FAQ
For Current Students' Frequently Asked Questions, please see here.
New York University’s John W. Draper Interdisciplinary Master’s Program in Humanities and Social Thought, housed within the Graduate School of Arts and Science, serves students whose academic interests are best met by more than one disciplinary focus. We work closely with our students to help them craft a course of study that is thorough, rigorous, and that lets them explore their scholarly interests as fully as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
For admissions-related FAQs, please see here
Why should I apply to the Draper Program?
There are several possible reasons.
Many students use the Draper Program as a transition between undergraduate and doctoral studies. While completing the requirements for the Draper master’s degree, students clarify and refine questions that will be at the heart of their PhD research. Some students want to pursue a doctorate in a field that has little connection to their undergraduate work; in the Draper Program, they can begin to acquire fluency in conversations relevant to their new interests. If their doctoral intentions build on their undergraduate focus, they use Draper to establish a graduate-level scholarly record that increases the likelihood of a successful PhD application.
Other Draper students use the Program to choose among several possible PhD concentrations. If you want to earn a PhD but aren’t sure which discipline best suits your research interests, the Draper Program lets you consider different disciplinary possibilities. Many of our students arrive at Draper intent on a particular discipline only to realize that they are more excited by another field of study.
Draper also suits those whose undergraduate focus does not resemble their current interests. A biology major, for instance, now wants to study urban anthropology. Or a musician or a visual artist or an accounting major and now wants to immerse in Derridian literary analyses or the philosophy of science.
Finally, Draper is a good place for you if you have no desire to pursue a doctorate but want to participate in the intellectual excitement and academic challenge of graduate school.
What do students do once they finish the Draper degree?
Because Draper student interest is so eclectic, there is not a typical alumnus profile. Many students make a successful transition into PhD programs, usually with full funding, in a diverse array of disciplines.
Many other alumni use their master's degrees to help them find jobs, to further careers they are already building, or to change careers completely. Our students work closely with NYU’s Office of Career Services [http://www.nyu.edu/careerdevelopment/], where counselors guide students in writing effective resumes and cover letters, offer the chance to brush up on interview skills, and provide thousands of employment opportunities.
Draper students have found work in not-for-profit organizations, in banking and finance, in advertising and public relations, in government, in education, in arts organizations and museums and galleries, and at various media outlets, among many examples.
As a Draper student, where else within the University may I take classes?
You may take classes in most other departments within the Graduate School of Arts and Science. Comparative Literature, Anthropology, English, History, Sociology, Hebrew and Judaic Studies, Journalism, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and Politics, among others, regularly list courses with the Draper Program. There are also many courses not listed within Draper that our students are welcome to take. Occasionally there are limitations on course choice within GSAS. Some classes are designated exclusively for upper-level PhD students. Some classes have limits on enrollment and give first priority to the host department's students. Science, mathematics, and economics courses require that you demonstrate adequate prerequisite training.
Who teaches in the Draper Program?
All Draper faculty hold a PhD or equivalent terminal degree; none of our courses are taught by graduate students.
When may I start my studies?
Students are admitted to the Program in the fall, spring, and summer. The deadline for fall admission is July 1; for spring admission, December 1. Admissions meetings take place frequently so if a candidate submits an application well ahead of the deadlines, notification is made in advance.
How many students are in the Draper Program?
At the start of the Fall 2009 semester, there were 112 students in the Draper Program.
How long does it take to complete the Draper master's degree?
Students may study full-time or part-time. Part-time study means one or two courses per semester; full-time study is three courses. Students often choose to take courses during the summer as well, in one or both of two summer sessions. The standard pace for full-time students is about 15 months -- two semesters plus the summer for course work and then one more semester for writing the thesis. The average time to degree is about two years, but the Graduate School allows up to five years from the first semester of enrollment.
May students take classes in more than one area of inquiry?
Certainly. Our six areas provide the intellectual organization for the Program but in no way restrict course choices or course access. Most Draper students take courses in several areas; some take courses in all six.
How much does the Draper master's degree cost?
Draper's tuition is determined each year by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Students are billed per point. (The Draper degree is composed of 32 points; most courses are four points each.) The Draper tuition rate for 2009 - 2010 academic year can be found on the Bursar's website, here: http://www.nyu.edu/bursar/tuition.fees/rates09/gradDraper.html
Is there financial aid? Are there teaching or research assistantships?
Beginning in fall 2009, all applicants for admission will be considered for a Draper Tuition Scholarship. These scholarships will be awarded on a competitive basis and will cover 50% of the costs for up to 32 points of tuition. Teaching and research assistantships are not available through the Program.
Students (including international students) who obtain external awards from recognized academic sources of funding outside of NYU (e.g., a foundation, private agency, government) can apply for an award toward tuition through the Graduate School's Tuition Incentive Program (TIP). An application and specific details about TIP eligibility criteria can be obtained on the web at http://math.nyu.edu/financial_mathematics/content/05_prospectiveStudents/tip.pdf.
Applicants should also consult http://gsas.nyu.edu/page/grad.financialaid.html and http://www.nyu.edu/gsas/OASL/GrantsAwards/GIGS.html for more information about Financial Aid and a list of URLs about scholarships and other awards.
How many students apply to the Draper Program and how many are admitted?
Last year we received 412 applications. Slightly fewer than 40 percent of them were accepted, making Draper one the most competitive master’s programs in the country. A successful applicant writes well and clearly, has an undergraduate transcript that demonstrates ability and intelligence, and can articulate a goal (or goals) for graduate study.
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