Who do I need to speak with to participate in the program?
You can speak to any advisor in the College Advising Center (Silver 905) or the Preprofessional Advising Center (Silver 901). You MUST get an advisor's signature on Part V of the application. Applications are available as downloadable Word documents on this website or in hard copy in Silver 901. Submit the completed application in Silver 901.

You may take up to two SCPS courses for Professional Edge during the summer, provided you are registered as a FULL-TIME student for the following fall semester. You do not need to also be taking summer CAS classes. Unlike CAS, SCPS has only one summer session so classes might run from June through August.

Can I take a course on-line?
No. The on-line versions of the courses are not part of the Professional Edge program.

Are the courses offered in both fall and spring?
Generally, you should not have a problem finding courses to complete your certificate in both fall and spring semesters. Most of the courses are offered in both semesters, including sequenced classes. Please be aware, however, that SCPS reserves the right to cancel a class right up to the first day that the class was scheduled to begin and has, on occasion, had to exercise this right. We will do our best to help you find an alternative selection.

When can I find out about schedules?
In general, the SCPS website lists the spring schedules on first week in November, summer schedules on the first week in March, and fall schedules on the first week in July. Please note that not all of the sections listed on the website will necessarily be included as part of Professional Edge, and that registration has to be done on paper through this office, and NOT ON-LINE!!!

When are applications due?
In order to begin the program in a given semester, the applications and registration forms should be submitted by the end of the previous semester. Typically, SCPS classes do not begin until after CAS classes have begun, so there is still time to register at the beginning of the semester, but SCPS registration opens up much earlier.  Please check the Professional Edge Calendar of Dates for deadlines.

How do I register?
Registration forms are available as a downloadable Word document on this website or in hard copy in Silver 901. Please review the schedule of courses on the SCPS website or with your advisor. Please be sure to fill out the registration forms clearly and completely. Completed forms are to be returned to Silver 901. DO NOT REGISTER ON-LINE.

Can I substitute courses listed in the certificate curriculum?
Typically, the courses included in Professional Edge are the courses listed in the certificate templates. On occasion, a student may arrange with the appropriate SCPS department to have one class substitute for another, in which case the department must email mike.wong@nyu.edu with its permission to include the course toward the Professional Edge certificate.

Are prerequisite courses included in the program?
When the certificate template lists prerequisite courses and the total number of courses (including the prerequisites) add up to eight or fewer courses, those prerequisites will be included in the program. The only certificate where this seems to be a problem is with the Certificate in Graphic Design, where knowledge of Photoshop, Illustrator and Quark is needed in addition to the 6 courses for the certificate.

What if I change my mind about pursuing or completing the certificate?
We ask that you talk to your advisor and seriously consider whether you would like to enroll in this program before you apply. When you are registered for the courses, you are taking a spot in a small class, many of which are limited to a small number of students. Your classmates in SCPS are all there because they want to be - they are voluntarily paying for these classes and are genuinely interested in being there. Please be considerate of this. However, if the load is too heavy and your work at CAS begins to suffer, you are not bound to continue (and may even be asked not to continue). Please speak with an advisor about your options. If you drop an SCPS class or are not making progress on your certificate from semester to semester, you may not be able to continue in the Professional Edge program.

How do I add or drop SCPS classes?
To add or drop SCPS classes, students need to complete a CAS SCPS Professional Edge Program Change Form, available on this website under "Forms" or in hard copy from Silver 901.