Eligibility & Curriculum Requirements

Eligibility Requirements

The Macaulay Honors College only accepts applications for incoming first-year students or transfer students enrolled in an associate degree program at a CUNY community college. 

In order to stay in the program, students are expected to: 

• Maintain a high grade-point average  
• Pursue a liberal arts education 
• Participate in semester-long seminars with University Scholars from other CUNY colleges 
• Graduate in four years 

Curriculum Requirements 

Community Service Requirements and Policies 

To satisfy the Macaulay requirement for service: 

• You must complete a minimum of 30 hours of community service, with a minimum of 10 hours during each of your first three years at Macaulay. Individual campuses may require additional community service hours.
• You may not count an activity for which you are compensated in any form (e.g. monetary, material gifts or service in-kind) towards your community service requirement. Unpaid internships, including those at nonprofit organizations or government agencies, are not considered community service.
• Political campaigning or participating in religious service such as proselytizing, faith-based instruction, or other acts as an expression of faith are not considered community service.
• You must submit an online Community Service Verification Form documenting your completed community service, to be approved by your MHC honors advisor. 

If you are unsure if your service will fulfill the requirement, be sure to reach out to your advisor. 

How to Submit Service Hours

You must submit an online Community Service Verification Form before participating in Community Service. You will receive an email with your form responses, which you must print or save as a PDF. The supervisor of the service you participate in must sign the form. Alternatively, students may provide their advisor with a confirmation email from the service supervisor confirming the hours. Submit form to your advisor for approval. 

Internship Research or Study Abroad Experience Requirements 

As part of your undergraduate experience, Macaulay strives to prepare you for leadership and creativity in a challenging, diverse, global workforce. These educational values are reflected in the requirement to complete either a qualifying, substantive internship, research or study abroad experience. 

Finding an Internship

• Visit Macaulay CareerPath for up-to-date listings of internships, research assistantships, full and part time jobs.  
• Visit Lehman Career Exploration & Development Center (CEDC) for career resources, professional development workshops, career fairs, panel presentations, mock interviews 
• Speak to your honors advisor and career services professionals including the MHC Career Development Team and Lehman Career Exploration & Development Center (CEDC) 

Research Assistantship 

Scholars who participate in research projects gain invaluable experience working closely with an accomplished professional, learn research techniques appropriate to a discipline, and have opportunities to present at conferences or have their work published. 

Finding a Research Assistantship

• Macaulay Research Assistantship Program – apply to conduct research with CUNY-wide faculty in the natural, social and behavioral sciences 
• Visit National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) 
• Speak with your faculty and major advisor about research being conducted in their academic departments. 

Study Abroad 

• Visit the CUNY Study Abroad website for CUNY-wide sponsored programs  
• Visit the Lehman Study Abroad Office webpage to learn more about the application process, explore CUNY and non-CUNY programs, and to schedule an appointment with a Study Abroad Advisor. It is never too early to begin researching, planning and prepping.