2016-2018 Undergraduate and Graduate Bulletin (with addenda) 
    
    Mar 19, 2024  
2016-2018 Undergraduate and Graduate Bulletin (with addenda) [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Undergraduate Academic Requirements and Policies



Program Areas

The NYU Tandon School of Engineering addresses the world of technology and its unique interactions with society. To fulfill its mission, NYU Tandon School of Engineering offers degree programs in five general academic areas:

  • Computer Science and Engineering
  • Engineering
  • Sciences and Mathematics
  • Technology, Culture, and Society
  • Technology Management

Computer Science and Engineering

Computer science and engineering is an important and expanding field as today’s society advances further into the Information Age. Computer science and engineering includes designing systems (computer hardware and software) and developing principles for applying computers to new uses. The field requires high levels of theory and practice and often involves developing or integrating complex software.

Computer science and engineering is a major element in modern information technology, allowing information to be used to analyze and solve problems in diverse fields, including telemedicine, heath care, finance, entertainment, manufacturing, telecommunications, transportation and biomedicine. Because of the breadth of its potential applications, computer science and engineering at NYU TandonSchool of Engineering has a multidisciplinary focus.

The curriculum integrates basic science, computer science, mathematics, humanities and social sciences. Students take electives in technical and non-technical subjects, a mix that allows for flexibility and breadth in their studies at NYU Tandon.

The current faculty works in state-of-the art fields such as high-speed imaging, classification, software virus protection, high-speed graphics, text and data mining, fault-tolerant computing, database-management systems, software engineering, data compression, data security, parallel and distributed computation, scheduling theory, computer vision and Internet and Web technologies. This faculty experience, combined with a strong curriculum that integrates theory and practice, positions NYU Tandon graduates well for the 21st century.

Engineering

Engineering is the creation of devices and implements that can control or manipulate nature to produce a desired effect, applying science to build the infrastructure and tools society needs to improve the quality of life and the environment.

The modern engineer must have a firm background in the sciences and mathematics. Science reveals fundamental knowledge about the natural world. Mathematics comprises the language and tool used most often by engineers to analyze and manipulate that world. Additionally, a background in the liberal arts provides a fundamental understanding of society, its structures, needs and desires. No one can hope to improve society without such understanding. Engineers also must deeply appreciate the role they play in society, particularly in terms of their professional ethics and responsibilities. Finally, engineers must have excellent written and oral communication skills to work effectively with other engineers, professionals, decision-makers and the public.

NYU Tandon’s engineering programs build on a firm foundation of mathematics and science to develop the analytic and conceptual skills required of a practicing professional. Laboratory classes introduce students to devices and systems currently used in their fields and help develop their skills in using computer-aided design packages. Undergraduate programs prepare students equally for entry into the profession and for continued education at the graduate level.

NYU Tandon, by giving students a comprehensive education in scientific and engineering principles and by developing creative skills required for engineering design and analysis, provides its graduates with the ability to continue to learn and grow in rapidly developing technological fields throughout their careers.

Current NYU Tandon faculty and alumni are advancing varied fields such as telecommunications, microwaves, imaging sciences, quantum electronics, pulsed power, smart materials, aerospace, robotics, geotechnology, biomedical engineering, financial and risk engineering, cyber security, gaming, software engineering and sensors and sensor networks. Through the School’s engineering curriculum, students are equipped to advance this tradition forward to the next generation of technological breakthroughs.

The Sciences and Mathematics

Science and mathematics underpin modern technology. As scientists and mathematicians discover and describe secrets of the natural world, engineers look to apply them to developing new technology. Without the physical sciences and mathematics, engineers would have no tools with which to invent the technology of tomorrow.

NYU Tandon School of Engineering’s undergraduate science and mathematics programs give students unique opportunities to study basic theory while interacting with design disciplines. The undergraduate program structure in these areas encourages students to select concentrations of elective courses in technology areas.

Students use modern laboratories and interact with faculty who are world-class researchers. Many upper-level classes are small, allowing students to develop one-on-one relationships with faculty and to work with them in their research areas.

The future of technology depends on the ability to develop a better and more accurate understanding of nature and its opportunities and constraints. For technology to advance, scientists must continue to unlock the secrets of the universe, and mathematicians must continue to develop the analytical and logical processes through which they can extend and apply what they investigate and discover. NYU Tandon programs prepare scientists and mathematicians for this vital role, enabling them to lead society to a better future.

Technology, Culture, and Society

Within the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, humanists, artists, and social scientists study the significance and impact of technology over time, and the relationship between technology and civic virtue. We fulfill that mission through majors in Integrated Digital Media (IDM), Science and Technology Studies (STS), and Sustainable Urban Environments (SUE), and liberal arts courses specifically designed to help engineering students understand the complex moral and social consequences of their work.

Technology Management

NYU Tandon School of Engineering’s Department of Technology Management is the leading learning, research and development hub in the New York City/tri-state region, devoted explicitly to the critical arenas of innovation, information and technology management.

The department has achieved this distinguished position with a continuous stream of high-quality and relevant research, development and pace-setting learning programs. Its faculty contributes to theory and practice in an increasingly knowledge-intensive age.

The research and development conducted within the Department of Technology Management is varied, including scholarly books and articles in respected journals and timely case studies. Some of this material forms part of the content in educational programs, helping to keep programs up-to-date and distinctive. The department is also committed to integrating technology into all educational programs to enhance learning. Because all managers must understand how technology and innovation are essential for delivering value to organizations and to the market, the department offers a portfolio of educational programs dealing with the broad spectrum of innovation, information and technology management in the modern economy.

In addition to its academic programs at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels, the Department of Technology Management offers short-term nondegree courses and workshops, including those tailored to the needs of specific firms and industries on contemporary topics in technology management.

 

Undergraduate Degree Requirements

This section details general institutional degree requirements applicable to all NYU Tandon School of Engineering undergraduate degrees. Academic departments may place additional requirements on individual degrees. Such additional requirements are explained in the program sections of this catalog. In no case may a department specify requirements less stringent than those indicated here.

Outcomes Assessment

NYU Tandon School of Engineering conducts outcomes assessments to monitor students’ academic achievement, effective teaching methods, institutional improvements, and to ensure compliance with accreditation standards. To obtain periodic measurements of student perceptions and intellectual growth, undergraduate students are asked to participate in surveys, focus groups, interviews or related activities. While individual input is collected, the data from these assessments are published in aggregate form. Undergraduate students must complete online course surveys for all courses in which they are registered each semester (except guided studies and courses in which the enrollment is fewer than six students). Graduating seniors must complete exit surveys online. Any additions to or exceptions to this requirement are disseminated to the campus community each semester by the Office of Assessment and Institutional Research. Compliance with outcomes-assessment activities is traditionally a precondition for receipt of semester grade reports, transcripts, and degrees.

Basic Degree Requirements and Definition of Credits

Programs for the degree Bachelor of Science require 120 to 142 credits, depending upon the major as described in the program’s section of this bulletin. Undergraduate semester credits are based on the number of 50-minute periods scheduled each week during one semester. Traditionally, one credit signifies a minimum of one 50-minute period of class work, or three 50-minute periods of undergraduate laboratory, over a period of 14 weeks, in addition to a final exam period. On occasion, more time per credit is given. The final examination period is an integral part of the semester.

Students may attend the University part-time or full-time. All undergraduate degrees can be completed in four years of full-time study. To earn the degree Bachelor of Science from NYU Tandon School of Engineering, students must satisfy University residency requirements. The majority of undergraduate courses are held during the day. A selection of evening undergraduate courses is available, but it is not possible to complete any undergraduate degree by taking courses entirely in the evening.

To earn a bachelor’s degree, students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in all courses at NYU Tandon School of Engineering; additional details can be found in the section regarding academic standing and probation. Certain programs have additional grade requirements in specified courses or groups of courses. Most undergraduate engineering curricula require students to participate in team projects, including participation in team-based design projects. Students must participate in outcomes assessment, as described below.

Selection of a Major

Undergraduate students admitted to the NYU Tandon School of Engineering are encouraged to declare their major upon admission, although incoming first-year students may initially enter as “undeclared” students. First-year students wishing to consider several program options are encouraged to use their first semester to explore major fields in consultation with departmental advisers. While the first year curriculum is nearly uniform for all engineering majors and very similar for other majors, students who choose to delay selecting their major until the end of the freshman year must select courses in consultation with their academic advisers.

Students are free to change their major at any time, given that their academic standing is acceptable to the program into which they wish to transfer. However, changes in major may involve loss of credit and additional time to complete the degree. Students entering NYU Tandon with an undeclared major must declare any currently offered undergraduate major by the end of their first year.

Selection of a Minor

A minor is an approved concentration of academic study within a single discipline. In specified programs, undergraduate students may select a minor in a field distinct from, or related to, their major, with approval of advisers in both the major and minor fields. The name of the minor appears on students’ transcripts if the approved coursework in the minor field have been completed with at least a 2.0 GPA. With the consent of a student’s major department, some courses used to satisfy the minor requirements also may satisfy the required or electives course requirements in the student’s major program. The names and associated requirements for minors are listed in the sections of this bulletin devoted to related major programs.

NYU Cross-School Minors

Visit the NYU Tandon Minors webpage for more detailed information on the cross-school minors available. NYU Tandon School of Engineering students have the opportunity to minor at other schools of NYU. An undergraduate student may minor in a discipline not typically offered at NYU Tandon. If a similar minor, in name and content, is offered at the School, students must receive permission from the specific academic department at NYU Tandon offering the minor in order to enroll in such a minor at NYU. With the consent of a student’s major department, some courses used to satisfy the minor requirements may also satisfy the required or electives course requirements in the student’s major program. Students will follow all policies, procedures and academic time lines of the respective NYU school.

Students must consult their major academic adviser to determine the applicability of courses towards their NYU Tandon School of Engineering degree. Students will need additional credits than the minimum required to satisfy their degree requirements if courses taken for a minor at NYU do not meet the requirements specified by a student’s program of study.  When declaring a minor, students will indicate the courses they plan on completing for the minor. For each course taken, students must obtain approval from their NYU Tandon academic adviser as well as the corresponding academic department at NYU Tandon.

Note that declaration of a minor does not constitute guaranteed enrollment in all classes; registration timelines and deadline need to be strictly followed.

Course Placement Evaluation

NYU Tandon School of Engineering requires incoming first-year students to complete placement and diagnostic examinations in writing and mathematics. All transfer students are required to take the Expository Writing Placement Exam and Mathematics Diagnostics Exam.

NYU Tandon placement and diagnostic evaluations are intended to ensure that each student receives the most pertinent instruction in areas necessary to successfully complete their degree program. Placement evaluations may supersede the results of Advanced Placement examinations and/or acceptable transfer credits from another institution of higher education as determined by the designated adviser and the department offering the course.

Mathematics Diagnostic Examination

The Mathematics Diagnostic Examination is an extensive test to profile students’ knowledge and skills in basic and advanced mathematics. The Mathematics Department uses the scores on various components of the exam to place students in relevant mathematics courses. Incoming first-year students (excluding those with AP credit) are placed into MA 902 /MA 912 , MA 914 

 , MA 1024 , MA 1054 , or MA 1324 .

Writing Placement Examination

Both employers and accrediting organizations increasingly emphasize the need for students to have well-developed written and oral communications skills. No engineer or scientist can be an effective professional without the ability to communicate, not only with those in his or her own field, but also with professionals in other technical and non-technical fields, with private and public decision makers and with the general public. As such, NYU Tandon School of Engineering’s degree programs involve frequent writing and speaking assignments across all areas of the curriculum. It is essential that all students have necessary background skills before enrolling in upper-division courses related to their professional studies.

To ensure that students are placed into the proper writing course, some admitted undergraduate students will be required to take the School’s writing-placement exam. This essay exam is used to evaluate each student’s writing ability and to ensure that he or she is placed into the appropriate writing course. On the basis of this test, students are placed into the standard first-year course,

 , or they may first be required to take one or more semesters of an introductory course in English (EXPOS-UA 20 and/or EXPOS-UA 21) before proceeding to the first-year courses.

If an incoming undergraduate student is not required to take the English placement exam, the student is placed in

 . Then, all students are given a first-day writing assignment during the first class period of all the writing courses. Individual instructors read and assess these assignments, and if a student seems to have been placed into an inappropriate class, the instructor consults with the Writing Program director and assistant director, and the student may be moved into a more appropriate course. Note: EXPOS-UA 20, EXPOS-UA 21 do not carry credits toward a degree. However, they do contribute to the full-time credit load during the semester in which they are taken.

Students who successfully complete

    . Students who successfully complete EXPOS-UA 21 move on to   .

Occasionally, however, a student who has completed

  if the instructor believes the student has achieved sufficient fluency in English. Students placed in EXPOS- UA 20 and/or EXPOS-UA 21 may take these courses during their first year. Typical schedules can be rearranged to accommodate this approach. University guidelines do not permit undergraduate students placed into EXPOS-UA 20 and/or EXPOS-UA 21 to progress to more advanced humanities courses until they receive a passing grade in aforementioned course(s).

Writing and Speaking Across the Curriculum

NYU Tandon School of Engineering has adopted a Writing and Speaking Across the Curriculum program to ensure graduates develop satisfactory communications skills. This program ensures that significant writing and speaking assignments are included in designated coursework throughout students’ undergraduate program and that course grades are influenced by the quality of presentation in addition to mastery of content.

To support this program, the Polytechnic Tutoring Center (PTC) houses the Writing Center for students; the Center is staffed by instructors, professional writers and qualified tutors. Students are encouraged to make an appointment to improve their writing and speaking skills.

Core courses such as EXPOS-UA 1 EXPOS-UA 2  EG-UY 1003 , select humanities and social sciences electives, and all senior design projects are writing and speaking intensive. Each disciplinary curriculum identifies additional courses that fit into this category.

In addition to the required first-year writing curriculum, NYU Tandon students are required to complete 16 credits within the humanities and social sciences. One of these courses must be Writing-Intensive (designed with a “W”), and one must be at the 3000 or 4000 level. For more information about this requirement, and to see a list of courses, please refer to the Department of Technology, Culture and Society  overview.

Core Curriculum

NYU Tandon School of Engineering’s core curriculum is designed to provide all students with a solid education in the liberal arts, mathematics, basic sciences, and their major area of study. The goals of the core curriculum are to build students’ critical, analytical, and communication skills; to build a strong foundation of knowledge; to introduce students to their major field of study; to expose students to other fields; and to prepare students for lives as responsible and engaged citizens. The core curriculum includes three areas of inquiry: (1) text, communication and social thought; (2) quantitative and scientific reasoning; and (3) innovation and problem solving.

ENGINEERING MAJORS: Areas of Inquiry

Area 1: Texts, Communication and Social Thought (24 credits)
Area 2: Quantitative and Scientific Reasoning (minimum of 34 credits)
Area 3: Innovation and Problem Solving (9-10 credits)

NON-ENGINEERING MAJORS: Areas of Inquiry

Area 1: Texts, Communication and Social Thought (24 credits)
Area 2: Quantitative and Scientific Reasoning (requirement varies)
  • Mathematics
  • Physics, Chemistry, Biology, or other natural science course
Area 3: Innovation and Problem Solving (requirement varies)

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) requires undergraduate students to complete a minimum of 60 credits in liberal arts and sciences for the Bachelor of Science degree. These liberal arts and sciences courses constitute a foundation or “general education” in the humanities, natural sciences and mathematics, and social sciences. These courses are intended to provide a basis of knowledge outside of specified occupational or professional objectives; these courses are not intended to emphasize the development of skills in areas such as technology or computer programming. All undergraduate majors at NYU Tandon School of Engineering fulfill the NYSED 60 credit liberal arts and sciences requirement through courses in expository writing, humanities and social sciences, mathematics, and science (areas 2 and 3, above).

Engineering Competencies

All NYU Tandon School of Engineering undergraduate engineering programs are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). ABET identifies the following core competencies that every engineering program should address: (a) an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering; (b) an ability to design and conduct experiments and to analyze and interpret data; (c) an ability to design a system, component or process to meet desired needs; (d) an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams; (e) an ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems; (f) an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility; (g) an ability to communicate effectively; (h) the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context; (i) a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in, lifelong learning; (j) a knowledge of contemporary issues; (k) an ability to use the techniques, skills and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

 

Modifications to Curricula

Course Substitutions

On occasion, the curricula changes to reflect the latest knowledge and methods within a subject area, especially in the science, engineering and technology areas taught at the NYU School of Engineering. Students are informed of these changes by their major department.

NYU Tandon School of Engineering responds to changes in curricula and course content by addressing special situations and circumstances. To that end, the School occasionally needs to substitute one course for another specified in the curriculum for students to meet degree requirements. A student documents such substitutions on an Adjustment of Degree Requirements form available from the Office of the Registrar’s website. Each substitution must be documented  and approved by the student’s major adviser and the Office of Academic Affairs. If a graduation checklist has been issued at the time of the substitution, the change should be formally entered on the checklist and approved by the major adviser and the Office of Academic Affairs.

Interruption of Study

NYU Tandon School of Engineering graduates must fulfill degree requirements using courses that meet current standards in the field. Accordingly, students have up to eight years to complete the degree requirements in effect when they first enrolled in an NYU Tandon School of Engineering undergraduate degree program. This time limit is irrespective of any leave of absence granted during the eight-year period. As courses continuously evolve, the School may replace courses in the original degree requirements with comparable courses with updated content. Should the School establish a new set of degree requirements for new students, continuing students may choose to satisfy those requirements. In such cases, the School of Engineering decides which portion of the new requirements may be satisfied by the courses students have completed and also rules on modification, if any, of the original eight year time limit.

If a student has exceeded or is about to exceed the eight-year limit and has not yet finished their degree requirements, they need to appeal for an extension in order to finish the remaining courses.

To appeal, the student must consult with their academic adviser and fill out the “Extension of Time Limit to Complete Degree” form. All courses remaining in order to complete their degree must be listed and the time frame in which they will be completed.

The form should then be signed by their academic adviser and the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs before it is submitted to the Registrar’s Office.

BS/MS Program

Undergraduates with strong academic records in certain programs may apply for admission to the BSMS Program, which leads to the award of both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree. While still undergraduates, this program allows students to make steady progress towards completing the two degrees for a lesser cost through a combination of earned AP credits, completed summer coursework, and additional credits over the limit completed each semester. Qualified students are typically considered for admission to the program during their junior year. In their remaining undergraduate semesters, they will complete some graduate coursework during regular terms and/or during the summer towards their desired MS degree.

Students interested in pursuing this option should speak with their undergraduate adviser as soon as possible. Some of the possible combinations of BS and MS majors available are described in the programs section of this bulletin. Students accepted to the BS/MS program are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 for the duration of the undergraduate portion of the program and a 3.0 after matriculation into the graduate portion of the program; some departments may have higher GPA requirements. Additional information can be acquired from departmental advisers, including the specific sequence of courses necessary to complete the two degrees. International Students in F-1 or J-1 status must obtain permission and the necessary I-20/DS-2019 from the Office of Global Services before enrollment in the combined BS/MS program.

Honors Distinctions

Honor Societies

Students with superior academic records and co-curricular achievements may be selected to join one of the NYU Tandon School of Engineering’s chapters of a national honors society in their junior or senior year. Closely allied to the professional and technical societies, these honors societies encourage and recognize outstanding scholarship and leadership.

Participating Societies at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering:

Chi Epsilon - Civil Engineering
Eta Kappa Nu - Electrical Engineering
Omega Chi Epsilon - Chemical Engineering
Pi Mu Epsilon - Mathematics
Pi Tau Sigma - Mechanical Engineering
Sigma Xi - Research
Tau Beta Pi - Engineering
Upsilon Pi Epsilon - Computing Sciences

Degrees with Honors

The NYU Tandon School of Engineering adheres to New York University’s Latin Honors requirements. Latin Honors are given to Baccalaureate degree recipients who have achieved a high cumulative grade point average (GPA) and satisfied the school’s residency requirements.

The GPA cutoffs for each category are determined by the combined GPA distribution from the preceding academic year. The cutoff for summa cum laude is the GPA included with the top five percent of the previous year’s graduating class. The cutoff for magna cum laude is the GPA included within the next 10 percent of the previous year’s class. The cutoff for cum laude is the GPA included within the next 15 percent of the previous year’s class.

The cumulative grade point average and residency requirements for Latin Honors are published on the University Registrar’s Latin Honors site. Please refer to the figures associated with the NYU Tandon School of Engineering.
 

Undergraduate Credits

Residency

To satisfy residency requirements for the BS degree, NYU Tandon School of Engineering students must complete a minimum of 64 credits at Tandon in approved coursework. Departmental advisers will assist students in selecting courses required for degree completion. In addition, students must complete their final 32 credits at the University, unless approved for a special term abroad. In regards to minors, one-half of the coursework must be completed at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. All transfer credits are subject to the NYU Tandon School of Engineering’s transfer credit policy and process.

Transfer Credits from other Undergraduate Institutions

Students who have completed undergraduate coursework at other universities prior to beginning their studies at NYU Tandon School of Engineering are encouraged to transfer credits over. NYU Tandon awards transfer credit for relevant courses completed satisfactorily at other accredited institutions. Students transferring into the NYU Tandon School of Engineering must have all outside transcripts examined by the Undergraduate Admissions Office and an adviser from their major department to determine the acceptability of individual substitutions and general acceptance of credits from their former institution(s). Much of this can be accomplished during the application process if the student’s record is complete. All evaluations of transfer credits must be completed by the end of the student’s first semester of registration at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. Some programs may choose to delay approval of transfer credits until students demonstrate satisfactory progress at the School of Engineering.

Undergraduate transfer credit is not given for any course in which a grade less than C has been earned. In addition, students completing a course at the School of Engineering for which transfer credit already has been given automatically forfeit the transfer credit for that course.

For new first-year students admitted to NYU, it may be possible to transfer college courses taken while in high school. Credit may be awarded if the following criteria are met: 1) Received a grade of B or better; 2) NYU offers corresponding courses; 3) Courses were not used to satisfy high school graduation requirements.

The contents and standards of courses vary from university to university. Thus, some transfer students find after a semester’s work at NYU Tandon School of Engineering that they are better prepared for advanced courses if they re-enroll in a course at NYU Tandon for which they have been given transfer credit. Students may be required to enroll in such a NYU Tandon course after consulting with their academic adviser. In some instances, course requirements may be waived for students who demonstrate sufficient knowledge of specific course content through either written or oral examination given by the academic department offering such course. In such cases, no credit is awarded, but students are allowed to submit a more advanced course to satisfy degree requirements. This approach differs from “credit by examination,” described later in this section.

Grades of courses for which transfer credit is given are omitted in computing a student’s cumulative or current semester GPAs.

Dual Degree Program with the College of Arts and Science: The 3+2 Program

General Information

NYU’s College of Arts and Science offers a dual-degree program in science and engineering with the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. This program affords highly qualified and motivated students who are technically oriented the opportunity to pursue both a liberal arts program with a major in science and a traditional engineering program. The program is ideal for students interested in science and engineering who are also eager for a liberal arts experience before entering an undergraduate engineering environment. Upon completion of this five-year program, students receive the Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Arts and Science at New York University and the Bachelor of Science degree from the NYU Tandon School of Engineering.

The available dual-degree combinations are as follows:

  • BS in Biology/BS in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
  • BS in Chemistry/BS in Chemical and Biomolecular engineering
  • BS in Computer Science/ BS in Computer Engineering
  • BS in Computer Science/ BS in Electrical Engineering
  • BS in Mathematics/ BS in Civil Engineering
  • BS in Mathematics/ BS in Computer Engineering
  • BS in Mathematics/ BS in Electrical Engineering
  • BS in Mathematics/ BS in Mechanical Engineering
  • BS in Physics/BS in Civil Engineering
  • BS in Physics/BS in Computer Engineering
  • BS in Physics/BS in Electrical Engineering
  • BS in Physics/BS in Mechanical Engineering

Detailed programs of study for each of the curricula are available from the NYU’s College Advising Center, Silver Center, 100 Washington Square East, Room 905.

Students who are interested in this program apply directly to NYU’s College of Arts and Science as a first year student, indicating their interest in this program on their application. Students that matriculate into Tandon as a first year student are ineligible to join. Application materials for this dual-degree program may be requested from New York University, Office of Undergraduate Admissions, 665 Broadway, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10012-2339.

The Academic Program

Students accepted into the program spend their first three years of study in the College of Arts and Science (CAS) at Washington Square (WSQ). In the first year at CAS, the different curricula call for many of the same courses. This gives students time to consult with faculty at both schools before committing themselves to a particular science/engineering major.

During freshman orientation, if they have not already done so, students select a major area for their study at CAS from the disciplines of biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physics. In their first year, students will have the opportunity to change this major and to reflect on their choice of engineering major. In the spring of the third year, an orientation program helps students prepare for the transition to the School of Engineering in the fourth year.

In the first three years of the program, students satisfy their core liberal arts requirements and also take some of the NYU Tandon School of Engineering courses required for their choice of engineering major. Students may elect to withdraw from the dual-degree program in engineering and complete only the College of Arts and Science general and major requirements at New York University. The final two years of study are undertaken at NYU Tandon School of Engineering’s site in Brooklyn where students complete the remaining technical courses required for their engineering major.

Articulation Agreements

To provide students with alternative pathways to a BS degree from the NYU Tandon School of Engineering and to facilitate the transfer process, the School has developed cooperative programs with other institutions. Students completing approved programs at these institutions with sound academic achievement are guaranteed admission to the School. Students interested in learning more about the cooperative programs should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Currently, the NYU Tandon School of Engineering offers an articulation agreement with Brooklyn College.

Articulation with Brooklyn College

The present articulation between Brooklyn College and the NYU Tandon School of Engineering is for the first two years in the fields of Civil, Chemical, Computer, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. Further information may be obtained from Brooklyn College or the NYU Tandon’s Office of Academic Affairs.

Transfer Credits while in Residence

Undergraduates at NYU Tandon School of Engineering are expected to complete all coursework at the School. Exceptions are rare and only made in cases where NYU Tandon School of Engineering does not offer courses integral to the attainment of students’ academic goals.

To obtain credit for courses taken elsewhere while enrolled at NYU Tandon School of Engineering, students must obtain written permission from the major academic adviser, the department head of the course for which transfer credit is requested and the Office of Academic Affairs. This must be done before registering for the course at another institution. Forms for such permission are available on the Registrar’s website.

The following requirements apply to all courses taken outside of NYU:

  • The outside institution must be accredited.
  • Grades earned must be C or better for undergraduate courses.
  • Pass/fail courses are not acceptable under any conditions.
  • Only credits are granted; grades are omitted in computing cumulative or current semester GPAs.

Credit for Courses at Other Schools and Divisions of New York University

Undergraduate students at the Tandon School of Engineering may complete coursework in other undergraduate divisions of New York University and have credits for these courses applied to their degree.

Students may take a total of 4 courses or 16 credits in other divisions, including any courses for particular minors approved by the faculty. Students seeking additional credits beyond the 4-course limit must file a petition with the Office of Academic Affairs via and Degree Adjustment form. Exceptions will be made for students pursing approved cross-school minors that require additional coursework.

Courses in other divisions that duplicate the contents of a NYU Tandon School of Engineering course do not count toward degree completion. In addition, except in rare cases, coursework completed in another division cannot be used to satisfy a student’s writing-intensive humanities and social science requirement. For this reason, students must meet with their departmental advisor 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 in general do not count toward degree completion. Students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisor regarding applicability of such courses towards their degree requirements.

Also excluded from credit toward the degree are any courses taken in the School of Professional Studies once a student is registered in Tandon.

Study abroad coursework and courses offered at or by other schools that are required for a major here at Tandon do not count towards this limit.

Undergraduate Validation Credits

When it is unclear whether a course taken outside of NYU Tandon School of Engineering is suitable for transfer credit, students may qualify for transfer credit by passing a validation examination. Permission to take such an examination must be recorded in advance on the student’s transfer evaluation form at the time of application to NYU. The format of the examination is at the discretion of the department giving the course. Scheduling of the examination is by mutual agreement, but in no event more than one calendar year after the student begins study at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. A grade of C or better is required to validate course credits for undergraduate students. An examination may not be taken more than once. Students who register for or attend the course at NYU Tandon School of Engineering forfeit the right to take a validation examination.

Advanced Placement Credits

NYU Tandon School of Engineering grants students credit for approved Advanced Placement (AP) courses in high school, given acceptable performance on AP examinations. Students must request evaluation of AP credits by no later than the end of their first semester of matriculation. Credit also may be granted for college preview courses at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering or other universities while a high-school student if these courses are relevant to the student’s degree program and acceptable grades were achieved. Grades for advanced placement or college preview courses are omitted in computing the cumulative or current semester GPAs.

Credit by Examination

Undergraduate students with an outstanding record or with specialized competence may establish a maximum of 16 credits toward the baccalaureate degree by passing comprehensive examinations. Each department determines the courses in which such an examination is available and the examination format. Students must obtain the approval of the department giving the course, the department of major study and the Office of Academic Affairs.

A grade of B+ or better is required to achieve credit by examination. Students registering for or attending a course at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering may not subsequently take the examination for credit for the course or for a course with similar content. The examination may be taken only once.

Students pay a fee to the Office of Records and Registration before each examination and will receive the form to take the exam after making the payment. The course and credits are posted on student’s permanent record without a grade and do not count toward the minimum-residence requirement for the bachelor’s degree or toward the GPA.

Undergraduate Thesis

The undergraduate thesis allows students to apply knowledge gained in their major field of interest and use it to plan, conduct and report original research. The thesis may be a discourse upon a subject included in students’ courses of study, an account of an original investigation or research, or a report on a project or an original design accompanied by an explanatory statement.

The undergraduate thesis is optional except for students in the Honors Program, who are required to complete an undergraduate thesis. All undergraduate students who plan to undertake a thesis should report to the head of their major department with their choice of a thesis topic at least one year before graduation. Department heads approve requests and appoint a thesis adviser. Students should contact their thesis adviser immediately and register for the thesis during the next registration period. Thereafter, the student must register for the thesis every fall and spring semester until it is completed and accepted and the final grade is entered into the student’s permanent record. A student must take a minimum of 3 credits of thesis work for an undergraduate thesis.

Students must submit a bound BS thesis to the Office of Academics Affairs as outlined in the document entitled “Regulations on Format, Duplication and Publication of Reports, Theses and Dissertations,” available in the Office of Academics Affairs. All theses and results obtained become the property of the School.

 

Graduation

Graduation Checklist

Academic advisers of undergraduate students nearing completion of their degree requirements receive a graduation checklist that lists courses in progress and courses remaining to be completed for the degree. After the list is approved by the major academic department, the student receives an e-mail notifying them of their graduation status.

Application Process for the Bachelor of Science

To be awarded a Bachelor of Science degree at the School of Engineering, students must file a formal graduation application via the Albert Student Center. Application deadline dates are published on the University Registrar’s website. Students who do not file by the published deadline date become candidates for the next conferral period.

Degrees are certified and diplomas issued three times a year, typically in January, May, and September. Commencement is held once a year, usually in May. All work for the degree must be completed and submitted before the graduation date.

Diplomas

Diplomas are mailed to the student about eight weeks after the degree conferral date. Diplomas are issued only once, subject to rare exceptions made on a case-by-case basis. Replacement diploma procedures and fees are published on the University Registrar’s website. Replacement diplomas for the NYU Tandon School of Engineering will be printed with the school name at the time of the student’s graduation.

Transcripts

The issuance of transcripts and generally the release of any information about a student are subject to the provisions of Public Law 93-380, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. Unless NYU Tandon School of Engineering’s disclosure policy permits otherwise, official transcripts of the scholastic record are issued only upon the submission of a written request or upon the submission of a signed release from the student.

Unofficial transcripts are available to students through the Student Self-Service system. Those students without access to the Student Self-Service system may submit a written request for an unofficial transcript. A fee is charged for each unofficial or official transcript issued. Transcripts can be requested online.

NYU Tandon School of Engineering reserves the right to withhold a transcript if a student fails to meet financial indebtedness to the School.

Upon graduation, students should review their transcripts carefully and report any errors to the Office of the Registrar before the record is sealed.

Participation in Commencement

All students are permitted to participate in both the New York University Commencement Ceremony and the NYU Tandon School of Engineering Commencement Ceremony in May of each year.

There is a Dean’s Exception for the All-University Commencement whereby graduation candidates who have no more than two courses outstanding to complete their degrees may petition their school’s Dean of Student Affairs for eligibility to participate as long as these courses are completed by the end of the summer. Read more about the Dean’s Exception policy and process on the NYU Commencement website.

The NYU Tandon School of Engineering will follow the same guidelines set by the Commencement Office for participation in the May ceremony as a Dean’s Exception. That is to say, if a student is deemed a Dean’s exception for University-wide Commencement Ceremony, they are also permitted to participate in the NYU Tandon School of Engineering Commencement Ceremony. Please note that students with more than two courses outstanding will not be granted an exception and will be able to graduate in either September or January dependent upon when they complete their degree requirements. Please visit the NYU Registrar’s Graduation website for exact dates. Those students will then be able to participate in the May ceremonies of the following year.

Dean’s Exception Forms will be available to NYU Tandon School of Engineering students at the Office of Student Affairs (LC 232) each spring semester.

 

Class Standing for Undergraduates

Students are classified at the end of each semester by the Office of the Registrar on the basis of earned and/or approved transfer credits beginning September 1, as follows:

Freshmen 1 - 31.5 credits  
Sophomore 32 - 63.5 credits  
Junior 64 - 95.5 credits  
Senior 96 or more credits  

Academic Year Full Time

Undergraduate students registered for 12 or more credits per semester are categorized as full time. The normal course load for full-time undergraduate students is 14-18 credits.

For certain types of attendance and enrollment certifications, some students who are registered for less than 12 (undergraduate) credits may be certified as full time-specifically undergraduates pursuing Institute-authorized full-time, full-semester co-op work assignments. A form to establish full-time equivalency is available from the Office of the Registrar’s website.

Academic Year Part Time

Students registered for less than 12 credits per semester (except summer) are categorized as part time. Part-time students pay tuition at the prevailing per-credit rate and are ineligible for most financial assistance and scholarship programs.

Summer and Intersession

Students may register for up to 8 credits during each six-week summer term and for no more than 16 credits for the combined 12-week summer term. Six credits for a given summer term is considered full-time status.

 

Undergraduate International Students

Full-Time Status, Program and Degree Changes, Employment

To maintain non-immigrant student status, international students must enroll full time, taking at least 12 credits on the undergraduate level for each fall and spring semester. Moreover, they may only register for one online course per semester. Students wishing to take more than one online course per semester must obtain prior approval from the Office of Global Services (OGS). Students may take less than a full course of study if fewer credits are needed during the last semester to graduate or for valid academic and medical reasons. All reasons for exceptions must be approved in writing by OGS before the last day of late registration each semester so that courses can be added to students’ schedules if necessary.

Students in F-1 and J-1 status must obtain written permission from OGS to withdraw from classes, if the withdrawal will result in less than a full-time course load, or to take a leave of absence. They must also obtain written permission and a pertinent I-20/DS-2019 form from OGS before enrolling in a new degree program. The process of withdrawing from a course, changing degree level or taking a leave of absence through the Office of the Registrar keeps a non-immigrant student in good standing only with the Institute, but not with the U.S. Immigration and Citizenship Services (USCIS). In addition, students who plan to work as part of their coursework or as part of an internship placement are required to obtain prior approval from OGS for any such employment.

Failure to comply with the immigration requirements for full-time status, course withdrawals, degree changes and/or leave of absence and employment violates the nonimmigrant student status and makes a student ineligible for any benefit of that status. According to the USCIS, lack of compliance may also result in deportation.

 

Policies on Undergraduate Grading and Grades

Computing the Grade-Point Average (GPA)

The Office of the Registrar determines the GPA of undergraduate students according to the following numerical values assigned to letter grades:

Grade Point Value Description  

 
  A 4.0 Excellent  
  A- 3.7 Excellent  
  B+ 3.3 Good  
  B 3.0 Good  
  B- 2.7 Good  
  C+ 2.3 Passing  
  C 2.0 Passing  
  C- 1.7 Deficient, but passing  
  D+ 1.3 Deficient, but passing  
  D 1.0 Deficient, but passing  
  F 0.0 Failing  
  S   Satisfactory  
  U   Unsatisfactory  
  W   Withdrawal  
  I   Incomplete, converts to F after 180 days  
  AUD   Audit  
  P   Pass  

In computing GPAs, NYU School of Engineering does not consider or count courses graded W, I, S or U toward the total credits passed or earned. GPAs are computed by multiplying the numerical grade in each course by the number of credits for each course, adding these products for the courses taken and then dividing this sum by total number of credits represented by courses considered.

The W and I grades are described in greater detail in subsequent sections. Grades S or U are used to indicate progress in multi-semester research projects or theses, or for non credit-bearing remedial or other courses. Undergraduates enrolled in graduate courses may not receive grades of D or AUD.

Course Withdrawal: The W Grade

Students may withdraw from a course or courses without academic penalty until the published withdrawal deadline of the normal fall or spring semester. Students should process their own withdrawals online via Student Self-Service. No approvals are required, but students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisers as withdrawing from certain courses may delay their planned graduation date. When the course duration varies from the norm, such as in six-, nine- or 12-week courses, withdrawal must be completed before two-thirds of the sessions are completed. Withdrawals must be processed online by 11:59 p.m. on the withdrawal deadline indicated on the published Academic Calendar. Withdrawn courses remain on the student’s transcript with a grade of W and are not calculated into the GPA. Once entered on the student’s record, a W cannot be changed to any other grade. An F grade is recorded for any student who ceases to attend a course without formally withdrawing in the required fashion by the required deadline. Students are also encouraged to consult with Financial Aid before withdrawing from a course, as it may affect their status and eligibility for aid.

Auditing Classes

Undergraduate students may be allowed to audit certain classes in order to fill the gap which may exist in their prior course work. Approval of the academic department is required prior to auditing a class. The credits for the course do not count as a part of the student’s semester credit load. Students auditing a course will not receive a grade for the course and the course will be annotated by AUD without counting towards student’s GPA calculations. Students who decide to audit a class must do so during their initial registration for the class by filling out the form available from the Office of the Registrar; this option cannot be changed once selected. Note that these courses must still be paid for.

Incomplete Grades

If a student cannot complete coursework at the requested time due to a valid reason, such as an illness or other critical emergency, the instructor may give a grade of Incomplete/I. In such cases, the instructor and the student must develop a detailed plan for completion which includes a specific completion date. Ordinarily, this date should not extend beyond the intersession, in fairness to students who finish course requirements on time and to ensure that students complete prerequisites for advanced courses. An I grade lapses into an F if the student fails to complete the work within the specified completion time line, or at most by 180 days after the end of the semester in which the I was given. All I grades must be converted before graduation.

The grade of Incomplete/I is used sparingly and only in cases with valid reasons, not merely because students have planned poorly or overloaded themselves. An I grade should not be issued if a student is unable to complete the course requirements without attending or participating in the course a second time. If the student re-registers for a course in which an I grade was given, the I grade lapses to an F. If successful resolution of an I grade would require the repetition of any course or portion of a course, the student should consider formally withdrawing from the course.

Change of Grade

Grades on file with the Registrar at the end of the semester, with the exception of incomplete (I) and temporary grades (S or U), are considered final unless an error in calculating or recording the grade is discovered.  No correctly reported final grade may be changed based upon re-taking an examination or completion of additional work. Incomplete (I) grades are handled according to the policies described under Incomplete Grades. Temporary grades (S or U), used for continuing projects, thesis or dissertation, will be converted to standard letter grades upon completion of the project, thesis or dissertation. Once recorded with the Registrar, these grades are treated as all other final grades. If an error in calculating or reporting a grade is discovered, the instructor will submit the change of grade request to the Department Head. Upon approval of the Department Head, the request will be submitted to the appropriate Associate Dean for approval. Any incorrectly assigned grade must be corrected within one semester.

Repeating Courses

If an undergraduate student takes a course two or more times, only the second and subsequent grades will count toward their GPA. This policy holds regardless of the first and second grades earned, even when the second grade is lower than the first. The repeated course must be taken within one year of the first course, or at the first time it is offered, where a course is unavailable to repeat within one year. If the student first repeats the course more than one year after taking it initially, and the course has been offered, all grades earned in the course will be counted in the student’s GPA. If a student earns a passing grade and subsequently fails the course, the passing grade can be used to satisfy degree requirements.

No undergraduate course may be repeated more than twice, for a total of three attempts. If a student earns an F grade in each of their three attempts in a prerequisite course or a degree requirement, the student is then academically disqualified.

 

Undergraduate Academic Standing and Probation

Dean’s List

Undergraduate students who achieve a term GPA of 3.4 or higher in both the fall and spring semesters over the course of an academic year (Fall and Spring semesters only), with no grades of F, I or U for the semester, and are otherwise in good academic standing, are commended by the Department of Academic Affairs and placed on the Dean’s List. This list is posted following the spring semester each year. Only those who complete 12 or more credits during the fall and spring semester are eligible. Students who include project courses in their 12 or more credit programs are also eligible, provided that these courses represent no more than one-half of the credit load for a given period and all of the aforementioned requirements are met. Non-degree credit courses, such as EXPOS-UA 13, may count toward the 12-credit requirement. The Dean’s List notation appears on the student’s permanent record. Students who receive a grade of F and then repeat the course in a subsequent semester, thereby excluding the first grade from the GPA calculation, are not eligible for the Dean’s List. However, students who convert a grade of I to a regular letter grade or receive a change of grade after a given semester that would then qualify them for the Dean’s List may retroactively receive Dean’s List honors by bringing the change to the attention of the Office of Undergraduate Academics.

Any change of grade should be finalized within one semester to be considered for the Dean’s list.

General Academic Standing

To remain in good academic standing, undergraduate students must maintain term and cumulative GPAs of 2.0 or greater. In addition, students must successfully complete a minimum number of credits for each semester of full-time study, excluding summers and mini-sessions. In the case of part-time students, a semester indicates the point at which 12 or more credits are undertaken. Thus, the first semester of study ends when 12 credits are accumulated; the second semester is calculated from that time onward until 24 credits are accumulated. According to these semester equivalents, grade-point requirements for part-time students follow those for full-time students.

The minimum number of cumulative credits to be achieved by the close of each semester of full-time study appears in the following table.

Minimum Credits and Minimum GPA Required by Semester of Full-Time Study

Number of Full-time Semesters Completed Minimum Required Cum Grade Point Average Minimum Credits to be Earned
1 1.50* 8
2 1.50* 16
3 1.50* 28
4 1.67 40
5 1.78 56
6 1.88 68
7 1.95 84
>8 2.00 96

* Any time a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 1.5 they are placed on Final Probation regardless of how many credits they have completed.

In calculating the number of successfully completed credits:

  1. Courses for which a student received an F grade do not count toward the minimum credits earned.
  2. If a student receives an F grade in a course which they repeat within one academic year, their GPA will be recalculated using the second grade earned and the first grade of F will be removed from the GPA calculation.
  3. Credits with an I grade will be counted toward enrollment for one year. Thereafter, any I grade that has not been changed by the instructor on record will automatically become an F grade.
  4. Credits assigned a W grade do not appear in the calculation of credits undertaken, earned or successfully completed.
  5. Transfer students will enter this table from the point at which their transfer credits place them.

A second requisite for enrollment is the maintenance of a 2.0 GPA or better or performance approaching 2.0 in a steady and realistic fashion. The table above contains the absolute minimum cumulative GPA to be achieved by the close of each semester of full-time or full-time equivalent enrollment.

The Department of Academic Affairs regularly monitors all undergraduate students, reviews their academic records after each semester, and informs students’ academic adviser or other representatives from the their major department of the results of that review. Students identified as being in academic difficulty may not register for more than 12 credits per semester unless otherwise approved by their adviser. Students in academic difficulty are placed on academic probation following the steps and actions described below.

Academic Warning

Students whose midterm grades show they are in danger of failing a course receive e-mails of academic warning. The e-mails provide guidance for the student and invite them to meet with their academic adviser to discuss their academic performance and what steps to take to complete their course(s) successfully.

 

Academic Probation

Students are placed on academic probation when (1) their semester and/or cumulative GPAs fall below 2.0, but remain above the minimum standards as outlined above or (2) their number of successfully completed credits falls below the minimum standards as outlined above. Students falling into these categories are notified and directed to meet with their advisers.  Students placed on academic probation are limited to a maximum of 18 credits per semester while on probation, unless otherwise approved by their adviser and the Office of Academic Affairs.

All first-year, first-time probationary students must enroll in SL 1020, the Academic Skills Seminar. The seminar consists of eight one-hour sessions, meeting weekly and taken on a pass/fail basis. SL 1020 helps students develop and enhance an awareness of their individual learning styles, study skills and time management techniques so they may be more successful students and return to good academic standing. Topics include establishing a mind-set for success, discussing career opportunities, setting goals, managing time, overcoming procrastination, learning study and test-taking skills and self assessing. SL 1020 is offered in small, interactive group sessions to support students as they develop strategies for academic success.

Final Probation

Students whose academic record indicates an unacceptable level of academic progress may be placed on final probation. Notified of their standing, these students must meet with their adviser to determine a study program and are limited to a maximum of 12 credits while on final probation to improve their academic performance. Should a final probation student need additional credits to satisfy the full-time requirement, he or she may be allowed to register for another course with the approval their adviser and the Office of Academic Affairs, but will be limited to a maximum of 14 credits.  Academic Disqualification results from failure to improve performance and to meet the minimum progress requirements as outlined in the minimum-progress table above.

Disqualification

The Academic Standing Committee, comprised of members of the Department of Academic Affairs, faculty and a representative of the student’s major department, shall jointly disqualify from the Institute any student whose cumulative GPA or number of credits successfully completed falls below the approved minimum shown in the above table for two consecutive semesters. Additionally, a major department may disqualify a student at or above the minimum listed if it is indicated that continuation will not lead to a successful completion of degree requirements. If a student is disqualified, they will be notified via e-mail.

Extenuating circumstances, such as serious medical problems (physical or psychological), must be documented by the Office of Student Affairs and can lead to a one-semester waiver of these criteria. Performance in the subsequent semester must meet minimum standards. Such arrangements must be made with the head of the major department and the Office of Student Affairs.

No undergraduate course may be repeated more than twice, for a total of three attempts. If a student earns an F grade in each of their three attempts in a prerequisite course or a degree requirement, the student is then academically disqualified.

Disqualification Appeal

Students who would like to appeal their academic disqualification may begin the appeal process immediately. Students must begin the disqualification appeal process a minimum of three weeks before the first day of classes of the semester immediately following their disqualification. If students do not begin the appeal process by this deadline they must wait until the next semester before they can reapply for readmission to the School and initiate the appeal process.

 

Leave of Absence and Withdrawal from the School

Leave of Absence

The NYU Tandon School of Engineering expects its students to maintain continuous registration in an academic program. However, the school recognizes that it is sometimes necessary or desirable for a student to take a leave from enrollment for a period of time. Should extenuating circumstances necessitate time away from the university, students are encouraged to consider a leave of absence. The duration of the leave will be a minimum of one academic semester, or an equivalent four month period, to a maximum of two academic semesters or the equivalent in months (8 months). A leave does not extend the time period permitted for obtaining a degree. The Leave of Absence policy may not be used in lieu of disciplinary action to address any violations of University rules, regulations, policies, or practices, nor may it be used in lieu of academic probation or disqualification.

Medical Leave of Absence

If a student and physician agree that a medical leave of absence is in the student’s best interest, a physician should make a recommendation to the Associate Dean of Student Affairs at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering for a withdrawal from the semester and a leave of absence. To officially request a leave, the student must submit a Medical Leave of Absence Request Form , along with appropriate supporting documentation, to the Office of Student Affairs, which is located in the Dibner Building (5 MetroTech Center).

A request for a medical leave of absence must be accompanied by documentation from a health care provider and may require additional evaluation by the Medical Services Division of the Student Health Center. A leave is official only after the student receives final written approval from the Associate Dean of Student Affairs. This letter will clarify the steps necessary for reentry into the School of Engineering. Please feel free to contact the Office of Student Affairs (646.997.3773) regarding inquiries related to medical leave of absences.

Psychological Leave of Absence

If a student needs to request a psychological leave of absence, he or she must schedule an appointment with a counselor at the University Counseling and Wellness Services Center by calling 646.997.3456. Counseling and Wellness Services is located within the basement of Roger’s Hall (6 MetroTech Center).

Should the student and counselor agree that a leave of absence is in the student’s best interest, the counselor should make a recommendation to the Associate Dean of Student Affairs at the School of Engineering for a withdrawal from the semester and a leave of absence. To officially request a leave, the student must submit a Medical Leave of Absence Request Form  to the Office of Student Affairs, which is located in the Dibner Building (5 MetroTech Center), Room LC 232.

A leave is official only after the student receives final written approval from the Associate Dean of Student Affairs. This letter will clarify the steps necessary for reentry into the School of Engineering. Please feel free to contact the Office of Student Affairs (646.997.3773) regarding inquiries related to psychological leaves of absences.

Personal Leave of Absence

A personal leave of absence may be requested for reasons unrelated to medical or psychological conditions. Personal leaves are voluntary and apply to issues related to national service or personal circumstances. The NYU Tandon School of Engineering is committed to handling requests for personal leaves in a reasonable manner. Please note that personal leaves will not be granted for graduate students who are not in good academic standing with the University.

To officially request a personal leave of absence, the student must submit a Personal Leave of Absence Request Form  to the Office of Records & Registration, which can be found online via Albert.

A personal leave is official only after the student receives final approval from the Office of the University Registrar. This letter will clarify the steps necessary for reentry into the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. Please feel free to contact the Office of Records & Registration regarding inquiries related to personal leave of absences.

Applying for a Leave of Absence

As a general rule, leave of absences must be requested prior to the first day of the classes. Thereafter, requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Please note that leaves are not granted retroactively for past semesters.

After the conclusion of the Drop/Add period, students withdrawing for the term will receive grades of W in all courses. The grade of Incomplete is not possible for a student on leave, and the student is not permitted to make up work for courses after a W is assigned, as it is a terminal grade. Students on leave of absence are not permitted to complete coursework outside of the university while on leave, unless taking an LOA to study abroad through Direct Enrollment. Study abroad through direct enrollment must be preapproved by the Office of Academic Affairs.

Returning from a Medical Leave of Absence

If the reason for a leave was medical or psychological, the student must follow the steps outlined in the letter provided by the Office of Student Affairs.

Returning from a Personal Leave of Absence

A student granted a personal leave of absence does not need to submit a formal application for readmission as long as he or she returns to the School within the agreed-upon time. Any student who fails to resume studies after the expiration of an approved leave of absence will be discontinued and would have to apply for readmission. Please note that readmission is never guaranteed.

Important Related Issues

Students should be aware that a leave of absence may affect financial aid, University housing, and future student status. While on leave, students are responsible for meeting all financial aid and housing deadlines relevant to returning students. Students receiving federal loans (SSL, SLS, and Perkins) should note that a leave of absence does not certify one as an enrolled student for the purpose of loan deferral. The contact information for relevant offices can be found below.

  • NYU Housing - If you reside in University housing, you should contact the NYU Housing at housing@nyu.edu to determine how the leave may impact your housing license and future ability to participate in the housing lottery.
  • Financial Aid - Students are advised to find out how the leave of absence may affect their scholarship and financial aid award. Please contact the Financial Aid Office within Student Link at the Dibner Building (5 MetroTech Center), Room 201 or at financial.aid@nyu.edu to clarify your responsibilities and status.
  • Tuition - If a student is granted a leave after the semester has begun, the same graduated refund schedule applying to withdrawal from classes is in effect. For the graduated refund schedule and policies, please refer to the schedule posted online: http://www.nyu.edu/life/resources-and-services/nyu-studentlink/bills-payments-and-refunds/refunds-and-withdrawals.html. The refund schedule is strictly enforced.
  • Office of Global Services - International Students should contact the Office of Global Services immediately for information regarding visas and exit deadlines. Please contact OGS by visiting their office at the Dibner Building (5 MetroTech Center), Room 259 or by calling them at 646.997.3805 for more information.

Withdrawal

Total Withdrawal

Undergraduate students must notify the Office of Records and Registration if they elect to withdraw from the University prior to the published deadline and during a semester in which they are registered. No total withdrawal is official unless the online form, which is available in Albert Self Service, is submitted and approved by the Office of the Registrar. Mere absence from courses does not constitute official withdrawal, but will lead to F grades recorded for courses not completed. To receive W grades for the semester, the withdrawal must be completed by the withdrawal deadline indicated on the academic calendar.

Involuntary Withdrawal

NYU Tandon School of Engineering is concerned about the health, safety and well-being of its students. Students judged to be a threat to themselves or to others may be withdrawn involuntarily from the School of Engineering. The School seeks, whenever possible, to allow such students to continue as active students if they agree to undergo professional care. Full details on this policy are available from the Office of Student Affairs.

Automatic Withdrawal

Undergraduates who do not file a formal leave of absence and who are not continuously enrolled are automatically withdrawn from the University. Students in this category must apply for readmission. If readmission is granted, students will be governed by the catalog and rules in effect at the time of readmission.

Readmission

Students applying for readmission must apply through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Applications for readmission will be sent to the student’s academic department for evaluation. The academic department in consultation with the Office of Academic Affairs and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs will determine whether the student is eligible to continue his/her studies at NYU Tandon School of Engineering.

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GRADUATE ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES



This section details the general School-wide degree requirements that apply to all NYU Tandon School of Engineering graduate degrees. Academic departments may place additional requirements on individual degrees. Such additional requirements are explained in the programs section of this catalog. In no case may a department specify requirements less stringent than those indicated here.

Outcomes Assessment

NYU Tandon School of Engineering conducts outcomes assessment activities to monitor student academic achievement, effective teaching methods and continuous improvement of the School, as well as to comply with accreditation standards. To obtain periodic measurements of student perceptions and intellectual growth, graduate students are strongly encouraged to participate in surveys, focus groups, interviews or related activities. While individual input is collected, data resulting from these assessments is published only in aggregate form.

Definition of Credits

Graduate studies are expressed in terms of credits. One 50-minute period of graduate class work for a 15-week, single semester carries 1 graduate credit. A standard graduate course meeting for two-and-a-half hours per week in a single semester of 15 weeks is equivalent to 3 credits. This format is the most common for graduate courses. Graduate laboratories meet three times per graduate credit (i.e., two-and-a-half-hours per week in a single semester of 15 weeks is equivalent to 1 credit). Courses meeting more or less than two-and-a-half hours each week are assigned credits in the correct proportion. The final examination period is an integral part of the 15-week semester.

 

Graduate Degrees and Advanced Certificates

Graduate Advanced Certificate Programs

NYU Tandon School of Engineering offers several graduate advanced certificate programs in specialized subject areas for students who do not wish to enroll in a full-degree program. Detailed descriptions of the certificate programs are available from the responsible departments.

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements for certificate programs are the same as those for related MS programs. Applicants must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, and GREs are required from those applying for full-time study. Applicants must be admitted formally to a certificate program before beginning graduate course work.

Graduation Requirements

Depending on the program, 12 to 15 credits must be taken at NYU School of Engineering to earn a certificate, and no transfer credits for certificates are permitted. Courses taken for a certificate may be applied toward the future pursuit of an MS, ME, or PhD graduate degree, but not to another certificate program. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all graduate courses taken at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering to receive a certificate.

Students in such a program who subsequently decide to pursue a graduate degree must file a separate application for admission to the respective graduate program. 

Master of Science

Admission Requirements

Admission to Master of Science programs requires a bachelor’s degree and at least four years of college-level courses in a preparatory discipline from an institution acceptable to the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better is required for admission. GRE scores are recommended for all applicants, and are required for anyone applying for full-time study or seeking merit-based scholarships. Applicants seeking admission to the MS in Integrated Digital Media are exempt from the GRE requirement, and those seeking admission to technology management-related degrees are encouraged to submit GMAT scores instead of the GRE. Letters of Recommendation, a Statement of Purpose, and a professional resume are also required from all applicants seeking admission to any graduate program.

Graduation Requirements

Candidates for the degree of Master of Science must complete no fewer than 30 credits of graduate courses and research beyond the bachelor’s degree in the program selected. Academic departments may require additional credits for individual degrees. Individual programs may specify required courses, minimum GPAs in specific courses or course groups, or require a comprehensive examination, presentation of a seminar, or completion of a project or thesis. Specific course requirements for each MS program are detailed in the programs section of this catalog. To obtain the MS degree, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (equivalent to a B letter grade) or better in all graduate work undertaken at the NYU School of Engineering and any other school of NYU, including courses not used to fulfill specific program requirements. The average of B or better includes all guided studies, readings, projects, theses and dissertations. Students may offer no more than a combined total of 9 credits of project, guided studies, readings, or thesis toward fulfillment of the MS degree requirements. Students taking project or thesis must register for at least 3 credits of project or thesis every semester until the work is completed and a grade recorded (also refer to the section Maintenance of Studies).

MS students may elect to complete an MS project or MS thesis and may be required to do so in certain programs. Consult the programs section in this catalog for details. A project usually entails 3 to 6 credits, while an MS thesis is generally a more extended piece of research, usually entailing 6 to 9 credits.  At this level, research should exhibit a thorough understanding of advanced scientific thought and an ability to apply advanced principles constructively to engineering planning and design.

Manuscript Presentation 

Degree candidates must present their research to the appointed guidance committee in final manuscript form for official acceptance no later than two weeks before the end of the semester. The accepted format for the bound research document is detailed in the “Regulations on Format, Duplication and Publication of Project Reports, Theses and Dissertations.” Detailed information is available on the NYU Tandon School of Engineering website.

Graduate students registered for MS thesis credits must submit four final bound copies to their department for necessary signatures, and then present them to the Office of Graduate Academics one week before the end of the semester.

Master of Engineering

Admission Requirements

All regulations and requirements for the Master of Engineering degree, including those governing admissions, graduation, and residency, are identical to those for the Master of Science degree.

Graduation Requirements

Candidates for the degree Master of Engineering must complete no fewer than 30 credits of graduate courses (including a maximum of 9 credits of research) beyond the bachelor’s degree in the program. The Master of Engineering is for students seeking in-depth knowledge in fields requiring courses from multiple disciplines, especially those taught by several different academic departments. Students create their study program, including at least one graduate certificate, with the approval of a graduate adviser. A capstone experience is required for graduation.

Doctor of Philosophy

Admission Requirements

Students may apply to a doctoral program either directly after a bachelor’s degree or after completing a master’s degree. In either case, a GPA of 3.0 or better is required in all previous degree programs and a GPA of 3.5 or better is typically expected. GRE scores are required for all full-time PhD applicants. The admissions process for the doctoral program follows the same path as that of the Master of Science and Master of Engineering applications. Highly qualified candidates whose interests are incompatible with the faculty’s research interests may not be admitted. Additionally, most departments admit only the number of students that they can financially support, and qualified candidates may not be admitted due to limited availability of funding.

Graduation Requirements

All doctoral candidates must complete a minimum of 75 credits of graduate work beyond the bachelor’s degree, including a minimum of 21 credits of dissertation research (or more, depending on major). Requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy are qualitative and quantitative. Students will find that the formal requirements of residence, course credits, and dissertation provide a framework within which they are free to construct individual programs for creative learning at an advanced level. Students must satisfy the detailed requirements of the selected degree program.

Each PhD student must complete a PhD dissertation. Research at this level must demonstrate critical and constructive thought, as well as the ability to use the techniques necessary to explore and develop new knowledge in mathematics, science, or engineering. A successful dissertation must demonstrably advance the subject area of research. School requirements for dissertations set a minimum of 21 credits of registration. All research should be characterized by accuracy of observation and measurement, and by clarity and completeness in presentation. The conclusions presented must be supported by adequate studies and investigations, and supplemented by a complete bibliography.

Graduate students in a PhD program should confer with an adviser in the department of major interest regarding: 1) selection of courses; 2) major and minor fields of study; 3) formulation of a guidance committee; 4) qualifying and language examinations; 5) degree candidacy.

Students in a PhD program must take and pass doctoral qualifying examination(s) administered by their major department. These examinations are generally scheduled once or twice yearly, and students should consult their academic department for further information. Students are highly encouraged to take the examination(s) in their first year of the program, and they may not register for dissertation research until they have passed the examination(s).  If students have not passed by the end of their second year, they may be disqualified from the PhD program. Within six months of passing the examination(s), students and their dissertation adviser must form a dissertation-guidance committee that will oversee course selection, provide research guidance, and ensure that satisfactory progress is being made toward completion of the dissertation in a timely manner. Course selection must ensure that requirements of major and minors set forth by the respective programs are met. The committee, at its discretion or bound by departmental regulations, may require students to present a dissertation research proposal. The committee is expected to meet at least once per semester to assess student progress, and doctoral students must defend their dissertation in front of this committee.  Doctoral students must obtain a checklist of the milestones and requirements for the PhD program from the Office of Graduate Academics.

All doctoral students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better at all times and a B or better for the dissertation, and some departments have further specific course or grade requirements that must be fulfilled. Once students begin their dissertation research, they must register for at least 3 credits of dissertation every semester until the dissertation is completed and successfully defended (also refer to the section on Maintenance of Studies).

Manuscript Presentation

Degree candidates must present their research to the appointed guidance committee in final manuscript form for official acceptance no later than two weeks before the end of the semester. The accepted format for the bound research document is detailed in the “Regulations on Format, Duplication and Publication of Project Reports, Theses and Dissertations.” Detailed information is available on the NYU Tandon School of Engineering website.

Graduate students registered for PhD dissertation credits must submit four final bound copies to their department for necessary signatures and then present them to the Office of Graduate Academics one week before the end of the semester.

Publication

Doctoral dissertations are published by UMI Dissertation Publishing (ProQuest). The cost of this service is charged to the student. Publishing with UMI ensures that the dissertation thesis gains the widest possible audience. Any interested person can purchase copies of a dissertation through the company’s website.

The faculty regards publication of the major content of a doctoral dissertation in a recognized scientific journal as a necessary final step if the work performed is to achieve maximum usefulness. The publication must indicate, by footnote or otherwise, its basis as a New York University School of Engineering dissertation.

 

Graduate Credits and Requirements

Residency

To satisfy residency requirements for a graduate degree at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, students must complete the following minimum number of credits at the School:

  • Graduate Certificate: All credits (12-15, depending on certificate)
  • Master of Science: Total number of credits required, less 9 (at least 21 credits of residency)
  • Master of Engineering: Total number of credits required, less 9 (at least 21 credits of residency)
  • Doctor of Philosophy: 27 credits (including all dissertation credits)

Transfer Credits

Applications for transfer credits must be submitted for consideration before the end of the first semester of matriculation. Courses with grades below B are not eligible for transfer. Transfer credits for courses taken after matriculation at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering are rarely accepted and must be approved by the student’s academic department and by the Office of Graduate Academics before the course is taken. Grades for transferred credits or courses are not recorded and are not included in GPA calculations.

Certificates

No transfer credit is permitted for graduate certificates.

Master of Science and Master of Engineering

A maximum of 9 credits may be accepted as transfer credits towards an MS or ME degree. Transfer credits must be approved by the student’s department, the Associate Dean for Graduate Academics, and the Office of the Registrar. Courses that have been counted towards an awarded undergraduate or graduate degree, whether taken at NYU or another institution, may not be transferred toward a master’s degree at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. Credits submitted for consideration must be: 1) from accredited institutions; 2) consistent with NYU Tandon School of Engineering’s residency requirements; 3) completed with grades B or better; 4) consistent with the curriculum in which the student is registered; 5) taken after receipt of a bachelor’s degree, with the exception of NYU Tandon School of Engineering’s undergraduate students (See section: Transfer Policy Exceptions: NYU Tandon Undergraduate Students). Theses, projects and guided studies or readings courses cannot be transferred.

Doctor of Philosophy

Doctoral students may transfer a blanket 30-credits from a prior MS degree. For the blanket 30-credit transfer, the prior MS need not be a 30-credit MS, so long as an MS degree (or equivalent) was granted, and a copy of the degree and detailed transcripts are presented. Additional courses, taken after receipt of a bachelor’s degree, but not counted towards an awarded degree may be eligible for transfer, up to a maximum of 18 credits. Additional courses individually transferred cannot include project, thesis, dissertation, guided studies or readings, or special topics credits. The total number of transferred credits for the PhD degree may not exceed 48. Some programs have additional restrictions; students should also consult the program specific portion of the bulletin for further information.

Transfer Policy Exceptions

NYU Tandon School of Engineering Undergraduate Students

While transfer policies normally preclude the transfer of graduate credit taken prior to the receipt of a bachelor’s degree, an exception is made for NYU students who take graduate courses while pursuing an undergraduate degree at any school of NYU. Such graduate courses may be applied subsequently to a graduate degree at NYU Tandon provided that students earned a B grade or better, that the individual courses were not used to fulfill requirements for the undergraduate degree, and that the courses are acceptable based on the particular graduate degree curriculum requirement.

The sum of transfer credits from other institutions and internal transfer credits from other NYU schools (including graduate courses taken while matriculated as NYU undergraduates) cannot exceed the total number of transfer credits permitted for Advanced Certificates, MS and PhD degrees as specified above in the section on “Transfer Credits.”

These exceptions to the Transfer Policy are effective for any student admitted for the Spring 2017 semester forward.

NYU Tandon School of Engineering BS/MS Students

NYU Tandon School of Engineering students enrolled in a joint BS/MS program with a study plan pre-approved by an academic adviser may take graduate level courses prior to receiving their bachelor’s degree, and may apply these courses towards the requirements of their MS program without credit restriction. Graduate courses used to satisfy undergraduate degree requirements, however, cannot be used to satisfy graduate degree requirements. BS/MS students must maintain a minimum 3.0 CGPA in all graduate level courses, or they risk being disqualified from the BS/MS program.

Period of Validity

Graduate courses reflect the current state of the art in their respective fields. Thus, all courses that are more than 10 years old at the beginning of graduate study at NYU Tandon School of Engineering, whether taken previously at the School or at another institution, are ineligible for transfer and will not count towards the satisfaction of degree requirements. The blanket 30-credit transfer of an MS degree taken at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering or elsewhere towards a PhD program is exempt from this period of validity and does not expire.

Graduate Validation Credits

When it is unclear whether a course taken outside the NYU Tandon School of Engineering is suitable for transfer credit, students may qualify for transfer credit for that course by passing a validation examination. Permission to take the examination must be recorded in advance on the student’s transfer-evaluation form. The examination format is at the discretion of the department giving the course. Scheduling of the examination is by mutual agreement, but in no event can it be scheduled more than one calendar year after the student begins study at NYU Tandon School of Engineering. A grade of B or better is required for graduate students. An examination may not be taken more than once. A student who registers for or attends the course at NYU Tandon School of Engineering forfeits the right to take a validation examination.

The sum of validation credits and transfer credits is limited to 9 credits for the MS and ME degrees.

One exception to the paragraphs above regarding transfer credit and graduate validation credit: Mathematics graduate students (MS and PhD) will be permitted, with adviser approval, to exceed the 9-credit limit on transfer credits and validation units by taking specified, adviser-approved courses at the Courant Institute of NYU. In the case of MS students, such approval may not raise the number of such courses above four.

Maximum Time for Completion

Programs for graduate certificates must be completed within three years. The MS and ME degree programs must be completed within five years from the beginning of graduate studies at NYU Tandon School of Engineering. The PhD program must be completed in six years for full-time students and 12 years for part-time students from the time of admission to graduate studies at NYU Tandon School of Engineering (not from the beginning of PhD studies). All time limits include any approved Leaves of Absence.

Extensions of these time periods are rarely granted and require prior approval from the Associate Dean of Graduate Academics. Students must request an extension at least 60 days prior to the deadline for completion. If an extension is granted, not all courses taken previously may count towards the degree. The Associate Dean, consulting with the department, will prepare a plan for the student to follow to obtain the degree.

Graduate Registration Policies

All graduate students must be registered for a minimum of 1.5 credits each fall and spring semester until they graduate. However, if students begin an MS project or thesis, or a PhD dissertation, they must register for at least 3 credits of project, thesis, or dissertation every fall and spring semester until it has been completed and accepted. Thus, while students who have not previously enrolled in research credits may satisfy registration requirements and maintain their student status by registering for 1.5 credits, students who have begun a project, thesis, or dissertation in a previous semester and who have not yet completed must register for a minimum of 3 credits (of research) each fall and spring until complete. (Also refer to the section on Maintenance of Studies.)

Graduate Registration Status

Graduate students pay tuition at the per-credit rate. Full-time status is defined by the following:

  • Full-time MS students must be registered for 9 credits or more each semester. Students who are normally full-time may register for fewer credits during their last semester by registering for only the number of credits necessary for graduation. During this last semester they are part-time, but can be treated as full-time-equivalent for immigration purposes only (not for the purpose of financial aid eligibility) by requesting full-time-equivalency status from the Office of Global Services.
  • Full-time MS students in the lock-step, cohort-based, executive-format MS programs are registered for all courses specified by the program as published in the catalog each semester. These programs require distinct courses and/or projects, each bearing credits approved for the program.
  • Prior to passing the qualifying exam, full-time PhD students must register for a minimum of 9 credits per term.  Upon passing the qualifying exam, students may maintain full-time status by registering for a minimum of 3 credits of dissertation per semester.  Students who are not officially enrolled in a PhD program, irrespective of whether or not they have passed the qualifying exam, must continue to take a minimum of 9 credits per semester until they are formally admitted to a PhD program.

A status of non-matriculated or visiting student allows students to take up to three graduate courses at NYU Tandon School of Engineering (maximum of 2 courses or 6 credits per semester) without formally applying for admission to a graduate program. If these students desire to continue at NYU Tandon School of Engineering as matriculated students in a graduate degree or certificate program, they must follow the formal application process, and admission is not guaranteed.

 

Maintenance of Studies

MS Students: Under exceptional and well-documented circumstances, graduate students seeking an MS degree in a program that requires an MS thesis or MS project may, with the permission of the thesis or project adviser, request one semester of Maintenance of Studies to complete the project or thesis. For permission to be granted, students and their advisers must provide adequate written justification to the Office of Graduate Academics.

PhD Students: PhD students who have completed all required courses and dissertation credits, and who have completed all of their doctoral research, may register for up to two semesters of Maintenance of Studies with no tuition charge (School fees apply). Maintenance of Studies officially maintains the student’s degree candidacy. Students who have not completed their doctoral research must continue to register for dissertation credits.

Modifications to Curricula

Curricula and courses change from time to time in order to keep students abreast of the latest knowledge and methods within subject areas. Students are required to satisfy the curriculum and degree requirements in effect at the time of their matriculation and must obtain current degree requirements from their program adviser.

In order to accommodate curriculum and course revisions, it is sometimes necessary to substitute a course for one specified in the curriculum. Students may also request course substitutions to tailor their studies to their interests. Both the program adviser and the Office of Graduate Academics must approve all course substitutions. 

 

Graduate International Students

Full-time Status, Program and Degree Changes

To maintain non-immigrant student status, international students must maintain full-time status every fall and spring semester for the entire semester (i.e., withdrawing from a course during the semester may jeopardize full-time status). Students are not required to enroll during the summer semester and may enroll for credits at their discretion. International students may register for online courses, but must be registered for a minimum of 6 credits of on-ground course work per term. All questions concerning this regulation should be addressed with the Office of Global Services (OGS). Students may take less than a full course of study if fewer credits are needed during the last semester prior to graduation, but they must notify OGS prior to the beginning of the semester and obtain full-time equivalency status. Students may qualify for a reduced course load (RCL) for valid academic and medical reasons. All exceptions must be approved by OGS before the last day of registration (the add/drop deadline) each semester so that courses can be added to the student’s schedule if necessary. Only one semester of reduced course load (RCL) for academic reasons is permitted per degree level.

Students in F-1 and J-1 status must obtain written permission from OGS for any Leave of Absence request, or to withdraw from classes if the withdrawal results in less than a full course load. They also must obtain written permission and the pertinent I-20/DS-2019 form before enrolling in a new degree program. The process of withdrawing from a course, changing programs, changing degree level, or taking a Leave of Absence through the Office of the Registrar keeps a non-immigrant student in good standing only with the School, but not with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), unless proper approval is obtained from OGS. Students planning on employment as part of their course work must obtain prior approval from OGS for any such employment.

Failure to comply with the immigration requirements for full-time status, course withdrawals, program changes, degree level changes, or Leave of Absence violates the non-immigrant student’s status and renders a student ineligible for any benefit of that status. According to USCIS, lack of compliance may also result in deportation.

 

Policies on Grading and Grades

Computing the Grade-Point Average for Graduate Students

For the purposes of computing GPAs for graduate students and graduate courses, the following schedule is used.

 Grade Point Value Description  

 
  A 4.0 Excellent  
  A- 3.7 Excellent  
  B+ 3.3 Good  
  B 3.0 Good  
  B- 2.7 Good  
  C+ 2.3 Deficient, but Passing  
  C 2.0 Deficient, but Passing  
  F 0.0 Failing  
  P   Pass (no GPA value)  
  S   Satisfactory  
  U   Unsatisfactory  
  W   Withdrawal  
  I   Incomplete, converts to F after 180 days  
  AUD   Audit  

Grades S and U reflect progress on research efforts. Once the thesis or dissertation is completed, the letter grade is entered on the transcript for all research registrations. Noncredit seminar courses are graded P or F. Other than research credits, no credit-bearing courses can be assigned S or U grades. A student cannot graduate if a grade of U is on the transcript for any credit-bearing course or for research efforts at the time of graduation. A grade of I cannot be assigned to a course that is graded S or U. Grades S, U, I, W and AUD are not included in computing the GPA.

Graduate Bridge and Preparatory Courses

Many programs offer graduate bridge or preparatory courses to accommodate the needs of students who lack certain undergraduate preparation. Generally, bridge or preparatory courses cannot be used to satisfy degree requirements, particularly for degrees within the department that offers the course. However, these courses are included in the calculation of a student’s graduate GPA. Some graduate students may be required to take certain undergraduate courses as preparation for advanced graduate study. Undergraduate courses are not included in the student’s GPA calculation.

Repeating Courses

The first time a graduate student repeats a course, the lower grade is not counted towards the GPA. All subsequent grades in a course repeated more than once are included in the GPA, although degree credit is earned only once.

Course Withdrawal: The W Grade

Students may withdraw from a course or courses without academic penalty until the published withdrawal deadline of the normal fall or spring semester. Students should process their own withdrawals online via Albert Student Center during the first two weeks of the semester. After the first two weeks, students must complete a paper add/drop form and submit the form to the Office of Graduate Academics. In all cases, students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisers, as withdrawing from certain courses may delay their planned graduation date, and international students should make sure that they do not drop below full-time status (9 credits). Students who have been placed on final academic probation are not permitted to withdraw from courses without prior approval from the Office of Graduate Academics.

When the course duration varies from the norm, such as in six-, nine- or 12-week courses, please consult with the NYU Tandon SOE Records and Registration Office for deadline information. Withdrawn courses remain on the student’s transcript with a grade of W and are not calculated into the GPA. Once entered on the student’s record, a W cannot be changed to any other grade. An F grade is recorded for any student who ceases to attend a course without formally withdrawing by the required deadline.

International students who wish to withdraw from a course, or courses, must have prior approval from OGS if withdrawing will leave them with fewer than nine credits of registration.

Auditing Courses

Graduate students may audit courses instead of receiving credits and grades for them. Regular tuition is charged and courses are treated as part of a full-time load. An AUD notation is made on the student’s permanent record.

Interested graduate students should see their advisers and must notify the NYU Tandon SOE Office of Records and Registration within the first two weeks of the semester if they select courses for audit status. Under no circumstances may an audit status be changed to credit status once elected. Audited courses do not count toward satisfying graduation requirements.

Incomplete Grades 

If a student cannot complete the course work at the usual time because of valid reasons, such as illness or other critical emergency, the instructor may give a grade of Incomplete/I. In such cases, the instructor and the student must develop a detailed plan for completion that includes a specific completion date. Ordinarily this date should not extend beyond the intersession, in fairness to students who finish course requirements on time and to ensure that students complete prerequisites for advanced courses. An Incomplete grade converts to an F if the student fails to complete the work within the specified completion timeline, or at most by 180 days after the end of the semester in which the student was enrolled in the course. All Incomplete grades must be converted before graduation.

The grade of Incomplete/I is used sparingly and only in cases with valid reasons, not merely because students have planned poorly or overloaded themselves. An Incomplete grade should not be issued if a student is unable to complete the course requirements without attending or participating in the course a second time. If the student reregisters for a course in which an Incomplete grade was given, the Incomplete grade lapses to an F. If successful resolution of an Incomplete grade would require the repetition of any course or portion of a course, the instructor should not assign an Incomplete, and should instead counsel the student to withdraw from the course.

Change of Grade

Grades on file with the Registrar, with the exception of Incomplete/I grades and temporary grades (S or U), are considered final unless an error in calculating or recording the grade is discovered. No correctly reported final grade may be changed based upon re-taking an examination or completion of additional work. Incomplete/I grades are handled according to the policies described under Incomplete Grades. Temporary grades (S or U), used for continuing projects, thesis or dissertation, will be converted to standard letter grades upon completion of the project, thesis or dissertation. Once recorded with the Registrar, these grades are treated as all other final grades. If an error in calculating or reporting a grade is discovered, the instructor will submit the change of grade request to the Department Chair. If approved by the Department Chair, the request will be submitted to the Associate Dean for Graduate Academics for consideration. Any incorrectly assigned grade must be corrected within one semester.

GPA Restart

If a student who has completed a master’s degree at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering wishes to pursue another master’s degree(s), the student’s GPA is re-started. In this way, the academic performance for each degree is accurately represented.  A GPA cannot be restarted at the beginning of or during the PhD degree program.  Any GPA restart is noted on the student’s transcript.

 

Academic Standing and Probation

Graduate students are expected to progress in their studies and maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA at all times. Failure to do so results in the student being placed on academic probation. Graduate students are permitted a maximum of 2 semesters of probation, and these semesters need not be sequential in order to count towards the maximum limit.

Student academic progress is evaluated at the end of the spring and fall semesters (and at the end of the summer for summer admits only), irrespective of Incomplete or temporary (S/U) grades, and irrespective of whether students have dropped or withdrawn from any course(s). Any student whose GPA drops below 3.0 will be placed on probation and notified by the Office of Graduate Academics.

Students on probation must submit a signed Graduate Acknowledgement of Academic Probation and Potential Disqualification form to the Office of Graduate Academics before the start of the next semester. Students who are not yet registered for the following term will not be permitted to do so until the form is submitted to the Office of Graduate Academics. Students already registered will be de-registered from their courses if they do not submit the form. Further, any student who is on a second (final) semester of probation must obtain permission from the Office of Graduate Academics if they wish to make registration changes. The registration hold and the probation form serve to remind students on probation that they are not meeting required academic standards. No indication of academic probation appears on a student’s transcript, but a record is kept on file. Academic disqualification, however, is noted on the student’s transcript.

Students on final probation must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above at the end of that semester, or the student will be disqualified from the School. Disqualified students will not be considered for readmission. If a student is disqualified, any grade of Incomplete, S, or U at the time of disqualification will remain as such on the student’s transcript.

In addition to the academic probation process described above, a major department may request that a graduate student be placed on academic probation at any time. The request and its justification are signed by the Department Chair and sent to the Office of Graduate Academics for approval.

The probationary policies outlined above may differ from the policies governing conditionally admitted students; please refer to the Graduate Admission section on Conditional Admit status for more information, or address specific questions to the Office of Graduate Academics.

 

Leaves of Absence and Readmission

Leave of Absence

A student who wishes to temporarily suspend graduate studies may request a Leave of Absence. If a Leave of Absence is being requested for medical reasons, please consult with the Office of Student Affairs.  A request for a Leave of Absence for any reason other than medical must be approved by the Office of Graduate Academics.  If the leave is approved, the student’s matriculated status is maintained, and the student may resume his or her studies after the Leave of Absence. The Registrar will record a Leave of Absence on the student’s transcript.

Leaves of Absence, if approved, are granted for a maximum of one year except in extreme cases, such as compulsory national service (if such service is for more than one year). International students must also receive approval for the leave from OGS, as an approved Leave of Absence is an academic decision and does not override OGS concerns. The Leave of Absence does not extend the time limits for earning a degree (see section on Maximum Time to Completion). The approval of a Leave of Absence does not preclude subsequent academic disqualification.

In most circumstances, non-medical Leaves of Absence are only approved for students in good academic standing with NYU Tandon SOE.

Readmission

Students who do not maintain continuous registration and who are not on an approved Leave of Absence must apply to NYU for readmission if they wish to continue their graduate studies. Re-admitted students must pay accrued fees for the lapsed semester(s). If readmitted, their subsequent program attendance will be guided by the terms and conditions of the readmission and by the Bulletin and rules in effect at the time of readmission. Lapsed semesters do not extend the maximum time permitted to complete the degree. If students who re-apply cannot complete their studies within the allotted time permitted from the date of their initial admission to NYU Tandon School of Engineering, they can be re-admitted as a new student, but prior courses will be treated as part of the total transfer credits permitted (see section on Transfer Credits).

Leave of Absence and Readmission for Veterans

Students in graduate programs taking a Leave of Absence to perform military services are reinstated into the same degree program with the same academic status that they had when last in attendance at the institution. The length of absence from the institution cannot exceed five academic years unless the student requests and receives an exception from the Office of Graduate Academics. Such requests when approved by the Office of Graduate Academics constitute assurance of reinstatement to the degree program from which the leave was taken. If the period of absence exceeds the approved leave, students must apply for readmission.

 

Withdrawal from the University

Voluntary Withdrawal

Graduate students who wish to withdraw completely from NYU Tandon SOE (as opposed to a term withdrawal) must first withdraw from all courses in which they are currently registered, and then they must complete the online total withdrawal form. To receive W grades for the semester, the withdrawal must be completed by the withdrawal deadline indicated in the academic calendar. The mere absence from courses does not constitute official withdrawal, but results in F grades recorded for courses not completed. No complete withdrawal is official unless and until this form is completed and submitted to the NYU Tandon SOE Office of Records and Registration and approved by all required signatories.  Students who submit an online total withdrawal request which is approved must reapply to NYU Tandon SOE should they wish to resume their studies in the future, and readmission is not guaranteed.

Involuntary Withdrawal

NYU Tandon School of Engineering is concerned about the health, safety and well-being of its students. Students judged to be a threat to themselves or to others may be withdrawn involuntarily from the School. The School seeks, whenever possible, for such students to be allowed to continue as active students if they agree to undergo professional care. Full details concerning this policy are available from the Office of Student Affairs.

 

Application Process for the Award of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy Degrees

Graduate students must file a formal application via Albert Student Center for the award of any NYU Tandon School of Engineering degree or certificate. Filing dates for each semester are published by the University Registrar. Students who do not file by the published deadline dates become candidates for the next conferral period.

Degrees are conferred and diplomas issued three times per year, typically in January, May, and September. All work for the degree must be completed and submitted before the graduation date.

NYU policy prohibits the awarding of a degree to members of the School teaching staff who hold a rank above the grade of Instructor.

Please note that a degree is not awarded unless the student applies for graduation, even if all requirements have been met. The date of the degree follows the application date for its award, not when all requirements are completed. If the application is filed more than two years after completion of degree requirements, the approval process is not automatic, and additional administrative actions may be required on a case-by-case basis.

Diplomas

Diplomas are mailed to the student about eight weeks after the degree conferral date. Diplomas are issued only once, subject to rare exceptions made on a case-by-case basis. Replacement diploma procedures and fees are published on the University Registrar’s website. Replacement diplomas for the NYU Tandon School of Engineering will be printed with the school name at the time of the student’s graduation.

Continuation of Studies Beyond the Initial Certificate or Master of Science

Students planning to pursue additional studies immediately following the award of an advanced degree by NYU Tandon School of Engineering should complete a new application for admission and submit it to the Graduate Admissions Office for review and approval by the department in which the new degree will be pursued. Examples are: 1) progressing from a certificate program to an MS program; 2) progressing from an MS program to a PhD program; 3) seeking a second MS degree from NYU School of Engineering. For rules governing the application of prior NYU School of Engineering credits towards a new degree program, please refer to the section on Transfer Credits and Transfer Policy Exceptions.

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GRADUATE ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES

Graduate Degrees and Advanced Certificates

Graduate Credits and Requirements

Graduate International Students

Policies on Grading and Grades

Academic Standing and Probation

Leaves of Absence and Readmission

Withdrawal from the University

Application Process for the Award of Graduate Degrees and Certificates

Continuation of Studies Beyond the Initial Certificate or Master of Science

Internship Policies and Guidelines

This section details the general School-wide degree requirements that apply to all NYU Tandon School of Engineering graduate degrees. Academic departments may place additional requirements on individual degrees. Such additional requirements are explained in the programs section of this catalog. In no case may a department specify requirements less stringent than those indicated here.

Outcomes Assessment

NYU Tandon School of Engineering conducts outcomes assessment activities to monitor student academic achievement, effective teaching methods and continuous improvement of the School, as well as to comply with accreditation standards. To obtain periodic measurements of student perceptions and intellectual growth, graduate students are strongly encouraged to participate in surveys, focus groups, interviews or related activities. While individual input is collected, data resulting from these assessments is published only in aggregate form.

Definition of Credits

Graduate studies are expressed in terms of credits. One 50-minute period of graduate class work for a 15-week, single semester carries 1 graduate credit. A standard graduate course meeting for two-and-a-half hours per week in a single semester of 15 weeks is equivalent to 3 credits. This format is the most common for graduate courses. Graduate laboratories meet three times per graduate credit (i.e., two-and-a-half-hours per week in a single semester of 15 weeks is equivalent to 1 credit). Courses meeting more or less than two-and-a-half hours each week are assigned credits in the correct proportion. The final examination period is an integral part of the 15-week semester.

 

Graduate Degrees and Advanced Certificates

Graduate Advanced Certificate Programs

NYU Tandon School of Engineering offers several graduate advanced certificate programs in specialized subject areas for students who do not wish to enroll in a full-degree program. Detailed descriptions of the certificate programs are available from the responsible departments.

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements for certificate programs are the same as those for related MS programs. Applicants must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, and GREs are required from those applying for full-time study. Applicants must be admitted formally to a certificate program before beginning graduate course work.

Graduation Requirements

Depending on the program, 12 to 15 credits must be taken at NYU School of Engineering to earn a certificate, and no transfer credits for certificates are permitted. Courses taken for a certificate may be applied toward the future pursuit of an MS, ME, or PhD graduate degree, but not to another certificate program. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all graduate courses taken at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering to receive a certificate.

Students in such a program who subsequently decide to pursue a graduate degree must file a separate application for admission to the respective graduate program. 

Master of Science

Admission Requirements

Admission to Master of Science programs requires a bachelor’s degree and at least four years of college-level courses in a preparatory discipline from an institution acceptable to the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better is required for admission. GRE scores are recommended for all applicants, and are required for anyone applying for full-time study or seeking merit-based scholarships. Applicants seeking admission to the MS in Integrated Digital Media are exempt from the GRE requirement, and those seeking admission to technology management-related degrees are encouraged to submit GMAT scores instead of the GRE. Letters of Recommendation, a Statement of Purpose, and a professional resume are also required from all applicants seeking admission to any graduate program.

Graduation Requirements

Candidates for the degree of Master of Science must complete no fewer than 30 credits of graduate courses and research beyond the bachelor’s degree in the program selected. Academic departments may require additional credits for individual degrees. Individual programs may specify required courses, minimum GPAs in specific courses or course groups, or require a comprehensive examination, presentation of a seminar, or completion of a project or thesis. Specific course requirements for each MS program are detailed in the programs section of this catalog. To obtain the MS degree, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (equivalent to a B letter grade) or better in all graduate work undertaken at the NYU School of Engineering and any other school of NYU, including courses not used to fulfill specific program requirements. The average of B or better includes all guided studies, readings, projects, theses and dissertations. Students may offer no more than a combined total of 9 credits of project, guided studies, readings, or thesis toward fulfillment of the MS degree requirements. Students taking project or thesis must register for at least 3 credits of project or thesis every semester until the work is completed and a grade recorded (also refer to the section Maintenance of Studies).

MS students may elect to complete an MS project or MS thesis and may be required to do so in certain programs. Consult the programs section in this catalog for details. A project usually entails 3 to 6 credits, while an MS thesis is generally a more extended piece of research, usually entailing 6 to 9 credits.  At this level, research should exhibit a thorough understanding of advanced scientific thought and an ability to apply advanced principles constructively to engineering planning and design.

Manuscript Presentation 

Degree candidates must present their research to the appointed guidance committee in final manuscript form for official acceptance no later than two weeks before the end of the semester. The accepted format for the bound research document is detailed in the “Regulations on Format, Duplication and Publication of Project Reports, Theses and Dissertations.” Detailed information is available on the NYU Tandon School of Engineering website.

Graduate students registered for MS thesis credits must submit four final bound copies to their department for necessary signatures, and then present them to the Office of Graduate Academics one week before the end of the semester.

Master of Engineering

Admission Requirements

All regulations and requirements for the Master of Engineering degree, including those governing admissions, graduation, and residency, are identical to those for the Master of Science degree.

Graduation Requirements

Candidates for the degree Master of Engineering must complete no fewer than 30 credits of graduate courses (including a maximum of 9 credits of research) beyond the bachelor’s degree in the program. The Master of Engineering is for students seeking in-depth knowledge in fields requiring courses from multiple disciplines, especially those taught by several different academic departments. Students create their study program, including at least one graduate certificate, with the approval of a graduate adviser. A capstone experience is required for graduation.

Doctor of Philosophy

Admission Requirements

Students may apply to a doctoral program either directly after a bachelor’s degree or after completing a master’s degree. In either case, a GPA of 3.0 or better is required in all previous degree programs and a GPA of 3.5 or better is typically expected. GRE scores are required for all full-time PhD applicants. The admissions process for the doctoral program follows the same path as that of the Master of Science and Master of Engineering applications. Highly qualified candidates whose interests are incompatible with the faculty’s research interests may not be admitted. Additionally, most departments admit only the number of students that they can financially support, and qualified candidates may not be admitted due to limited availability of funding.

Graduation Requirements

All doctoral candidates must complete a minimum of 75 credits of graduate work beyond the bachelor’s degree, including a minimum of 21 credits of dissertation research (or more, depending on major). Requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy are qualitative and quantitative. Students will find that the formal requirements of residence, course credits, and dissertation provide a framework within which they are free to construct individual programs for creative learning at an advanced level. Students must satisfy the detailed requirements of the selected degree program.

Each PhD student must complete a PhD dissertation. Research at this level must demonstrate critical and constructive thought, as well as the ability to use the techniques necessary to explore and develop new knowledge in mathematics, science, or engineering. A successful dissertation must demonstrably advance the subject area of research. School requirements for dissertations set a minimum of 21 credits of registration. All research should be characterized by accuracy of observation and measurement, and by clarity and completeness in presentation. The conclusions presented must be supported by adequate studies and investigations, and supplemented by a complete bibliography.

Graduate students in a PhD program should confer with an adviser in the department of major interest regarding: 1) selection of courses; 2) major and minor fields of study; 3) formulation of a guidance committee; 4) qualifying and language examinations; 5) degree candidacy.

Students in a PhD program must take and pass doctoral qualifying examination(s) administered by their major department. These examinations are generally scheduled once or twice yearly, and students should consult their academic department for further information. Students are highly encouraged to take the examination(s) in their first year of the program, and they may not register for dissertation research until they have passed the examination(s).  If students have not passed by the end of their second year, they may be disqualified from the PhD program. Within six months of passing the examination(s), students and their dissertation adviser must form a dissertation-guidance committee that will oversee course selection, provide research guidance, and ensure that satisfactory progress is being made toward completion of the dissertation in a timely manner. Course selection must ensure that requirements of major and minors set forth by the respective programs are met. The committee, at its discretion or bound by departmental regulations, may require students to present a dissertation research proposal. The committee is expected to meet at least once per semester to assess student progress, and doctoral students must defend their dissertation in front of this committee.  Doctoral students must obtain a checklist of the milestones and requirements for the PhD program from the Office of Graduate Academics.

All doctoral students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better at all times and a B or better for the dissertation, and some departments have further specific course or grade requirements that must be fulfilled. Once students begin their dissertation research, they must register for at least 3 credits of dissertation every semester until the dissertation is completed and successfully defended (also refer to the section on Maintenance of Studies).

Manuscript Presentation

Degree candidates must present their research to the appointed guidance committee in final manuscript form for official acceptance no later than two weeks before the end of the semester. The accepted format for the bound research document is detailed in the “Regulations on Format, Duplication and Publication of Project Reports, Theses and Dissertations.” Detailed information is available on the NYU Tandon School of Engineering website.

Graduate students registered for PhD dissertation credits must submit four final bound copies to their department for necessary signatures and then present them to the Office of Graduate Academics one week before the end of the semester.

Publication

Doctoral dissertations are published by UMI Dissertation Publishing (ProQuest). The cost of this service is charged to the student. Publishing with UMI ensures that the dissertation thesis gains the widest possible audience. Any interested person can purchase copies of a dissertation through the company’s website.

The faculty regards publication of the major content of a doctoral dissertation in a recognized scientific journal as a necessary final step if the work performed is to achieve maximum usefulness. The publication must indicate, by footnote or otherwise, its basis as a New York University School of Engineering dissertation.

 

Graduate Credits and Requirements

Residency

To satisfy residency requirements for a graduate degree at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, students must complete the following minimum number of credits at the School:

Graduate Certificate: All credits (12-15, depending on certificate)

Master of Science: Total number of credits required, less 9 (at least 21 credits of residency)

Master of Engineering: Total number of credits required, less 9 (at least 21 credits of residency)

Doctor of Philosophy: 27 credits (including all dissertation credits)

Transfer Credits

Applications for transfer credits must be submitted for consideration before the end of the first semester of matriculation. Courses with grades below B are not eligible for transfer. Transfer credits for courses taken after matriculation at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering are rarely accepted and must be approved by the student’s academic department and by the Office of Graduate Academics before the course is taken. Grades for transferred credits or courses are not recorded and are not included in GPA calculations.

Certificates

No transfer credit is permitted for graduate certificates.

Master of Science and Master of Engineering

A maximum of 9 credits may be accepted as transfer credits towards an MS or ME degree. Transfer credits must be approved by the student’s department, the Associate Dean for Graduate Academics, and the Office of the Registrar. Courses that have been counted towards an awarded undergraduate or graduate degree, whether taken at NYU or another institution, may not be transferred toward a master’s degree at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. Credits submitted for consideration must be: 1) from accredited institutions; 2) consistent with NYU Tandon School of Engineering’s residency requirements; 3) completed with grades B or better; 4) consistent with the curriculum in which the student is registered; 5) taken after receipt of a bachelor’s degree, with the exception of NYU Tandon School of Engineering’s undergraduate students (See section: Transfer Policy Exceptions: NYU Tandon Undergraduate Students). Theses, projects and guided studies or readings courses cannot be transferred.

Doctor of Philosophy

Doctoral students may transfer a blanket 30-credits from a prior MS degree. For the blanket 30-credit transfer, the prior MS need not be a 30-credit MS, so long as an MS degree (or equivalent) was granted, and a copy of the degree and detailed transcripts are presented. Additional courses, taken after receipt of a bachelor’s degree, but not counted towards an awarded degree may be eligible for transfer, up to a maximum of 18 credits. Additional courses individually transferred cannot include project, thesis, dissertation, guided studies or readings, or special topics credits. The total number of transferred credits for the PhD degree may not exceed 48. Some programs have additional restrictions; students should also consult the program specific portion of the bulletin for further information.

Transfer Policy Exceptions

NYU Tandon School of Engineering Undergraduate Students

While transfer policies normally preclude the transfer of graduate credit taken prior to the receipt of a bachelor’s degree, an exception is made for NYU students who take graduate courses while pursuing an undergraduate degree at any school of NYU. Such graduate courses may be applied subsequently to a graduate degree at NYU Tandon provided that students earned a B grade or better, that the individual courses were not used to fulfill requirements for the undergraduate degree, and that the courses are acceptable based on the particular graduate degree curriculum requirement.

The sum of transfer credits from other institutions and internal transfer credits from other NYU schools (including graduate courses taken while matriculated as NYU undergraduates) cannot exceed the total number of transfer credits permitted for Advanced Certificates, MS and PhD degrees as specified above in the section on “Transfer Credits.”

These exceptions to the Transfer Policy are effective for any student admitted for the Spring 2017 semester forward.

NYU Tandon School of Engineering BS/MS Students

NYU Tandon School of Engineering students enrolled in a joint BS/MS program with a study plan pre-approved by an academic adviser may take graduate level courses prior to receiving their bachelor’s degree, and may apply these courses towards the requirements of their MS program without credit restriction. Graduate courses used to satisfy undergraduate degree requirements, however, cannot be used to satisfy graduate degree requirements. BS/MS students must maintain a minimum 3.0 CGPA in all graduate level courses, or they risk being disqualified from the BS/MS program.

Period of Validity

Graduate courses reflect the current state of the art in their respective fields. Thus, all courses that are more than 10 years old at the beginning of graduate study at NYU Tandon School of Engineering, whether taken previously at the School or at another institution, are ineligible for transfer and will not count towards the satisfaction of degree requirements. The blanket 30-credit transfer of an MS degree taken at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering or elsewhere towards a PhD program is exempt from this period of validity and does not expire.

Graduate Validation Credits

When it is unclear whether a course taken outside the NYU Tandon School of Engineering is suitable for transfer credit, students may qualify for transfer credit for that course by passing a validation examination. Permission to take the examination must be recorded in advance on the student’s transfer-evaluation form. The examination format is at the discretion of the department giving the course. Scheduling of the examination is by mutual agreement, but in no event can it be scheduled more than one calendar year after the student begins study at NYU Tandon School of Engineering. A grade of B or better is required for graduate students. An examination may not be taken more than once. A student who registers for or attends the course at NYU Tandon School of Engineering forfeits the right to take a validation examination.

The sum of validation credits and transfer credits is limited to 9 credits for the MS and ME degrees.

One exception to the paragraphs above regarding transfer credit and graduate validation credit: Mathematics graduate students (MS and PhD) will be permitted, with adviser approval, to exceed the 9-credit limit on transfer credits and validation units by taking specified, adviser-approved courses at the Courant Institute of NYU. In the case of MS students, such approval may not raise the number of such courses above four.

Maximum Time for Completion

Programs for graduate certificates must be completed within three years. The MS and ME degree programs must be completed within five years from the beginning of graduate studies at NYU Tandon School of Engineering. The PhD program must be completed in six years for full-time students and 12 years for part-time students from the time of admission to graduate studies at NYU Tandon School of Engineering (not from the beginning of PhD studies). All time limits include any approved Leaves of Absence.

Extensions of these time periods are rarely granted and require prior approval from the Associate Dean of Graduate Academics. Students must request an extension at least 60 days prior to the deadline for completion. If an extension is granted, not all courses taken previously may count towards the degree. The Associate Dean, consulting with the department, will prepare a plan for the student to follow to obtain the degree.

Graduate Registration Policies

All graduate students must be registered for a minimum of 1.5 credits each fall and spring semester until they graduate. However, if students begin an MS project or thesis, or a PhD dissertation, they must register for at least 3 credits of project, thesis, or dissertation every fall and spring semester until it has been completed and accepted. Thus, while students who have not previously enrolled in research credits may satisfy registration requirements and maintain their student status by registering for 1.5 credits, students who have begun a project, thesis, or dissertation in a previous semester and who have not yet completed must register for a minimum of 3 credits (of research) each fall and spring until complete. (Also refer to the section on Maintenance of Studies.)

Graduate Registration Status

Graduate students pay tuition at the per-credit rate. Full-time status is defined by the following:

Full-time MS students must be registered for 9 credits or more each semester. Students who are normally full-time may register for fewer credits during their last semester by registering for only the number of credits necessary for graduation. During this last semester they are part-time, but can be treated as full-time-equivalent for immigration purposes only (not for the purpose of financial aid eligibility) by requesting full-time-equivalency status from the Office of Global Services.

Full-time MS students in the lock-step, cohort-based, executive-format MS programs are registered for all courses specified by the program as published in the catalog each semester. These programs require distinct courses and/or projects, each bearing credits approved for the program.

Prior to passing the qualifying exam, full-time PhD students must register for a minimum of 9 credits per term.  Upon passing the qualifying exam, students may maintain full-time status by registering for a minimum of 3 credits of dissertation per semester.  Students who are not officially enrolled in a PhD program, irrespective of whether or not they have passed the qualifying exam, must continue to take a minimum of 9 credits per semester until they are formally admitted to a PhD program.

A status of non-matriculated or visiting student allows students to take up to three graduate courses at NYU Tandon School of Engineering (maximum of 2 courses or 6 credits per semester) without formally applying for admission to a graduate program. If these students desire to continue at NYU Tandon School of Engineering as matriculated students in a graduate degree or certificate program, they must follow the formal application process, and admission is not guaranteed.

 

Maintenance of Studies

MS Students: Under exceptional and well-documented circumstances, graduate students seeking an MS degree in a program that requires an MS thesis or MS project may, with the permission of the thesis or project adviser, request one semester of Maintenance of Studies to complete the project or thesis. For permission to be granted, students and their advisers must provide adequate written justification to the Office of Graduate Academics.

PhD Students: PhD students who have completed all required courses and dissertation credits, and who have completed all of their doctoral research, may register for up to two semesters of Maintenance of Studies with no tuition charge (School fees apply). Maintenance of Studies officially maintains the student’s degree candidacy. Students who have not completed their doctoral research must continue to register for dissertation credits.

Modifications to Curricula

Curricula and courses change from time to time in order to keep students abreast of the latest knowledge and methods within subject areas. Students are required to satisfy the curriculum and degree requirements in effect at the time of their matriculation and must obtain current degree requirements from their program adviser.

In order to accommodate curriculum and course revisions, it is sometimes necessary to substitute a course for one specified in the curriculum. Students may also request course substitutions to tailor their studies to their interests. Both the program adviser and the Office of Graduate Academics must approve all course substitutions. 

 

Graduate International Students

Full-time Status, Program and Degree Changes

To maintain non-immigrant student status, international students must maintain full-time status every fall and spring semester for the entire semester (i.e., withdrawing from a course during the semester may jeopardize full-time status). Students are not required to enroll during the summer semester and may enroll for credits at their discretion. International students may register for online courses, but must be registered for a minimum of 6 credits of on-ground course work per term. All questions concerning this regulation should be addressed with the Office of Global Services (OGS). Students may take less than a full course of study if fewer credits are needed during the last semester prior to graduation, but they must notify OGS prior to the beginning of the semester and obtain full-time equivalency status. Students may qualify for a reduced course load (RCL) for valid academic and medical reasons. All exceptions must be approved by OGS before the last day of registration (the add/drop deadline) each semester so that courses can be added to the student’s schedule if necessary. Only one semester of reduced course load (RCL) for academic reasons is permitted per degree level.

Students in F-1 and J-1 status must obtain written permission from OGS for any Leave of Absence request, or to withdraw from classes if the withdrawal results in less than a full course load. They also must obtain written permission and the pertinent I-20/DS-2019 form before enrolling in a new degree program. The process of withdrawing from a course, changing programs, changing degree level, or taking a Leave of Absence through the Office of the Registrar keeps a non-immigrant student in good standing only with the School, but not with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), unless proper approval is obtained from OGS. Students planning on employment as part of their course work must obtain prior approval from OGS for any such employment.

Failure to comply with the immigration requirements for full-time status, course withdrawals, program changes, degree level changes, or Leave of Absence violates the non-immigrant student’s status and renders a student ineligible for any benefit of that status. According to USCIS, lack of compliance may also result in deportation.

 

Policies on Grading and Grades

Computing the Grade-Point Average for Graduate Students

For the purposes of computing GPAs for graduate students and graduate courses, the following schedule is used.

 GradePoint ValueDescription 

 

 A4.0Excellent 

 A-3.7Excellent 

 B+3.3Good 

 B3.0Good 

 B-2.7Good 

 C+2.3Deficient, but Passing 

 C2.0Deficient, but Passing 

 F0.0Failing 

 P Pass (no GPA value) 

 S Satisfactory 

 U Unsatisfactory 

 W Withdrawal 

 I Incomplete, converts to F after 180 days 

 AUD Audit 

Grades S and U reflect progress on research efforts. Once the thesis or dissertation is completed, the letter grade is entered on the transcript for all research registrations. Noncredit seminar courses are graded P or F. Other than research credits, no credit-bearing courses can be assigned S or U grades. A student cannot graduate if a grade of U is on the transcript for any credit-bearing course or for research efforts at the time of graduation. A grade of I cannot be assigned to a course that is graded S or U. Grades S, U, I, W and AUD are not included in computing the GPA.

Graduate Bridge and Preparatory Courses

Many programs offer graduate bridge or preparatory courses to accommodate the needs of students who lack certain undergraduate preparation. Generally, bridge or preparatory courses cannot be used to satisfy degree requirements, particularly for degrees within the department that offers the course. However, these courses are included in the calculation of a student’s graduate GPA. Some graduate students may be required to take certain undergraduate courses as preparation for advanced graduate study. Undergraduate courses are not included in the student’s GPA calculation.

Repeating Courses

The first time a graduate student repeats a course, the lower grade is not counted towards the GPA. All subsequent grades in a course repeated more than once are included in the GPA, although degree credit is earned only once.

Course Withdrawal: The W Grade

Students may withdraw from a course or courses without academic penalty until the published withdrawal deadline of the normal fall or spring semester. Students should process their own withdrawals online via Albert Student Center during the first two weeks of the semester. After the first two weeks, students must complete a paper add/drop form and submit the form to the Office of Graduate Academics. In all cases, students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisers, as withdrawing from certain courses may delay their planned graduation date, and international students should make sure that they do not drop below full-time status (9 credits). Students who have been placed on final academic probation are not permitted to withdraw from courses without prior approval from the Office of Graduate Academics.

When the course duration varies from the norm, such as in six-, nine- or 12-week courses, please consult with the NYU Tandon SOE Records and Registration Office for deadline information. Withdrawn courses remain on the student’s transcript with a grade of W and are not calculated into the GPA. Once entered on the student’s record, a W cannot be changed to any other grade. An F grade is recorded for any student who ceases to attend a course without formally withdrawing by the required deadline.

International students who wish to withdraw from a course, or courses, must have prior approval from OGS if withdrawing will leave them with fewer than nine credits of registration.

Auditing Courses

Graduate students may audit courses instead of receiving credits and grades for them. Regular tuition is charged and courses are treated as part of a full-time load. An AUD notation is made on the student’s permanent record.

Interested graduate students should see their advisers and must notify the NYU Tandon SOE Office of Records and Registration within the first two weeks of the semester if they select courses for audit status. Under no circumstances may an audit status be changed to credit status once elected. Audited courses do not count toward satisfying graduation requirements.

Incomplete Grades 

If a student cannot complete the course work at the usual time because of valid reasons, such as illness or other critical emergency, the instructor may give a grade of Incomplete/I. In such cases, the instructor and the student must develop a detailed plan for completion that includes a specific completion date. Ordinarily this date should not extend beyond the intersession, in fairness to students who finish course requirements on time and to ensure that students complete prerequisites for advanced courses. An Incomplete grade converts to an F if the student fails to complete the work within the specified completion timeline, or at most by 180 days after the end of the semester in which the student was enrolled in the course. All Incomplete grades must be converted before graduation.

The grade of Incomplete/I is used sparingly and only in cases with valid reasons, not merely because students have planned poorly or overloaded themselves. An Incomplete grade should not be issued if a student is unable to complete the course requirements without attending or participating in the course a second time. If the student reregisters for a course in which an Incomplete grade was given, the Incomplete grade lapses to an F. If successful resolution of an Incomplete grade would require the repetition of any course or portion of a course, the instructor should not assign an Incomplete, and should instead counsel the student to withdraw from the course.

Change of Grade

Grades on file with the Registrar, with the exception of Incomplete/I grades and temporary grades (S or U), are considered final unless an error in calculating or recording the grade is discovered. No correctly reported final grade may be changed based upon re-taking an examination or completion of additional work. Incomplete/I grades are handled according to the policies described under Incomplete Grades. Temporary grades (S or U), used for continuing projects, thesis or dissertation, will be converted to standard letter grades upon completion of the project, thesis or dissertation. Once recorded with the Registrar, these grades are treated as all other final grades. If an error in calculating or reporting a grade is discovered, the instructor will submit the change of grade request to the Department Chair. If approved by the Department Chair, the request will be submitted to the Associate Dean for Graduate Academics for consideration. Any incorrectly assigned grade must be corrected within one semester.

GPA Restart

If a student who has completed a master’s degree at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering wishes to pursue another master’s degree(s), the student’s GPA is re-started. In this way, the academic performance for each degree is accurately represented.  A GPA cannot be restarted at the beginning of or during the PhD degree program.  Any GPA restart is noted on the student’s transcript.

 

Academic Standing and Probation

Graduate students are expected to progress in their studies and maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA at all times. Failure to do so results in the student being placed on academic probation. Graduate students are permitted a maximum of 2 semesters of probation, and these semesters need not be sequential in order to count towards the maximum limit.

Student academic progress is evaluated at the end of the spring and fall semesters (and at the end of the summer for summer admits only), irrespective of Incomplete or temporary (S/U) grades, and irrespective of whether students have dropped or withdrawn from any course(s). Any student whose GPA drops below 3.0 will be placed on probation and notified by the Office of Graduate Academics.

Students on probation must submit a signed Graduate Acknowledgement of Academic Probation and Potential Disqualification form to the Office of Graduate Academics before the start of the next semester. Students who are not yet registered for the following term will not be permitted to do so until the form is submitted to the Office of Graduate Academics. Students already registered will be de-registered from their courses if they do not submit the form. Further, any student who is on a second (final) semester of probation must obtain permission from the Office of Graduate Academics if they wish to make registration changes. The registration hold and the probation form serve to remind students on probation that they are not meeting required academic standards. No indication of academic probation appears on a student’s transcript, but a record is kept on file. Academic disqualification, however, is noted on the student’s transcript.

Students on final probation must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above at the end of that semester, or the student will be disqualified from the School. Disqualified students will not be considered for readmission. If a student is disqualified, any grade of Incomplete, S, or U at the time of disqualification will remain as such on the student’s transcript.

In addition to the academic probation process described above, a major department may request that a graduate student be placed on academic probation at any time. The request and its justification are signed by the Department Chair and sent to the Office of Graduate Academics for approval.

The probationary policies outlined above may differ from the policies governing conditionally admitted students; please refer to the Graduate Admission section on Conditional Admit status for more information, or address specific questions to the Office of Graduate Academics.

 

Leaves of Absence and Readmission

Leave of Absence

A student who wishes to temporarily suspend graduate studies may request a Leave of Absence. If a Leave of Absence is being requested for medical reasons, please consult with the Office of Student Affairs.  A request for a Leave of Absence for any reason other than medical must be approved by the Office of Graduate Academics.  If the leave is approved, the student’s matriculated status is maintained, and the student may resume his or her studies after the Leave of Absence. The Registrar will record a Leave of Absence on the student’s transcript.

Leaves of Absence, if approved, are granted for a maximum of one year except in extreme cases, such as compulsory national service (if such service is for more than one year). International students must also receive approval for the leave from OGS, as an approved Leave of Absence is an academic decision and does not override OGS concerns. The Leave of Absence does not extend the time limits for earning a degree (see section on Maximum Time to Completion). The approval of a Leave of Absence does not preclude subsequent academic disqualification.

In most circumstances, non-medical Leaves of Absence are only approved for students in good academic standing with NYU Tandon SOE.

Readmission

Students who do not maintain continuous registration and who are not on an approved Leave of Absence must apply to NYU for readmission if they wish to continue their graduate studies. Re-admitted students must pay accrued fees for the lapsed semester(s). If readmitted, their subsequent program attendance will be guided by the terms and conditions of the readmission and by the Bulletin and rules in effect at the time of readmission. Lapsed semesters do not extend the maximum time permitted to complete the degree. If students who re-apply cannot complete their studies within the allotted time permitted from the date of their initial admission to NYU Tandon School of Engineering, they can be re-admitted as a new student, but prior courses will be treated as part of the total transfer credits permitted (see section on Transfer Credits).

Leave of Absence and Readmission for Veterans

Students in graduate programs taking a Leave of Absence to perform military services are reinstated into the same degree program with the same academic status that they had when last in attendance at the institution. The length of absence from the institution cannot exceed five academic years unless the student requests and receives an exception from the Office of Graduate Academics. Such requests when approved by the Office of Graduate Academics constitute assurance of reinstatement to the degree program from which the leave was taken. If the period of absence exceeds the approved leave, students must apply for readmission.

 

Withdrawal from the University

Voluntary Withdrawal

Graduate students who wish to withdraw completely from NYU Tandon SOE (as opposed to a term withdrawal) must first withdraw from all courses in which they are currently registered, and then they must complete the online total withdrawal form. To receive W grades for the semester, the withdrawal must be completed by the withdrawal deadline indicated in the academic calendar. The mere absence from courses does not constitute official withdrawal, but results in F grades recorded for courses not completed. No complete withdrawal is official unless and until this form is completed and submitted to the NYU Tandon SOE Office of Records and Registration and approved by all required signatories.  Students who submit an online total withdrawal request which is approved must reapply to NYU Tandon SOE should they wish to resume their studies in the future, and readmission is not guaranteed.

Involuntary Withdrawal

NYU Tandon School of Engineering is concerned about the health, safety and well-being of its students. Students judged to be a threat to themselves or to others may be withdrawn involuntarily from the School. The School seeks, whenever possible, for such students to be allowed to continue as active students if they agree to undergo professional care. Full details concerning this policy are available from the Office of Student Affairs.

 

Application Process for the Award of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy Degrees

Graduate students must file a formal application via Albert Student Center for the award of any NYU Tandon School of Engineering degree or certificate. Filing dates for each semester are published by the University Registrar. Students who do not file by the published deadline dates become candidates for the next conferral period.

Degrees are conferred and diplomas issued three times per year, typically in January, May, and September. All work for the degree must be completed and submitted before the graduation date.

NYU policy prohibits the awarding of a degree to members of the School teaching staff who hold a rank above the grade of Instructor.

Please note that a degree is not awarded unless the student applies for graduation, even if all requirements have been met. The date of the degree follows the application date for its award, not when all requirements are completed. If the application is filed more than two years after completion of degree requirements, the approval process is not automatic, and additional administrative actions may be required on a case-by-case basis.

Diplomas

Diplomas are mailed to the student about eight weeks after the degree conferral date. Diplomas are issued only once, subject to rare exceptions made on a case-by-case basis. Replacement diploma procedures and fees are published on the University Registrar’s website. Replacement diplomas for the NYU Tandon School of Engineering will be printed with the school name at the time of the student’s graduation.

Continuation of Studies Beyond the Initial Certificate or Master of Science

Students planning to pursue additional studies immediately following the award of an advanced degree by NYU Tandon School of Engineering should complete a new application for admission and submit it to the Graduate Admissions Office for review and approval by the department in which the new degree will be pursued. Examples are: 1) progressing from a certificate program to an MS program; 2) progressing from an MS program to a PhD program; 3) seeking a second MS degree from NYU School of Engineering. For rules governing the application of prior NYU School of Engineering credits towards a new degree program, please refer to the section on Transfer Credits and Transfer Policy Exceptions.

 

Internship Policies and Guidelines

Internship courses are designated by CP-GY and CP-UY. 

These courses provide an opportunity for full-time students to pursue internship and work experiences in their fields of study that enhance and augment classroom learning, while also enhancing the overall educational experience at the undergraduate and graduate level by obtaining practical experience.

Eligibility and Requirements: Students

During the academic year, students must maintain full-time status (graduate students must be enrolled in at least 9 credits; undergraduate students must be enrolled in at least 12 credits) in order to be able to take CP courses. During the summer, the requirement of full-time study is dropped, but students must have been enrolled full-time in the previous spring semester. Students in their final semester who are taking less than a full-time course load are eligible to participate, but must have been full-time students in the previous semester.

Students must have completed at least two semesters of full-time study. This may include transfer credits from another institution.

Graduate students must have a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.00, as reflected on their academic transcript. Undergraduate students must have a GPA of at least 2.50, as reflected on their academic transcript. Students cannot enroll in CP courses if they have an incomplete grade in any course from a prior semester. Students cannot enroll in a subsequent CP course if they have an Incomplete or a Fail grade from a previous CP course.

Eligibility and Requirements: Work Experiences

During the academic year, work experiences must be at least 12 weeks long. During the summer, they must be at least 8 weeks long. Additionally, the work experience must be a minimum of 240 hours. Start and end dates need not coincide with the first and last day of the semester, but must fit within the semester in order to ensure that final reports may be submitted and grades may be submitted in a timely manner.

During the academic year, students cannot work more than 20 hours per week while classes are in session. Students who are in their final semester of study and who require, and are registered for, no more than 3 credits (in addition to internship credits) may be approved to work 40 hours per week. During the summer, students are permitted to work full-time, provided that they are not also taking more than 3 credits. Work hours must be consistent with the organization’s regular work schedule.

Work experiences must comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act (www.dol.gov/whd/flsa). As such, students must be paid at least minimum wage unless specific exceptions apply. The Department of Labor outlines a six-point test (www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs71.htm) regarding unpaid internships. Employers should consult their legal counsel for more information.

Students must be hired as employees of the participating organization and must be paid directly by the organization using a W-2 form. Employers cannot pay students as independent contractors using an IRS 1099 form.

Employers must agree to assign a responsible, ranking employee as the student’s supervisor. This individual will provide appropriate supervision and mentoring, including establishing clear goals and expectations regarding tasks and projects. Employers must be willing to submit written midterm and final evaluations of the student’s work. Experiences will not be approved for companies that are not permitted to submit written evaluations. Employer supervisors must review the student’s final report so that proprietary and/or confidential information can be removed.

Procedures

Students must obtain an offer letter on organization letterhead from the prospective employer. This letter must identify the company, its address, contact information, the student’s job title, and start and end dates of the internship.

Students must update their placement information through their NYU CareerNet account Profile, per instructions provided by the Wasserman Center for Career Development.

Prospective employers must complete the Employer Registration Form, which includes a detailed job description.

Students will submit their offer letter, Employer Registration Form, and printed NYU CareerNet Profile to their departmental adviser who will identify a suitable faculty adviser. The faculty adviser will be responsible for all academic matters related to the work experience. The faculty adviser will evaluate the relevancy of the work experience and, if approved, will direct the student to register for the appropriate CP course.

For approved International Students, the faculty adviser will provide the Office of Global Scholars (OGS) with all relevant information in order to process work authorization. International Students cannot begin working until they have received work authorization.

The company supervisor must provide a mid-term evaluation and a final evaluation to the faculty supervisor. The student will submit a project report at the end of the term. Some departments or programs may also require a presentation. The report (and presentation, if required) will be included as a part of the assessment for the student’s grade. Faculty advisers will provide guidelines for the reports. All CP courses will be graded as Pass (P) or Fail (F).

With the faculty adviser’s approval, consecutive work experiences may be completed with the same employer. Students must complete the same registration process and follow all procedures for re-applying and enrolling in another CP course. International Students must obtain prior permission from OGS for every period of employment. Students are not authorized to work during the interim period between the end of their prior CPT and the beginning of their next even if they will have an internship with the same company; this jeopardizes their visa status.