Admission

ADMISSION TO DEGREE PROGRAMS

The Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) offers admission to applicants who hold the bachelor’s degree (or equivalent foreign credentials) and who show promise of superior scholarly achievement.

Each department establishes its standards for admission. Successful applicants have distinguished academic records, strong recommendations from instructors or others qualified to evaluate academic ability, and well-articulated research goals. Graduate School and departmental application requirements, including testing requirements (the Graduate Record Examination and Test of English as a Foreign Language), are provided in the GSAS Application Appendix: Programs, Requirements, and Deadlines. The Appendix is available on the Web in the GSAS Application Resource Center at http://gsas.nyu.edu. Each applicant is considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital or parental status, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship status, veteran or military status, age, disability, and any other legally protected basis.

Registration at New York University requires notification of admission by the Graduate School’s Graduate Enrollment Services office. Permission to study in the Graduate School of Arts and Science does not imply admission to degree candidacy. Other sections of this bulletin outline these requirements.

Although New York University confers the M.A. and Ph.D. in performance studies and cinema studies through the Graduate School of Arts and Science, the Tisch School of the Arts administers these programs. Applicants to these departments are urged to read the Tisch School of the Arts Bulletin and should direct all questions and correspondence to the Office of Graduate Admissions, Tisch School of the Arts, New York University, 721 Broadway, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10003-6807; 212-998-1918; e-mail: tisch.gradadmissions@nyu.edu.

For detailed information regarding the admissions process and requirements, applicants should consult the Graduate School of Arts and Science Application for Admission and Financial Aid, which is available in the GSAS Application Resource Center on the Web at http://gsas.nyu.edu. Applicants are encouraged to apply online at http://gsas.nyu.edu/object/grad.admissions.onlineapp.

ENTERING STUDENT APPLICATION DEADLINES

Consult the GSAS Application Appendix: Programs, Requirements, and Deadlines for all application and financial aid deadlines.

INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

The Graduate School expects all students to demonstrate the ability to understand and communicate in English, both orally and in written form. To evaluate proficiency, the school requires applicants whose native language is not English to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The Graduate School recommends that the applicant achieve a minimum TOEFL score of 250 on the computer-based test (600 on the paper-based test). The Graduate School does not prohibit applicants with lower scores from applying for admission since many factors influence the admission decision. Some departments or programs in the Graduate School may set a higher TOEFL standard for admission.

Information about the TOEFL may be obtained by writing directly to TOEFL Services, Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151, U.S.A., or by visiting the Web site at www.toefl.org. Official TOEFL test score reports are required. When requesting that official score reports be sent to the Graduate School by the TOEFL Program, the applicant should list the Graduate School of Arts and Science, school code 2596.

Because English proficiency is essential to a student’s success in the Graduate School, additional testing may be performed when a student arrives in New York. Occasionally, the school requires a student to register for noncredit English courses that entail additional expense and extend the time normally required to complete the student’s degree.

Applicants in the New York area may take, in lieu of the TOEFL, the English proficiency test at the University’s American Language Institute, located at 48 Cooper Square, Room 200, New York, NY 10003-7154, U.S.A. An appointment to take the test may be made by calling 212-998-7040. At the discretion of the Graduate School, out-of-town applicants may be tested on arrival.

Individuals intending to enter into or remain in the United States on a student or exchange visitor visa must submit appropriate evidence of financial ability. The issuance of certificates for student visas (Form I-20) or exchange visitor visas (Form DS-2019) will be delayed until such evidence is received. If the applicant’s studies are being financed by means of personal savings, parental support, or outside private or government scholarships, or any combination of these, he or she must arrange to send official letters or similar certification as proof of such support, together with an Application for a Certificate of Eligibility (AFCOE) form, to the Office for International Students and Scholars. Students holding F-1 visas may not work without permission from the Office of International Students and Scholars or the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of the Department of Homeland Security. Employment outside the University may not be used as a means to meet educational and living expenses while studying in the United States.

See also the Office for International Students and Scholars Web site at www.nyu.edu/oiss.

THE AMERICAN LANGUAGE INSTITUTE

The American Language Institute of the School of Continuing and Professional Studies at New York University offers intensive courses in English for students with little proficiency in the language.

Individuals who wish to obtain additional information about the American Language Institute may visit the office weekdays throughout the year between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. (Fridays until 5 p.m.). They may also visit the Web site at www.scps.nyu.edu/ali or contact the American Language Institute, School of Continuing and Professional Studies, New York University, 48 Cooper Square, Room 200, New York, NY 10003-7154; telephone: 212-998-7040; fax: 212-995-4135; e-mail: ali@nyu.edu.

INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE STUDENT EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

International students with teaching appointments participate in the International Graduate Student Educational Development Program. This required program provides the opportunity for (1) the development and testing of English language competencies in the classroom environment and (2) the exploration of cultural differences in the United States and the nature of NYU’s exceptional multicultural base. Participants explore communications strategies that will enable them to successfully manage the classroom and interact with students. The program is usually scheduled for several days at the end of August, before fall-term classes begin, and if determined by language testing, continues with language course or tutorial work during the fall semester. Students who do not successfully complete the program may be required to complete additional work on language before being permitted to assume teaching responsibilities. Questions about the program should be directed to the director of graduate studies in the student’s department or to Neil Williams, American Language Institute, 212-998-7058 or 212-995-4135 (fax); e-mail: neil.williams@nyu.edu.

READMISSION AND DEFERMENT

In all departments, an offer of admission to the Graduate School permits a student to enroll for the first time only in the term of entry for which she or he was specifically admitted.

If a student declines an offer of admission or does not register for the expected term, the Graduate School requires a new application. In some departments, the director of graduate studies (DGS) will grant an extension to the student with the approval of the Graduate School. As additional credentials may be required by the Graduate School in such cases, students should consult with Graduate Enrollment Services.

ADMISSION FOR SPECIAL STUDENT STATUS

Occasionally an applicant will demonstrate a particular need to study at the Graduate School without entering a degree program. A few special students are permitted to register in GSAS each year as nondegree students, auditors, or visiting students.

Applicants should contact the department of interest before applying, to confirm that special students are considered for admission into the program. International applicants should consult with an adviser in Graduate Enrollment Services before making the decision to apply to be sure that the planned course of study will be appropriate for the issuance of a visa.

Applicants for special student status must complete the application for admission, including academic transcripts that confirm he or she holds a baccalaureate degree. Applicants must meet the same application deadlines as students who seek degrees. Students may enroll for a maximum of 12 points of credit over not more than three consecutive semesters. If an applicant attended an international college or university, the Graduate School will evaluate the credentials for equivalency before granting permission to register.

Nondegree Students

The Graduate School recognizes that students occasionally choose to study without seeking admission to a degree program. If a nonmatriculant ultimately enrolls in a degree program, courses taken at the Graduate School may sometimes, but not always, be credited toward the degree.

Auditors

Students may register as auditors in some of the departments of the Graduate School. Auditing requires the permission of the instructor and the director of graduate studies (DGS) of the program. Auditors pay full tuition for courses; no academic credit is awarded, and the work can never be applied toward a degree.

Visiting Students

Visiting students in the Graduate School of Arts and Science must be eligible to register in a master’s or doctoral degree program at their home institution.

In order to register as a visiting student, applicants must secure the approval of the dean of their home institution and of the appropriate department in the Graduate School of Arts and Science. Visiting students are not eligible for any form of financial aid. New York University awards full credit for all satisfactorily completed courses.

Students eligible for the Inter-University Doctoral Consortium do not need to apply as visiting students; see the Inter-University Doctoral Consortium paragraphs below. Visiting students attending during the summer should refer to the New York University Summer Sessions paragraphs below.

INTER-UNIVERSITY DOCTORAL CONSORTIUM

New York University is a member of the Inter-University Doctoral Consortium, an association of universities in the metropolitan area whose members include the graduate arts and science divisions of the City University of New York Graduate Center; Columbia University; Fordham University; The New School; Princeton University; Rutgers University; Stony Brook University; and Teachers College, Columbia University. The consortium members have recently agreed to a limited expansion, allowing students to enroll in the graduate schools of education at member schools. As a member of the doctoral consortium, the Graduate School can provide fully matriculated, advanced doctoral students the opportunity to take courses that are not otherwise available to them at NYU. Participation is not open to students at the master’s level. With the approval of the student’s program adviser, the course instructor, the vice dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Science, and the dean’s office of the host institution, students may register for courses within the graduate arts and science and graduate education schools at any of the above member institutions. Access to such courses is provided on a space-available basis and is not available during the summer.

For registration procedures, go to http://gsas.nyu.edu/page/grad.scholarlyprograms or contact the Office of the Vice Dean, 212-998-8030 or gsas.consortium@nyu.edu.

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SUMMER SESSIONS

The Graduate School of Arts and Science offers a wide variety of courses in its two summer sessions. The first summer session begins in the third week of May; the second summer session starts in the last week of June. Consult the summer bulletin or the Web site at www.nyu.edu/summer for a full list of departments and their course offerings. The Faculty of Arts and Science also offers opportunities for summer graduate study abroad, allowing graduate students to explore international opportunities while studying languages, politics, and cultures.

Graduate courses are available through New York University in Athens (Greece), Dublin (Ireland), London (England), Paris (France), Prague (Czech Republic), and Rostov (Russia). For further information regarding summer sessions and study abroad, visit the Web site at www.nyu.edu/summer/abroad.

Students admitted to the Graduate School of Arts and Science may, in most cases, elect to enroll in the summer. These students should consult a departmental adviser about registration procedures. Students needing additional information should consult Graduate Enrollment Services at the Graduate School, 212-998-8050.

Visiting students interested in taking courses in the summer sessions should be aware that not all graduate courses are open to visiting students. They should therefore contact the relevant department and ask about specific courses that interest them. (Department contact information is listed for each course on the Web site at www.nyu.edu/summer.) Once they have determined that they can enroll in a course, visiting students must complete and submit the brief application form available on the Web site. They must also submit an official transcript from their home institution. For additional information, call the department or call the Office of Summer Sessions, 212-998-2292.

NYU GUEST ACCOMMODATIONS

Prospective students and their families visiting New York are invited to stay in Club Quarters, a private hotel convenient to the University. Located in a renovated turn-of-the-century building in New York’s historic Financial District, the hotel offers concierge services, a health club, and room service, among other amenities. If space is available, weekend University guests may also stay at the midtown Club Quarters, located in a landmark building that is close to shopping, Broadway theatres, and Rockefeller Center. For information and reservations, call 212-575-0006.

Registration

CONTINUOUS REGISTRATION

GSAS requires continuous enrollment of its students each fall and spring semester until the degree sought is granted. This can be accomplished by (1) registering for at least 1 point each fall and spring until the degree is conferred; (2) taking an approved leave of absence, except in the semester of graduation; or (3) registering for Maintenance of Matriculation (G47.4747) during semesters when no course work is being taken until the degree is conferred.

MAINTAINING MATRICULATION BY FEE

Students who have completed their course work may register for G47.4747 and pay the matriculation fee (in 2007-2008, $425 per semester) and the registration and services fee (in 2007-2008, approximately $655 for U.S. students and $805 for international students) through the semester of their graduation. Payment of the fees entitles students to use the libraries and other research facilities, consult faculty members, and participate in University activities. Waivers of the maintenance of matriculation and registration and services fees may be available for doctoral students funded through the MacCracken Program during the term of the award and for two semesters after the award term. A waiver of maintenance of matriculation fees may also be available for students whose graduate program requires a period of absence from the campus or who have a well-documented financial hardship.

HEALTH INSURANCE

For students who do not have their own health insurance, participation in a University health insurance plan is mandatory. Students must provide proof of coverage to be exempt from participation in a University health insurance plan. For complete information regarding the deadlines for participation and exemption as well as detailed information about the health plans available, call 212-443-1020 or visit the Web site at www.nyu.edu/shc/about/insurance.html.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

A student in good standing who is obliged to withdraw temporarily for national service, serious illness, or compelling personal reasons may request a leave of absence for up to one calendar year. If granted, the leave maintains the student’s place in the Graduate School and assures readmission at the end of the leave. Time on leave counts as time to degree and students on leave do not have access to University, GSAS, or department facilities. For complete rules governing leaves of absence, refer to the GSAS Policies and Procedures Manual.

ACADEMIC STANDING

Students must maintain an average grade of B (3.0) or better and must have successfully completed 66 percent of credits attempted while at NYU, not including the current semester. Courses with grades of IP, IF, N, W, and F are not considered successfully completed. Departments may impose additional and stricter standards for good standing; however, departmental standards cannot be lower than those of GSAS.

FULL-TIME STATUS

For students receiving certain kinds of loans or fellowships, as well as international students on F-1 or J-1 visas, certification of full-time status is usually necessary. During the fall and spring semesters, a minimum full-time program consists of 12 points of course work or the equivalent as defined by departmental criteria. During the summer session, full-time status requires 12 points of course work within 12 weeks. For complete rules governing full-time status, refer to the GSAS Policies and Procedures Manual.

OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS

Official copies of your University transcript can be requested when a stamped and sealed copy of your University records is required. Requests for official transcripts require the signature of the student requesting the transcript. Currently, we are not accepting requests for a transcript by e-mail.

A transcript may be requested by (1) completing the online request form at www.nyu.edu/registrar/transcriptform.html and mailing/faxing the signature page (recommended method) or (2) writing a request letter (see below) and mailing/ faxing the completed and signed letter. Our fax number is 212-995-4154; our mailing address is New York University, Office of the University Registrar, Transcripts Department, P.O. Box 910, New York, NY 10276-0910.

There is no charge for academic transcripts.

Writing a Request Letter. A request letter must include all of the following information:

• University ID number
• Current name and any other name under which you attend/attended NYU
• Current address
• Date of birth
• School of the University you attend/attended and for which you are requesting the transcript
• Dates of attendance
• Date of graduation
• Full name and address of the person or institution to which the transcript is to be sent

There is no limit for the number of official transcripts that can be issued to a student. You can indicate in your request if you would like us to forward the transcripts to your home address, but we still require the name and address of each institution.

Unofficial transcripts are available on Albert.

If you initiate your transcript request through the online request form, you will receive e-mail confirmation when the Office of the University Registrar has received your signed request form. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the office at 212-998-4280, and a representative will assist you.

Once a final examination period has begun, no transcript will be forwarded for any student who is currently enrolled in courses until all the student’s final grades have been received and recorded. Please notify the Office of the University Registrar immediately of any change of address.

Students are able to access their grades at the end of each semester via Albert, NYU’s Web-based registration and information system. Albert can be accessed via NYUHome at http://home.nyu.edu.

INFORMATION ON HOW TO REQUEST ENROLLMENT VERIFICATION

Verification of enrollment or graduation may be requested by submitting a signed letter with the following information: University ID number, current name and any name under which you attended NYU, current address, date of birth, school of the University attended, dates attended, date of graduation, and the full name and address of the person or institution to which the verification is to be sent. Please address your request to Office of the University Registrar, Transcript and Certification Department, New York University, P.O. Box 910, New York, NY 10276-0910. Or you can fax your signed request to 212-995-4154. Allow seven business days from the time the Office of the University Registrar is in receipt of your request. If you wish to confirm receipt of your request, please call our office at 212-998-4280, and a representative will assist you. The Office of the University Registrar does not accept requests for certification by e-mail.

ARREARS POLICY

The University reserves the right to deny registration and withhold all information regarding the record of any student who is in arrears in the payment of tuition, fees, loans, or other charges (including charges for housing, dining, or other activities or services) for as long as any arrears remain.

Degree Requirements

MASTER OF ARTS AND MASTER OF SCIENCE

Graduate School Requirements:

1. Completion of at least 32 points of graduate credit (at least 24 in residence at the Graduate School, 16 points in one department or program) and a cumulative GPA of B (3.0) or better.
2. Successful completion of (a) a comprehensive examination, (b) a thesis, and/or (c) an appropriate special project.

Programs may have more stringent standards, including a higher grade point average, a foreign language proficiency examination, and additional course work.

Time Limit for the Master’s Degree: All requirements must be completed no later than five years from the date of initial matriculation.

MASTER OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

The Master of Professional Studies degree is offered in the Department of Physics. The degree requirements are the same as those for the Master of Science degree with the following exceptions. Three or four courses must be taken from a list of options in the Leonard N. Stern School of Business. Students must also attend a colloquium on science in business/industry and complete an internship in a scientifically oriented business.

MASTER OF FINE ARTS

The Master of Fine Arts degree granted to students in the Creative Writing Program requires the completion of 32 points of graduate credit, fulfillment of the residency requirement, and a GPA of 3.0 or better. As with the M.A. and M.S. degrees, all requirements for the M.F.A. must be completed within five years from the initial date of matriculation.

MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY

The Master of Philosophy degree is granted only to students who have been accepted as candidates in a doctoral program and who have fulfilled all requirements for the doctorate except the dissertation and its defense.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Graduate School Requirements:

1. Completion of 72 points of graduate credit (at least 32 in residence at the Graduate School) and a cumulative GPA of B (3.0) or better.
2. Successful completion of comprehensive or qualifying examinations or their equivalent.
3. Proficiency in at least one language besides English. Individual departments may have more stringent requirements.
4. Presentation and defense of a dissertation. The dissertation topic must receive formal departmental approval before being undertaken. The dissertation must demonstrate a sound methodology and evidence of exhaustive study of a special field and make an original contribution to that field. When the dissertation is completed and approved by the adviser and two other readers, an oral defense is scheduled before a committee of at least five members. Of the five committee members, a minimum of three, including two of the dissertation readers, must be full-time members of the faculty of GSAS. Dissertation readers who are not full-time GSAS faculty members must be approved by the vice dean at least four months prior to the defense. A successful defense requires that four of the five members of the committee vote to approve it.

Time Limit for the Ph.D. Degree: All requirements for the doctoral degree must be completed no later than ten years from the initial date of matriculation or seven years from the time of matriculation if the student enters the Ph.D. program having been given transfer credit for more than 23 points. For rules concerning time to degree, refer to the GSAS Policies and Procedures Manual.

GRADING SYSTEM

Departments in the Graduate School assign the following grades:

The grade of A may be suffixed with a minus. The grades of B and C may be suffixed with a plus or a minus.

A grade of P/F can be taken in a course if the student requests that option before the completion of the first two weeks of class. The request must be approved by the instructor and the director of graduate studies of the department offering the course. If the course has previously been approved to award P/F grades by the Graduate Curriculum Committee, the student may request to be graded using the P/F scheme at any time.

INCOMPLETE GRADES (IP, IF, N, AND W)

The assignment of the grade Incomplete Pass (IP) or Incomplete Fail (IF) is at the discretion of the instructor. If an incomplete grade is not changed to a permanent grade by the instructor within one year of the beginning of the course, Incomplete Pass (IP) lapses to No Credit (N), and Incomplete Fail (IF) lapses to Failure (F). Permanent grades may not be changed unless the original grade resulted from clerical error.

A grade of W represents official withdrawal from the course. A student may withdraw from a course up to 24 hours prior to the scheduled final examination. Any tuition refund will be in accordance with the refund schedule for that semester. For complete rules regarding incomplete grades, refer to the GSAS Policies and Procedures Manual.

ADVANCED STANDING (TRANSFER CREDIT)

Consideration for advanced standing must be determined by the department within the first calendar year of attendance. Courses for which a master’s degree has been awarded may be considered for transfer credit toward the Ph.D. but not toward a second master’s degree. Only courses with a grade of B (3.0) or better will be considered. A grade of P or S is considered for transfer credit only if received for a research or reading course culminating in the conferral of a master’s degree or with the submission of a written statement from the school issuing the grade that the grade is equivalent to the grade of B or better. Courses considered for transfer credit must have been taken at a graduate institution and must be substantially equivalent to those offered by the Graduate School of Arts and Science. Transfer credit will be awarded point for point unless the institution from which credit is being sought requires that students take the same number of courses for a given degree as GSAS but uses a different credit system, thereby requiring a different number of points for the degree. Transfer credit may not exceed the difference between the number of points needed for a degree in GSAS and the minimum number of points that must be earned within GSAS. For the Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Professional Studies, and Master of Fine Arts degrees, a minimum of 24 points must be earned in GSAS. For the Master of Philosophy and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees, a minimum of 32 points must be earned in GSAS. For detailed rules regarding the transfer of credit, refer to the GSAS Policies and Procedures Manual.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

Some departments and programs in the Graduate School of Arts and Science require graduate students to demonstrate proficiency in at least one foreign language integral to their academic research. English, as the language of record at New York University, cannot be used to satisfy this requirement. Individual departments may have more stringent language proficiency requirements or may waive this requirement for individual students.

Language proficiency may be demonstrated by any of the following: (1) passing the foreign language proficiency examination given by the Graduate School of Arts and Science; (2) passing a departmental examination, if one is regularly scheduled by the department in which the student is registered; or (3) completing, or having completed, not more than two years before matriculation, a full or final intermediate-level college course in the language with a grade of B or better.

Students who have met the language requirement in another graduate school not more than two years before matriculation in the Graduate School of Arts and Science may request that such credentials be accepted, with the approval of the vice dean.

CONFERRAL OF DEGREES

Degrees are conferred in September, January, and May of each academic year. Degree candidates must apply for graduation through TorchTone, NYU’s telephone registration and information system, at 212-995-4747, approximately four months prior to the date of conferral. Please consult the Academic Calendar at http://gsas.nyu.edu/page/grad.life.calendar for the appropriate deadlines.

Diplomas are sent by certified mail to the recipient’s address on file in the Office of the University Registrar. On request, the registrar will issue a statement certifying that a student who has satisfactorily completed all the requirements for an advanced degree has been recommended by the faculty for award of the degree at the next conferral. No degree is conferred honoris causa or for studies undertaken entirely in absentia. One year must lapse between conferral of the B.A., M.A. (M.S.), M.Phil., and Ph.D. degrees.

DIPLOMA ARREARS POLICY

Diplomas of students in arrears will be held until their financial obligations to the University are fulfilled and they have been cleared by the Bursar. Graduates with a diploma hold may contact the Office of the Bursar at 212-998-2806 to clear arrears or to discuss their financial status at the University.

GRADUATE SCHOOL CONVOCATION

In May of each year, at Convocation, the Graduate School of Arts and Science honors all master’s and doctoral degree recipients whose degrees were granted in September, January, or May of that academic year. In keeping with tradition, each degree recipient is hooded by a member of the faculty, and each Ph.D. recipient keeps her or his doctoral hood as a gift from the Graduate School. Special Graduate School awards and prizes are also presented during the ceremony.

COMMENCEMENT

Each May, Washington Square Park is transformed into a magnificent setting for Commencement. All graduate and undergraduate degrees are officially conferred by the president of New York University during Commence-ment exercises. The president also confers honorary degrees to outstanding women and men who have made distinguished contributions to society.

University Policies

The following are selected policies of New York University. For more information about the University’s policies and procedures, refer to the NYU Student’s Guide, available online at www.nyu.edu/students.guide. For information about the policies and procedures of the Graduate School of Arts and Science, refer to the GSAS Policies and Procedures Manual, available online at http://gsas.nyu.edu/page/policiesprocedures.

IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS

New York State Public Health Law (NYS PHL) 2165 requires all students registering for 6 or more credits in a degree-granting program to provide immunization documentation for measles (rubeola), mumps, and rubella (German measles) prior to registration. Students born before January 1, 1957, are exempt. New students should complete the MMR section of the Student Health History form. Continuing students should complete and submit a Student Immunization Record Form (PDF), available at www.nyu.edu/shc/about.immunization.html.

New York State Public Health Law (NYS PHL) 2167 requires that all students registered for 6 or more credits submit a Meningitis Response Form as formal confirmation of their decision as to whether or not to be immunized with the meningococcal (meningitis) vaccine. New students should complete the Meningitis Response section of the Student Health History form. Continuing students should complete and submit a Meningitis Response Form (PDF), available at www.nyu.edu/shc/about.immunization.html.

Failure to comply with state immunization laws will prevent NYU students from registering for classes. In addition to these requirements, the NYU Student Health Center recommends that students also consider hepatitis B and varicella immunizations. Students should discuss immunization options with their primary care provider.

DISCIPLINE

Students are expected to familiarize themselves and comply with the rules of conduct, academic regulations, and established practices of the University and the Graduate School of Arts and Science. To view the University regulations, visit www.nyu.edu/students.guide. To view the Graduate School of Arts and Science regulations, visit http://gsas.nyu.edu/page/policiesprocedures. If, pursuant to such rules, regulations, or practices, the withdrawal of a student is required before the end of the term for which tuition has been paid, a refund will be made according to the standard schedule for refunds.

UNIVERSITY POLICY ON PATENTS

Students offered research opportunities are reminded that inventions arising from participation in such research are governed by the “University’s Statement of Policy on Patents,” a copy of which may be found in the Faculty Handbook or obtained from the Faculty of Arts and Science (FAS) dean’s office, 5 Washington Square North; 212-998-8000.

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY WEAPONS POLICY

New York University strictly prohibits the possession of all weapons, as described in local, state, and federal statutes, that includes, but is not limited to, firearms, knives, explosives, etc., in and/or around any and all University facilities—academic, residential, or others. This prohibition extends to all buildings—whether owned, leased, or controlled by the University, regardless of whether the bearer or possessor is licensed to carry that weapon. The possession of any weapon has the potential of creating a dangerous situation for the bearer and others.

The only exceptions to this policy are duly authorized law enforcement personnel who are performing official federal, state, or local business and instances in which the bearer of the weapon is licensed by an appropriate licensing authority and has received written permission from the executive vice president of the University.

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SIMULATED FIREARMS POLICY

New York University strictly prohibits simulated firearms in and/or around any and all University facilities—academic, residential, or other. This prohibition extends to all buildings—whether owned, leased, or controlled by the University. The possession of a simulated firearm has the potential of creating a dangerous situation for the bearer and others.

The only exceptions to this policy are instances in which (1) the bearer is in possession of written permission from a dean, associate dean, assistant dean, or department head and (2) such possession or use of simulated firearms is directly connected to a University- or school-related event (e.g., play, film production). Whenever an approved simulated firearm is transported from one location to another, it must be placed in a secure container in such a manner that it cannot be observed. Storage of approved simulated firearms shall be the responsibility of the Department of Public Safety in a location designated by the vice president for public safety. Under no circumstances, other than at a public safety storage area, may approved simulated firearms be stored in any University owned, leased, or controlled facilities.

CAMPUS SAFETY

The Department of Public Safety is located at 14 Washington Place; telephone: 212-998-2222; 212-998-2220 (TTY).

New York University’s annual Campus Security Report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus, in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by NYU, and on public property within or immediately adjacent to the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning sexual assault, drugs, and alcohol. You can obtain a copy of the current report by contacting Thomas Grace, Director of Judicial Affairs and Compliance, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs (601 Kimmel Center: 212-998-4403), or Jay Zwicker, Crime Prevention Manager, Department of Public Safety (7 Washington Place: 212-998-1451), or by visiting the Web site at www.nyu.edu/public.safety/policies.

Academic Experience

JOINT AND DUAL DEGREE PROGRAMS

Students may pursue joint and dual degrees between GSAS programs and between GSAS programs and programs in many of the professional schools of New York University. Joint degree programs offer a single degree for the satisfaction of the requirements of a single curriculum that is drawn from the curricula of two departments or programs. Dual degree programs allow students to pursue two degrees simultaneously by completing the curricular requirements of separate degrees in a coordinated fashion. Participating Graduate School of Arts and Science programs and departments include biology, economics, French studies, history, journalism, Latin American and Caribbean studies, law and society, philosophy, politics, and sociology. Participating schools include the Leonard N. Stern School of Business; the Steinhardt School of Culture, Communication, and Human Development; the School of Law; the School of Medicine; and the Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

Refer to the individual department and program listings for specific joint and dual degree programs and their requirements.

INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS

A key component of the University’s global commitment to education is the Graduate School’s international exchange program. In the New York University Institutes for Advanced Study, distinguished visiting faculty from throughout the world join specialists from NYU to research topics of increasing importance to all nations of the world. Together with graduate students, the visitors form an active core of intellectuals engaged in studying global issues.

Graduate students may study at New York University’s Italian research center, La Pietra, a Tuscan estate of five magnificent villas on the outskirts of Florence. Other exchange programs support research at the Charles University of Prague and the Universities of Amsterdam, Bonn, Cape Town, Copenhagen, Ghana, Singapore, Stockholm, and Vienna, among others. These unique programs give New York University students access to international university laboratories, archives, and libraries and encourage them to participate in international city and regional life.

GRADUATE FORUMS

The Graduate Forum is an innovative program for graduate students across New York University. Launched in January 2001, the Graduate Forum was established to encourage interdisciplinary inquiry into intellectual and moral problems, to question the foundations of the disciplines, and to experiment in translating basic research into a language accessible to a variety of audiences without oversimplification.

The ten members of the forum are graduate students drawn from master’s and doctoral programs throughout New York University. Graduate students may either nominate themselves or be nominated by the chair of their department. Criteria for selection include a promising academic record, the capacity for innovative thinking, the ability to contribute to interdisciplinary inquiry, and an interest in the new technologies of education. Student membership in the forum is for a term of two academic years (unless a student graduates earlier).

The Graduate Forum usually meets on the last Wednesday evening of each month during the academic year. Student members are expected to make formal presentations of their work to each other in ways that further the aims of the forum, including the circulation of their papers or other materials prior to discussion at meetings and the posting of edited forum proceedings and related resources on the Web. The members of the forum also contribute to the regular evaluation and redesign of the forum’s format.

Starting in 2005, a second group, the IFA-GSAS Forum, was established by the Institute of Fine Arts and the Graduate School to enable interdisciplinary inquiry into “forms of seeing.” With support from the Provost’s Office and the IFA Alumni Association, this forum also has ten members, five from the IFA and five from other graduate programs throughout New York University, and meets monthly. The IFA-GSAS Forum culminates in a year-end symposium at which all student participants present their research to the wider University community and public.

The great public servant John W. Gardner contrasts two forms of institutional behavior, the nurturing of “seedbeds” versus the intolerance of “dead wood.” The Graduate School hopes its Graduate Forums will establish, nurture, and cultivate a seedbed that will in turn foster innovative and creative thinkers.

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