Self-Designed Honors Major (SDHM) Application Process

The Application

Your application is your chance to tell us about your proposed studies, why it's significant, and how well you are prepared to undertake such a project.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Minimum cumulative 3.75 GPA in the preceding fall semester
  • Enrollment at NYU Shanghai as an undergraduate with sophomore standing during the academic year of application.
  • Two NYU Shanghai or other Portal Campus faculty advisors.  At least one of the advisors must be NYUSH faculty.
  • Conduct courses and research on campuses and Global Centers within The Global Network University (the SDHM is not intended to support coursework or research at other institutions).  Travel for specific and limited research purposes is allowed with prior permission from the Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs.
  • An approved realizable four year course plan for the major.  The overall requirement must be for 128 credits, at least 48 of which must be within the major proposed.

​Components of Application

  • Proposal: 8 pages maximum.
    Please follow the guidelines for Type I and Type II proposals. You may submit either type, but you must follow the structure laid out for SDHM.  If asking for a grant, the proposal should include additional page or pages outlining the budget.
  • Biography: 2 page maximum.
    A one-page biography is required for all proposals: tell us about yourself; your story; about who you are; where you come from; what you have done at NYU Shanghai; what interests you; why the SDHM is important to you. This should include relevant facts, but it should allow the Committee to get to know you better, and interest them in your story.  We do not expect or want you to "sell" us on your candidacy.
  • Applicant’s college transcript
    Please include an official or unofficial transcript.  The overall GPA is one of the factors, although not the most important, that we will consider.  
  • Resume: 1 page
    If you do not have an updated resume, please see the Career Development Center for advice on resume writing.
  • Letters of Support written by Faculty Advisor
    A SDHM requires full-time attendance over eight semesters within the GNU working under the direct and regular supervision of an NYU Shanghai faculty member/researcher.  The Letters of support comments not only on the student’s abilities but also on how the advising relationship will work.  The Letters of Support tells the Committee about the academic expectations for the student and how the relationship between advisor and student will be structured and defined, for instance: how often advisor and student will meet; if there are graduate student advisors involved; who will take over if the advisor unavailable; the timetable for the courses; and the nature of the student’s contribution.
  • Completed List of Major Requirements and Four Year Schedule of Classes
  • A BUDGET IS ONLY REQUIRED IF THE PROPOSAL INCLUDES A GRANT REQUEST