School of Architecture Registration Instructions

Summer 2026 and Fall 2026 registration advising (and pre-registration for Fall 2026 Architecture electives) will take place in person in the School of Architecture Office (Foundation Building, Room 301) according to the following schedule:

Returning M.S.Arch & Rising 5th-Year Students

Tuesday, April 14
8 am - 6 pm
Online registration opens at 9 am (EST) on Tuesday, April 21*

Rising 3rd- and 4th-Year Students

Wednesday, April 15
8 am - 6 pm
Online registration opens at 9 am (EST) on Wednesday, April 22*

Rising 2nd-Year Students

Thursday, April 16
8 am - 5 pm 
Online registration opens at 9 am (EST) on Thursday, April 23*

Incoming/Continuing 1st-Year Students

First-year students will be registered for their Fall 2026 classes by the Office of the Registrar. Registration for all students is not simultaneous; the process takes several weeks.

Online registration opens on Student Self-Service at 9 am on Tuesday, April 21 and is prioritized by year. The closer you are to graduation the earlier you register. Your online registration day starts at 9 am. Once your registration day begins, you can register at any time - the longer you wait, the fewer options you will have - until registration closes at 11:59 pm (EST) on Friday, April 24.

See the step-by-step illustrated guide to using Student Self-Service.

Registration Regulations, Dates, and Deadlines

If you do not complete your Fall semester online registration by 11:59 pm (EST) on Friday, April 24, it will be necessary for you to wait until Monday, August 31, the first day of the Fall 2026 semester, to register. However, there will be a late registration fee of $100.

Schedule changes may take place, via Student Self-Service, during the drop/add period at the start of the Fall semester (August 31 - September 8). Schedule changes must be approved by the School of Architecture Office. Beginning Wednesday, September 9, no courses may be added but it will be possible to withdraw from a course with permission of the Dean of the School of Architecture and the instructor, until Tuesday, October 27. A fee of $25 will be charged for each withdrawal. If the student is passing the course at the time of withdrawal, the designation of "W" will appear on the record. If the student is failing the course, a grade of "WF" will be recorded.

If you have an outstanding financial obligation to The Cooper Union (student fee, international student fee, lab fee, graduation fee, medical insurance fee, etc.), you can find this information on Student Self-Service and make your payment via Student Self-Service (24/7 and before registration). Meeting your financial obligation before registration will allow you to register on time when you will potentially have the most options.

The Cooper Union’s payment policy is strict and specific. If you currently have an outstanding balance and you do not make your payment before online registration opens, you will not be able to register. If you are able to register during online registration but do not make your Summer 2026/Fall 2026 payment by the deadline, you will be de-registered from classes.

The Fall 2026 semester begins on Monday, August 31. We will be following a Monday schedule of classes.

See the academic calendar for important dates and scheduling irregularities.

  • 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.