Student Services

Academic advising is designed to help students navigate a complex university, identify academic and professional goals, and provide advice and information about how best to achieve those goals. Liberal Studies (LS) is student-oriented: class size is kept small to ensure substantial faculty-student interaction, students receive individual attention, and advisors provide academic support and resources. Together, students with their advisors and mentors establish meaningful relationships that foster academic excellence and personal growth. Visit the Liberal Studies Website for additional advising resources.

Professional Staff Advisors

The LS academic advising staff is available for individual in-person meetings with students studying at the New York campus, in addition to email and video/chat platforms for all students (including students studying away for the semester).

Liberal Studies Core

All Liberal Studies Core students are assigned a professional academic advisor who will work with them throughout the two years that they spend in LS. The academic advising staff is a resource for students regarding transition requirements to their baccalaureate program. The LS Advising and Student Affairs Office also provides information to students about course selection and registration procedures, schedule changes and withdrawals, advanced standing credit, incomplete and pass/fail grade options, transition and internal transfer procedures, and co-curricular opportunities such as study away and internships, among other matters. Email announcements are sent to remind students about important deadlines and registration information. LS Core students can register for classes via Albert (NYU’s online student information system) only after having their prospective courses reviewed and approved by an advisor; students must obtain registration clearance from their advisor each semester. All LS Core students are required to attend a registration clearance session and/or schedule an individual registration meeting with their advisor (depending on their intended transition program). During these group and individual sessions, advisors clarify the degree and transition requirements yet to be satisfied, offer advice about choosing electives, and answer students’ questions about major and minor options, academic requirements, and relevant deadlines.

Global Liberal Studies

All GLS students are assigned a professional staff advisor who will work with them throughout their undergraduate career. The academic advisor is a resource to assist students with matters such as registering and schedule changes, understanding degree requirements, selecting electives, choosing minors and second majors, clarifying questions about grades, and understanding study abroad and experiential learning options.  GLS students can register for classes via Albert only after having their prospective courses reviewed and approved by an advisor, and students must obtain registration clearance each semester from their advisor.

Faculty Mentors

In addition to the services offered by the LS Advising Center, all LS students have the opportunity to work with an LS faculty member as a mentor. Faculty mentors engage in discussions about student interests, aspirations, and new perspectives on life. A mentor likewise helps synthesize the student’s intellectual and academic progress, and takes charge of explaining the function and purpose of an interdisciplinary liberal arts education. As needed, faculty mentors may also refer students to a professional advisor for assistance with resolving certain academic or registration issues; to the NYU Student Health Center for treatment or counseling; to the Wasserman Center for Career Development for expert advice about finding an internship, developing a résumé, or beginning a job search; or to specific NYU departments, resources, or websites to obtain additional information. Students have a responsibility to be proactive in arranging and keeping appointments with their faculty mentor.

Liberal Studies Core

All Liberal Studies Core students have the opportunity to be assigned a faculty mentor, whom they periodically meet with during their time in LS. Faculty mentors engage students in conversations about the curriculum, its relation to their undergraduate experience, and its intended impact on their intellectual and professional pursuits. They focus their mentorship on guiding students toward realistic academic goals, encouraging self-reliance and making informed decisions.

Global Liberal Studies

A designated faculty mentor works with each entering first-year class of GLS students. In the sophomore year, GLS students declare an academic concentration within the major and are assigned a concentration-specific faculty mentor, who works with his or her mentees until graduation. Students work closely with their faculty mentor throughout each semester and may discuss the GLS curriculum, its relationship to the overall undergraduate experience, and its impact on their intellectual pursuits. Students should also discuss the relationship of their interests to their academic aspirations. Students maintain close contact with their faculty mentor during their junior year abroad. In their senior year, students also work closely with their thesis supervisor.

Transition Requirements for Students in the Liberal Studies Core

Liberal Studies Core students who complete the two-year curriculum will have satisfied most or all of the liberal education requirements of other schools or colleges at NYU. LS Core students identify their intended degree-granting school in their sophomore year. Students must confirm their school of transition with the admissions office by March 1, and this deadline is strictly enforced. However, discussions regarding the various NYU schools and potential majors should be an ongoing element of all advising conversations between LS Core students and their assigned academic advisor and faculty mentor.

In order to be eligible for transition, students must be in good academic standing with the University (typically defined as 2.0 semester and cumulative grade point average and making good academic progress) and have successfully completed the Liberal Studies Core requirements. LS Core students have the option to build on their global, interdisciplinary foundation by pursuing the Global Liberal Studies  B.A. degree offered within Liberal Studies, or they may choose to enroll as juniors in one of NYU’s other degree-granting schools: the College of Arts and Science (CAS); the College of Global Public Health; the Gallatin School of Individualized Study; the Jonathan M. Tisch Center for Hospitality; the Preston Robert Tisch Institute for Global Sport; the Schack Institute of Real Estate; the Silver School of Social Work; and the Rory Meyers College of Nursing; as well as select majors in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development; and specific liberal arts programs at the Tandon School of Engineering.

Liberal Studies Core students who meet the above requirements may also apply for internal transfer to the colleges and degree programs at NYU that do not offer direct transition opportunities. Application and/or additional materials (e.g. audition, portfolio) will be reviewed for admission to Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development (Music and Performing Arts; Art and Art Professions); the Stern School of Business; the Tandon School of Engineering (non-liberal arts programs); and the Tisch School of the Arts.

Some programs and schools require students to complete specific courses or other requirements to be eligible for transition to their degree programs; the most current transition information is available in the LS Advising Center. For instance, LS Core students transitioning to Steinhardt’s Media, Culture and Communication (MCC) program are expected to have completed at least one of two MCC core courses by the end of their third semester in Liberal Studies and both courses by the end of their sophomore year, with a minimum grade of B-. LS Core students transitioning to Gallatin require approval of an academic plan for their individualized concentration during sophomore year, likewise completed by the end of their third semester in Liberal Studies. A few other academic programs have specific courses that should be satisfied prior to transition in order to remain on track with the major, specifically Real Estate, Applied Psychology, and Nursing; students should consult with their academic advisor about required courses for transition to those majors. Liberal Studies Core students intending a transition to CAS are encouraged, but not required, to sample at least one course in the department of their prospective major. In addition, some academic departments in CAS will accept coursework completed through LS toward the major, such as Art History, English, Environmental Studies, European Studies, History, Music, Philosophy, Politics, and Public Policy. Students considering those majors can refer to information available on the LS Core Advising Website for more information. Prehealth students have particular course requirements that must be taken in sequence and finished within a certain time period, regardless of major. LS Core prehealth students should visit the LS Core Advising Website for curriculum guidelines, as well as meet with a prehealth advisor. For any questions about transition guidelines or curricular sequences, students are encouraged to schedule an appointment with their LS academic advisor.

Additional Sources of Academic Support

NYU Connect

NYU Connect, an online student success platform led by the Office of Student Success, is designed to enable faculty and staff to coordinate support efforts, establish a success network, schedule appointments with advisors and advocates, and ensure that students receive the assistance needed to thrive at NYU. The platform helps students identify their individual support network, learn about academic opportunities or concerns related to their courses, receive important notices and reminders, and easily contact advisors and other student support professionals. For more information about NYU Connect or the Office of Student Success, visit nyu.edu/life/student-success/nyu-connect.

Academic English for Liberal Studies

Liberal Studies provides academic and social support to international students in both the LS Core and GLS, with access to various programs and resources. The Academic English for Liberal Studies (AELS) program is designed for first- year international students who may need supplemental support with English. Based on results from the TOEFL and an AELS placement questionnaire, some students may be asked to register for an AELS support course in their first semester. The course is linked to the curriculum taught in other Liberal Studies courses, and it helps with both academic writing and contributing to class discussions, especially for those who may have less experience with the kinds of readings assigned in Liberal Studies. The LS-designed AELS course fits within the regular semester load, and it does not prevent anyone from completing their degree on time; it simply offers additional support to ensure academic success. As a non-credit course, it will not otherwise impact credit allowances, tuition charges, or potential study abroad options. LS Core students who place into the AELS support course will need to complete this course before transitioning out of the Core.

In addition to the support course, first-year international students can utilize AELS writing hours with a dedicated faculty member and AELS drop-in hours for assistance with their academic writing and coursework. First-year students studying abroad enroll in an online LS version of AELS, and may utilize the same one-on-one resources via online conferences.

Academic Opportunities for Students in GLS and the LS Core

Liberal Studies students may be eligible to take advantage of the academic programs listed below. Each program offers students the opportunity to add an area of expertise or academic study to their educational experience by pursuing a minor or second major in another field, or a combined bachelor’s/ master’s degree.
 
Students are advised to confer with an academic advisor in the Liberal Studies Advising Center, who can help them consider available options for taking courses in other NYU schools and choose those that best fit their academic goals. The opportunity to pursue and complete any of these academic programs depends on a variety of factors including academic record, academic objectives, course scheduling and sequencing, program requirements, and advance planning. Please note these optional programs supplement the bachelor’s degree, and do not necessarily replace GLS degree requirements.

Cross-School Minors

New York University offers a wide variety of minors in a range of disciplines across its undergraduate schools. A cross-school minor is a convenient study option for students wishing to learn more about a field that they cannot pursue fully at their home school. The specific minor designation will appear on the student’s NYU transcript. For additional information about declaring a minor and enrolling in classes, students should consult with their academic advisor and the website provided, which also lists contact information for the school and departmental representatives for each minor: nyu.edu/cross-school-minors.

LS Core students who declare a cross- school minor while enrolled at Liberal Studies should note that it will not carry over to their transition school once the major is declared. After consulting with an advisor in the bachelor’s degree program, students will re-declare the minor if eligible to do so. For students who complete the LS Core and later declare a GLS minor, one elective for the minor will be waived for those who have completed all the courses in both the Arts and Cultures Sequence and Global Works and Society Sequence.

Double Major

Students may pursue a double (second) major if approved by their bachelor’s degree school. Guidelines for double majors vary by NYU school. Liberal Studies Core students transitioning out of Liberal Studies should consult with their academic advisor in their bachelor’s degree school about policies and procedures for declaring a double major.

GLS students may pursue a double (second) major in the College of Arts and Science. The same requirements, including maintenance of a minimum grade point average of 2 .0, apply to the second major as to the first. In some cases, courses may be applicable to both majors, and formal arrangements have been established with several departments in CAS (including English, European Studies, French, Spanish, German, Hebrew and Judaic Studies, History, Italian, Linguistics, Economics, Politics, Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, and Social and Cultural Analysis). Students must obtain written approval for the shared course(s) from the directors of undergraduate studies of both departments, unless a standing arrangement was already established. To declare a second major, students often need to submit a declaration form through the department or program office to have the declaration formally recorded in Albert.

Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degrees

Students may pursue a combined bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in a compressed period of time and at less cost than if pursued in traditional succession. Opportunities and requirements vary by NYU school. Liberal Studies Core students transitioning out of Liberal Studies should consult with the academic advisor in their bachelor’s degree school about accelerated bachelor’s and master’s degree opportunities.

Dual Degree BA/MA Program for GLS

Liberal Studies and the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) offer GLS students the opportunity to earn both the Bachelor of Arts degree in GLS and a master’s degree in more than 34 departments at an accelerated pace and reduced cost.

Qualifying students are typically accepted into a program toward the end of the sophomore year or during the junior year. In their remaining undergraduate semesters, they can then accelerate by taking some graduate courses during the regular academic terms and/or during the summer. Once fully matriculated in the graduate program, students can qualify for a scholarship covering up to 50 percent of the tuition for the master’s degree. The scholarship is only for one year.

The program is intended for students whose career goals will be furthered by graduate-level training but do not plan—at least not immediately—to go on to doctoral work in the field of their M.A. degree .

Curriculum

Students in the program must satisfy all of the requirements of both the bachelor’s degree and the master’s degree; there is no double-counting of courses.

In order to complete the program in five years, students are advised to complete at least a quarter of the graduate courses required for the master’s degree before earning the bachelor’s degree. This would mean two graduate courses for a master’s program consisting of eight courses, or three graduate courses for a program consisting of nine or more courses. If more credits, a significant thesis, or a capstone project is required for the master’s, students can accelerate more rapidly by taking additional graduate courses while still completing their bachelor’s degree.

Admission and Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must have completed a minimum of three semesters toward the bachelor’s degree (for students who transfer into GLS, at least one semester in residence with GLS is also required), and they must apply prior to their final two undergraduate semesters. To be eligible, students must have a minimum of two full semesters remaining in GLS during which they are still working towards completion of undergraduate requirements. Participating GSAS departments set minimum GPA requirements for admission to and continuation in the program.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Students admitted into the BA/MA program are eligible for a tuition scholarship covering 50 percent of the additional credits remaining to complete the master’s portion of the program.

The scholarship is only provided upon completion of the bachelor’s degree. The tuition scholarship will remain available for twelve months from the start of the student’s first term in GSAS. Beyond the 50 percent tuition scholarship offered through the BA/MA program, students may be eligible for additional forms of financial aid once they matriculate into GSAS .

Application Procedures

Students interested in the accelerated BA/MA program should consult their academic advisor for the application procedures. As early as possible, students should discuss with their advisor how the program might fit into both their curricular planning and long-term objectives. Students are also encouraged to discuss their plans with their faculty mentor. See the Combined Bachelors/Masters Degree  page for more information .

Dual Degree MA/MPA and BA/MUP Programs for GLS

Liberal Studies and the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service offer dual-degree programs to enable students to earn both a Bachelor of Arts degree in GLS and either a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree in Wagner’s Public and Nonprofit Management and Policy Program or its Health Policy and Management Program, or a Master of Urban Planning (MUP), in less time than it would take to complete the degrees separately. These dual degree programs are designed for students with a strong commitment to public leadership and will allow such students to enhance and focus their opportunities for learning while helping them to build a career in public service or urban development.

Taken separately, a student would need to complete 188 credits to earn both degrees, including four years of study at Liberal Studies and two years of study at Wagner. The BA/MPA dual degree will allow a GLS student to complete both degrees in as few as 160 credits, and the BA/MUP allows for completion of both degrees in as few as 150 credits. The dual degree permits GLS students to accelerate their progress toward the MPA or MUP by earning credits toward their graduate degree as part of their GLS degree.

Note: GLS students participating in either the BA/MPA. or BA/MUP dual degree program are granted the opportunity to enroll in graduate coursework before completing their undergraduate degree, but this does not guarantee outright acceptance into the Wagner master’s program. Students wishing to pursue the graduate degree must also complete a regular Wagner graduate application for admission during their senior year in GLS. Applicants will be expected to meet the same admissions standards as other Wagner applicants, which include strong academic qualifications and the equivalent of at least one year of relevant professional experience (i.e., internships, volunteer work, and part-time employment). As such, before matriculating in Wagner and after completing the BA degree in GLS, students admitted to Wagner’s MPA or MUP program may be expected to complete at least one additional year of full-time professional experience relevant to their anticipated field of study for the master’s degree .

Dual Degree BA/MPH Program for GLS

Liberal Studies and the College of Global Public Health offer a dual- degree program that affords students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Global Liberal Studies and a Master of Public Health (MPH). This dual-degree program provides students with an opportunity to explore a wide range of academic topics that focus on public health issues and the liberal arts through a global lens. The MPH core courses engage students in the study of health issues that impact many people around the world, while the innovative GLS curriculum enables students to explore how these discussions resonate with other areas of inquiry and human experience, such as law, ethics, religion, politics, human rights, and economic development.

The BA/MPH gives students the opportunity to connect with scholars and practitioners in smaller classroom settings than most academic programs, ensuring a close connection between students and faculty. Students also receive directed research opportunities and methodological training in global research.

If the programs were taken separately, a student would need to complete 175 credits to earn both degrees, including four years of study at Liberal Studies and two years of study within the College of Global Public Health. By contrast, the combined program consists of 160 credits. It includes advanced language study, global liberal arts study, and masters-level global public health coursework. The framework of the GLS curriculum combines seamlessly with that of the MPH, which also requires study away, advanced language studies, and experiential learning. The dual degree permits GLS students to accelerate their progress toward the MPH by earning a maximum of 15 credits toward the MPH through their undergraduate coursework in GLS.

Admission to the dual degree program is available for any GLS students who have successfully completed 64 credits of NYU coursework with a minimum GPA of 3.5. Students in the dual-degree program must earn grades of C or high- er in all the MPH graduate courses to receive credit toward the MPH and also maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA during the remainder of the GLS program. Interested students should schedule an appointment with their academic advisor to request an application. The application process entails an addition- al advising appointment with GPH, a one-page statement of purpose, a short application form, and an academic transcript. All materials should be submitted by February 15th (sophomore applicants) or October 1st (junior applicants).

Pathway BA/MBA Program for GLS

The NYUxNYU/Stern program offers highly qualified and motivated under- graduate students from the College of Arts and Science, Global Liberal Studies, Tandon School of Engineering, and Stern School of Business the opportunity to pursue their full-time 2-year MBA at NYU Stern within 2-5 years after graduation. Students accepted into this early admis- sion program will automatically receive a $10,000 Early Advancement Award to be applied to their full-time MBA tuition upon enrolling at NYU Stern. Admitted students will also be eligible for consideration of further NYU Stern scholarships, including a specially designated one-year Berkley Early Advancement Fellowship covering full tuition and fees, in the year in which they confirm their enrollment at Stern.

Advisement and Questions

Students who are interested in accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree programs should consult with an academic advisor in GLS as early as possible about how the program might fit into both their curricular planning and their long-term objectives. Students are also encouraged to discuss their plans with their faculty mentor. Questions about eligibility for, or application to, accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree programs should be directed to the LS Advising Center. See the Combined Bachelors/Masters Degree page for more information.