The school's founding members wanted to create a “center for discussion and instruction for mature men and women,” and by 1934 it was chartered as a university by the state of New York and began conferring degrees.

[7] He was assisted by Albert Landa, who directed publicity for the New School and helped expand the university during a financial crisis,[8] and Wallis Osterholz, who for forty-five years was responsible for much of the day-to-day administration.

Prominent teachers in this era included the philosopher Paul Edwards; the literary scholars Hasye Cooperman,[11] Justus Rosenberg,[12] and Margaret Boe Birns;[13] the political scientist Ralph Buultjens;[14] and the visual arts instructors Anthony Toney,[15] Minoru Kawabata,[16] and Henry C.

[17] The New School, for most of its history, operated as a noncredit institution, serving largely white, middle-class, often politically progressive, often Jewish adults living in Manhattan who were interested in intellectual stimulation and self-improvement.

The Schools of Public Engagement houses a prestigious MFA program in creative writing, directed by Luis Jaramillo, that has featured such authors as Robert Frost, Frank O'Hara, Marguerite Young, Mira Jacob, and Camille Rankine as instructors.

SPE also offers open-enrollment continuing education courses and certificate programs including Media Management, Film Production, Organization Development, and English as a Second Language.