Graduate Academic Requirements and Policies

This section details the general Institute-wide degree requirements that apply to all NYU-Poly 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-Poly conducts outcomes assessment activities to monitor student academic achievement, effective teaching methods and continuous improvement of the Institute, 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-Poly 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-Poly 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 NYU-Poly 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 NYU-Poly. An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better is required for admission. GRE scores are required for all students seeking full-time study, including all international students and those wishing to enroll for 9 or more credits per term. Applicants seeking admission to technology management related degrees are encouraged to submit GMAT scores instead of the GRE. GRE or GMAT scores are recommended for all applicants and the scores are necessary from any applicant seeking merit-based scholarships. Applicants seeking admission to the MS in Integrated Digital Media are exempt from this requirement. Letters of Recommendation, a Statement of Purpose, and a professional resume are also required to be considered for admission.

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 NYU-Poly, 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 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 thesis is generally a more extended piece of research, usually entailing 6 to 9 credits, while the project usually entails 3 to 6 credits. At this level, research should exhibit a thorough understanding of advanced scientific thought or 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-Poly 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 the Graduate Center one week before the end of the semester.

Master of Engineering

Admission Requirements

The admissions, graduation, residency requirements and other regulations are the same as those for the Master of Science.

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 the 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 because limited funds can support only a given number of students.

Graduation Requirements

All doctorate 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 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. Institute 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 may not register for dissertation research until they have passed the doctoral qualifying examination(s). Students are highly encouraged to take the examination(s) in their first year of the program. If students have not passed the examination(s) by the end of their second year, they may be disqualified permanently from the PhD program. Within six months of passing the examination(s), the student and the dissertation adviser must form a dissertation-guidance committee. This committee oversees course selection for the student, provides research guidance, and ensures 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 request the student to present a dissertation research proposal. The committee is expected to meet at least once per semester to assess the student’s progress. The doctoral student defends the dissertation in front of this committee. The student must obtain a checklist of the milestones and requirements 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. Some departments have specific course or grade requirements that must be fulfilled. Students must complete and successfully defend a doctoral dissertation. Once students start their dissertation, they must register for at least 3 credits of dissertation every semester until the dissertation is completed and accepted (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-Poly 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 the Graduate Center 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. By publishing with UMI, it ensures 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 NYU-Poly University.

Residency Requirements and Transfer Credits

Residency

To satisfy residency requirements for a graduate degree at NYU-Poly, students must complete the following minimum number of credits at the Institute:

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

Graduate Credits and Requirements

Residency

To satisfy residency requirements for a graduate degree at NYU-Poly, students must complete the following minimum number of credits at the Institute:

• Master of Science: all but 9 credits needed for graduation (at least 21 credits of residency)
• Master of Engineering: all but 9 credits needed for graduation (at least 21 credits of residency)
• Doctor of Philosophy: 27 credits (including all dissertation credits)
• Graduate Certificate: all credits

Transfer Credits

Applications for transfer credits must be submitted for consideration before the end of the first semester of matriculation. The student’s major academic department evaluates graduate transfer credits, but no courses with grades less than B will be considered. Transfer credits for courses taken after matriculation at NYU-Poly are rarely accepted and must be approved by the department and by the Office of Graduate Academics before the course is taken. Grades for transferred credits or courses are not recorded and do not affect the GPA.

Period of Validity

More than undergraduate, 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-Poly, whether taken previously at NYU-Poly or at another institution, are ineligible for transfer and will not count towards the satisfaction of degree requirements. The blanket 30-credit transfer into the PhD program for an MS degree taken at NYU-Poly or elsewhere is exempt from this period of validity and does not expire.

Certificates

No transfer credit is permitted for graduate certificates. The exception is for NYU-Poly MS alumni who may be allowed to count some graduate course credit from their degrees earned here towards a graduate certificate, should they wish to re-enroll in NYU-Poly after graduation. Such credit would be subject to approval by the certificate program’s academic adviser. A minimum of 9 new credits must be taken to earn a certificate under these circumstances.

Master of Science and Master of Engineering

A maximum of 9 credits may be accepted as transfer credits towards an MS or ME degree if approved by the student’s department and program. Credits submitted for consideration must be: 1) from accredited institutions; 2) consistent with NYU-Poly’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-Poly’s undergraduate students; see section: Exception for NYU-Poly undergraduate students below). Theses, projects and guided studies or readings courses cannot be transferred.

Doctor of Philosphy

Doctoral candidates may transfer a maximum of 48 credits, including a 30-credit blanket transfer from a prior MS degree, and additional courses not included in the prior MS that are individually transferred. 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 individually transferred cannot include project, thesis, dissertation, guided studies or readings, or special topics credits.

Transfer Policy Exceptions

NYU-Poly 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-Poly students who take graduate courses while pursuing an undergraduate degree at NYU-Poly. Such graduate courses may be applied subsequently to a graduate degree provided that students earned a B grade or better and that the individual courses were not used to fulfill requirements for the undergraduate degree at NYU-Poly. The sum of transfer credits from other institutions and internal transfer credits from an NYU-Poly undergraduate degree cannot exceed 9 credits.

NYU-Poly BS/MS Students

NYU-Poly 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. BS/MS students, however, must maintain a minimum 3.0 CGPA in all graduate level courses, or they risk being disqualified from the BS/MS program.

Students Earning Multiple MS Degrees at NYU-Poly

Students pursuing a second or subsequent MS degree from NYU-Poly can use up to a maximum of 9 credits from previous MS degree programs attended at NYU-Poly for satisfying degree requirements for their current MS program, with approval from their academic adviser. Courses that are used for this internal transfer within NYU-Poly must have a grade of B or better and will count in the total permissible transfer limit of 9 credits for the MS degree. These prior courses are not figured into the cumulative GPA for the new graduate program.

Graduate Validation Credits

When it is unclear whether a course taken outside NYU-Poly 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-Poly. 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-Poly 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 4.

Maximum Time for Completion

Programs for graduate certificates must be completed within three years. The MS or ME degree programs must be completed within five years from the beginning of graduate studies at NYU-Poly. 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-Poly (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 Provost. 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 Provost, 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 a student who has 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 are 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 and other legitimate reasons by requesting full-time-equivalency status.
• 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, but in no case will a student in such a program be registered for fewer than 7.5 credits a semester.
• Full-time PhD students 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-Poly (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-Poly 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 (Institute 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. Moreover, international students may register for only one online course per semester. Students wishing to take more than one online course per semester must obtain prior approval from the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS). Students may take less than a full course of study if fewer credits are needed during the last semester to graduate, but they must notify OISS at the beginning of the semester and obtain full-time equivalency status. Students may also take a reduced course load (RCL) for valid academic and medical reasons. All exceptions must be approved in writing by OISS before the last day of late 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 OISS 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 Institute, but not with the U.S. Immigration and Citizenship Services (USCIS), unless proper approval is obtained from OISS. Students planning on employment as part of their course work, or as part of the graduate co-op program internship placement, must obtain prior approval from OISS 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 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.

Grades S and U reflect progress on research efforts. Once the thesis or dissertation is completed, the letter grade is entered on the transcript. Noncredit seminar courses are graded P or F. Other than research credits, no credit-bearing courses can be assigned S or U grades, except for approved specific internship courses. The S/U grading scheme of such courses is explicitly stated in the respective course descriptions in the catalog. 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 Student Self-Service. Approvals are normally not required, but 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, 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 by the required deadline.

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 Office of the Registrar 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 lapses into 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 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 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 Head. If approved by the Department Head, the request will be submitted to the Associate Provost 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 NYU-Poly 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.

GPAs may also be restarted for graduate students pursuing an initial master’s degree under the following conditions: 1) the student changes major to a significantly different field of study and the change is approved by both the new department and the Office of Graduate Academics; 2) the student requests that the GPA be restarted and the request is approved by the Office of Graduate Academics. The request to restart the GPA must be made before the first semester in the new program. Courses taken before the GPA restart cannot be counted towards satisfying the degree requirements of the new program. A GPA restart is only for the master’s degree; 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.

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-Poly 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-Poly. For rules governing the application of prior NYU-Poly credits towards a new degree program, please refer to the section on Transfer Credits and Transfer Policy Exceptions.

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.

A student’s GPA and probationary status are evaluated at the end of the spring and fall semesters, irrespective of Incomplete or temporary (S/U) grades, and irrespective of whether he or she has dropped or withdrawn from any course(s). If a student’s GPA drops below 3.0, he or she 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 received by 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 Institute. 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 head 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 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 Absense

A student who must temporarily suspend graduate studies for serious illness, national service, or compelling personal reasons may request a Leave of Absence. If a Leave of Absence is approved by the Office of Graduate Academics, 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 OISS, as an approved Leave of Absence is an academic decision and does not override OISS 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, Leaves of Absence are only approved for students in good academic standing with the University.

Readmission

Students who do not maintain continuous registration and do not have an approved Leave of Absence must apply to NYU-Poly 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 catalog 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-Poly, 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 Absense and Readmission for Veterans

Veteran students in graduate programs taking a leave of absence to perform military services are readmitted 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 Office of Graduate Academics. Such requests when approved by the Office of Graduate Academics constitute assurance of readmission to the degree program from which the leave was taken. If the period of absence exceeds the approved leave from the Associate Provost, students must apply for readmission.

This policy excludes any and all veterans who have received dishonorable or bad conduct discharges, or who have been sentenced in a court-martial.

Withdrawal from the University

Voluntary Withdrawal

Graduate students who wish to withdraw completely from the University during a semester in which they are registered must first withdraw from their courses via Self Service, 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 Office of the Registrar and approved by all required signatories.

Involuntary Withdrawal

NYU-Poly 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 NYU-Poly. The Institute 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 Development.

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

Graduate students must file a formal application for the award of any NYU-Poly degree or certificate. Filing dates for each semester are published by the Office of the Registrar. Students who do not file by the published deadline dates become candidates for the next graduating class.

To apply for graduation, please visit the Registrar’s website (www.poly.edu/life/student-resources/registrar). Degrees are certified and diplomas issued twice per year, at the end of the fall and spring semesters. Degrees are conferred at the annual spring commencement held in late May or early June. All work for the degree must be completed and submitted before the date of graduation.

Filing fees for diplomas are payable at the time of filing in the Office of Student Accounts. If the award of a degree is delayed, diploma fees are not charged again. By faculty vote, degrees are not awarded to members of the Institute teaching staff who hold the rank of assistant professor or higher.

Please note that a degree is not awarded unless the student applies for the award, even if all requirements are completed. 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 approximately eight weeks after the degree conferral date. Diplomas are issued only once, subject to rare exceptions made on a case-by-case basis. All replacement diplomas are printed with the Institution name at the time of the student’s graduation and are subject to a replacement diploma fee. Further information can be found on the Registrar’s website.