The College is organized into three Schools: the School of Arts & Sciences, the School of Business & Information Systems, and the School of Health & Behavioral Sciences. Each of the Schools focuses on a set of related programs and departments, and gives expression to the College's mission. The School of Arts & Sciences provides students with the opportunity to obtain an excellent education in the arts, humanities, mathematics, and the natural sciences. The School of Business & Information Systems introduces students to all of the fundamental business disciplines, then allows them a wide range of choices when selecting their major field of study. Finally, the School of Health & Behavioral Sciences provides a diverse student population with programs that have received national recognition and professional accreditation.

Through the three Schools, York College offers B.A. and B.S. degrees in over 44 different liberal arts, sciences, and professional majors, including English, History, Spanish, Music, Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, Journalism, Physician Assistant, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nursing, Aviation Management, and Communications Technology, as well as the combined B.S./M.S. in Occupational Therapy. The College is distinguished not only for offering a variety of majors and minors in almost every discipline but also for bringing professional programs in business, accounting, information systems management, teacher education, generic nursing, social work and allied health sciences to traditionally underserved populations. York College also offers certificate programs in a variety of fields that include: mortgage finance; youth work; survey research; and Spanish for professional purposes.

In addition to the CUNY Aviation Institute, York College is home to the Northeast Regional U.S. Food and Drug Administration Headquarters (FDA). The College’s approximately 7,100 students hail from more than 50 different countries of birth.

Approximately 40 percent of our students study part-time, and in Fall 2008 almost 700 new students were transfer students and over 1,000 were first-time freshmen. York College offers a variety of scholarships, both merit and retention, through the York College Foundation, Student Government Association and Auxiliary Enterprises, Inc.

With about 200 full-time faculty and some 250 part-time faculty, there is a student-to-faculty ratio of 16:1. Most full-time faculty hold terminal degrees in their disciplines and are also recipients of many national and regional awards, receiving grants from federal, state and local government agencies.

Organization and Governance

Faculty, students, and administrative staff participate in College governance, which is conducted according to procedures outlined in the bylaws of CUNY and in the York College Charter as approved by the Board of Trustees of CUNY. The York College Senate is the chief legislative body of the College. Reporting to the Senate are various standing college committees which oversee such matters as curriculum and academic standards.

Accreditation

York is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and is a member of the Association of Colleges and Universities of the State of New York, the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). All Education programs are registered by the New York State Department of Education and lead to New York State provisional certification after the written parts of the New York State Teacher Certification Examination are passed. York’s Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA); York’s Physician Assistant Studies Program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc.; York’s Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education; and the Nursing Program by the National League for Nursing. A degree in Accounting at York College includes all the educational requirements to sit for the Uniform Certified Public Accounting.

Graduation Rate

Since 1971, York College has conferred more than 20,000 undergraduate and graduate degrees. York students progress toward graduation at different rates. Most students combine the role of student with that of employee and/or parent which may necessitate part-time enrollment or temporary leaves from their academic pursuits.

Location and Facilities

At the heart of the 50 acre York College campus is the Academic Core, which houses classrooms, lecture halls, laboratories, art studios, the library, computer facilities, academic and administrative offices, as well as dining facilities and a bookstore. On adjacent super blocks are located the 1,500 seat Performing Arts Center, the Health and Physical Education facility, which includes a gymnasium and swimming pool, Classroom and Science Buildings, Athletic Fields and parking facilities.