CUNY BA 4+1

The Sustainability in the Urban Environment (SUS) Master’s Program at The City College of New York has formally launched its first accelerated 4+1 combined degree Program with the CUNY Baccalaureate for Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies. This new 4+1 will allow undergraduate students across the CUNY system who are forming their own majors related to urban sustainability and climate adaptation to complete one semester of SUS while still in the CUNY BA Program and then finish the M.S. in Urban Sustainability in just one additional year. 

At CUNY BA, (housed at the CUNY Graduate Center) students can design their own degree through work with faculty mentors and advisors that transcend study within existing departments. Students form their majors and have a home CUNY campus, but may take coursework across the system. For students with an interest is urban climate resilience, this new opportunity provides a pathway to uniquely focus on environmental concerns resulting in both an individualized bachelor’s and an M.S. in Urban Sustainability in 5 years.

Eligibility:

CUNY BA students who have completed 75 undergraduate credits or more, including at least 15 CUNY BA residency credits, who have maintained a cumulative CUNY GPA of 3.2 or higher, and who are focused on issues concerning climate and the environment, will be considered eligible for the pipeline program. Students should take, at a minimum, College Algebra or higher and Intro to Physics, or other equivalent or additional science coursework.

Admissions Process:

CUNY BA students who wish to apply to the accelerated graduate program should first notify their CUNY BA Academic Advisor to receive advisement and information about the application process from their CUNY BA Academic Advisor if they meet the minimum eligibility criteria in conjunction with the SUS advisor. To apply for admission, students will be required to submit a one-to-two-page personal statement outlining their personal and academic rationale for joining the accelerated graduate program in SUS. Students should demonstrate a commitment ot pursuing a master's degree in Urban Sustainability based upon their current program of study and/or work experience. With support from CUNY BA, the student will submit their application, personal statement, letters of recommendation, and unofficial CUNY BA transcripts to the CUNY BA 4+1 Admissions Committee who will review the materials and consult with the student's CUNY BA Academic Advisor on any additional pertinent information needed. Final decisions regarding provisional acceptances to CCNY SUS will be made by the CCNY SUS Admissions Commitee. CCNY SUS will issue a letter of acceptance, rejection, or waitlist status during the Spring and Fall semesters. CCNY will accept the CUNY BA undergraduate students to the MS program provisionally, with final acceptance to the MS program granted when the students have successfully completed the SUS courses taken while they are undergraduates, maintained a CUNY GPA of 3.0 or higher for both cumulative undergraduate coursework and CCNY SUS graduate coursework, and completed their bachelor degrees through CUNY BA. CCNY SUS and CUNY BA advisors will ensure candidates meet math and physics requirements by taking (at least) College Algebra and Intro to Physics on any CUNY Campus. Following completion of the CUNY BA Program, students will need to resubmit their application to the SUS Program at CCNY as a formality to confirm transfer credits and confirming they have received their Bachelor's Degree. The deadline to formally apply to the Sustainability Program for the Fall semester for CUNY BA graduates is August 1st of that year (1 month before the Fall semester).

Courses Taken During CUNY BA:

Select core graduate courses leading to a Master of Science in Urban Sustainability degree will be offered as part of the pipeline program, including SUS 7100C: Cities and Sustainability, SUS 7200C: Sustainable Aquatic, Terrestrial, and Atmospheric Systems, SUS 7300C: Industrial Ecology and Life Cycle Analysis, SUS 7400C: Economics of Sustainability, and select electives when applicable. Students will complete a total of 9 credits (3 classes) to apply to the M.S. during the CUNY BA Program, 6 of which (2 classes) must be among the four core courses. 

For questions please reach out to CCNY Urban Sustainability or the CUNY BA Program at general@cunyba.cuny.edu .