Forms & Procedures

Declaring or Changing a Major
Primary Major Declaration: Fill out the Major Declaration Form to declare your primary major by 5 pm, Monday, November 9, 2020 (China Time). A primary major declaration submitted by this deadline will be posted in Albert, pending approval, ahead of registration for Spring 2021 classes.
 
Second Major Declaration: If you are close to completing a second major that hasn’t been posted on your transcript yet, follow these steps by 5 pm, Monday, November 2, 2020 (China Time):
1. First, ensure that you have already successfully completed the majority of classes in both the primary and secondary major; NYU Shanghai major requirements are here.
2. If you’ve satisfied the above, fill out the Major Declaration Form and then email your academic advisor with a clear plan showing by which semester you will have completed each requirement (see sample here). After this has been reviewed and your plan approved as feasible, your second major will be posted to your transcript.
If you no longer intend to pursue a second major that has already been posted on your transcript, you should email shanghai.registrar@nyu.edu with a cc to your advisor to drop the major.
 
Seniors who have earned over 100 credit hours are not permitted to change their majors.
 
If you miss the above deadlines, you will have another opportunity in the Spring semester before registration for Fall 2021.
 
Declared majors will get priority of registering for some classes of the primary major. Priority registration does not apply for the second major.
 
Students may declare a major prior to registration for the next semester if they are registered for enough credits in the current semester so that at the end of it they will have completed at least 32 credits (typically when registering for fall of their second year). They must have a final grade of C, or current semester midterm grade of B, or higher in a designated prerequisite course for that major. When students do not have enough earned credits to declare a major, their major declaration will not be recognized even if they have completed a major declaration form.
 
The prerequisite courses for each major are:
 
  1. Humanities – Final grade of C, or currently enrolled in Global Perspective on Society
  2. Social Science – Final grade of C, or currently enrolled in Global Perspective on Society
  3. Global China Studies – Final grade of C, or currently enrolled in any required Global China Studies course
  4. Biology – Final grade of C, or currently enrolled in Foundations of Biology 1
  5. Neural Science – Final grade of C, or currently enrolled in Foundations of Biology 1
  6. Chemistry – Final grade of C, or currently enrolled in Foundations of Chemistry 2
  7. Physics – Final grade of C, or currently enrolled in Foundations of Physics 2
  8. Honors Mathematics – Final grade of C, or currently enrolled in Analysis 1. A grade of B in Honors Analysis 1 is strongly recommended. 
  9. Mathematics – Final grade of C, or currently enrolled in Multivariable Calculus. A grade of B in Multivariable Calculus is strongly recommended.
  10. Computer Science – Final grade of C, or currently enrolled in Introduction to Computer Programming OR Introduction to Computer Science
  11. Data Science – Final grade of C, or currently enrolled in Introduction to Computer Programming OR Introduction to Computer Science AND in Calculus
  12. Computer Systems Engineering – Final grade of C, or currently enrolled in Introduction to Computer Programming OR Introduction to Computer Science
  13. Electrical and Systems Engineering – Final grade of C, or currently enrolled in Introduction to Computer Programming OR Introduction to Computer Science
  14. Interactive Media Arts – Final grade of C, or currently enrolled in Interaction Lab OR Communications Lab
  15. Interactive Media and Business – Final grade of C, or currently enrolled in Application Lab OR Interaction Lab OR Communications Lab OR Principles of Financial Accounting OR Economics of Global Business
  16. Business – Final grade of C, or currently enrolled in Statistics for Business and Economics
  17. Economics – Final grade of C, or currently enrolled in Microeconomics
 
Note: If you receive a final grade of C- or below for a currently-enrolled prerequisite course, your major declaration will be removed.
Posting a Minor on Your Transcript

If you have already completed all required courses for a minor, you must submit this form to have your minor posted on your transcript. Minor applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The approval review and posting process generally takes 1-3 weeks, depending on whether it is a cross-school minor that may also require a New York-based department to review it.

Minor Completion Form

Requesting Leave of Absence

Leave of Absence Student Guide

Term/Total Withdrawal Student Guide

Requesting Credit Overload

Please meet with your advisor about requesting a term credit overload. Your advisor will make the change for you if approved. 

    Requesting Change of Grading Basis (Pass/Fail)

    Please meet with your advisor about requesting Pass/Fail. Your advisor will make the change for you if approved. 

    Requesting Course Evaluation

    This form is for NYU Shanghai students to request course evaluation for degree requirements.

    Course Evaluation Request Form

    Requesting Course Withdrawal

    Students may use this form to submit their course withdrawal request when the "Request Class Withdrawal" function is not available in Albert.

    NYU Shanghai Course Withdrawal Request Form

    Incomplete Grade Agreement

    NYU Shanghai Incomplete Grade Agreement

    Please review the incomplete grade guidelines on the form.

    Independent Study Application Form

    Independent Study Application Form

    Students should plan for an independent study with a faculty mentor at least one semester before it is being conducted and it requires permission of the department. Independent study is offered in the form of 2 or 4 credits. Students are expected to spend about ten to twelve hours a week on their project for 4 credits and half of this time for 2 credits.

     

    If you plan to do an independent study in the Fall semester, the application deadline is by May 1.

     

    If you plan to do an independent study in the Spring semester, the application deadline is by December 1.

     

    The applications will be reviewed after the deadline and students will be notified in 1-3 weeks.

     

    Independent Study – Biology

    Prerequisite: Foundations of Science I-III (or Physics I&II, Foundations of Chemistry I&II, Foundations of Biology I&II), and a minimum GPA of 3.0 overall and in all science and mathematics courses required for the major, permission of a biology faculty member (at NYU Shanghai, NYU Abu Dhabi, or NYU New York) who will act as a sponsor and mentor, and approval of the Discipline Leader in Biology. The faculty mentor must be selected in consultation with the Discipline Leader in Biology. Offered in the Fall, Spring or Summer. 2 to 4 points per term for a maximum of 4 points. This course aims at engaging students in research. It is designed to offer students an opportunity to observe biological research up close and gain hands-on research experience by working as a member in an active research team. Independent Study I and II can be done with the same supervisor or two different supervisors. No lectures will be given. Student researchers are expected to attend and actively participate in lab/supervision meetings. Requires a written report on the research to be evaluated by the faculty sponsor, with a copy submitted to the Discipline Leader in Biology and a copy to the Dean of Arts & Sciences.

     

    Independent Study – Business

    Students are permitted to work on an individual basis under the supervision of a full-time faculty member in the Business discipline if they have maintained an overall GPA of 3.0 and have a study proposal that is approved by a Business faculty member. The results of the study are embodied in a report of a type required by the instructor.

     

    Independent Study – Chemistry

    Students majoring in Chemistry are permitted to work on an individual basis under the supervision of a full-time or visiting faculty member in the relevant discipline if they have maintained an overall GPA of 3.0 and have a study proposal that is approved by a chemistry professor.

     

    Independent Study – Computer Science/Engineering/Data Science

    Does not satisfy the major elective requirement. Students majoring in computer science, data science, or engineering are permitted to work on an individual basis under the supervision of a full-time faculty member in the relevant discipline if they have maintained an overall GPA of 3.0 and a GPA of 3.5 in computer science/data science/engineering and have a study proposal that is approved by a computer science/data science/engineering professor. 

     

    Independent Study – Economics

    Students are permitted to work on an individual basis under the supervision of a full-time faculty member in the Economics discipline if they have maintained an overall GPA of 3.0 and have a study proposal that is approved by an Economics professor. The results of the study are embodied in a report of a type required by the instructor.

     

    Independent Study – Global China Studies

    Students are permitted to work on an individual basis under the supervision of a full-time faculty member in the Global China Studies discipline if they have maintained an overall GPA of 3.0 and have a study proposal that is approved by a GCS professor. 

     

    Independent Study – Humanities

    Students are permitted to work on an individual basis under the supervision of a full-time faculty member in the Humanities discipline if they have maintained an overall GPA of 3.0 and have a study proposal that is approved by a Humanities professor. 

     

    Independent Study – Mathematics

    Students majoring in mathematics are permitted to work on an individual basis under the supervision of a fulltime or visiting faculty member in the department if they have maintained an overall GPA of 3.0 and a GPA of 3.5 in mathematics and have a study proposal that is approved by a mathematics professor. 

     

    Independent Study – Neural Science

    Prerequisite: Foundations of Science I-III (or Physics I&II, Foundations of Chemistry I&II, Foundations of Biology I&II), Introduction to Neural Science, Biostatistics, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Behavioral and Integrative Neuroscience, and a minimum GPA of 3.0 overall and in all science and mathematics courses required for the major, permission of a neural science faculty member (at NYU-Shanghai, NYU-Abu Dhabi, or NYU-New York) who will act as a sponsor and mentor, and approval of the Director of Neural Science. The faculty mentor must be selected in consultation with the Director of Neural Science. Offered in the Fall or Spring. 2 to 4 points per term for a maximum of 4 points. This course aims at engaging students in research. It is designed to offer students an opportunity to observe neuroscience research up close and gain hands-on research experience by working as a member in an active research team. Independent Study I and II can be done with the same supervisor or two different supervisors. No lectures will be given. Student researchers are expected to attend and actively participate in lab/supervision meetings. The work requires a written report on the research to be evaluated by the faculty sponsor, with a copy submitted to the Director of Neural Science and a copy to the Dean of Arts & Sciences. 

     

    Independent Study – Physics

    Students majoring in physics are permitted to work on an individual basis under the supervision of a full-time or visiting faculty member in the relevant discipline if they have maintained an overall GPA of 3.0 and have a study proposal that is approved by a physics professor. 

     

    Independent Study – Social Science

    Students are permitted to work on an individual basis under the supervision of a full-time faculty member in the Social Science discipline if they have maintained an overall GPA of 3.0 and have a study proposal that is approved by a Social Science professor. The results of the study are embodied in a report of a type required by the instructor.