Graduates of NYU Abu Dhabi receive either a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree, depending on their major.
NYU Abu Dhabi has several types of courses: while most course offerings are full courses counting for four academic credits; Engineering, Science, and Music do offer a variety of two-credit or half courses. Most of the half courses last only seven weeks, but 14-week half courses do exist as do intensive 7-week full, four-credit courses. Students must complete a minimum of 140 credits (35 full courses) and have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00
to graduate.
The development of strong writing skills throughout a student’s academic career is an important objective of an NYUAD education. This work begins with a semester-long Writing Seminar in the first year, which introduces students to the reading, writing, oral expression, and critical thinking skills essential to a liberal arts education. The First-Year Writing Seminar lays the foundation for the continued practice in university-level thinking and writing that students will experience at NYU Abu Dhabi.
In addition to the First-Year Writing Seminar, students receive extensive writing and communication practice in all Core courses and come to learn that each discipline has its own conventions for advanced writing in their fields. Students complete writing assessments during their Admissions Candidate Weekend that guide initial placement in the program’s courses. These assessments help the Writing Program faculty advise students about how to maximize the impact of the course on their learning.
For instance, students who are identified as needing more time to practice college-level writing are strongly advised to take the Writing Seminar in the fall of their first year. Students identified as being more fully prepared are advised to take their First-Year Writing Seminar the following spring.
The Core requires students to complete two Core Colloquia as well as one course in each of four broad areas of inquiry:
Students are also required to fill additional requirements in quantitative reasoning, experimental inquiry, Islamic studies, and physical education through Core courses or courses in their major or general elective selections.
NYU Abu Dhabi offers a range of majors across the Arts and Humanities, Social Science, Science, and Engineering. Students declare a major by the end of their second year. However, some majors do have requirements beginning in the first year. Although all courses successfully completed may count toward the 140-credit graduation requirement, only those courses in which grades of C or higher are earned count toward major, minor, or Core requirements.
Students who major in the Arts and Humanities, Social Science, and Psychology, and who complete all the degree and other graduation requirements earn the BA degree.
The BS degree is awarded to students who major in Engineering or Science (except Psychology) and who complete all the degree and other graduation requirements.
Students who complete double majors earn the degree associated with the major that they have indicated is their primary major and in which they complete their Capstone project.
View the complete list of programs offered at NYU Abu Dhabi.
Most NYUAD academic programs offer optional minors for non-majors. Additional multidisciplinary minors support work across disciplines and require students to think about complex subjects from multiple perspectives.
Minors allow students to focus on a second field of study, in addition to their major, without the extensive commitment required of a second major. Most minors require four or five courses that complement the major area of study or are of personal interest to a student. Students are encouraged to explore the option of completing a minor rather than a full second major.
Students are required to complete three January Term courses, including one in the first year. In the absence of an approved, compelling reason, such as a study away calendar conflicts, students complete their two remaining January terms during their second and third year of enrollment.
Every NYUAD student will complete a Capstone project in their major field. This may be either an individual or team project.
The Capstone is a demanding, year-long endeavor aiming at a significant piece of research or creative work; an historical narrative, musical composition, performance, invention, documented experiment, scholarly thesis, or other form appropriate to the student’s goals. Unlike other courses in which faculty establish the structure and set assignments, the Capstone project puts the student in charge. The fundamental challenge is to enter unmapped terrain and to extend oneself in making knowledge, reframing conventional approaches to an issue or creating something new.
Beyond these requirements, students are free to choose general electives from across the curriculum. These general elective courses can include foreign language courses, extra courses from within their major, courses from other programs, and pre-professional courses.
Between study abroad, January Term, and courses offered by the many visiting faculty from NYU New York and other prestigious universities, significant opportunities exist for students to sample from an almost limitless set of courses. Pre-professional courses, in particular, allow students to begin exploring careers through an investigation of the academic preparation expected in various fields.
