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Special Programs

CUNY/BMCC Special Programs

The City University of New York (CUNY) and BMCC provide educational programs to help you develop beyond your academic degree requirements. The following special programs are available:

CUNY Baccalaureate Degree Program

The CUNY Baccalaureate Degree Program enables self-directed, academically strong, highly motivated students to design their own academic course of study under the guidance of faculty mentors. If the student has unique academic goals or career objectives and is interested in designing a completely individualized course of study leading to the B.A. or B.S. degree, then this program offers a singular opportunity. Campus Coordinator of the CUNY Baccalaureate is Prof. Rolando Jorif, Room N-751.

Directed/Independent Study

The Directed/Independent Study Program is available for advanced students to work independently of a formal classroom situation.

This option is available for approved BMCC courses. A maximum of 9 credits may be earned. For information on eligibility and enrollment procedures, please contact the Department Chairperson of your particular field of interest.

BMCC Transfer Programs

To help our graduates make a seamless transition to a senior college, BMCC has formalized articulation agreements with a number of academic programs at senior institutions such as the following:

The Community College Transfer Opportunity Program (CCTOP) is a  partnership  between BMCC and New York University (NYU). Transfer agreements have been worked out between the two colleges that will enable students to transfer at least 60 college credits to a related program of study at NYU. For further information, please visit the Academic Advisement and Transfer Center in Room S-108.

The NYU Pipeline Opportunities for Inter-College STEM Education (POISE) program creates a pipeline for sophomore-standing BMCC students from underrepresented minority groups pursuing STEM (science, computer science, engineering, psychology, and math) disciplines. These students will be supported and mentored by BMCC and NYU faculty, staff, and students, in addition to the ongoing support provided by BMCC. http://www.bmcc.cuny.edu/academics/special-programs.jsp

The Vassar College Summer Exploring Transfer Program is an intensive five-week program designed to expand transfer options by introducing community college students to a 4- year residential liberal arts college experience. Thirty-five students (approximately 6 from BMCC) from seven community colleges from  New York City and upstate counties live full time in a residence hall on the Vassar campus in Poughkeepsie, NY while taking interdisciplinary, liberal arts courses. Each three-credit course is transferable. The courses are team taught by faculty members from Vassar and the participating community colleges. Past courses included The Idea of Difference in Literature and Society; Examination of Power in Literature and Political Theory; and The American Mosaic.

Tuition, room, meals, and textbooks are paid for in full by the program. Participants have full access to the Vassar College Library, computing, and athletic facilities. The program begins in mid June and ends in mid July. During the five-week class period, private 4-year colleges come to recruit students, offering scholarships. For further information, see Prof. Cara O’Connor at coconnor@bmcc.cuny.edu or Prof. Jamie Warren at jwarren@bmcc.cuny.edu.

The GUIDE program is a partnership between NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study and the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC). Gallatin faculty and advisers mentor several high-achieving BMCC students, preparing them to succeed as full-scholarship juniors and seniors in Gallatin’s rigorous liberal arts BA-degree program. The GUIDE program is an invite-only program. BMCC will identify a cohort of eligible students who will be invited to attend an information session and submit an application. GUIDE is tailored to students interested in studying social justice, which is understood broadly to include: social movements, law and governance, urban democracy, economics, identity formation, political literature and art, arts activism, and environmental studies.