The CUNY Baccalaureate for Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies (CUNY BA), established in 1971, is a small, university-wide alternate program intended for self-directed, academically strong students who have clear and well-formulated academic and career goals.

With guidance from a full-time CUNY faculty member who agrees to serve as a mentor, each student is able to design an individualized area of specialization. Some studnets have completed degrees ranging from American Revolutionary History to Zoological Photography; there is almost no limit to what students can pursue through this degree route. Although students in the program are matriculated at one CUNY college, they are free to pursue their studies and take courses at any of the other CUNY colleges. Students may be able to earn up to 30 credits for non-classroom work (i.e. military credists and credit-by-exam), and half (15) of these credits may be awarded  for prior life experience.

To be eligible, students must have completed at least 12 college credits with a GPA of 2.8 or higher. Candidates with overall GPAs below the minimum will be considered if they have recent academic work with grades of “B” or better. The GPA in completed courses related to the student’s academic proposal will also be evaluated. CUNY BA students must follow the University-wide, 30-credit common core (Required and Flexible Core general education requirements) known as Pathways.  CUNY BA students are not, however, required to complete the 6-12 credit College Option courses at their home colleges.

The CUNY BA and BS degrees are fully accredited and are awarded by the City University rather than by an individual college. The program operates under the auspices of the CUNY Graduate School and University Center.

The CUNY BA Campus Liaison at Baruch College is Ms. Elaine Cataletto, Associate Director, Office of Undergraduate Advisement & Orientation, (646) 312-4272, Elaine.Cataletto@baruch.cuny.edu, 55 Lexington Avenue, Box #B5-215.

Special Registration Requirements and Permissions

While CUNY BA students are eligible to take courses in almost all schools and departments across the CUNY campuses, there are a few exceptions which applicants and currents students should be aware of.  Please click here for additional CUNY-wide information.

If you are (or were) a Baruch student who fulfilled the course prerequisites at Baruch or by Baruch’s own transfer evaluation, you can proceed directly with your registration. If you believe you satisfied the prerequisites with courses from outside of Baruch, you can bring a copy of that transcript (or the CUNY BA academic advisement sheet, if the courses appear there) to the to the chairperson of the academic department in which you wish to take courses for discussion and evaluation.

CUNY BA students are limited to taking three Zicklin courses — the specific courses available to you can be found here.

Contact:

CUNY Baccalaureate for
Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies
The Graduate Center, Suite 6412
365 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10016

general@cunyba.cuny.edu

Main Office: 212.817.8220
Registrar’s Office: 212.817.8227
Admissions Office: 212.817.8230

See the Directory for specific extensions.