Fast-Track Your Master’s Degree with NYU’s 4+1 Program

Guidance As You Go

Whether you’re just starting to consider a 4+1 Program or preparing to graduate with your master’s, NYU’s network of academic advisers is available to assist you along the way.

“My global public health adviser really helped me balance everything out with my undergraduate classes,” says Anthony Escamilla. He’s a junior concentrating in Public Health Interventions, Latin American Identity, and the Ethics of Care at NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study. He’s also working towards a master’s degree in Public Health with a concentration in Community Health Science and Practice. “Both of my advisers are so responsive. They help me with absolutely any issue I have. There’s a really huge support system on both sides.”

NYU alumni Joshua Stern graduated with a BA in Education Studies and an MA in Educational Leadership, Politics, and Advocacy, both at NYU Steinhardt. In addition to working closely with his academic advisers, he says the faculty on both sides of his degrees helped make the process easier.

“The faculty here are like nowhere else,” Joshua says. “While I was going through this process, I had professors from undergrad who were touchpoints for me. Whenever I was confused, I could reach out to them. For example, I would often reach out to Professor Dom Brewer and say, ‘Hey Dom, what do you think about this?’ It really makes for a seamless experience.”

Best of Both Worlds

Similarly, when you take part in a 4+1 Program, you have access to resources at both your undergraduate college and your graduate school. For NYU alumni Ananya Sanghvi, this meant taking part in graduate-level internships earlier than most.

“My master’s degree at the Wagner Graduate School of Public Service opened up doors I never could have imagined,” she says. Ananya graduated with her BS in Applied Mathematics from the College of Arts and Science and her MPA from Wagner. As a student, Ananya took part in the United Nations Triangular Partnerships Programme, which focuses on peace operations across nations. She also interned with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as well as the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority before returning to the UN for a second internship there in her final year at NYU.

“The opportunities Wagner opened up for me have been life-changing,” Ananya adds. “Undergrads have access to the Wasserman Center for Career Development, which is amazing, but Wagner has its own Career Services Center. Yes, they helped fix my résumé and do all the basics, but they also helped me really think about what I wanted from my career.”

Flexibility to Explore Your Interests

While the timing varies depending on the 4+1 program, students begin the application process as early as the end of the first semester of their sophomore year. This means, before deciding which program is right for you, you’ll have time to explore classes in different fields. You’ll have time to create a path that fits both your interests and professional goals. And, of course, you’ll have the support of your academic advisors along the way.

“Spend some time during your undergraduate degree exploring different industries or opportunities,” says Ananya. “I was dead set on doing a math master’s, but I didn’t know what I would do with that degree. Then I learned about the MPA at Wagner. So my advice is: Be open to pivoting when required. And be open and receptive to advice from your mentors.”

Save Time, Save Money

With a condensed timeline comes condensed tuition. But time isn’t the only thing that makes NYU’s 4+1 programs more affordable. Students receiving scholarships for their undergraduate degree can apply them to their 4+1 studies.

“I always think about the barriers to education, and one of the major ones is money,” says Anthony. “For me, one of the main things stopping me, before I knew about 4+1, was the fact that I just wouldn’t be able to afford a regular masters in public health program. The scholarship opportunities available to graduate students are more limited. When I found out that I could be taking these courses in an accelerated manner as an undergrad and that they’d be covered by my scholarship, that meant a lot to me.”

Anthony shares more about his experience with NYU’s 4+1 Program in the Global Public Health podcast Fast-Track to Impact. Give it a listen!