Special Programs

• Honors Program
• Medical School Early Assurance Program for Guaranteed Admission
• BS/MS Program
• Five-Year Dual NYU/NYU-Poly Degree Program

• U.S. Air Force ROTC

Honors Program

The Honors Program represents NYU-Poly’s best resource for students who perform at a consistently elevated academic level. The Honors Program lifts NYU-Poly’s practice of active learning to the next level, with enriched courses and research opportunities that inspire students with top marks to reach for new heights. 

Enriched coursework is the foundation of the Honors Program, and encourages students to develop the creative and critical thinking skills necessary for success in their field. The Honors Program courses are designed to promote students’ advancement as forward thinking leaders who approach both class assignments and professional challenges with the same commitment to innovative problem solving. Through this work, participating students make tremendous strides towards the achievement of their academic and career objectives.

The hallmark of the Honors Program is direct and extensive collaboration with NYU-Poly faculty. In the spirit of mentorship, Honors Program students work closely with faculty on state-of-the-art research projects that afford significant opportunities to participate in the development of sophisticated new ideas and technology. Students will continue to work alongside their faculty mentors throughout the duration of their college career, and benefit from the guidance and support these relationships provide.

For the student interested in amplifying traditional studies with an increased emphasis on high-level work, the Honors Program promises a rigorous academic experience that fosters robust intellectual growth.

Highlights include:

• Enriched coursework and special studio courses
• Faculty mentorship
• Exploration of coursework’s practical impact on real-world research and projects
• Emphasis on creative action: invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship (i²e)

Polytechnic Institute of NYU, or NYU-Poly, is an affiliated institution of NYU located in neighboring downtown Brooklyn and is currently in the process of transitioning into a school within NYU. NYU-Poly is New York’s most comprehensive school of engineering, applied science, and technology.

If you are interested in the fields of engineering and technology, you may directly enroll at NYU-Poly or choose to explore the dual degree program in science and engineering jointly offered through NYU’s College of Arts and Science and NYU-Poly.

Medical School Early Assurance Program for Guaranteed Admission

NYU-Poly enjoys thriving partnerships with several New York-based professional, academic and industry leaders. Recently, it joined forces with SUNY Downstate Medical Center to introduce the Medical School Early Assurance Program for Guaranteed Admission. Through the program, 5 slots are reserved for graduating NYU-Poly students in SUNY Downstate’s 1st-year medical school class.

Typically, students that enter this program choose to major in Biomolecular Sciences or Chemical and Biological Engineering (pre-med). These degrees incorporate a flexible choice of subjects, and graduates are well equipped to meet future academic and professional challenges. The Othmer Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences and Engineering, which houses the above degrees, is especially dedicated to a multi-disciplinary approach, with an emphasis on intensive research. Students will be able to take full advantage of the Polymer Research Institute and other state-of-the-art laboratories, which offer excellent resources for fields that include: genetics, microbiology, biochemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, spectroscopy, surface analysis, and computational chemistry.

The Othmer Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences and Engineering faculty has extensive experience in organic and physical chemistry, biomedical science, nanoscience, biocatalysis, protein engineering, biophysics, biosensors, informatics and pharmaceuticals. Its distinguished faculty has included Dr. Donald F. Other, coauthor of the Kirk-Other Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology and developer of the Other Still; Dr. Herman F. Mark, the "father of polymer science;" and Nobel Prize-winner Dr. Rudolph Marcus.

Entrance Requirements

Entrance to the Medical School Early Assurance Program for Guaranteed Admission is based on academic performance, preliminary AMCAS application, a recommendation from an NYU-Poly advisor, and MCAT scores. Additional variables, such as meaningful community service, may enhance the applicants’ qualifications.

Program Requirements

Students who wish to enroll in the program must complete SUNY Downstate’s traditional application requirements, which include:

• 6 credits of English
• 8 credits of general biology or zoology
• 8 credits of inorganic chemistry
• 8 credits of organic chemistry
• 8 credits of general physics

About SUNY Downstate Medical Center

The SUNY Downstate Medical Center is one of the nation's leading urban medical centers, serving a population of over 2.3 million people. It is ranked seventh in the nation for the number of graduates actively engaged in academic medicine, and has trained more of New York City’s physicians than any other institution in the country. Learn more on SUNY Downstate's website.

BS/MS Program

Undergraduates with strong academic records in certain programs may apply for admission to the BS/MS Program, which leads to the simultaneous award of a bachelor's and a master's degree in less time than it typically takes to complete both separately. This program allows students to make accelerated progress towards completing the two degrees through combinations of AP credits, summer course work, and additional credits completed each semester; additionally, undergraduate students enrolled in this program are allowed to take graduate level courses before they complete the bachelor's degree. Qualified students are considered for admission into the program toward the end of their sophomore year or the beginning of the junior year at the latest; however, students interested in pursuing this option should talk to their undergraduate adviser as soon as possible.

Questions about the curriculum of a BS/MS program? Contact the specific department that you are interested in working with.

Five-Year Dual NYU/NYU-Poly Degree Program

For their first 3 years of study, students attend classes at NYU’s College of Arts and Science, completing a major in 1 of the sciences listed below. The last 2 years of study will be spent at NYU-Poly focusing on engineering course work in a practical, research-oriented environment. At the conclusion of the fifth year, students receive 2 degrees: a Bachelor of Science from NYU and a Bachelor of Science from NYU-Poly. The Program in Science and Engineering is one of the largest at the College of Arts and Science, fulfilling students’ academic interests from a liberal arts standpoint and providing them with the technical skills necessary to succeed in a rapidly changing society. For further information about the dual-degree program, including how to apply, please visit NYU's College of Arts and Sciences, which handles advising questions, application questions, and other questions you may have about the program.

Science and Engineering Major Combinations

U.S. Air Force ROTC

All NYU-Poly and affiliated students may participate in the U.S. Air Force ROTC program headquartered at Manhattan College. The largest source of commissioned officers for the Air Force, the AFROTC provides participating students with substantial financial support for college costs in exchange for a commitment to military service. Specifically, AFROTC scholarships cover the cost of tuition and most lab fees, provide an annual textbook allowance, and offer a cash allowance of up to $500 for each academic month. In return, you participate in AFROTC officer training programs of between 2 and 4 years in length. The AFROTC scholarship program is an excellent opportunity to defray the costs of your NYU-Poly education and develop a broad range of skills that only the AFROTC can provide.

Learn more:  AFROTC.com and Manhattan College’s  AFROTC website