NYUAD offers 22 majors across the Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Engineering, and Sciences. Students must complete the requirements of a major, which vary. Students declare a major by the end of the second year, however, some majors have requirements beginning in the first year.

Although all courses successfully completed may be counted toward the 144 credit hours graduation requirement, only those courses in which grades of C or higher are earned may be counted toward major or core requirements.