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Eligibility and Applications

 

Basics and Frequently Asked Questions

  • Minimum requirements for our Program, in addition to below, can be found here on our Graduate Admissions page. 
  • Applicants must have a full bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Those finishing undergrad may apply and will need to submit their official transcripts upon completing their bachelor's to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Applicants holding only an associates degree are not eligible for the Program. 
  • Applicants should have an undergraduate degree in architecture, engineering, science, or a relevant social science area. Applicants with degrees in other fields may qualify for admission to the program depending on their experience and academic achievements. In the case of applicants coming from the social sciences, arts, or communications, there is the likelihood of a conditional acceptance requiring the applicant pass a college algebra or introductory physics course in the semester before beginning the Sustainability Program. This is determined by out Admissions Committee on a case-by-case basis. Students from all academic backgrounds passionate about Sustainability are encouraged to apply. 
  • For all applicants, the expectation is a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0. Those applying with a GPA below the 3.0 minimum should address why this is the case in their personal statement and should provide an otherwise especially strong application including all recommended materials and strong letters of recommendation. 
  • A personal statement is required. While there is no specific word limit, it should be about one (1) page and a maximum of three (3) pages. It is otherwise open ended. 
  • Three (3) letters of recommendation are required. They can come from a mixture of undergraduate faculty and professional references. For those who have been out of school for an extended period of time, three professional reference letters are acceptable. Likewise, for college seniors and recent graduates, three faculty recommendations are acceptable. 
  • Full undergraduate transcripts are required (official transcripts must also be mailed directly to Graduate Admissions).
  • Resume (1 page) submission is strongly recommended.
  • Writing samples are accepted and recommended where helpful. They should be directly related to Urban Sustainability. 
  • An interview may be requested over Zoom to discuss application questions, but an interview is not required. 
  • Scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) are not required.
  • Portfolios are not required. 
  • Based on applications, students clearly demonstrating they may struggle with writing in English at the graduate level may need to take and pass an undergraduate English writing course for the sciences or for engineering in their first or second semester. These courses are available online. This is determined on a case-by-case basis by our Admissions Committee (see below). 
  • Still have questions? Watch a recorded information session about the Program here.
  • Find other program FAQ here.
  • Interested in seeing more of what alumni, students, and faculty are up to? Visit our Program Blog: Sustainability and the City

International Applicants

We welcome all international applications!

International student applicants must have an equivalent degree from their foreign institution, a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 (translational services to the U.S. 4.0 GPA system are required whenever necessary), and a minimum passing IBT (Internet-Based Test) TOEFL score of 79 or IELTS of 6.5. Many of our international students stay for OPT following completion of their degree, including STEM-OPT. Please make sure your application includes the U.S. 4.0 GPA system and transcript translation

Additional information for international applicants can be found here

Admissions Process

An Admissions Committee consisting of faculty members from architecture, engineering, science, and social sciences will review applications and determine admission into the program. The Sustainability Program and Admissions Committee only receives and reviews complete applications. Applications are reviewed on a semi-rolling basis. Applicants generally receive a decision within two (2) weeks of the application deadline or within one (1) month of submitting their completed application including all letters of recommendation, whichever comes first. 

The Sustainability in the Urban Environment Program accepts applications for students who begin the program each fall and spring. For the upcoming admissions cycles--for students who will begin in fall 2020--the application deadline is April 1st, 2020. The application deadline for spring admission in 2021 will be September 15th, 2020. For Fall 2021, the deadline will be February 1st, 2021. 

The application process (online only) is managed entirely by the Graduate Admissions office at City College. For any questions related to applications, application status, and application fees, please reach out directly to Graduate Admissions. 

Admissions Information

Our Program page with Graduate Admissions is located here

Call (212) 650-6977 or write graduateadmissions (at) ccny.cuny.edu. 

Online application: Graduate Admissions Online Application.

Mail official transcripts and checks (or money orders) to:

        Office of Graduate Admissions
        Wille Administration Building
        Room 101
        160 Convent Avenue
        New York, NY 10031

The application fee, payable by check or money order, is $75. Instructions can be found in Graduate Admissions Step 2.

Tuition & Financing  

Find our tuition and fees schedule here. Our Program follows the Architecture and Engineering tuition fee schedule. Find more information about financing your graduate studies at CCNY here.

While our Program does not currently offer full scholarships directly through our office, our students often work with us and our partners in a number of ways to get relevant, paid experience in Sustainability while in our Program. Here are a few examples: 

  • College Assistantships: We hire current students (both U.S. domestic and international) to work on project in our office such as outreach, event planning, and social media (all part-time) on an hourly salary of at least $15/hour. 
  • Ambassadorships: Through opportunities to apply and become Graduate Ambassadors, any current student in our Program can earn a $500 stipend per semester for supporting the Program and recruitment efforts. 
  • Internships: Based on available funding, we bring current students on board to complete relevant tasks of interest to them in our office on a part-time basis for a $3,500 stipend per semester. 
  • CUNY BPL: Our Program works closely with the CUNY Building Performance Lab (housed at CCNY). BPL's Director serves as a co-instructor for relevant courses in our Program and many of our students either intern or work part-time or full-time in their offices. 
  • NOAA-CREST: Several of our students with science backgrounds or focused on the sciences in our degree program receive scholarships and fellowships through CCNY's NOAA-CREST office. 
  • Locating Summer Internships and Job Opportunities: Our office is committed to leveraging connections with our alumni network to ensure as many students as possible secure paid opportunities in Sustainability and Resiliency in New York City. Where applicable, students may also earn internship credits for summer internship work on a competitive basis. Our weekly announcements to students and alumni incorporate relevant job, internship, and fellowship postings from around the City in various sectors. 
  • Work-Study: Through the Federal Work-Study Program, we offer positions for graduate students to work on Sustainability in the Urban Environment initiatives. 

 

Still have additional questions? Fill out this form here and someone will be in touch with you shortly! 

Last Updated: 11/03/2022 00:08