The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

What is the history of The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art?

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art was founded in 1859 by inventor and industrialist Peter Cooper in Manhattan. He established it to make education in art, architecture, engineering and related subjects accessible to people whose opportunities might otherwise be limited by cost or background.

Its Foundation Building remains central to that history. The building's Great Hall has hosted public lectures and civic events since the nineteenth century, alongside the institution's educational work. Cooper Union later developed its three-school structure around art, architecture and engineering; the opening of 41 Cooper Square in 2009 added space for teaching and laboratories.

For much of its history, Cooper Union charged undergraduates no tuition. It began charging tuition in 2014 while continuing to offer substantial institutional tuition scholarships. That change matters to applicants familiar with its historical reputation: today's financial decision should be based on a current aid offer, not the former tuition policy.

What are the faculties and departments at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art?

Cooper Union organizes its degree programs into three schools: the School of Art, the Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture and the Albert Nerken School of Engineering. It is a specialized institution rather than a comprehensive university with a broad selection of unrelated majors.

The School of Art offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts built around studio practice. Architecture offers a professional Bachelor of Architecture, a five-year course of study, as well as graduate-level study. Engineering includes undergraduate programs in chemical, civil, electrical and mechanical engineering, along with graduate study. Humanities and social sciences are also part of the curriculum, even though students enter through a specialized school.

Applicants should compare the curriculum of their intended school - not just the institution's overall name - with their interests. A student seeking a conventional four-year architecture major, for example, should understand how a professional B. Arch differs in length and structure from a nonprofessional architecture degree.

What is the location of The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art?

Cooper Union is in New York City's East Village, near Astor Place in Manhattan. Its academic buildings occupy an urban setting rather than a self-contained suburban campus.

The Astor Place subway station and other nearby transit connections make commuting practical for students living elsewhere in the city. The location also puts museums, galleries, design firms and engineering employers within reach, although proximity alone does not secure an internship or job. Students considering off-campus housing should budget for both rent and the time and cost of a daily commute.

What is the mission and vision of The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art?

Cooper Union describes its educational purpose in terms of access, rigorous study and the application of art, architecture and engineering to public life. Peter Cooper's founding ideal - that education should be available to people of talent regardless of wealth - continues to shape how the institution presents its mission.

That ideal should be distinguished from a promise of free attendance. Current tuition, scholarships and need-based aid determine what an individual student pays. The combination of specialized professional study and humanities coursework reflects the institution's stated interest in both technical or artistic practice and its social consequences.