Academic Policies

Taking a Leave of Absence

Students in good academic standing who need to interrupt their studies for personal reasons should petition for a leave of absence by meeting with the advisor in their school and completing the official Exit Form. Leaves of absence are typically approved for one or two semesters, depending on the curriculum and academic requirements of the program and the nature of the student's request. Medical leaves of absence require appropriate documentation.

Withdrawing from a Degree Program

Students who wish to withdraw completely from the university must meet with the advisor in their school and complete the official Exit Form. A student who withdraws and later wishes to return to the university must reapply through the Office of Admission.

• Exit Guidelines (PDF)
• Exit Form (PDF)
• Health Insurance Exit Information (PDF)
• Deferral

Students seeking to return to the university after an extended period away must apply for readmission.

Situations requiring readmission are as follows:

• Dismissal
• Unofficial or approved exit from Parsons without returning for four semesters (two academic years)
• Official withdrawal from a Parsons degree program

If you left Parsons for any of these reasons, you will need to complete the Readmission Application (PDF).

The readmission application requires you to write a Letter of Intent. Your letter should include relevant information regarding reasons for leaving Parsons; academic status at the time of departure; activities since leaving, including study at other institutions; and future goals.

If you have enrolled elsewhere (including other divisions of The New School) since you last attended Parsons, please include an official transcript of your course of study.

If health difficulties affected your course of study at Parsons, please provide an update on your health and a recommendation from a qualified medical or mental health clinician.

If you have been working, a recommendation from your employer is helpful to include.

Some applicants may also be required to submit a portfolio.

Deadlines: You must submit the complete readmission application no later than August 1 to be considered for readmission in the fall semester and no later than November 15 for readmission in the spring semester.

If you have any questions about the readmission criteria or process, please call the Office of Advising at 212.229.5855 or write to AdvisingParsons@newschool.edu.

Students may take summer courses for transfer credit at another institution provided they:

1. Are in good academic standing.
2. Have not already transferred the maximum number of credits allowed.
3. Have completed all required first-year courses.
4. Have obtained pre-approval from a Parsons advisor to transfer the credit.

Bring the summer course catalog from the other institution to your advisor and complete the Permission to Take Courses at Another Institution form (PDF).

Note: Because each Parsons program has a carefully structured, sequential curriculum, approval is rarely given to take core program courses at another institution.

If you wish to change your major within the same division and degree program, fill out the Change of Department Form (PDF) and take it to your advisor. Students wishing to remain in the same division but change degrees (for example, from BBA to BFA) should consult the Parsons Catalog for applicable procedures. If you wish to transfer to another division of the university, you must apply through the Office of Admission.

Your degree requirements for graduation are based on your catalog year. Your catalog year is determined based on the year that you entered Parsons as well as the degree program that you entered as an incoming student:

• BFA, BBA, and BS students who entered Parsons as freshmen should refer to the catalog that corresponds with their academic year of entry.
• BFA, BBA, and BS students who entered as sophomore transfers should refer to the catalog one academic year prior to their academic year of entry.
• BFA, BBA, and BS students who entered as junior transfer students should refer to the catalog two academic years prior to their academic year of entry.
• AAS students, regardless of transfer credit, and all MFA, MA, and MS students should refer to the catalog that corresponds with their academic year of entry.

Current Parsons students may also find the degree requirements corresponding to their catalog years in DegreeWorks.

• Parsons Catalog 2011–2012 (PDF)
• Parsons Catalog 2010–2011 (PDF)
• Parsons Catalog 2009–2010 (PDF)
• Parsons Catalog 2008–2009 (PDF)
• Parsons Student Handbook 2008–2009 (PDF)