:: POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY :: The Office of General Studies

Overview

The General Studies (GS) Program was created to provide students, who do not meet the traditional admissions requirements, an opportunity to obtain a science, engineering, humanities and management based education in a supportive environment. To ensure student success, the General Studies students are provided with a broad variety of services beginning with a mandatory summer program prior to the start of their freshman year and continuing throughout the academic year with mandatory, weekly tutoring and advisement sessions. Once admitted into Polytechnic, students must successfully participate in the program for one year before they are allowed to officially declare their major.

Program Structure

Prior to the start of their freshman year, General Studies (GS) students must participate in a seven week summer program. This summer program is designed to help equip the students with the knowledge, tools and skills necessary to meet the challenges of the NYU-Poly curriculum and make a smooth transition to college life. Over the course of the summer, GS students face an intense academic schedule, which includes tutoring, writing consultant sessions, group meetings and individual advisement sessions. The following is a brief description of the courses students must complete during the summer program:

GS 101 Computer Skills for Engineers

Course focuses on the basic functions and intricacies of AutoCAD, Microsoft Word, Excel, Project, and PowerPoint. Course requirements consist of weekly lab assignments, a midterm, final, and an individual project synthesizing the course content.

GS 102 Pre-College Writing

Course is designed to prepare students for writing at the collegiate level. Class time is composed of reading and writing exercises, grammar quizzes and lessons, and a close examination of student writing (workshops).

GS 103 Pre-College Math

Course focuses on preparing students for the Introduction to Pre-calculus course. Course requirements consist of daily participation, weekly quizzes, daily homework assignments, a midterm and final.

After successfully completing the summer program, General Studies students begin their freshman year of studies in the Fall semester alongside other Polytechnic students. Students are limited to 12 credits in their first semester and take the following three courses: English, Math and General Engineering; English and Math courses are based on placement exam results. Additionally, students are required to attend weekly tutorial sessions. Academic progress is monitored by the Director via weekly advisement sessions.

For the spring semester, students may take a full load of 16 credits if they have satisfactorily completed their first semester of studies. Courses to be taken will be determined in consultation with the students by the Director. Tutoring and advisement sessions are also required in the spring semester. At the end of the freshman year, General Studies students must achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average of “C” or 2.0 and must complete a minimum of 20 credits in order to remain at Polytechnic Institute of NYU. Students who successfully complete their first year according to the above-set standards and meet published programmatic requirements shall change their major from General Studies to any degree granting program at Polytechnic Institute of NYU.