Liberal Studies

Introduction to Liberal Studies

Liberal Studies is home to NYU’s second-largest population of undergraduates. Founded in 2009, Liberal Studies is distinguished by small classes and an environment in which faculty and students work closely together to develop a community dedicated to critical inquiry, research, and exploration. It offers a vibrant liberal arts college environment within the framework of a major global research university. 

Liberal Studies programs include the Liberal Studies Core, a two-year interdisciplinary global curriculum from which students directly transition to 90 majors at NYU to complete their bachelor’s degree; the Global Liberal Studies four-year Bachelor of Arts degree (GLS); and the Global Liberal Studies (GLS) Minor.

Liberal Studies students (both in the Core and GLS) take advantage of the unparalleled academic, social, and locational resources of NYU, one of the world's leading research universities. As students eager to make a global impact, they make the most of NYU’s unique Global Network, studying abroad for a year or semester, or even in the summer or winter breaks. Whether in New York City or at one of our global sites, Liberal Studies students are part of a vibrant learning community posed for success in an ever-changing world.

The Liberal Studies faculty are actively engaged in their scholarly, creative, and professional fields, and they bring enormous enthusiasm and dedication to their teaching. Liberal Studies fosters close contact between faculty and students in and out of the classroom, and all students are assigned a faculty mentor from the beginning of their studies. All LS Core students are eligible for the GLS Minor and earn one course toward the minor from their core requirements. LS Core students also have the opportunity to begin their first year at one of four global sites: Florence, London, Madrid, and Washington, DC, through the First Year Away program (FYA). With support from LS global programs advisors, students also have access as sophomores to special Fall Away semester programs in Florence and Shanghai as well as other study away options.

Liberal Studies is a part of Arts & Science at NYU. Arts & Science is the largest academic division at the University, including The Graduate School of Arts & Science (GSAS), the College of Arts & Science (CAS) and Liberal Studies (LS).