Polytechnic University, Brooklyn
College Detail
Polytechnic University, Brooklyn
| Type: | Private Higher Education Institution |
| Total campus enrollment: | No Data Available |
| Religious affiliation: | Non-denominational |
| Setting: | Urban Setting |
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The University
Long recognized as a leading technological university, research center, and center for innovation, entrepreneurship, and invention, Polytechnic University offers degrees in computer science, digital media, engineering, humanities, the sciences, and technology management. Founded in 1854 as Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn (Brooklyn Poly), it is the second-oldest independent technological university in the United States. Polytechnic has a main campus in the MetroTech Center in downtown Brooklyn, New York, and graduate centers in Long Island, Manhattan, and Westchester. Polytechnic has an undergraduate student body of approximately 1,500 students.
Polytechnic University is a microcosm of greater New York. Undergraduates come from twenty-five states and forty-seven countries. The students represent a mosaic of racial, ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds, all working together to achieve common goals. A student-faculty ratio of 14:1 enables students to work closely with professors in both the classroom and the research lab. Located at Polytechnic are a variety of research centers where students and world-renowned faculty members are involved in innovative fields of study and research, including telecommunications, electronics, robotics, aerospace, digital systems, wireless communications, and integrative digital media, among others. Although it emphasizes science and engineering, the University has long recognized the importance of tempering technology with humanistic understanding.
The University offers a wide variety of student activities, as it ranks among the top 5 universities in the nation in social diversity. The Student Council and a school newspaper are just two of the many options available. A number of academic organizations, many with national affiliations, host programs, lectures, and discussion groups for students majoring in the various disciplines. Athletics for both men and womenfrom basketball to lacrosse to volleyballare popular and widely available at Polytechnic on both intercollegiate and intramural levels.
The University offers on-campus housing in the Othmer Residence Hall. The residence hall is located across the street from the MetroTech campus in downtown Brooklyn. It features 4-student, two-bedroom suites for underclassmen and two-bedroom apartments for upperclassmen. Amenities include rooms that are fully wired for personal computers, laptops, cable TV, and telephone access; study rooms; student lounges; 24-hour security; a laundry room; and a modern dining hall.
Students can use the central computer labs and various specialized labs, connect wirelessly with a laptop, or dial in from home. The University was voted among the 100 Most Wired Colleges by Yahoo! Internet Life.
Location
Polytechnic is located in the heart of historic downtown Brooklyn and in the middle of MetroTech Center, a 16-acre, $1-billion academic/professional park in New York City. Situated at the foot of the famous Brooklyn Bridge, just across from the tip of Manhattan, the campus is the gateway to such places as Wall Street, Broadway, and the South Street Seaport on one side of the river and the Brooklyn Museum and Prospect Park on the other. All of these attractions are readily accessible via public transportation and a network of modern highways. The University is just a 10-minute subway ride from Manhattan.
Exceptional careers begin with exceptional locations, and Polytechnic has an unrivaled one in the greater New York area. Serving students with a dynamic range of experiences and powerful examples of excellence, New York City gives a unique context to their studies. In addition, it places them in the middle of an international capital with diverse surroundings, unique perspectives, vibrant cultures, and thriving enterprises. The career opportunities are virtually everywherefrom Wall Street to New Yorks new media industry, affectionately dubbed Silicon Alley.
Majors and Degrees
Polytechnic University offers the Bachelor of Science degree. The undergraduate majors include biomolecular science (premed), chemical and biological engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, computer science, construction management, digital media studies, electrical engineering, liberal studies, mathematics, mechanical/aerospace engineering, physics, technical and professional communications, and technology management. Five-year B.S./M.S. programs are also available.
Academic Programs
While requirements vary according to the major, students must complete an average of 128 credits with an average of at least 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale) to earn the Bachelor of Science degree. Science and engineering students begin fundamental courses in their specialties during their second year and concentrate on advanced courses in their last two years.
Recent academic initiatives include an Honors College and an admission assurance program with the State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn for outstanding premed students.
Academic Facilities
The Bern Dibner Library of Science and Technology houses one of the finest collections of technical and scientific literature in the metropolitan area. In addition, the library hosts a massive collection of online reference databases to assist in classwork and scholarly research. A $130-million upgrade to the MetroTech campus is reflected in an academic building, a modern residence hall, an athletic facility, labs, and a state-of-the-art computing infrastructure. Wireless networking is available, allowing students to connect to the University network and the Internet from virtually anywhere on campus. Computer labs feature high-end workstations for research, 3-D modeling, and dynamic simulation.
Well-known for scientific and technological discovery, Polytechnic sponsors a number of important research centers that typically involve multidisciplinary teams of Polytechnic faculty members, research staff members, and students. Included among these centers are the Institute for Mathematics and Advanced Supercomputing, the Transportation Research Institute, the Othmer Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies, and the Polymer Research Institute, the oldest academic center of polymer (plastics) investigation in the United States. In 1983, the University was designated a Center for Advanced Technology in Telecommunications in New York State.
Costs
Tuition for 200809 is $31,239. Estimates of other expenses are $1105 for fees, $1000 for books, $2500 for personal expenses, and $8500 for room and board.
Financial Aid
Scholarships and loans are the principal sources of financial aid for full-time undergraduates. Federal sources of funds include Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Stafford Student Loans, Federal Perkins Loans, and Federal Work-Study Program awards. New York State residents may be eligible for assistance under the New York State Tuition Assistance Program. In addition to the usual financial aid programs, Polytechnic offers a large number of scholarships, including several full-tuition, four-year scholarships that are awarded to students admitted to the Honors College. Approximately 98 percent of all undergraduates at the University receive some financial aid. Opportunities for student employment are good. Students desiring financial assistance should submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. For more detailed information about financial aid, students should contact the Office of Financial Aid at Polytechnic or visit http://www.poly.edu/admissions.
Faculty
Polytechnic has 160 full-time faculty members, 90 percent of whom have doctoral degrees. Most of the faculty members teach both graduate and undergraduate courses. The Universitys faculty is world renowned for the research, inventions, and scholarly publications of its members. Several are members of the National Academy of Engineering, and many are frequent recipients of both national and international awards for excellence. Recent examples include the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Educational Medal for Excellence, the Presidents Medal of Sciences, and the prestigious Humboldt Award. The American Society for Engineering Education recently ranked the graduate electrical engineering faculty among the top 10 in the nation for scholarly activity; many of its members also teach on the undergraduate level.
Student Government
The Student Council is important on the Polytechnic campus. In working with the Student Leadership Office and administration, it directs the activities of the undergraduate student body and represents student interests. As the administrating agency for student fees, the council allocates money to student organizations, publications, and activities. Student representatives also serve on many faculty and administrative committees dealing with all phases of academic and student life.
Admission Requirements
Admission to Polytechnic is competitive. Candidates must submit a formal application for admission, a secondary school transcript, an essay, two academic recommendations, and standardized test scores (SAT or ACT). The Committee on Admissions evaluates each applicant on an individual basis regardless of financial need and seeks students who rank in the top 25 percent of their graduating class, have taken 3 to 4 years of college-preparatory math and science, and have achieved a grade average of B+ or higher.
Students whose first language is not English are advised to submit scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). This test must be taken by all international applicants whose native language is not English regardless of whether or not their previous education was conducted in English. Advanced placement is awarded to students whose scores on the Advanced Placement tests indicate proficiency in a given subject.
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