The New School awards Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees to Eugene Lang College students who successfully complete 120 credits of study as described below. Enrollment in programs not registered or otherwise approved may jeopardize students'
eligibility for certain student aid awards. All students should consult with their Student Success advisor and their departmental faculty advisor each semester to ensure they are on track to graduate.
- BA/BFA students are given priority in the registration process to ensure that they have access to required courses and to avoid scheduling conflicts. It is essential for BA/BFA students to review their academic progress carefully with their assigned Student Success advisor before registering.
- Lang transfer students should also read the Graduation Requirements for Transfer Students.
University-wide Undergraduate Degree Requirements
Undergraduate students must complete all university-wide requirements for their degree and adhere to all relevant university policies. See the
university's catalog for more information about each of these requirements:
- Minimum 120 credits
- Required number of liberal arts credits for their degree (see Liberal Arts section below)
- Shared Capacities requirements (consult your Student Success advisor)
- Two University Lecture (ULEC) courses. Consult your Student Success advisor for category requirements.
Transfer students: Transfer students who enter Lang with sophomore or higher standing may be eligible to apply transfer credit toward one ULEC requirement but will be required to complete one ULEC in residence. Since transfer students may need to fulfill Shared Capacities requirements through ULEC coursework, they should consult with their advisors about the appropriate ULEC course to take that will fulfill remaining Shared Capacities requirements.
BA/BFA
students: As of fall 2018, all BA/BFA students (Jazz and Parsons) must take a three-credit University Lecture (ULEC) course in ULEC category 1, Tools for Social Change, or category 2, Introductions to Social Research.
Students must also complete all additional requirements for their college, school, and/or program, including but not limited to the additional total number of credits and additional liberal arts credits (see your particular program of study for these requirements).
Liberal Arts
Minimum required liberal arts credits:
- Bachelor
of Arts (BA) students must complete at least 90 liberal arts credits and not more than 30 credits in non–liberal arts courses (defined as studio and practice-based courses and internships)
- Bachelor
of Science (BS) students must complete at least 60 liberal arts credits and not more than 60 credits in non–liberal arts courses (defined as studio and practice-based courses and internships)
Please note that some programs may require additional liberal arts credits (see your particular program of study for these requirements).
General Degree Requirements for the BA/BS at Lang
In addition to meeting the university-wide undergraduate degree requirements above and Graduation Requirements, Lang students must complete the courses listed below.
Students who enter with freshman standing must complete the following courses:
- Writing the Essay I and II (or equivalent transfer credit; Jazz BA/BFA students
are exempt from the Writing the Essay II requirement; Parsons BA/BFA students are
not required to take Writing the Essay)
- First-Year Advising Seminar (BA/BFA students should consult a Student Success
advisor). This seminar incorporates a First-Year Workshop.
All students must also comply with the following policies:
- Students who entered Lang as freshmen must earn at least 40 credits in 3000-level or higher-level courses (prorated for transfers who enter with sophomore
standing or higher).
- Students must complete two Writing the Essay courses (either through a combination of I, II, and III or through approved transfer credit).
- Students must fulfill all Shared Capacities through designated Lang and New School coursework (including ULECs), approved transfer credit, or a combination of both.
- Lang residency: Students are expected to spend a minimum of two years (60 credits) at Lang, including the final two semesters immediately preceding graduation. This includes courses taken through Lang, University Liberal Studies, and cross-listed courses
from other divisions of The New School (prorated
for transfers; all BA/BFA students must earn a minimum of 44 credits in Lang
courses—at least one Lang course every semester). In addition, students must complete a certain minimum number of credits at Lang. Students who enter as freshmen must complete 88 credits at Lang. Since transfer students attend Lang for a shorter time, the requirement is prorated. Transfer students should consult their Student Success advisor about this requirement.
- Senior-year residency: All students must spend their final two semesters in residence at Lang.
- Students must fulfill all course requirements for a Lang major (see your particular program of study for these requirements).
- Students may have no more than 24 internship/independent study credits.
- Students must earn required minimum grades for courses in the major. Declare your major by following the process outlined in Declaring a Major.
- Students must maintain the required overall minimum GPA for the major.
Enrollment in non-approved programs may jeopardize a student’s eligibility for certain student aid awards.
Students studying abroad may take up to three courses toward their major at the host institution, subject to preliminary review and final approval upon
their return by the departmental faculty advisor.
Changes in Requirements
Curriculum requirements for some areas of study may change during students’ course of study. If the requirements change, students who have earned fewer than 45 credits at the time of declaration must fulfill the new requirements of the area of study unless the program director or chair agrees otherwise. Students who have earned more than 45 credits have the option of completing the previous curriculum or the revised curriculum.
Double Majors, Double Minors, and Double Concentrations at Lang
Students may be able to declare and complete up to two majors and/or two minors as part of their course of study. Students completing a double major receive one degree, with both majors noted on the transcript. Completing a double major requires fulfillment
of all the requirements for both degree programs and approval from the departmental faculty advisors of both programs. The senior capstone may be either a joint project or the senior seminar from one of the degree programs, with the approval of the
departmental faculty advisors of both programs. No more than three courses can be applied toward both majors, in addition to the senior capstone.
Students interested in a double major should consult with their Student Success advisor as well as the departmental faculty advisors in both programs to find out whether completing the two majors, even with double counting of three courses, would significantly
increase the length of time they would need to graduate.
Similarly, students can complete two minors, where offered, by fulfilling all the requirements for both minor programs. Since a minor requires fewer courses in total, no more than one course may be applied toward both minors (or to a major-minor combination).
Where concentrations are offered within a major, students can complete two concentrations, but no more than one course (or four credits) can be applied toward both concentrations.
Restrictions for Double Majors
Students pursuing a degree in the Liberal Arts major, specifically BA Liberal Arts, cannot complete a double major.
The following are not options at The New School: BA/BS, BA/BBA, and BS/BBA.