Special Programs

BS/MS Accelerated Program

Undergraduates with outstanding academic records in most programs may pursue an accelerated BS/MS option, which leads to simultaneous award of a bachelor’s and master’s degree in as few as 4 years. This program allows students to make accelerated progress towards completing the 2 degrees through combinations of AP credits, summer course work, and additional credits each semester. The courses required for the 2 degrees in this program include all courses required for the individual BS and MS degrees, but the total number of credits may be less than the sum of the credits required for the individual degrees. International Students in F-1 or J-1 status must obtain prior permission and the necessary I-20/DS-2019 from the Office of International Students and Scholars before enrollment in the combined BS/MS program.

Honors Program

Offered through the Othmer Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies, 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 Othmer 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)

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.

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