Academic Calendars

The Cooper Union for The Advancement of Science and Art operates within a two semester calendar (fall and spring). Most classes are scheduled Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. We offer a limited summer session with courses typically provided in Math, Physics, and Engineering.

Normal business hours are:
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

From early June through Labor Day, Cooper Union operates under a summer schedule:
Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.

2019 - 2020

Add the 2019 - 2020 academic calendar to your calendar app

Mon, Aug 5 Student bill due date  
Tue, Aug 27 – Tue, Sep 3 Orientation  
Mon, Sep 2 Labor Day Offices and classrooms closed
Tue, Sep 3 Fall 2019 Semester Begins Tuesday Classes Meet
Tue, Sep 10 Fall Festival  
Tue, Sep 3 – Tue, Sep 10 Course adjustment period Students can add/drop courses with advisor assistance
Tue, Sep 10 Course Add/Drop deadline Last day to add/drop courses. Last day to take leave of absence or fully withdraw from School and receive full tuition and fees refund. Advisors and School offices are informed as to how to handle Tuesday evening courses
Wed, Oct 30 Last day to withdraw from courses  
Tue, Nov 19 – Mon, Nov 25 Registration for spring 2020 classes All students must have advisor approval in order to register
Tue, Nov 26 MODIFIED SCHEDULE THURSDAY classes meet
Wed, Nov 27 MODIFIED SCHEDULE FRIDAY classes meet
Thu, Nov 28 – Fri, Nov 29 Thanksgiving Holiday Offices and classrooms closed
Mon, Dec 2 Classes resume  
Thu, Dec 12 – Fri, Dec 13 Study Period No classes
Mon, Dec 16 – Fri, Dec 20 Final classes, crits and exams Students meet in regularly assigned rooms at regular times.
Fri, Dec 20 End of Term Last day of the fall 2019 term
Sat, Dec 21 – Tue, Jan 21 Winter Recess All schools closed. 
Mon, Dec 23 – Fri, Jan 3 Staff Holiday  
Mon, Jan 6 Administrative Offices Re-open All grades due to the Office of the Registrar before noon (12PM)
Mon, Jan 20 Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Staff Holiday
Tue, Jan 21 Classes  Spring Semester Begins. MONDAY classes meet
Tue, Jan 21 – Tue, Jan 28 Course Adjustment Period Students can add/drop courses with advisor assistance
Tue, Jan 28 Course Add/Drop deadline Last day to take leave of absence or fully withdraw from School and receive full tuition and fees refund. Advisors and School offices are informed as to how to handle Tuesday evening courses
Wed, Feb 12 MODIFIED SCHEDULE FRIDAY classes meet
Fri, Feb 14 – Mon, Feb 17 Founder's Day / Presidents' day Classrooms and offices closed
Sat, Mar 14 – Sun, Mar 22 Spring Recess No classes. Administrative offices remain open
Sat, Mar 14 Outstanding student bills due Holds placed on student records preventing future course registration and/or release of transcript pending payment
Wed, Apr 1 Last day to withdraw from courses  
Tue, Apr 21 – Fri, Apr 24 Course Registration Registration into Fall semester courses. All students must have advisor approval in order to register
Thu, May 7 – Fri, May 8 Study Period No classes
Mon, May 11 – Fri, May 15 Final classes, crits and exams Students meet in regularly assigned rooms at regular times.
Fri, May 15 Last day of the Spring 2020 semester  
Mon, May 18 Senior Grades Due Senior grades due to Office of the Registrar before Noon (12 pm)
Wed, May 20 All non-senior grades due All non-senior grades due to Office of the Registrar before noon (12 pm)
Mon, May 25 Memorial Day Classrooms and offices closed
Tue, May 26 Commencement Rehearsal Time TBD
Wed, May 27 Commencement  
Thurs, Jul 2 Independence Day Holiday (Observed) Staff holiday

 

2018 - 2019 Academic Calendar

Aug 29 Wednesday Move-in day for Residence Hall
Aug 29 - Sept 3 Wednesday - Monday New student orientation
Sept 3 Monday Labor Day
Sept 4 Tuesday Fall semester classes begin. NOTE: Tuesday classes meet
Sept 11 Tuesday Last day to drop/add courses based on your school’s policy regarding drop/add. There will be a $25 fee for Dropping classes after this date
Sept 18 Tuesday Fall Festival (school in session)
Nov 20 - 21 Tuesday - Wednesday Thursday and Friday Classes Meet
Nov 22 - 25 Thursday - Sunday Thanksgiving (staff holiday)
Nov 29 - Dec 5 Thursday-Wednesday Registration for Spring 2019 Classes
Dec 13 - 19 Thursday-Wednesday Last meeting times for all exams/classes/crits. These continue regularly assigned rooms.
Dec 19 Wednesday Last day of Fall 2018 semester
Dec 20 - Jan 13 Thursday - Sunday Winter recess; all schools
Dec 20 - Jan 1 Thursday-Tuesday  Staff Holiday
Jan 2 Wednesday Administrative Offices reopen. All grades are due in the Office of Admissions and Records before Noon
Jan 14 Monday Spring semester classes begin.
Jan 21 Monday Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday (Staff Holiday)
Jan 22 Tuesday Last day to drop/add courses based on your school’s policy regarding drop/add. There will be a $25 fee for dropping classes after this date
Feb 15 - 18 Friday - Monday Founder’s Day/President’s Day (staff holiday)
Feb 19 Tuesday Monday classes meet
Mar 9 - 17 Saturday - Sunday Spring recess (administrative offices remain open)
Apr 9 - 12 Tuesday- Friday Registration for Fall 2019 classes
May 1, 2 Wednesday & Thursday Last meeting times for all exams/classes/crits that meet Wed or Thurs. These continue regularly assigned rooms.
May 3 Friday Normal Friday classes. This is NOT the last Friday class of the year. See May 8.
May 6 & 7 Monday, Tuesday Last meeting times for all exams/classes/crits that meet Mon or Tues. These continue regularly assigned rooms.
May 8 Wednesday NOTE: FRIDAY CLASSES, EXAMS AND CRITS MEET. Last day of Spring 2019 semester
May 9 Thursday Senior grades due in the Office of Admissions and Records before Noon.
May 13 Monday All non-senior grades are due in the Office of Admissions and Records before Noon.
May 20 Monday Commencement rehearsal; annual student exhibition opens
May 21 Tuesday Commencement
May 27 Monday Memorial Day (Staff Holiday)
July 4 Thursday Independence Day (Staff Holiday)

 

  • 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.