NYU Continuing Education Today: The School of Professional Studies and Adult Learning

NYU's continuing education is organized within the NYU School of Professional Studies, which offers professional certificates, degrees, noncredit courses, and corporate training across many fields. Programs emphasize flexible delivery (online, hybrid, evening/weekend) and strong industry connections so adult learners and employees can update skills and advance careers. Department names and campus sites have evolved since 2006; check NYU SPS for current program details and enrollment procedures.

What NYU continuing education looks like now

NYU's continuing education programs are now centered in the NYU School of Professional Studies (NYU SPS), which focuses on career-focused degrees, certificates, and noncredit coursework for adult learners and working professionals. The school serves learners seeking career advancement, skills refreshers, or personal enrichment.

Program scope and delivery

Courses span a wide range of fields - from real estate, hospitality, and finance to design, technology, languages, and writing. Offerings include professional certificates, undergraduate and graduate degrees, short noncredit courses, and custom corporate training.

Since 2006, the school has expanded its online and hybrid options to make study more flexible for busy adults. Many programs combine evening or weekend classroom sessions with online modules so students can balance work and study.

Department structure and topical areas

The school organizes instruction across multiple departments and program areas to cover specialized career paths and interests. Historically, NYU's continuing-education structure included areas such as adult reentry, design and digital arts, ESL, finance and accounting, hospitality and tourism, information technology, law and paralegal studies, publishing, real estate, and writing and speech. Program names and departmental structures have evolved to reflect changing industry needs and new delivery methods.

Locations and partnerships

NYU SPS runs programs at several Manhattan sites and online to reach local and remote students. The Midtown Center and other downtown locations have historically hosted many noncredit and professional courses, and partnerships with employers help deliver customized training for organizations seeking to upskill staff. Employers often sponsor employee participation in certificate and training programs to maintain a competitive workforce.

Why continuing education matters

For many adults, continuing education is a practical route to career transition or advancement. Employers benefit when staff update skills through university programs: training keeps employees competitive, productive, and aligned with industry best practice. NYU SPS emphasizes applied learning and instructor connections to industry practitioners to help learners make immediate use of new skills.

How to get started

Visit NYU SPS online to explore current program lists, application requirements, and scheduling. Many programs accept rolling admission or periodic enrollment for certificate courses; degree programs follow standard academic calendars. If you work for an employer that supports training, ask your HR or learning-and-development team about tuition assistance or corporate partnerships.

1. Confirm the current number of courses or programs offered by NYU SPS (the 2006 figure of over 2,500 courses may be outdated).
2. Verify the current departmental structure and official program names at NYU SPS versus the historical list of 25 departments.
3. Confirm which NYU SPS sites currently host continuing education programs (e.g., Midtown Center at 11 West 42nd Street and the Woolworth Building) and their active roles.