The College of Arts and Science and the Graduate School of Arts and Science offer students in many departments or programs the opportunity to earn both the bachelor's degree and the master's degree in a shorter period of time and at less cost than is normally the case.
 
Students may apply to the program once they have completed a minimum of 48 credits toward the bachelor's degree but not more than 96 credits or six semesters, and prior to the student's senior year. Participating departments set minimum GPA requirements for admission to and continuation in the program; neither may be below 3.5. The undergraduate courses required for the master's program are determined by the graduate department. In their remaining undergraduate semesters, students can accelerate by taking some graduate courses during regular terms and/or during the summer. In the graduate portion of the program, they can qualify for a scholarship covering up to 50 percent of the tuition for the master's degree.

Fall Application Deadline: November 1st

Spring Application Deadline: April 1st

Students in the program must satisfy all of the requirements of both the bachelor's degree and the master's degree; there is no double-counting of courses. In order to complete the program in five years, students are required to finish at least a fourth of the master's requirements before the beginning of the fifth year.

Students may apply to the BA/MA program in the following departments and programs:

Africana Studies
American Studies
Ancient Near Eastern and Egyptian Studies
Bioethics
Biology
Biomaterials Science
Chemistry
Classics
Comparative Literature
Computer Science
East Asian Studies
Economics
English
European and Mediterranean Studies
French
French Studies
German
Hebrew and Judaic Studies
History (World History, History of Women & Gender, Archives & Public History)
Draper
Irish and Irish American Studies
Italian Studies
Journalism
Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Mathematics
Museum Studies
Near Eastern Studies
Philosophy
Physics
Politics
Psychology (Industrial Organization)
Russian and Slavic Studies
Sociology
Spanish and Portuguese Languages and Literatures
Trauma and Violence Transdisciplinary Studies

Interested students should consult the relevant department and are encouraged to contact Michael Barrera to meet in person to discuss specific programs and academic goals in more detail.

Applications are available through the CAS Advising Center, Silver Center, Room 905; 212-998-8130 or by emailing Michael.Barrera@nyu.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility

I’m a student in Gallatin/Stern/Steinhardt.  Am I eligible for the program?

No. Unfortunately only CAS students are able to apply to the program.  Students in other schools should speak to their adviser about other opportunities available to them.

 

I’m a Stern/Steinhardt student, but I’m doing a second major in CAS.  Can I apply?

No.  Even though your second major is from CAS your degree is still from your home school.

 

I’m a student in LSP but will transition to CAS next year.  Can I apply to the BA/MA program prior to my transition?

LSP students should wait until they have transitioned to the College before applying.  Prior to transitioning they should feel free to consult with the BA/MA adviser regarding the program.

 

I have more than 96 credits but am only in my third year.  Am I still eligible to apply?

Students with more than 96 may still be eligible to apply to the program provided they have not yet begun their senior year.  To be considered, students must have completed no more than 6 semesters and have at least one year of full time study remaining for their BA.

 

I’m a senior but just heard about this program.  Is it still possible to apply?

No.  Seniors are not eligible to apply to the BA/MA Programs.  That said, seniors can still apply to the Graduate School and take advantage of the CAS/GSAS tuition discount program.  For more information on this program, please visit the CAS Senior Website.

 

I’m interested in applying to the program but my GPA is below 3.5.  Can the 3.5 GPA requirement be waived?

Students whose GPA is below a 3.5 should speak to the BA/MA adviser regarding eligibility.  In certain cases, students with a GPA below a 3.5 may apply to the program provided they raise their GPA above a 3.5 prior to graduation.

Application Process

 What do I need to submit with my application?

In addition to the application, you will need to submit a statement of purpose, 2 letters of recommendation and an official copy of your transcript.

 

When are applications due?

Complete applications, including all supporting materials, are due on November 1 (for Fall) or April 1 (for Spring).

 

 

I missed the application deadline.  Can I still apply?

Students who miss the application deadline should contact Michael Barrera (Michael.barrera – at – nyu.edu) to see if it is still possible to apply after the deadline.  Decisions as to whether to allow students to apply late will be made on a case by case basis.

 Where should I submit my application?

Complete applications should be submitted to:

BA/MA Program

College Advising Center

100 Washington Square East, Silver 905

New York, NY 10003

 

To ensure that all of your applications materials are received in a timely manner, you are strongly encouraged to submit all of your application materials, including letters of recommendation (in sealed envelopes with signatures across the back flap) together at the same time.

 

The application form asks for department and program codes.  What are those and where can I find them?

Department and program codes are available on the GSAS Application Resource Center website.  In order for CAS to process your application, you must include both codes.

 

Who should I ask to write a letter of recommendation on my behalf?

Ideally, both letters of recommendation would come from full-time faculty in the department to which you are applying. That said students often have difficulty identifying two professors who know them well enough to write a letter on their behalf.  In these cases, students can get a second letter from a TA in the department, an instructor outside of the graduate department, or an instructor at an NYU abroad site.   Letters from internship supervisors, academic advisers, or other individuals who have not had you in class are strongly discouraged.

 

What should I include in my statement of purpose?

A statement of purpose for graduate school is different than a personal statement for undergrad.  While heartwarming stories about your volunteer work in Mexico or your triumphal performance in your high school’s production of Annie may tell a graduate director something about you personally, it says little about your reasons for pursuing and your preparations for a graduate education. 

An effective statement of purpose should convey your reasons for wanting to pursue graduate study, the specific issues/ideas you want to study in the graduate program, any relevant coursework and experience that has prepared you for graduate study, and how an MA at NYU fits into your overall academic and career goals.

 

How long should my statement of purpose be?

Your statement of purpose should be one page, single-spaced in a standard font with standard margins.

 

I’m currently studying abroad.  Can I apply to the program remotely?

Yes.  Students studying abroad can submit the application form and personal statement via email (we’ll take care of the transcript).  Letters of recommendation can be sent to the Advising Center under separate cover.

 

I’ve asked a faculty member from an NYU Abroad Site to write me a letter of recommendation.  Is it possible for her to email her letter to you?

Yes.  Letters of recommendation from faculty not on the Washington Square campus can be emailed to Michael.Barrera@nyu.edu 

 

How long before I know whether or not I’ve been admitted?

All applications received in a given semester are forwarded on to the Graduate Directors in the individual departments at the same time, roughly a week after the application deadline.  From there, response times vary by the department in question, but generally students should know of their application status within a month of the application deadline. Students who have not received an admissions decision by this time should contact Michael Barrera (Michael.barrera@nyu.edu).

NOTE: Since we only send applications to the department once a semester, students who apply to the program early in the semester will need to wait until after the application deadline for an admissions decision.