Academic Calendars

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.

2011-2012 Academic Calendar

Please Note:
For the Spring 2012 semester we have instituted a final exam and review week from May 3-9. All HSS classes will conclude on May 2, 2012.

August 30TuesdayMove-in day for Residence Hall
August 30 - September 1Tuesday-ThursdayNew student orientation
September 5Monday 
Labor Day (Staff Holiday)
September 6TuesdayFall semester classes begin
NOTE: TUESDAY CLASSES MEET
September 16FridayThere will be a $25 fee for Dropping classes after this date
September 20TuesdayFall Festival
November 24 - November 27Thursday-SundayThanksgiving (Staff Holiday) Registration for Spring 2012 classes
November 29 - December 5Tuesday-MondayRegistration for Spring 2012 classes
December 19MondayNOTE: MONDAY CLASSES MEET
December 20TuesdayNOTE: MODIFIED SCHEDULE;
THURSDAY CLASSES MEET
December 21WednesdayNOTE: MODIFIED SCHEDULE;
FRIDAY CLASSES MEET
December 21WednesdayFall semester classes and exams end
(Final examinations will be given during the last week of the semester as announced by the schools.)
December 22 - January 16Thursday-MondayWinter recess; all schools
December 22 - January 3Thursday-MondayStaff Holiday
January 4WednesdayAdministrative Offices reopen
All grades are due in the Office of Admissions and Records before Noon
January 16MondayMartin Luther King Jr.’s birthday (Staff Holiday)
January 17TuesdaySpring semester classes begin.
NOTE: MODIFIED SCHEDULE; MONDAY CLASSES MEET
January 27FridayThere will be a $25 fee for Dropping classes after this date
February 15WednesdayNOTE: MODIFIED SCHEDULE; FRIDAY CLASSES MEET
February 17 - 20Friday-MondayFounder’s Day/President’s Day (Staff Holiday)
March 10 - 18Saturday-SundaySpring recess (administrative offices remain open)
April 17 - 20Tuesday-FridayRegistration for Fall 2012 classes
May 2WednesdayLast day of HSS classes
May 3 - 9Thursday-WednesdayFinal Exam and Review Week
May 9WednesdayLast day of spring 2012 semester
May 10ThursdaySenior grades due in the Office of Admissions and Records before 4:00 p.m.
May 14MondayAll non-senior grades are due in the Office of Admissions and Records before 4:00 p.m.
May 21MondayCommencement rehearsal; annual student exhibition opens
May 22TuesdayCommencement
May 28MondayMemorial Day (Staff Holiday)
July 4WednesdayIndependence Day (Staff Holiday)


Download the 2011-2012 Academic Calendar PDF

2012-2013 Academic Calendar

September 1SaturdayMove-in day for Residence Hall
September 2 - 3Sunday - MondayNew student orientation
September 3Monday 
Labor Day (Staff Holiday)
September 4TuesdayFall semester classes begin
NOTE: TUESDAY CLASSES MEET
September 10MondayThere will be a $25 fee for Dropping classes after this date
September 18TuesdayFall Festival
November 20TuesdayNOTE: MODIFIED SCHEDULE; THURSDAY CLASSES MEET
November 21WednesdayNOTE: MODIFIED SCHEDULE; FRIDAY CLASSES MEET
November 22 - November 25Thursday-SundayThanksgiving (Staff Holiday)
November 27 - December 3Tuesday-MondayRegistration for Spring 2013 classes
December 12WednesdayLast day of HSS classes
December 13-19Thursday-WednesdayFinal Exam Week
December 19WednesdayLast day of fall 2013 semester
December 20 - January 21Thursday-MondayWinter recess; all schools
December 22 - January 1Saturday-TuesdayStaff Holiday
January 2WednesdayAdministrative Offices reopen
All grades are due in the Office of Admissions and Records before Noon
January 21MondayMartin Luther King Jr.’s birthday (Staff Holiday)
January 22TuesdaySpring semester classes begin.
NOTE: MODIFIED SCHEDULE; MONDAY CLASSES MEET
January 28MondayThere will be a $25 fee for Dropping classes after this date
February 13WednesdayNOTE: MODIFIED SCHEDULE; FRIDAY CLASSES MEET
February 15 - 18Friday-MondayFounder’s Day/President’s Day (Staff Holiday)
March 16 - 24Saturday-SundaySpring recess (administrative offices remain open)
April 23 - 26Tuesday-FridayRegistration for Fall 2013 classes
May 8WednesdayLast day of HSS classes
May 9 - 15Thursday-WednesdayFinal Exam Week
May  15WednesdayLast day of spring 2013 semester
May 16ThursdaySenior grades due in the Office of Admissions and Records before 4:00 p.m.
May 20MondayAll non-senior grades are due in the Office of Admissions and Records before 4:00 p.m.
May 27MondayMemorial Day (Staff Holiday)
May 28TuesdayCommencement rehearsal; annual student exhibition
May 29WednesdayCommencement
July 4ThursdayIndependence 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.