Self-Designed Major (BA)
Program Description
Students in the College of Arts and Science (CAS) can apply to craft and complete a self-designed honors major, rather than one of the existing majors in the College. This major enables a small number of very capable and highly motivated students to pursue a plan of study that brings together courses from more than one CAS department or program. During their sophomore year, students compose their academic plan for the major in consultation with their two faculty advisers for their self-designed program of study as well as with the associate director of interschool programs and the director of college honors, who serves as the director of undergraduate studies. By spring of their second year, the plan of study must be submitted to and approved by the College’s honors committee.
The self-designed honors major differs from the individualized major that the Gallatin School offers in several ways:
- These two NYU schools have distinct admissions criteria, general education curricula, and other requirements.
- This CAS major must be composed entirely of CAS (-UA) or GSAS (-GA) courses, whereas Gallatin students draw heavily on courses from several NYU schools.
- This CAS major is an honors major, which has prerequisites for entry (e.g., 3.75 GPA; students must maintain a 3.65 GPA to remain in the major) and entails a heavy commitment to honors-level work, including independent research under faculty supervision.
First- and second-year students in CAS who are considering the self-designed honors major should contact the Preprofessional Advising Center (726 Broadway, 7th floor; 212-998-8160) to schedule an initial advising appointment with the associate director of interschool programs.
Admissions
New York University's Office of Undergraduate Admissions supports the application process for all undergraduate programs at NYU. For additional information about undergraduate admissions, including application requirements, see How to Apply.