Your studies at the NYU School of Professional Studies are governed by academic policies and procedures to which you must adhere. Students are expected to familiarize themselves with, and to follow, these policies. It is strongly recommended that you review these policies periodically to remain current.
Specific academic policies have been implemented for graduate and undergraduate degree students, as well as for those students enrolled in our Continuing Education Courses.
Refer to the University's Academic Calendar for all important dates.
Your advisor plays a significant role in helping you develop a plan of study that will enable you to achieve your academic and career goals. Be sure to consult with your advisor on a regular basis.
Students should ensure that all prerequisites have been met prior to taking advanced courses by checking with their program advisors. Sequencing requirements will vary depending on the degree program and concentration.
It is strongly recommended that students not take more than eighteen (18) credits each semester; an advisor’s formal authorization is required to take more than eighteen (18) credits in a given semester. In addition, permission to take more than eighteen (18) credits per term is limited to students who have completed at least thirty-two (32) credits of work while matriculated at NYUSPS and who have maintained a minimum cumulative GPA (CGPA) of 3.0 or better. All students taking over eighteen (18) credits in a given semester are subject to extra tuition and fees. (DAUS students should refer to the Bursar's website for all tuition-related information.)
Although the administration of NYUSPS does not supervise attendance of classes, students are expected to attend all classes. Please be aware that some faculty take attendance into consideration in final grades. Students who, in the judgment of the instructor, have not substantially met the requirements of the course, or who have been excessively absent, may be considered to have withdrawn unofficially and may be given the final grade of "F." Students who miss class for medical reasons are required to notify their instructor of their absence and may be asked to produce a doctor’s documentation of treatment at the next class.
Students who plan to miss class for religious reasons are expected to inform instructors beforehand and to be responsible for assignments given during their absence.
Grading for undergraduate programs is by letter grade: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, and F.
Course and assignment grades will be made according to the following NYUSPS guidelines.
Excellent: Earned by work whose excellent quality indicates a full mastery of the subject and is of extraordinary distinction.
Excellent: Earned by work whose excellent quality indicates a full mastery of the subject.
Good : Earned by work that indicates a very good comprehension of the course material, very good command of the skills needed to work with the course material, and indicates the student’s full engagement with the course requirements and activities.
Good : Earned by work that indicates a good comprehension of the course material, good command of the skills needed to work with the course material, and indicates the student’s full engagement with the course requirements and activities.
Good : Earned by work that indicates comprehension of the course material, command of the skills needed to work with the course material, and indicates the student’s engagement with the course requirements and activities.
Satisfactory : Earned by work that indicates an adequate and satisfactory comprehension of the course material and the skills needed to work with the course material, and indicates the student has met the requirements for completing assigned work and participating in class activities.
Satisfactory : Earned by work that indicates a satisfactory comprehension of the course material and the skills needed to work with the course material, and indicates the student has met the basic requirements for completing assigned work and participating in class activities.
Satisfactory : Earned by work that indicates a minimally satisfactory comprehension of the course material and the skills needed to work with the course material, and indicates the student has met the minimum requirements for completing assigned work and participating in class activities.
Passing : Earned by work that is unsatisfactory, but that indicates some minimal command of the course materials and some minimal participation in class activities that is worthy of course credit toward the degree.
Minimum passing grade : Earned by work that is unsatisfactory, but that indicates some minimal command of the course materials and some minimal participation in class activities that is worthy of credit toward the degree.
Failing: Demonstrates minimal to no understanding of all key learning outcomes and core concepts; work is unworthy of course credit towards the degree.
If a Pass/Fail grade is allowed, the choice of pass/fail must be made prior to the completion of the ninth week of the term.
Grades not entered by the course instructor or authorized school administrator within 60 days from the grade due deadline lapse to NR (No Record). NR grades can be changed later by instructors or authorized administrators using the standard grade change process in Albert. Courses with NR grades do not count toward earned credit and are not factored into the GPA; these courses do count as credits attempted and impact academic progress evaluations used for financial aid eligibility.
The grade point average (GPA) can be obtained by determining the total of all grade points earned and dividing that figure by the total number of credits completed. For example, if a student has completed an 18-credit schedule and receives grades of A, A-, B, and C+, respectively, in four 4-credit courses and a B+ in a 2-credit course, the student’s semester GPA would be computed as follows:
Total grade points
GPA=58.666 divided by 18=3.259. The total grade points (58.666) are divided by the number of credits earned (18) to obtain the GPA (3.259).
Note: There are no A+, D-, or F+ grades.
Students can take a maximum of sixteen credits (16) on a Pass/Fail basis, and no more than one (1) course per semester. The grade of Fail “F” is calculated into the GPA. The grade of Pass “P” has no impact on the GPA.
In addition, the following restrictions by program are as follows:
The Pass/Fail option applies only to elective courses.
Courses with the TCHT1-UC prefix cannot be taken as Pass/Fail. All other courses can be taken as Pass/Fail.
Courses with the TCSM1-UC prefix cannot be taken as Pass/Fail. All other courses can be taken as Pass/Fail.
Courses with the REBS1-UC prefix cannot be taken as Pass/Fail. All other courses can be taken as Pass/Fail.
Spring 2021:
A student who takes a semester-long course on a Pass/Fail basis must elect to do so by Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Once a student elects to take a class as Pass/Fail, the decision is binding and no letter grade will be issued. Students must meet with their advisors to complete the Pass/Fail form.
For summer sessions and short-session terms, please see your advisor for Pass/Fail declaration deadlines.
Students should adhere to pass/fail global policies and program deadlines when attending global study away sites. Contact your advisor via email to take the Pass/Fail option.
"Incompletes" are reserved for unavoidable circumstances which prevent a student from finishing a course in a given term, and the nature of the course permits the faculty member to allow late completion. Incompletes are given at the discretion of the instructor in consultation with the department. The "grade" of Incomplete is thus subject to approval and is never automatic; it can only be issued to students who have completed at least 50% of the course work. The faculty member will determine what constitutes 50% of the course work.
In addition, an Incomplete Contract must be signed by the student, the instructor, and the academic chair. Students must submit a written request for an “Incomplete” to the instructor and secure a signed contract prior to the last day of class; if the written request is not made, the instructor will submit a final grade based on work completed to that point.
If the student's request for an incomplete is approved, the student must complete the necessary work by the date specified by the instructor: this date can be no later than the end of classes in the following full term (i.e., by the end of the spring term for a fall or January course; or by the end of the fall term for a spring or summer course).
If the required work is not completed and submitted by the deadline indicated on the Incomplete Contract, the grade of "I" will become an "F."
Students who are out of attendance in the semester following the one in which the course was taken have one additional semester to complete the work. When a grade defaults to an “F”, students need to register and pay for the course again.
Students cannot graduate if they have an Incomplete in any course.
Only courses with a grade of "C-" or lower may be repeated.
In the case of a course that has been repeated, for students who began their studies at NYUSPS prior to spring 2015: only the second grade, whether higher or lower, is computed into the cumulative grade point average. The initial grade, however, remains on the transcript.
In the case of a course that has been repeated, for students who began their studies or were re-admitted to NYUSPS in spring 2015 and thereafter: both grades will be recorded on the transcript and both grades will be computed into the cumulative grade point average.
Students may repeat a required course only once and will be dismissed from the program if a required course is not passed after the second attempt. In order for the grade of a repeated course to be included in the GPA and to be recorded on the transcript, students must register and pay for the course. Credit is earned one time only.
Adding Courses
The deadline for adding a course for the fall and spring semesters is the end of the second week of the semester. For short-session terms, see the Registrar's Calendar.
Students adding courses during this time are expected to make up any work missed during the initial classes.
To make any changes to your academic program, including dropping or adding courses given at other schools at the University, you must access ALBERT. You can make scheduling changes to your program on ALBERT until the end of the second week of the semester. After the second week of the semester, you must visit the advising office to obtain authorization for any changes.
Dropping/Withdrawing from Courses
The deadline for dropping a course is the end of the second week of the semester. If you need to drop a course after the second week of classes, you must see your advisor. To find out the drop/withdrawal deadlines for short-session terms, see the Registrar's Calendar.
Occasionally, students may withdraw from a course if, because of reasons beyond their control, they cannot continue. Courses dropped during the first two weeks of the term will not appear on the transcript. Those courses dropped from the beginning of the third week through the ninth week of the term will be recorded with a grade of "W." The grade of "W" is a Registrar's grade, without numerical value and is assigned when a student officially withdraws from a course. It is not computed in the student's GPA but may significantly impact the student's progress toward degree completion as well as the student's financial aid eligibility. Please be sure to consult with the Office of Financial Aid.
A grade of "F" will be assigned at the end of the semester if a student ceases to attend a course without officially withdrawing. In addition, students who are ill or have a serious personal problem should contact their advisor immediately.
A student is not officially withdrawn from a course until the Registrar's Office has been notified and the withdrawal recorded.
For the Refund Schedule, refer to the Bursar's Website.
Students wishing to withdraw from all classes in the spring and fall semesters must log into ALBERT by the end of the ninth (9th) week of the semester. For the "Complete Withdrawal" deadlines for shorter-session terms, see the Registrar's calendar.
A student who officially withdraws from all courses in a term may register for the following semester. If the student is unable to attend the semester following withdrawal, the student may request a Leave of Absence from the advising office.
A degree-seeking undergraduate student may be granted permission to enroll in graduate courses to earn credit applicable towards the undergraduate degree. The availability of a graduate course to undergraduate students is determined by the academic unit offering the graduate course
Students must meet all eligibility requirements as stated below in order to qualify for graduate-level coursework.
Eligibility Requirements:
Grade appeals are handled by the schools at New York University and will not be considered at the University level. It is the faculty's responsibility to evaluate the student's work in the classroom. To appeal a grade in an NYUSPS course, the student must objectively demonstrate that his/her grade is in error or that some documented extenuating circumstance was not taken into consideration.
Only final grades can be appealed.
If you receive a final grade in a course that you wish to appeal, you must first:
If after taking these steps, you believe a grade appeal is justified, the following levels of appeal are available at NYUSPS:
Level 1: Faculty
Contact the instructor within thirty (30) days after the grade is posted and discuss concerns before beginning the official grade appeal process. Students can reach their instructor by email or telephone number as given on the syllabus or, when available, by leaving a note in the instructor's departmental mailbox. If you do not receive a response from the instructor within two (2) weeks, notify your advisor.
Level 2: Written Appeal to the Director of Your Program
If the conversation with the instructor does not resolve the dispute, the student may begin the formal grade appeal process by writing a letter to the director of the program within 45 days of the grade being posted. The Academic Director or the Director's Designee will read the appeal, investigate, and determine a final grade, which may be the same as that determined by the instructor, higher or lower. A written decision will be rendered approximately one month after receipt of all required documentation for the appeal.
Level 3: Written Appeal to the Associate Dean
If after receiving the decision in writing from the Academic Director or Designee, the student remains in disagreement, the final step is to submit an appeal in writing to the Associate Dean within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the Director's Level 2 Appeal response letter. Appeals must include:
The final decision, which will be rendered by the Associate Dean within three weeks, will be the grade that appears on the student's official New York University transcript. The student must be prepared for a final decision that either preserves the original grade, is a higher grade, or lowers the original grade, since no further grade appeals of the same course will be considered.
Once a student has graduated and a degree has been awarded by New York University, a grade appeal will not be considered.
The Dean's List is an academic honor awarded to undergraduate students who achieve a semester GPA of 3.7 or better while taking a minimum of 8 credits. Incompletes are not permitted.
Good Standing
At SPS students are in good academic standing during semesters in which their cumulative grade point average (CGPA) is 2.0 or greater and they have completed at least 50% of the term hours attempted. Federal financial aid requires students to complete at 67% of the term hours attempted.
An inability to make Satisfactory Academic Progress will have an impact on your Financial Aid award. Be sure to contact the Office of Financial Aid and click on the link below to review the Financial Aid Eligibility Requirements.
Students must be in good academic standing for every semester in which they are enrolled or they are subject to being placed on academic probation. Students should discuss any questions they have regarding their academic progress and academic standing with their advisors.
Students whose cumulative grade point average (CGPA) falls below a 2.0 or who do not successfully complete at least 50% of the cumulative hours attempted during a semester will be placed on Academic Probation and receive formal written notification. Students return to good academic standing and are removed from Academic Probation when they raise their CGPA to a minimum of 2.0 or better and successfully complete the required cumulative attempted hours by the end of the semester in which they are on Academic Probation.
Probationary Status: If a student's cumulative GPA falls below the minimum required cumulative GPA for more than one semester, either consecutive or nonconsecutive semesters, the student will be dismissed from the program.
Restrictions While on Academic Probation: Students on Academic Probation are subject to certain conditions and restrictions. These restrictions will remain in place until the student's academic performance results in their returning to good academic standing.
Students on probation will not be allowed to register for classes for the semester following their probationary term, unless they have succeeded in achieving a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better during the probationary term. Additional restrictions include the inability to hold student government positions; needing permission to participate in competitions, study away, and any and all extracurricular activities outside of advisor-approved courses.
Students on probation:
All undergraduate students receiving federal or state financial aid or other forms of external financial aid are subject to specific regulations tied to terms of their award requirements.
A student whose performance falls into probationary status a second time in his/her academic career, either consecutive or nonconsecutive semesters, will be dismissed from the School. The Associate Dean of the program will make the dismissal decision and inform students in writing, as soon as possible, but no later than thirty (30) days after the end of the semester. In addition, a student who fails a required course twice will be dismissed from the School.
When students are academically dismissed, the Registrar will be notified and the designation "Academic Dismissal" will appear on their transcripts. Students who receive notice of academic dismissal after they have begun attending classes will be withdrawn from those classes and tuition and fees will be cancelled.
Students are not permitted to register for or attend classes while appealing an academic dismissal.
A student may appeal the academic dismissal decision to the Senior Assistant Dean of Student Affairs if they believe the dismissal was the result of an administrative error or if the student can offer compelling reasons for their falling out of good academic standing. The student must appeal to the Senior Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, in writing, within fifteen (15) days from the date of the dismissal decision letter. The written appeal must include a personal statement explaining the student's poor academic performance, reasoned argument why the academic dismissal decision should be reversed, and original documentation to corroborate all extenuating circumstances. Anticipated grade changes from outstanding Incompletes do not constitute evidence for an appeal to be granted.
Once the written appeal is received, the Senior Assistant Dean of Student Affairs has the sole discretion to determine whether an appointment or interview is necessary and, in any case, will communicate a written decision within fifteen (15) days after receiving the written appeal.
Students are not permitted to register for courses while appealing an academic dismissal.
Appeal of Academic Dismissal to the Associate Dean of Enrollment Management and Student Success of the School (Final Decision)
Only after the dismissal has been appealed to the Senior Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and the dismissal upheld, may an appeal be submitted to the Associate Dean of Enrollment Management and Student Success of the School. The student must request an appeal to the Associate Dean of Enrollment Management and Student Success of the School within fifteen (15) days from the date of the appeal decision made by the Senior Assistant Dean of Student Affairs. The written request must include a copy of the original dismissal letter and a copy of the response upholding the dismissal from the Senior Assistant Dean of Student Affairs. Any new information in the student's defense must be submitted at the same time. Once the written appeal is received, the Associate Dean of Enrollment Management and Student Success or the Associate Dean's authorized Designee has the sole discretion to determine whether an appointment or interview is necessary and, in any case, will forward a written decision within thirty (30) days after receiving the appeal. Academic dismissals by the Associate Dean of Enrollment Management and Student Success of the School are final and there are no further avenues of appeal.
All NYU School of Professional Studies students are expected to familiarize themselves with, and to comply with, the rules of conduct, academic regulations, and the established policies and practices of the University and the School. Student disciplinary matters are the jurisdiction of the Dean, or his/her Designee, the Associate Dean of Student Affairs.
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy
All students are expected to be honest and ethical in all academic work. This trust is shared among all members of the University community and is a core principle of American higher education. Any breaches of this trust will be taken seriously. A hallmark of the educated student and good scholarship is the ability to acknowledge information derived from others. Students are expected to be scrupulous in crediting those sources that have contributed to the development of their ideas.
In the process of learning, students acquire ideas from many sources and exchange ideas and opinions with classmates, professors, and others. This development occurs in reading, writing, and discussion. Students are expected—often required—to build their own work on that of other people, just as professional researchers and writers do, and they must give credit for ideas, suggestions, and information that come from other sources. Since the standard of good academic, creative, and scholarly work is to incorporate one's own ideas, analysis, and synthesis along with the proper recognition of the work of others, students are expected to practice the skill of attribution in their writing. Students are expected to quote accurately and identify the origin of citations from others, as well as to acknowledge when ideas are dependent upon concepts developed from other sources. This process of attribution and referencing allows each individual to demonstrate how her or his understanding and ideas relate to an existing body of knowledge—and add to them. It demonstrates the values of academic integrity and systematic reflection and intellectual development. To do otherwise and not reveal sources constitutes plagiarism. And plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty.
Plagiarism involves borrowing or using information from other sources without proper and full credit. Students are expected to demonstrate how what they have learned incorporates an understanding of the research and expertise of scholars and other appropriate experts; and thus recognizing others' published work or teachings—whether that of authors, lecturers, or one's peers—is a required practice in all academic projects. Students' own scholarly and creative work is strengthened when full and appropriate acknowledgement becomes routine.
Students must master the standard procedures for citations and using footnotes, endnotes, parenthetical references and/or bibliographies, as determined by the character of their assignments. It is an expectation that faculty members impress upon students that whenever their work is dependent upon the ideas, suggestions, phrasing, and data found in sources, a failure to acknowledge them and reference their influence—whether intentional or not—may be considered evidence of academic dishonesty and/or plagiarism. The NYU School of Professional Studies does not tolerate such behavior; and substantiated cases of plagiarism will result in serious sanctions including dismissal.
Consequently, it is essential for every student to develop the habits of identifying sources and to learn and use the proper forms of citation.
Any of the following acts constitutes an offense of plagiarism:
Other offenses against academic integrity include the following:
Students can assure the integrity of their work by: