all of the following information:
- University ID number
- Current name and any other name under which the graduate attended NYU
- Current address
- Date of birth
- School of the University attended
- Dates of attendance
- Date of graduation
- The full name and address of the person or institution to which the transcript is to be sent
The request may be faxed to 212-995-4154 or mailed to New York University, Office of the University Registrar, Transcripts and Certification, PO Box 910, New York, NY 10276-0910. There is never any charge for academic transcripts. Transcripts cannot be produced for anyone whose record has been put on hold for an outstanding University obligation.
Enrollment Verification
Students can view/print their own enrollment certification directly from Albert using the integrated National Student Clearinghouse student portal. This feature can be accessed from the Enrollment Verification link in the Grades and Transcripts section of the Student Center. Eligible students are also able to view/print a good student discount certificate, which can be mailed to an auto insurer or any other company that requests proof of status as a good student (based on the cumulative GPA).
Former students who no longer have a valid NetID (unable to access NYUHome/Albert) can request a copy using the Enrollment/Degree Completion Request form at the Registrar's web page. The signed consent form may be emailed to certifications@nyu.edu, faxed to 212-995-4154, or mailed to New York University, Office of the University Registrar, Transcripts and Certification, PO Box 910, New York, NY 10276-0910.
Verification of enrollment or graduation may also be requested by submitting a signed letter via email/fax/mail to the Office of the University Registrar with the following information:
- University ID number
- Current name and any name under which the student or graduate attended NYU
- Current address
- Date of birth
- School of the University attended
- Dates attended
- Date of graduation
- The full name and address of the person or institution to which the verification is to be sent
Awarding of Credit
Credit for Courses in the College
To receive credit for a course, the student must register before attending, meet the requirements for attendance, and creditably complete all examinations and assignments prescribed by the instructor. For exceptional students, most departments also offer independent study.
Restrictions on Receiving Credit
A student who has taken a course for credit or who has withdrawn from a course is permitted to repeat that course once. Students may not repeat more than two courses during their undergraduate careers. Students may not repeat courses in a designated sequence after taking more advanced courses. The departments determine the sequencing of courses. Students with questions regarding the repetition of courses or course sequences must consult with the particular department offering the course. When a student repeats a course, no additional credit will be awarded. Both grades will be recorded and computed in the grade point average. Courses that a student repeated before internally or externally transferring or transitioning into CAS do not count against the two-course limit.
A limited number of credits may be earned by those in the military services who take correspondence courses in colleges approved by the United States Armed Forces Institute.
Students may not be registered at another university at the same time that they are registered in the College of Arts and Science.
Double Counting of Credit
In some cases, course credit may be applicable to two majors, a major and a minor, or two minors, but only if the academic departments consider this appropriate. Students must then obtain written approval for the shared course(s) from the directors of undergraduate studies of both departments. No student may double count more than two courses. Some departments have set more restrictive sharing rules (a limit of one shared course, or none at all) as indicated in their sections of this Bulletin. No course may ever be triple-counted among any combination of three majors and/or minors.
Courses at Other Schools and Divisions of New York University
Courses may be taken in the New York University Graduate School of Arts and Science. 1000-level graduate courses may be taken as described in the departmental sections of this Bulletin, and 2000-level graduate courses may be taken with written approval of the instructor. If graduate courses are applied toward the completion of requirements for the baccalaureate degree, no advanced credit is allowed for them in the Graduate School of Arts and Science.
It is also possible for students to take courses in other undergraduate divisions of New York University and to have credits for these courses applied to the degree in the College.
Students may take a total of 16 credits in other divisions, including any courses for particular minors approved by the College. Transfer students should note that credits for non-liberal-arts courses (e.g., business, applied art, speech) taken at another institution count as part of the 16 credits. Students seeking additional non-liberal-arts credits beyond the 16-credit limit must speak with their academic adviser in the College Advising Center.
Some study away courses bearing the suffixes -AD/UH (NYU Abu Dhabi) and -SHU (NYU Shanghai) are approved not to count against each CAS student's 16-credit allowance in the other schools of NYU.
Please note that restrictions apply. Courses in other divisions that duplicate the contents of a College of Arts and Science course do not count toward the College degree. For details, students must check with an adviser in the College Advising Center before registering for any courses in other divisions. If a course is not approved, students will not receive credit for it. Independent study or internship courses taken in other divisions of the University do not count toward the College degree. If such courses are taken at schools outside the University, the credit will not transfer to the College.
Also excluded from credit toward the degree are most courses taken in the School of Professional Studies, and/or in the Liberal Studies Program, once a student is matriculated in the College. However, CAS students are permitted to take some specified advanced courses in Global Liberal Studies (GLS).
There is one exception to the SPS policy. Effective Spring 2025, the College of Arts and Science now permits CAS students to take courses sponsored by the School of Professional Studies in these three areas: Real Estate Development; Sport Management; and Travel, Hospitality, and Tourism Management (represented by course codes REBS1-UC; TCHT1-UC; TCSM1-UC; and RWLD1-UC). These SPS courses count against the College’s 16-credit external unit credit limit and cannot be used to meet the CAS residency requirement of 64 UA credits. Students may choose to complete one of the three SPS-sponsored minors in these subjects, although they are not required to do so and may take courses in one or more of these SPS fields in a standalone manner (in which case they count toward the baccalaureate degree as general degree electives only). CAS students may not apply SPS internship or independent studies credits toward their degree.
Internal and external transfer students to the College must complete 64 credits in CAS (-UA) courses; courses taken in the other divisions and schools of NYU (including NYU Abu Dhabi and Shanghai) cannot count toward this 64-credit requirement.
Summer Credits
Once admitted to the College, students must take all courses here, including those they need or wish to take during the summer. Exceptions are granted only rarely and only for good academic reasons.
Requests for a waiver should be made by submitting a petition to the Committee on Undergraduate Academic Standards in the Office of the Associate Dean for Students.
Information about NYU summer course offerings is available during the preceding fall and spring terms, as is information about dormitory facilities available to students who usually commute.
Credit for Independent Study
Most departments offer independent study courses for students with exceptional qualifications. In these courses, the work is planned specifically for each student.
Independent study courses allow the student to work independently with faculty supervision and counsel. The courses typically carry variable credit of 2 or 4 credits each term. They are normally limited to upper-class majors but may be open to other well-qualified students. To register for independent study, a student must have written approval of the director of undergraduate studies of the department in which the course is offered. The result of the independent study course should be a paper or objective, tangible evidence of completion of the work. The individual departments may grant credit for not more than 8 credits of independent study for work approved in advance. In general, students are not permitted to take more than 12 credits of independent study and/or internship, and no more than 8 credits may be taken in any one department. Internships and/or independent study courses taken in other divisions of the University or at other universities do not count toward the College degree.
More specific information can be found under the individual departmental sections.
Credit for Online Courses
In the Fall 2017 term, the Arts and Science faculty voted to allow CAS students to count up to four online courses (up to a total of 16 credits) toward the baccalaureate degree. By vote of the faculty in Fall 2024, this limit is now raised to 24 credits.
Online courses may be taken in other NYU schools and/or be applied as external transfer credit. No prior approval is needed to take an NYU online course. However, students must petition to transfer in external online courses. Petitions are filed through the Office of the Associate Dean for Students.
Online courses cannot meet the requirements of any CAS major or minor unless they are accepted and approved by the department's director of undergraduate studies.
Online credits from for-profit institutions are not accepted.
Students must check the policies of graduate and professional schools they may plan to attend after graduation from NYU; not all programs will accept online credits.
Transfer and Articulation Agreements
Credit for Transfer Students
Students are allowed to transfer up to 64 credits to the College and must present official college transcripts. Credits based on semester hours are accepted from other institutions at face value and are not altered when they are transferred into the College. Quarter hours will be converted to semester hours to determine the number of credits transferable to the College of Arts and Science. Non-liberal-arts credits are not always transferable, and transfer credit is never awarded for independent study or internship courses. Only credits for course work taken with a grade of C or better will be transferred. Courses taken for a pass/fail grade will not transfer to the College.
Internal and external transfer students to the College must complete 64 credits in CAS (-UA) courses; courses taken in the other divisions and schools of NYU (including NYU Abu Dhabi and Shanghai) cannot count toward this 64-credit requirement.
Courses in which a grade of C- or lower was earned are not transferable. Grades earned in external transfer courses are not calculated in the NYU grade point average.
Please note that the College follows the University's Undergraduate Transfer Credit Policy.
Receiving Credit for Courses Taken at Another Institution
Upon matriculation in the College students are expected to take all remaining coursework at NYU, including courses they need or wish to take during the summer. Students who would like to attend another institution and transfer those credits to NYU must first petition and receive approval from the College's Committee on Academic Standards. The Committee will review requests for the following scenarios:
- Off-Campus (Domestic) and Off-Campus (International/non-NYU study abroad) courses the student would like to take in the future.
- Transfer Credit: to receive credit for courses previously taken at another institution.
Because the College and University offer a wealth of regular term, summer session, and January term courses in both New York and away (through NYU's Global Centers, NYU Shanghai, NYU Abu Dhabi, and a number of international and national exchange partners), students must use their petitions to explain how their proposed off-campus study integrates with and furthers their overall academic goals and completion of their academic program requirements.
Students must attach a syllabus for each off-campus course they are requesting to take, as well as proof of departmental approval for any course(s) intended to satisfy a major or minor requirement(s).
Before filing a petition, please note that the following College policies apply:
- The last 32 credits for the degree must be taken in residence at CAS.
- No off-campus credits will be granted for any courses taken at a two-year institution.
- No credit will be awarded for any grade below C or for grades of P, S, CR, etc.
- Grades for courses taken outside of NYU are not computed into the CAS grade point average.
- Students who register for courses other than those with prior approval will not receive transfer credit for them.
- Substitutions for CORE courses are NOT permitted.
Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, A Level, and Other Examinations
The College participates in the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board. Students who have taken Advanced Placement exams while in high school should have the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, NJ, forward their official scores to NYU Undergraduate Admissions, 383 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10003.
No credit is given for AP tests taken after the completion of high school. In most subjects, if the score received is 4 or 5, credit will be granted. The AP credit will be lost, however, if a student takes the equivalent course for credit in the College. For more information, see the "advanced placement equivalencies" chart in the admission section of this Bulletin.
For information on IB, A Level, and the other international examinations for which CAS awards credit (minimum scores, course equivalencies, etc.), please see "credit by examination" and charts in the admission section of this Bulletin. No credit is given for international tests taken after the completion of high school.
The maximum number of credits allowed toward the degree requirements of the College that are a result of any possible combination of nonresident special examination programs (plus previous coursework, if applicable and approved) shall not exceed a total of 32.
College Credits Taken in Secondary School by First-Year Matriculants in CAS
Credit may be awarded to students who completed college courses while in high school (credits from either a community college or a four-year college or university are acceptable), provided that: they received a grade of C or better in the courses; an official transcript from the college or university is received; corresponding courses are offered at NYU; and the courses are applicable to a student's degree program requirements. Note that students who matriculate as first years will not receive transfer credit for post-secondary expository writing courses, since they are required to complete at least one first-year writing course at NYU. Note also that students who enter CAS as first years may be awarded no more than 32 advanced standing credits; this limit includes both credits from Advanced Placement and similar examinations and previous college credits.
Non-NYU Study Abroad
Credits based on semester hours (similar to schools in the United States) are accepted from institutions abroad at face value and are not altered when the credits transfer into the College. Often credits from institutions abroad must be adjusted or converted to correspond to the College's requirements for awarding credits. Approval to participate in a non-NYU study abroad is only obtained by completing an academic proposal. Petitions are filed through the Office of the Associate Dean for Students, 25 West 4th Street, 6th floor; 212-998-8140.
When students receive approval to participate in a non-NYU program abroad, the specific courses they will take are approved and the number of transfer credits they will receive is specified.
Grading
Missed and Makeup Final Examinations
A student who due to illness or other emergency cannot take the final examination in a course at the regularly scheduled day and time should request the grade of Incomplete. This grade is not awarded automatically. The time and place of any makeup examinations are set by the instructor or the department. Please see more detail on the grade of Incomplete below.
Grades
Students may obtain their final grades for each semester on Albert. The parents or guardian of a student who is a minor (under 18 years of age) may, on a written request to the Office of the University Registrar, obtain the student's grades at any time.
The following symbols indicating grades are used in the College: A, B, C, D, and F, as well as P, W, NR, and R. The following symbol indicates incomplete work: I. The full range of regular grades is: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, F. Only grades of A through F (including all plus and minus grades, such as B+ and B-) earned in any New York University course are computed in the average. In general, A indicates excellent work, B indicates good work, C indicates satisfactory work, and D indicates passable work and is the lowest passing grade. F indicates failure.
By vote of the University Senate on March 29, 2018, the weights assigned in computing the grade point average are as follows, effective fall 2018 and thereafter. Grades and GPAs prior to fall 2018 will not change; for the pre-fall 2018 weighting of grades, please consult an archived CAS Bulletin.
Grade | Grade Points |
---|---|
A | 4.000 |
A- | 3.667 |
B+ | 3.333 |
B | 3.000 |
B- | 2.667 |
C+ | 2.333 |
C | 2.000 |
C- | 1.667 |
D+ | 1.333 |
D | 1.000 |
F | 0.000 |
Computing the Grade Point Average
The grade point average can be obtained by determining the total of all grade credits earned (quality credits) and dividing that figure by the total number of credit hours completed (quality hours).
For example (using the grade weighting in effect before fall 2018): A student who has completed 8 credits of A (4.0), 4 credits of B (3.0), and 4 credits of C (2.0) has a grade point average of 3.25. This is obtained by adding 8 (points of A) x 4.0 (point value of A), 4 (points of B) x 3.0 (point value of B), and 4 (points of C) x 2.0 (point value of C), which totals 52 (the total of all grade credits earned), and then by dividing 52 by 16 (the total number of credit hours completed). This gives the grade point average of 3.25.
Policies on Assigned Grades
Once a final grade has been submitted by the instructor and recorded on the transcript, the final grade cannot be changed by turning in additional coursework.
Courses cannot be audited as a means of satisfying requirements for an Incomplete grade or as a means of changing a previous grade.
To appeal an assigned grade, the student should first consult with the instructor who assigned the grade to discuss the grading requirements for the course and how the grade was determined. If the student is not satisfied with the outcome of the discussion and wishes to appeal the grade further, a formal written appeal should be submitted to the chair and/or director of undergraduate studies in the particular department. An independent review of the grade will be undertaken by the department. All of the student's work will be reviewed to clarify how the grade was determined and to ensure the grade is consistent with the academic guidelines and policies of the department. The decision of the department in matters related to a course grade is final.
In the case of a course that has been repeated, for students who matriculate in or are readmitted to CAS in fall 2012 and thereafter: both grades will be recorded on the transcript and both grades will be computed in the grade point average. When a student repeats a course, no additional credit will be awarded.
The grades for courses taken abroad in one of New York University's programs or at one of the exchange sites are recorded on the transcript and are also included in the grade point average. The grades for graduate and professional courses taken at other divisions in the University are included in the grade point average, provided that permission to enroll is obtained prior to registration for the courses.
Not included in the undergraduate grade point average are grades for the first year of professional courses taken by those students in the three-year accelerated dental program and grades for work done at institutions other than New York University (except for exchange sites abroad).
Grade of P
The grade of P (Pass) indicates a passing grade (A, B, C, or D) in a course taken under the Pass/Fail option. It is also used to indicate nongraded courses. The grade of P is not computed in the average. The grade of F under the Pass/Fail option is computed in the average. For more information and procedures to obtain the Pass/Fail option, see the section "Pass/Fail Option," below.
Grade of W
The grade of W indicates an official withdrawal of the student from a course in good academic standing. Please see "Change of Program" and "Withdrawing from Courses," for information on the regulations and procedures for withdrawing officially from courses.
Grade of NR
Grades not entered by the course instructor or academic department within 30 days from the grade deadline will lapse to NR (No Record). Courses with NR grades will not count toward earned credit and will not factor into the GPA, but will count as credits attempted and will impact academic progress evaluations used for financial aid eligibility. Students may not graduate with NR grades on their transcript without a formal documented exception approved by the CAS Office of the Associate Dean for Students.
Grade of R
This grade is only used for audited courses. Auditors must be fully registered (by an administrator, via an add/drop slip) in Albert for audited courses and pay full tuition, but do not earn credit. The grade of R is not computed in the grade point average.
Incompletes (Grade of I)
The grade of incomplete (I) is a temporary grade that indicates that a student has not yet completed all requirements for a course as outlined on the syllabus but could pass the course if they were to complete those outstanding requirements. The “I” grade is only appropriate where unexpected and/or unavoidable circumstances—in most cases occurring near the end of the semester/term—have prevented a student from completing a limited number of remaining course requirements that can reasonably be completed by an agreed-upon deadline.
Additional information can be found on the Undergraduate Incomplete Policy page. Graduate students should consult their school's specific policy for additional information.
Students in CAS with questions about how the Incomplete grade policy applies to their specific situation should contact the College Advising Center or the Office of the Associate Dean for Student Success (25 West 4th Street, 5th and 6th Floors; 212-998-8130 and 212-998-8140 respectively; also cas.advisors@nyu.edu and cas.deanforstudents@nyu.edu).
Pass/Fail Option
Students may elect one Pass/Fail option each term, including the summer sessions, for a total of not more than 32 credits during their college career. The Pass/Fail option is not acceptable for courses completed at other institutions.
The choice must be made before the completion of the 14th week of the term (fifth week of a six-week summer session); after that time, the decision cannot be initiated or changed. No grade other than P or F will be recorded for those students choosing this option. P includes the grades of A, B, C, and D and is not counted in the average. F is counted in the average.
The Pass/Fail option is not acceptable in the major, the minor, or any of the courses taken in fulfillment of the College Core Curriculum requirements. Students considering the Pass/Fail option in their area of study or in required preprofessional courses should consult with their advisers about the effect of such grades on admission to graduate and professional schools. Students who change their majors may not be able to use courses taken under the Pass/Fail option to satisfy the requirements of their new majors. To request the Pass/Fail option before the end of the 14th week of the semester or the end of the fifth week of a six-week summer session, students should fill out the pass/fail request form which will be reviewed by the student's CAS adviser.
Academic Standing and Progress
The College's faculty Committee on Undergraduate Academic Standards ensures students are meeting degree requirements and following academic policies as outlined in this Bulletin. The Committee meets regularly throughout the academic year to review student records. While CAS expects most of its students will experience a straightforward path to successfully completing an undergraduate degree and will be able to easily comply with the College’s academic standards, the Committee also understands that difficulties may arise that hinder a student’s ability to comply with certain requirements. When such extenuating circumstances arise, the Committee allows students to petition for an exception to or exemption from a policy or requirement.
Because every student and every situation is unique, the Committee decides whether to approve or deny all such requests on a case by case basis. Students should be aware that only petitions based on circumstances that are supported by valid and documented academic reasons will be considered. The decisions of the Committee are final.
Prior to filing a petition, students should consult their Degree Progress Report in Albert and/or a CAS adviser for questions about their academic standing and progress to degree. At the same time, the Office of the Associate Dean for Students and the CAS Advising Center are additional resources to help students understand their academic standing, progress to degree and available options for completing CAS academic requirements.
Attendance
Although the administration of the College does not supervise attendance of classes, it supports the standards imposed by instructors.
Students who, in the judgment of the instructor, have not substantially met the requirements of the course or who have been excessively absent may be considered to have withdrawn unofficially and may be given the final grade of F. See "Withdrawing from Courses," above.
Religious Holidays and Attendance
Please consult the University Calendar Policy on Religious Holidays.
Change of Program
To make any changes in their program, including dropping or adding courses given in other divisions of the University, students must access Albert via NYU Home - if they are not able to make the necessary changes themselves via Albert, they should contact cas.deanforstudents@nyu.edu for assistance.
Adding Courses
The deadline for the adding of a course or a section is the end of the second week of the semester. The deadline applies to any course added by a College of Arts and Science student and to any College of Arts and Science course added by students from other divisions. The adding of any course or section after the end of the second week is generally allowed only with the written approval of both the instructor and Academic Standards in the Office of the Associate Dean for Students, 25 West 4th Street, 6th floor; 212-998-8140 / cas.deanforstudents@nyu.edu.
Degree Progress
All students have access to their degree progress report, as generated by the Office of the University Registrar, on Albert via NYUHome. It is located in the Academics section of the Student Center. The degree progress report is a Student Information System (SIS) accounting of completed and remaining degree requirements.
Auditing
Matriculated students in the College or in any division of the University (undergraduate or graduate) may audit (i.e., attend lectures without intending to receive credit) any course in the College with the consent of, and under the conditions established by, the instructor and the department. Auditors may not preempt space required for registered students. Courses cannot be audited as a means of satisfying requirements for an Incomplete grade or as a means of changing a previous grade. Special (visiting or non-degree) students may not audit courses.
Effective with the fall 2020 term, and following Office of the Registrar policy, auditors must be fully registered for audited courses in Albert and are charged full tuition, but do not earn credits. They receive the grade of "R" which is not computed in the grade point average. If they are not CAS students, they must have permission from their home school, and their advisers or deans' offices must confirm with the College before approval to audit a CAS course is granted.
Students do not register themselves as auditors on Albert; the process requires a signed add/drop form sent to the Office of the Registrar with "register as auditor" noted in the special processing section.
Petitions
The Faculty Committee on Undergraduate Academic Standards will consider petitions from students to waive requirements or modify policies and regulations of the College. Students should be aware that only very exceptional cases, supported by valid and documented reasons, will be considered. After deliberation, the committee's decisions on such matters are final. Petitions are filed through the Office of the Associate Dean for Students, 25 West 4th Street, 6th floor; 212-998-8140; http://cas.nyu.edu/academic-standards.
Academic Concern and Dismissal, Notices of
All students begin their CAS careers in Good Academic Standing. Any student whose record demonstrates unsatisfactory progress will receive a formal notice of academic concern noting a departure from good standing. This notice will come from the Associate Dean for Student Success in the College of Arts and Science. The notice of academic concern may adhere to the following escalating levels of concern: Notice of Academic Concern; Notice of Continued Academic Concern; Notice of Academic Concern: Required Leave; and Notice of Academic Concern: Pre-dismissal Notice.
The purpose of these notices is to (1) deliver an official communication to students about their academic standing in the College; (2) extend care to students experiencing academic difficulty by offering services and resources to foster academic recovery; and (3) maintain appropriate academic standards including the possibility of academic dismissal from the College.
Criteria for Academic Standing Designations
A student will be considered as not in Good Academic Standing (i.e., progress will be deemed unsatisfactory) if, in any semester, the cumulative or semester grade point average falls below 2.0
To return to Good Academic Standing a student must (a) achieve a semester grade point average of at least 2.0 during the term of a Notice of Academic Concern; (b) achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 during the term of a Notice of Academic Concern; and (c) complete 75% of attempted credits enrolled during the term of a Notice of Academic Concern.
Students with a Notice of Academic Concern are also required to engage in an academic support program to receive registration clearance for the next semester. More specific requirements may be imposed; academic support offerings will vary by semester and student circumstances. Failure to satisfy these conditions will result in further escalation of academic concern and potential review for dismissal from the College.
The Committee on Undergraduate Academic Standards may summon students with unsatisfactory records to discuss their rate of progression to degree completion and to determine whether and under what conditions they may continue in the College. In special circumstances, the committee may recommend to the Associate Dean that students may be granted or placed on a mandatory leave of absence for a period not to exceed two semesters.
There may be financial aid implications of not making satisfactory academic progress to degree completion and/or not being in Good Academic Standing. Students who receive aid should contact the Office of Financial Aid to discuss the impacts of their academic standing on any and all types of aid they receive.
Notice of Academic Concern
This is an initial alert issued at the conclusion of the first semester of study when a student is no longer in Good Academic Standing (as defined above). Students must meet the criteria for returning to Good Academic Standing (also as defined above).
Notice of Continued Academic Concern
This notice will be issued if a student does not meet the criteria for returning to Good Academic Standing after one semester (see definitions and conditions above).
Notice of Academic Concern: Required Leave
The Committee on Undergraduate Academic Standards may summon students with unsatisfactory records and failure to make academic progress to degree completion to discuss their problems and to determine whether and under what conditions they may continue in the College. In special circumstances, the committee may recommend to the dean that students may be granted or placed on leave for a period not to exceed two semesters.
Notice of Academic Concern: Pre-dismissal Notice
This serves as the most serious designation within the series of academic concern notices, signifying a final warning before potential dismissal from the College. While it aligns with the progression of escalating notices—providing structured opportunities for students to address their academic challenges—it also functions to address critical progress concerns, particularly when a student's academic performance poses a significant barrier to degree completion. This notice underscores the urgency of resolving persistent issues and engaging with available resources to avoid dismissal.
Academic Dismissal
All dismissals will be determined in accordance with CAS policy and by the Academic Standing Committee. The Committee on Undergraduate Academic Standards reviews student records for academic dismissal annually. Students may be dismissed from the College as a result of (a) progressive elevation through notices of academic concern or (b) unsatisfactory progress of cumulative completed credit hours of total attempted credits. Starting after a student’s second semester enrolled in the College of Arts and Science, a student’s record may be considered for dismissal if they complete if fewer than 50% of attempted credit hours were successfully completed.
Students will receive formal notifications related to changes in their Academic Standing via email from the Associate Dean for Student Success. Students who are dismissed from the College for poor academic performance will be informed via email. Students who have paid tuition for the next term at the time of dismissal will receive a full refund of tuition and fees.
Academic Program
The programs and courses offered at the College of Arts and Science are designed for students who attend classes offered during the day on a full-time basis. A full-time schedule normally consists of 16 credits per term, or 32 credits per year, which enables a student to complete the entire program of 128 credits in four years. Minimal full-time status entails completing at least 12 credits per term, or 24 credits per year. Students who wish to attend part-time should speak with their academic adviser in the College Advising Center, 25 West 4th Street, 5th floor; 212-998-8130. Such status will be granted only when there is good and sufficient reason for part-time study. Failure to complete a minimum of 24 credits per year jeopardizes a student's full-time status. Failure to complete 32 credits per year may jeopardize a student's eligibility to receive financial aid; students should discuss their situation with the Office of Financial Aid in the StudentLink Center, 383 Lafayette Street. Students may register for more than 18 credits per term with the approval and clearance of their academic adviser.
Time Limit
All requirements for a degree in the College must be met within a period of eight years from the date of matriculation. For transfer students and for students who are readmitted to the College, the length of time is proportionately reduced. Transfer credit is not granted for courses taken more than 10 years before the student's matriculation in the College.
Graduating With Less than 128 Credits
CAS students are required to complete 128 credits (i.e., 16 per semester; 32 per year) in order to graduate. Students who have taken courses with less than 4 credits may petition the College's Committee on Academic Standards to request permission to graduate with 127 or 126 credits.
Leaves of Absence
Please consult the University’s Student Leave Policy.
Withdrawing from and Dropping Courses
Students are expected to maintain a full-time program of study. Occasionally, they may withdraw from a course (or courses) if, because of reasons beyond their control, they cannot continue. Courses dropped during the first two weeks of the term will not appear on the transcript. Those dropped from the beginning of the third week through the 14th week of the term will be recorded with a grade of W. (This grade is not calculated in the GPA and indicates a student withdrew in good academic standing.) After the 14th week, no student may withdraw from a course unless there are extenuating circumstances and his or her petition to withdraw is approved by the College’s Committee on Academic Standards (25 West 4th Street, 6th floor; 212-998-8140).
Students who are ill or have a serious personal issue should first see, call, or write to an adviser in the College Advising Center (25 West 4th Street, 5th floor; 212-998-8130) to discuss a late withdrawal petition. If a student's petition is approved, he or she will be withdrawn from the course (it will appear on the transcript with a grade of W).
Please note that student petitions to remove a grade of W from the transcript will only be considered when there are exceptional circumstances and students can prove that they stopped attending the course during the add/drop period (i.e., during the first two weeks of the semester).
Complete Withdrawals
Students who wish to withdraw from all courses in the current term must make an appointment for an interview with an adviser in the College Advising Center.
If the student is unable to attend the College during the term following the withdrawal, he or she should discuss a leave of absence with an adviser in the College Advising Center. For more information, see the University’s Student Leave Policy.
Any student considering a partial or full term withdrawal should navigate to Cost of Attendance in this Bulletin and click on the Refund Policy link at the bottom of that page.
Standards of Conduct
Academic Integrity
The College is a "community of the mind." Its students, faculty, and staff all share the goal of pursuing truth through free and open inquiry, and we support one another's endeavors in this regard. As in any community, membership comes with certain rights and responsibilities. Foremost among these is academic integrity. Cheating on an exam, falsifying data, or having someone else write a paper undermines others who are "doing it on their own"; it makes it difficult or impossible to assess fairly a student's interest, aptitude, and achievement; and it diminishes the cheater, depriving him or her of an education. Most important, academic dishonesty is a violation of the very principles upon which the academy is founded. For this reason, violations of these principles are treated with the utmost seriousness.
College of Arts and Science Honor Code
As a student in the College of Arts and Science at New York University, you belong to a community of scholars who value free and open inquiry. Honest assessment of ideas and their sources is the foundation of what we do.
Our University is a community of mutual trust and respect in which personal prejudice has no part in the critical evaluation of ideas. It is a place where differences of opinion can be subjected to deliberate and reasonable examination without animus. As scholars, it is therefore as a matter of honor and good repute that we each commit ourselves to assuring the integrity of our academic community and of the educational pursuits we undertake together.
As a student in the College, I pledge that:
- I shall perform honestly all my academic obligations. I will not represent the words, works, or ideas of others as my own; will not cheat; and will not seek to mislead faculty or other academic officers in their evaluation of my course work or in any other academic affairs.
- I shall behave with decorum and civility, and with respectful regard for all members of the University—faculty, staff, and fellow students—our guests, and members of our wider communities.
- I shall abide by the College and by the University rules of conduct and policies on academic integrity and by the special requirements of any individual course of study or other academic activity.
- I shall endeavor earnestly to uphold the values, standards, and ideals on which our University community depends and call on others to do so.
College of Arts and Science Rules and Procedures on Student Misconduct
The Faculty of Arts and Science Committee on Student Discipline oversees the academic conduct of students in the College of Arts and Science and the Graduate School of Arts and Science. Gathered here are a number of resources for faculty and students, including the rules and procedures for adjudicating academic disciplinary complaints concerning students in the College and the Graduate School, and other relevant University rules, policies, and procedures.
Effective August 12, 2018, allegations of non-academic misconduct, as outlined in the University Student Conduct Policy, against a student of the College of Arts and Science or the Graduate School of Arts and Science, shall be addressed pursuant to the procedures set forth in the NYU Student Conduct Procedures and administered by the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards under the authority of the Senior Vice President of Student Affairs. These include violations of the University Policy and Substance Abuse and Alcoholic Beverages and the University Policy on Weapons and Simulated Weapons. Allegations of academic misconduct (plagiarism, cheating, etc.) against a student of the College of Arts and Science or the Graduate School of Arts and Science shall continue to be addressed by the school in accordance with established procedures.
Disciplinary Measures
Committee on Student Discipline
The Arts & Science Committee on Student Discipline oversees the academic conduct of students in the College of Arts and Science and the Graduate School of Arts and Science. Gathered here are a number of resources for faculty and students, including the rules and procedures for adjudicating academic disciplinary complaints concerning students in the College and the Graduate School, and other relevant University rules, policies, and procedures.
Effective August 12, 2018, allegations of non-academic misconduct, as outlined in the University Student Conduct Policy, against a student of the College of Arts and Science or the Graduate School of Arts and Science , shall be addressed pursuant to the procedures set forth in the NYU Student Conduct Procedures and administered by the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards under the authority of the Senior Vice President of Student Affairs. Allegations of academic misconduct (plagiarism, cheating, etc.) against a student of the College of Arts and Science or the Graduate School of Arts and Science shall continue to be addressed by the school in accordance with established procedures.
Arts and Science Statement on Student Discipline
New York University is a community of scholars who value free and open inquiry. Our work depends on honest assessment of ideas and their sources; and we expect all members of our community to maintain the highest integrity in their academic work. As scholars committed to the critical evaluation of ideas, free of personal prejudice, we also have an obligation to one other to create an educational atmosphere of mutual trust and respect in which differences of opinion can be subjected to deliberate and reasonable examination without animus. Because of the central importance of these values to our intellectual life together, students who fail to maintain them will be subject to academic disciplinary sanction, which may include dismissal from the University.
Academic Disciplinary offenses include but are not limited to:
- cheating, plagiarism, falsification of data or sources and forgery. Forgery or other misrepresentations or omissions in the admissions process is also prohibited by NYU; procedures and practices for addressing such instances are set and implemented by NYU’s undergraduate admissions and the respective CAS graduate program admissions unit;
- destruction, theft, or unauthorized use of laboratory data, or research materials.
The following penalties may be imposed by the faculty for disciplinary infractions:
- Warning
- Probation
- Suspension
- Dismissal
Complete statements of the rules and procedures for adjudicating academic disciplinary complaints concerning students in the College are available from the Office of the Associate Dean for Students and on the website of the College of Arts and Science.
Rules and Procedures
- General Principles
- Student academic misconduct includes plagiarism, cheating, and possession of or use of any prohibited notes, reference resources, or data processing or other devices in any class or examination; and forgery of academic documents in attempt to defraud.
- In cases of academic misconduct, evaluation of the student’s academic performance is distinguished from disciplinary adjudication of the offense. The question of what grade the student’s work should earn is distinct from that about whether a disciplinary sanction should also be imposed. When a student is found to have engaged in academic misconduct, the instructor may reduce the student’s grade for the assignment or for the course as a whole; however, such a determination is an academic judgment made by the instructor in accord with the expectations of the department or program offering the course and is not a form of disciplinary sanction. The question of whether a disciplinary sanction should also be imposed is separate from this academic determination, as specified in the procedures described herein.
- Academic Misconduct—Academic Review
- When it is believed that violations of academic integrity may have occurred it is within the discretion of the faculty member to address the matter informally with the student should the infraction be judged insubstantial or should the evidence be inconclusive. In such cases the faculty member may determine that no grade reduction is warranted.
- Should the faculty member judge the violation substantial and well supported by the evidence, he or she may, with the assent of the Director of Undergraduate Studies (or, if the Director of Undergraduate Studies is the instructor, with the chair or another academic director in the department or program, or if the department or program should be too small, in an ad hoc consultation with a chair or academic director of another department or program from the same academic division) reduce the student’s grade or assign the student a failing grade for the assignment in question or for the course as a whole. This grade reduction only reflects the student’s failure creditably to complete the academic requirements in question and is not a disciplinary sanction. The grade reduction should be proportional to the size and weight of the incident of academic misconduct among all requirements for the course and appropriate to the level at which the course is offered.
- In order to better educate the student about the CAS standards for academic integrity, the faculty member and/or the Director of Undergraduate Studies should meet with the student to discuss the nature of the offense and the action taken. This responsibility of the faculty should not be delegated to recitation or laboratory instructors or other course assistants.
- For incidents of academic misconduct, the student’s appeal of the grade reduction is limited to departmental review conducted by the Director of Undergraduate Studies and/or the Department Chair, as specified in the CAS policy for grade appeals. The review will be limited to the question of whether the reduction in grade was made fairly and in keeping with the expectations of the department or program.
- The decision of the department or program on the student's appeal is final.
- Academic Misconduct—Reporting and Disciplinary Referral
- In all instances in which there has been a finding that a CAS student committed a substantial violation of academic integrity standards of CAS or of any of its departments or programs, the Director of Undergraduate Studies will inform the student within seven (7) calendar days in writing and/or via email of any action taken and send copies of this letter to the CAS Associate Dean for Students, the faculty member, and the Department Chair or Program Director. The letter will include the nature of the violation, any resulting reduction in grade, and notice of the student’s right to appeal.
- The Director of Undergraduate Studies will also within seven (7) calendar days inform the CAS Associate Dean for Students in writing and/or via email of the student’s violation, forward to the dean the evidence of the violation, and send a copy of the correspondence to the faculty member and to the Department Chair or Program Director.
- If this is the student’s first incident of academic misconduct, the Associate Dean for Students will warn the student in person and in writing that a suspension or a more severe penalty may result from a second academic integrity offense of any kind.
- If this is the student’s second or further incident of academic misconduct, the Associate Dean for Students will meet with the student, discuss the evidence of academic misconduct, and provide the student an opportunity to respond. The student will be informed of his or her right to accept or reject a resolution by the Associate Dean. After considering all relevant information, the Associate Dean may offer the student terms upon which CAS is willing to resolve the matter, which may include imposition of a disciplinary sanction. Where the student and the Associate Dean agree to terms in writing, a binding consensual resolution will exist between the student and CAS. Where the Associate Dean is unable to resolve the complaint by consensual resolution, the matter will be referred to the Committee on Student Discipline.
- In all instances in which there has been a finding that a non-CAS student committed a substantial violation of academic integrity standards of CAS or of any of its departments or programs, the Director of Undergraduate Studies will proceed in accord with the procedures under (a) and (b), except that notice will be made instead to the Dean of Students of the student’s school.
- Non-academic Behavioral Misconduct
- All students are expected to abide by the expectations set forth in the University-wide Student Conduct Policy. Allegations of non-academic misconduct against a student of the College of Arts and Science shall be addressed pursuant to the NYU Student Conduct Procedures administered by the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards under the authority of the Senior Vice President of Student Affairs. Complaints of student behavioral misconduct should be made to the CAS Associate Dean for Students. When such a complaint is received, the Associate Dean will notify the University Office of Student Conduct.
Discipline: Definitions of Sanctions
Approved by the Faculty of Arts and Science, April 21, 2014:
Warning: Written reprimand, including notice that a one-semester suspension or a more severe penalty may result from a second disciplinary offense within the period of the censure specified in the letter of reprimand.
Disciplinary probation: Suspension of privileges or exclusion from participation in extracurricular University activities as set forth in the notice of disciplinary probation for a specified period of time.
Suspension: Exclusion from classes as well as suspension of privileges and exclusion from other activities as set forth in the notice of suspension for a definite period of time. A student who has been suspended and against whom charges are dismissed or not sustained will be allowed full opportunity to make up whatever work was missed due to the suspension.
Dismissal: Termination of student status for an indefinite period. The conditions for readmission, if any are permitted, will be stated in the order of dismissal.
Arts and Science Committee on Student Discipline
Please consult information on Committee on Student Discipline.
Disciplinary Hearings
Please consult the Arts and Science rules and procedures for Student Conduct Procedures.
Redress of Grievances
Please consult the University's Student Grievance Procedure.
Internships
One defining characteristic of the New York University educational experience is the opportunity students have to apply their classroom learning to real-life experiences in a variety of professional and community-service settings. New York City provides such opportunities in abundance, and the College of Arts and Science and the University take full advantage of our location in the financial, cultural, scientific, and media capital of the world. Our alumni base, for example, encompasses every conceivable profession, and alumni give generously of their time to undergraduate students seeking experiential learning.
A recent survey by the University's Wasserman Center for Career Development showed that 83 percent of graduating seniors in the College held a job or internship related to their field of interest during their undergraduate years. Many different types of opportunities are available to students; some are paid, some are volunteer positions, and some carry academic credit—and all of these can be valuable. For the purpose of securing and making the most of such opportunities, students should consider the following criteria as a guide. For further information, contact the Wasserman Center for Career Development (133 East 13th Street, 2nd Floor; 212-998-4730). Career counselors are available by appointment and during drop-in hours at the Wasserman Center).
Please see this page for more information (and FAQs), including detail on the College's Internship Seminar and Fieldwork program (NODEP-UA 980, NODEP-UA 981) which requires an application and provides students with an opportunity to complete an internship that is unrelated to their major or minor.
Paid Internships
These are the most common form of internship. Jobs related to a student's professional interests provide pay for the work that students are doing for the organization. Many companies and organizations provide part-time jobs that allow students to gain experience and to network in the field, while at the same time helping to alleviate the financial burden of being a college student. (Please note: Some for-profit companies ask students to volunteer, but allow it only if the student can earn academic credit. Many of these so-called internships do not relate directly to a student's academic work and are not worthy of academic credit in a discipline. In these cases, the company should consider providing compensation for the work done by a student, thus making it a paid internship.)
Internships Abroad
Whether a CAS student is able to participate in a for-credit internship outside the United States depends on many variables, including the student's country of citizenship and local laws in the host country. Please seek advisement and preapproval from Office of Global Programs staff (global.internships@nyu.edu) and the director of undergraduate studies in your department before undertaking a non-US internship.
Voluntary or Community Service
Certain organizations encourage students to work on a volunteer basis to gain experience and to provide needed assistance to the organization. This type of arrangement is common, for example, in government and not-for-profit organizations. Such internships are valued, sometimes even required, for admission to some professional schools, but the College awards no credit for them.
Credit-Bearing Internships
A few departments offer academic internships that directly advance a student's knowledge in the academic discipline and thus earn course credit. Such academic internships must be sponsored by an appropriate faculty member through an academic department and normally require close faculty supervision, significant academic research and writing in addition to the practical work experience, a reporting of findings, and a formal assessment of the student's work. All such internships require permission of the department or program, and registration for them must be within the regular deadlines. Departments offering credit-bearing internships may restrict them to declared majors, since those students have the requisite background. Internship courses can be counted toward some majors but not toward others. Students should check relevant websites (and sections in this Bulletin) to learn more about the specific policies and procedures pertaining to credit-bearing internships in different CAS departments and programs.
Whether an internship is paid or unpaid has no bearing on whether or not it can be taken for CAS credit. However, the decision to sponsor and grant credit for an internship, or not, rests solely with each academic department of the College.
Academic credit for internships must be based solely on the academic work produced in the internship. No credit should be awarded merely for attending the internship, whether paid or unpaid. The College recommends 2-credit internships for academic work of approximately 10 pages of writing plus adequate reading. In rare cases a student may earn 4 credits; in these cases the academic work must be equivalent to that produced in a regular 4-credit course.
State Law and Credit-Bearing Internships
Owing to recent changes in states' laws governing out-of-state entities and their right to award credit for certain educational experiences, including internships, within state boundaries (known as “state authorization”), CAS can award credit for internships that take place in all US states, districts, and territories, except for those noted at the University’s State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) webpage.
Independent Study
In some departments, independent study that draws on the activity or environment of the internship may be a possibility. Like a credit-bearing internship, independent study requires a proposal by the student, careful guidance from a faculty member, and a body of work that can be evaluated for course credit.
See Internships for additional information and FAQ's.
Placement Exams
Placement Examinations in Foreign Languages
Absolutely no credit is ever awarded for the results of any CAS placement and/or exemption exam in any subject, including computer science, foreign language, and mathematics.
Most entering students should take a CAS online placement test prior to their first registration in the College.
Placement exams for the following languages are accessible online: Cantonese, French, German, Greek (modern), Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Mandarin (traditional and simplified), Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Tagalog (Filipino). To take an exam, see New York University Foreign Language Placement Exam and follow the appropriate steps.
Online exams in these languages are for placement only, not exemption. Eligibility to take an in-person, paper exam for exemption from the CAS foreign language requirement is determined by a student's score on the online placement exam.
Some languages do not have online placement exams and are only tested on paper: Gaelic (Irish), arranged through Ireland House; and Arabic, Turkish, Persian, Hindi, and Urdu, all arranged through the Department of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies. These written exams result either in an exemption from the foreign language requirement (see "Foreign Language" under College Core Curriculum in this Bulletin) or in placement into the appropriate-level course.
Whether online or written, these are reading examinations; students should choose to be tested in the language in which they have good reading skills.
Placement into a lower-level course means that the student must continue his or her studies of that language (or begin a new language) until completion of the intermediate two level of that language. In some cases, adjustments in placement may be made during the first weeks of class. Students who place at a level below that which they have completed at another college will lose transfer credit if they repeat foreign language course work at the College of Arts and Science.
A foreign language examination is not required of entering students who will begin a language they have not previously studied. Note: students who complete the EXPOS-UA 4 International Writing Workshop I/EXPOS-UA 9 International Writing Workshop II sequence are exempt from the foreign language requirement, as well as students whose entire secondary schooling was in a language other than English, and students in the dual-degree engineering program. Students can also fulfill the foreign language requirement by presenting outstanding scores on an Advanced Placement test (or equivalent international examination) in certain foreign languages. For Advanced Placement and international examination equivalencies, consult the charts in the admissions section in this Bulletin. Students should contact the College Advising Center to verify that they have satisfied the foreign language requirement.
Information on foreign language placement and exemption testing can be obtained from the Office of Academic Affairs; CAS Placement Examinations, or by email: cas.placementexams@nyu.edu.
Placement Examinations in Calculus and Mathematics for Economics
Absolutely no credit is awarded for the results of any CAS mathematics placement or exemption (skip ahead) examination.
Students who intend to register for MATH-UA 121 Calculus I or MATH-UA 131 Mathematics for Economics I and do not meet any of the prerequisites listed in the mathematics section of this Bulletin must take a placement exam to determine their readiness to enter calculus. Students can also take placement exams to skip ahead in the Calculus I-II-III and Mathematics for Economics I-II-III sequences. Contact the Department of Mathematics, 251 Mercer Street; 212-998-3005.
Placement into Writing Courses for English as a Second Language Students
Absolutely no credit is awarded for the results of any expository writing placement examination.
In CAS, for most students, EXPOS-UA 1 Writing as Inquiry fulfills the College Core Curriculum writing requirement. Writing as Inquiry requires frequent analytical and reflective writing, which is common in other courses throughout NYU. The writing and reading assignments are challenging even for native speakers of English, and require them to develop conceptual frameworks for their arguments and ideas by working with a wide range of sophisticated and complex sources at a pace comfortable for most native speakers.
NYU recognizes that international students come with varying levels of language competency and fluency and require more time to complete challenging reading and writing assignments. For international students, there are alternate pathways to satisfying the Core writing requirement.
- International students who attended English-language high schools for four years may be uncertain about the default placement into EXPOS-UA 1 Writing as Inquiry. For those students, an option is placement within the International Writing sequence, beginning with EXPOS-UA 4 International Writing Workshop I, followed by EXPOS-UA 9 International Writing Workshop II. The expectations for International Writing Workshop I and II are the same as for Writing as Inquiry, but the classes are smaller and there is more time (two semesters) to complete the curriculum. For help determining whether Writing as Inquiry or International Writing Workshop I is the better choice for international students who attended English-language high schools, please visit the Expository Writing Program webpage: ewp.cas.nyu.edu.
- International students who did not attend English-language high schools for four years are asked to take a survey designed to determine appropriate placement. Based on their survey responses, these students may be placed into EXPOS-UA 3 International Writing Workshop Introduction, which is followed by International EXPOS-UA 4 International Writing Workshop I and then by International Writing Workshop II EXPOS-UA 9 International Writing Workshop II. The preliminary course, International Writing Workshop: Introduction, is taught in an environment where gaining fluency in reading, writing, and speaking in English is an expected part of the coursework, and offers the international student more time and support for reading, writing, and speaking. It is possible for students in International Writing Workshop: Introduction to be reevaluated at the end of the course for possible waiver of International Writing Workshop I EXPOS-UA 4 International Writing Workshop I and direct placement into EXPOS-UA 9 International Writing Workshop II. For questions about survey results, please consult with your adviser and the survey team: ewp-writingsurvey@nyu.edu.
Honors and Awards
Arts and Science Committees
Please consult the directory of all committees at the New York University Arts & Science website.
University Policies and Campus Safety
University Policy on Intellectual Property
Please see the Statement of Policy on Intellectual Property.
Immunization Requirements
Please see the Student Policy on Immunization.
Bias Response Line
The New York University Bias Response Line provides a mechanism through which members of our community can share or report experiences and concerns of bias, discrimination, or harassing behavior that may occur within our community. Instances of such behavior may be reported by telephone, 212-998-2277; by email, bias.response@nyu.edu. Experienced administrators in the Office of Equal Opportunity receive and assess reports, and then help facilitate responses, which may include referral to another University school or unit, or investigation if warranted according to the University's existing Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy.
Campus Safety
NYU Campus Safety is located at 7 Washington Place; telephone: 212-998-2222; 212-998-2220 (TTY).
New York University's annual campus security report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus, in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by NYU, and on public property within or immediately adjacent to the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning sexual assault, drugs, and alcohol. Students may obtain a copy of the current report by contacting Thomas Grace, Director of Judicial Affairs and Compliance, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs (601 Kimmel Center: 212-998-4403), or Jay Zwicker, Crime Prevention Manager, Department of Public Safety (7 Washington Place: 212-998-1451), or by visiting the following website: www.nyu.edu/public.safety/policies.