Elective Courses

Special Note About Course Descriptions: If a course number doesn't link to the course description, you can find the full description on pages 91 to 100 of the NYU-Poly academic catalog.

On this page, you can find courses in the following categories:

• First-Year Writing Courses
• Cluster 1: Culture, Arts and Media Electives
• Cluster 2: Science, Technology and Society Electives
• Cluster 3: Society, Environment and Globalization

First-Year Writing Courses

• EN 1090W Introductory Composition, Credits: .00
• EN 1080W Writing (ESL), Credits: .00
• EN 1013W College Writing Workshop, Credits: 3.00
• EN 1013H College Writing Workshop, Credits: 3.00
• HUSS 1023W First-Year Writing Seminar, Credits: 3.00
• EN 1033W College Writing Workshop For ESL Students, Credits: 3.00
• EN 1203H Honors Program First Year Writing Seminar, Credits: 3.00
• EN 1233W First-Year Writing Seminar For ESL Students, Credits: 3.00

Cluster 1: Culture, Arts and Media (CAM)

Courses in the CAM cluster explore how cultural practices and artifacts in a wide range of media reflect, influence and interact with developments in science and technology. Courses are based on the disciplines of philosophy, media studies, music, literary studies, art history, rhetoric, and anthropology.

CAM TCS Electives

The following satisfy a TCS elective:
AH 2113 History of Art As Techné, Credits: 3.00
AH 3113 Contemporary Art, Electronic Art and Technology, Credits: 3.00
AH 4911 Special Topics in Art History, Credits: 1.00
AH 4912 Special Topics in Art History, Credits: 2.00
AH 4913 Special Topics in Art History, Credits: 3.00
AN 2383 Jade, the Stone of Heaven, Credits: 3.00
AN 2883 Upper Paleolithic & Evolution of Modernity, Credits: 3.00
CAM 200x Special Topics in Culture, Arts, and Media, variable credit
CAM 300x Special Topics in Culture, Arts, and Media, variable credit
EN 2123 Technology of Literary Production, Credits: 3.00
EN 2133/W The Invention of the Word, Credits: 3.00 
EN 2143/W Machines Made of Words I: Poetry As Design, Credits: 3.00 
EN 2153/W Inventing America: Nature, Culture, Self, Credits: 3.00
EN 2163 Shakespeare and the Creative Imagination, Credits: 3.00 
EN 2173/W The World's Greatest Journeys, Credits: 3.00 
EN 2183W The Novella: Between the Short Story and the Novel, Credits: 3.00
EN 2193/W The Rise of the Graphic Novel, Credits: 3.00
EN 3133 Machines Made of Words II, Credits: 3.00
EN 4911 Special Topics in Literature, Credits: 1.00
EN 4912 Special Topics in Literature, Credits: 2.00
EN 4913 Special Topics in Literature, Credits: 3.00
HI 3403 History of Political Technology, Credits: 3.00 
MD 2163/W Media Studies 1, Credits: 3.00 
MD 2213/W Cinema 1895 - 1950, Credits: 3.00 
MD 2263 Please Refer to Catalog
MD 3163/W Media Studies II, Credits: 3.00
MD 3263 Hypermedia in Context, Credits: 3.00 
MD 4163/W Media Studies III, Credits: 3.00 
MD 4911 Special Topics in Media Studies, Credits: 1.00
MD 4912 Special Topics in Media Studies, Credits: 2.00
MD 4913 Special Topics in Media Studies, Credits: 3.00 
MU 2113 Western Music Theory, Credits: 3.00
MU 2213 Non-Western Music Appreciation, Credits: 3.00
MU 3113 Music Since 1900, Credits: 3.00
MU 3133 Music Theory For Songwriters, Credits: 3.00
MU 3213 The Musical Instrument, Credits: 3.00 
MU 3313 Phonography, Credits: 3.00 
MU 4113 Musical Informatics Studio, Credits: 3.00 
MU 4313 Psychoacoustics, Credits: 3.00 
MU 4211 Special Topics in Music, Credits: 1.00
MU 4212 Special Topics in Music, Credits: 2.00
MU 4213 Special Topics in Music, Credits: 3.00
PL 2013/W Ancient Greek Philosophy, Credits: 3.00 
PL 2023/W Early Modern Philosophy in Europe, Credits: 3.00 
PL 2113/W Philosophy of Religion, Credits: 3.00 
PL 3103/W Philosophy East and West, Credits: 3.00 
PS 3693 Humor and Modern Media, Credits: 3.00

CAM Courses That Do Not Satisfy a TCS Elective

The following are Studio Electives (S) and/or Core Courses in the Integrated Digital Media major (C):
DM 1113 Audio Foundation Studio, Credits: 3.00 (S)
DM 1123 Visual Foundation Studio, Credits: 3.00 (S)
DM 2113 Sound Studio 1, Credits: 3.00 (S)
DM 2123 Cinema Studio 1, Credits: 3.00 (S)
DM 2133 3D Graphics Studio 1, Credits: 3.00 (S)
DM 2143 Interaction Design Studio 1, Credits: 3.00 (S)
DM 2153 Game Development Studio 1, Credits: 3.00 (S)
DM 2183 Digital Photography Studio 1, Credits: 3.00 (S)
DM 2193 Web Studio I, Credits: 3.00 (S)
DM 3113 Sound Studio 2, Credits: 3.00 (S)
DM 3123 Cinema Studio 2, Credits: 3.00 (S)
DM 3133 3D Graphics Studio 2, Credits: 3.00 (S)
DM 3143 Interaction Design Studio 2, Credits: 3.00 (S) 
DM 3153 Game Development Studio 2, Credits: 3.00 (S)
DM 3173 Visualization and Simulation Studio, Credits: 3.00 (S)
DM 3183 Digital Photography Studio 2, Credits: 3.00 (S)
DM 3193 Web Studio 2, Credits: 3.00 (S)
DM 3213 Computer Music Studio, Credits: 3.00 (S)
DM 4003 Senior Project in Digital Media, Credits: 3.00 (S/C)
DM 4023 Please Refer to Catalog (S/C)
DM 4113 Sound Studio 3, Credits: 3.00 (S)
DM 4123 Cinema Studio 3, Credits: 3.00 (S)
DM 4133 3D Graphics Studio 3, Credits: 3.00 (S)
DM 4143 Interaction Design Studio 3, Credits: 3.00 (S)
DM 4153 Game Development Studio 3, Credits: 3.00 (S)
DM 4193 Web Studio 3, Credits: 3.00 (S)
DM 4911 Special Topics in Digital Media, Credits: 1.00 (S)
DM 4912 Special Topics in Digital Media, Credits: 2.00 (S)
DM 4913 Special Topics in Digital Media, Credits: 3.00 (S)
DM 4903 Undergraduate Thesis, Digital Media, Credits: 3.00 Also DM 4904/5/6 (S/C)

Cluster 2: Science, Technology and Society

Courses in the STS cluster explore the interrelationships between science and technology and between science and society. STS unites a myriad of disciplines, including history, philosophy, rhetoric, literary studies, and sociology, to investigate these interrelationships. How do science and technology shape society? How do social processes frame scientific and technological enterprises? What is the relationship between the content of scientific and technological knowledge and the social and intellectual context in which it is created?

STS TCS Electives

The following satisfy a TCS elective:
HI 2203/W Medieval Technology, Credits: 3.00
HI 2213 History of Aviation & Aviation Technology, Credits: 3.00
HI 2223W Physics and Society, Credits: 3.00
HI 2233 Introduction to the History of Western Technology, Credits: 3.00
HI 2243/W The History of Light, Credits: 3.00
HI 2253/W From Heat Engines to Black Holes, Credits: 3.00
HI 2263 The Ship, Credits: 3.00
HI 3303 Science & Technology As A Strategic Resource in World War II, Credits: 3.00
HI 3413 History of Intellectual Property in America, Credits: 3.00 
PL 2003 Symbolic Logic, Credits: 3.00
PL 2103/W Philosophy of Science, Technology and Society in China and India, Credits: 3.00 
PL 2143 Ethics and Technology, Credits: 3.00
PL 2203 Philosophy of Technology, Credits: 3.00
PL 2253/W Science and Pseudoscience, Credits: 3.00
PL 2273/W Space and Spacetime, Credits: 3.00
PL 2283/W Philosophy of Relativity, Credits: 3.00
PL 2293/W Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics, Credits: 3.00
PL 3003 Metalogic, Credits: 3.00
PL 3203/W Philosophy of Technology: the Critique of Heidegger, Credits: 3.00 
PL 3213 The Phenomenon of Life, Credits: 3.00
PL 3253/W Philosophy of Science, Credits: 3.00
PL 3263/W Physics, Information and Computation, Credits: 3.00 
PS 2613 Psychology of the Internet, Credits: 3.00 
PS 2643 Creativity and Innovation, Credits: 3.00 
PS 2663 Intelligence: Real & Artificial, Credits: 3.00 
PS 3603 Psychology of Internet Security, Credits: 3.00 
STS 2003/W Science, Technology and Society, Credits: 3.00 
STS 2113/W History and Philosophy of Internet Technology, Credits: 3.00 
STS 2133/W Perspectives On Sci & Tech Reporting, Credits: 3.00 
STS 2153 Addressing Public Policy Issues in Sci, Eng, & Med, Credits: 3.00 
STS 2163 Science Fiction, Credits: 3.00
STS 2233/W Magic, Medicine, and Science, Credits: 3.00 
STS 2253/W Biology and Society, Credits: 3.00
STS 2263/W The Rhetoric of Science, Credits: 3.00 
STS 2273/W Science and Sexuality, Credits: 3.00 
STS 2313 It's About Time, Credits: 3.00 
STS 2323 Dinosaurs: Resurrecting An Extinct Species, Credits: 3.00
STS 2333 Evolution, Credits: 3.00 
STS 2343 Imaging the Past, Credits: 3.00
STS 2353 Origin of Life, Credits: 3.00
STS 241x Special Topic in STS, variable credit
STS 3003/W Sem in Science & Tech Studies, Credits: 3.00
STS 3163 Science and Technology in the Literary Sphere, Credits: 3.00
STS 3173 Hypermedia in Context, Credits: 3.00 
STS 3243/W Humans, Machines and Aesthetics, Credits: 3.00 
STS 3263/W Science and Difference, Credits: 3.00 
STS 340x Independent Study in STS, variable credit
STS 341x Special Topic in STS, variable credit

STS Courses That Do Not Satisfy a TCS Elective

The following are core courses in the Science and Technology Studies major that do not satisfy a TCS elective:
STS 3013 Directed Study in Sts, Credits: 3.00
STS 4003 Study Abroad, Credits: 3.00
STS 4014 Capstone Project, Credits: 4.00 

Cluster 3: Society, Environment and Globalization (SEG)

Courses in this cluster address how the critical areas of society, environment and globalization are interlinked and how they affect the experience of modern life. SEG courses, from the complementary perspectives of the humanities and social sciences, provide students with a broad, multicultural perspective on how environmental issues and global exchange in this “flat world” are changing society here and across the globe.

SEG TCS Electives

The following satisfy a TCS elective:
HI 2003/W The Age of Conquistadors, Credits: 3.00 
HI 2053W Intro to Urban Policy, Credits: 3.00
HI 2103/W Western and Non-Western Societies, Credits: 3.00 
HI 2113 Making of the Modern World, Credits: 3.00
HI 2163W History of Mass Media, Credits: 3.00
HI 2303 Introduction to New York City History, Credits: 3.00
HI 2313 History of NY's Urban Infrastructure, Credits: 3.00
HI 2353 History of NYC Transit and the Development of NYC, Credits: 3.00 
HI 2713 Urban Environmental History, Credits: 3.00
HI 3103 Modern Asia, Credits: 3.00 
HI 3253 History of Political Technology, Credits: 3.00
HI 3313 History and Literature of New York City in the 20th Century, Credits: 3.00
HI 4303 Please Refer to Catalog 
PL 2243/W Thinking About the Environment, Credits: 3.00
PL 3103/W Philosophy East and West, Credits: 3.00 
PS 2323/W Environmental Psychology, Credits: 3.00
PS 2723 Human Factors in Engineeringg Design, Credits: 3.00 
PS 3723 Psychology of Sustainability, Credits: 3.00
PS 3743 Psychology of Transportation, Credits: 3.00 
PS 3753 Psych of Living in Extreme Environments, Credits: 3.00 
PS 3813 Social Psychology of Virtual Worlds, Credits: 3.00
PS 3833 Special Topics in Psychology, Credits: 3.00
PS 4443 Guided Readings in Psychology, Credits: 3.00
SEG 2183/W Beyond Oil: Fueling Tomorrow's Vehicles, Credits: 3.00
SEG 2193/W Writing About Nature & the Environment, Credits: 3.00 
SEG 291x Special Topics in SEG, variable credit
SEG 3213 Sustainable Systems and the Natural History of Whaling, Credits: 3.00 
SEG 391x Special Topics in SEG, variable credit
SEG 491x Special Topics in SEG, variable credit
URB 2023/W Design of Cities, Credits: 3.00 
URB 2033 Humans in the Urban Environment, Credits: 3.00
URB 2223 Natural Environment of New York City, Credits: 3.00
URB 2233 Natural Environmental Catastrophes & Cities, Credits: 3.00
URB 3033 Evidence-Based Design, Credits: 3.00 
URB 3113 Case Studies in Sustainability(Ancient Egypt & Mesoamerica), Credits: 3.00 
URB 3313 Hist & Design of Urban Parks, Credits: 3.00 
URB 3353 Urban Impact Assessment, Credits: 3.00 
URB 3833 Special Topics in Sustainable Urban Environments, Credits: 3.00
URB 4443 Guided Readings in Sustainable Urban Environments, Credits: 3.00 

SEG Electives from Other Departments

FIN 2003 Economic Foundations of Finance, Credits: 3.00

Sustainable Urban Environments Courses That Do Not Satisfy a TCS Elective

The following are core courses in the Sustainable Urban Environments major that do not satisfy a TCS elective:
URB 3013 Directed Study in SUE, Credits: 3.00
URB 4014 Study Abroad, Credits: 4.00 
URB 4023 Please Refer to Catalog