Accredited & Post-Professional Programs

The following programs at The Cooper Union have been registered by the New York State Education Department.

The New York State Education Department must review, approve and register every curriculum (program) creditable toward a degree at a New York State college or university before the institution may offer the program.

The following programs at The Cooper Union have been registered by the New York State Education Department. The B. Arch and B.E. programs have additional accreditations. Details may be found by clicking the respective links.

Undergraduate Program Hegis Code Degree
Architecture 0202 B.Arch.
Engineering 0901 B.S.
Chemical Engineering 0906 B.E.
Civil Engineering 0908 B.E.
Electrical Engineering 0909 B.E.
Mechanical Engineering 0910 B.E.
Fine Arts 1001 B.F.A.

 

Graduate Program Hegis Code Degree
Architecture 0202 Master of Science in Architecture (2019)
Architecture 0202

Master of Architecture II

(renamed in 2019)
Engineering 0901

Master of Engineering

Concentrations in Civil, Chemical, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering

 

Accreditation

The Cooper Union is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. "Accreditation is a process of peer review that the educational community has adopted for its self-regulation since early in the 20th century. It is a voluntary process intended to strengthen and sustain the quality and integrity of higher education, making it worthy of public confidence. Institutions choose to apply for accredited status, and once accredited, they agree to abide by the standards of their accrediting organization and to regulate themselves by taking responsibility for their own improvement." (2010, Middle States Commission of Higher Education). 

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is a voluntary membership association that “defines, maintains, and promotes educational excellence across institutions with diverse missions, student populations, and resources.” As a participating institution, Cooper Union engages in a self-study process every 10 years. The core principles for colleges and universities accredited by the Middle States Commission of Higher Education (MSCHE) focus on the student learning experience, emphasis on institutional assessment and assessment of student learning, and continuous institutional improvement and innovation.

Accreditation means that standards of quality and excellence have been met.

In addition, specialized accreditation for Cooper Union’s professional program in Architecture has been provided:

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.