Curriculum Requirements

Liberal Studies (LS) academic program is composed of a core liberal education curriculum that is based on the reading of great works and includes courses drawn from NYU’s eight undergraduate schools and colleges, allowing students to begin their major during their first two years. GSP offers a comprehensive liberal arts background that serves as a strong foundation for further study. At the end of two years, GSP students who successfully complete program requirements and meet the transfer criteria of the NYU baccalaureate school or college to which they originally applied will transfer as juniors to that school or college.

The GSP academic experience is based on an interdisciplinary core curriculum that fulfills the liberal arts requirements of all undergraduate programs at NYU. GSP is distinguished by small classes and an environment in which faculty and students work closely together to develop a community dedicated to learning.

FRESHMAN CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS

All freshmen are required to complete a two-semester freshman writing sequence focusing on expository writing, the presentation of argument, and the elements of research. The freshman core courses Cultural Foundations I and II and Social Foundations I and II are based on the study of great works from antiquity to the beginning of the modern era. In the Cultural Foundations sequence, students study literature, the visual and performing arts, and music. In the Social Foundations sequence, students focus on philosophy, religion, political and social theory, and history. Taken together, the two sequences can be seen as a large-scale cultural history. The sequences also provide an introduction to skills in critical analysis and synthetic thinking that students need for successful study in all academic disciplines. Students also take a course that introduces the history and culture of African, Middle Eastern, East Asian, South Asian, or Latin American cultures, and a course in mathematics or the natural sciences.

SOPHOMORE CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS

During the sophomore year, students are required to complete two sophomore seminars, one from each category, in Topics in Modern Culture and Topics in Modern Society. Each semester, nearly 40 seminars are offered, and students are expected to choose one seminar per term. Sophomore seminars explore in depth the critical issues of the modern experience (1800 to the present).

These topical seminars grow from themes that are introduced in the freshman year, but here the emphasis is on exploring a single issue in depth. The sophomore seminars also draw on the skills in writing and critical analysis developed in the freshman year. These skills are used by students to develop individual research projects and to engage with other seminar members in a semester-long critical inquiry.

During the sophomore year, students also explore possible majors and begin the course work toward those majors in the appropriate academic departments. GSP students are expected to attend the preregistration information sessions during which they receive advice about choosing additional courses from NYU’s extensive offerings. By the end of the sophomore year, a student should be able to declare a major.

Required Courses

WRITING

Writing I and II

Writing is an integral part of Liberal Studies. Every course in the program requires that students write to demonstrate their mastery of material. Writing provides students with an important method for organizing and expressing their thoughts, and it helps them develop and enhance their critical, analytical, and interpretive skills. Writing proficiency is required for the NYU bachelor’s degree. Taking the Writing II course and receiving a minimum grade of C will fulfill the writing proficiency requirement. A Writing II grade that is below C requires that the student repeat the course.

Writing I and II comprise a two-semester sequence in which students develop analytical thinking abilities in the context of academic essay writing. Writing I has two main objectives. The first is to develop students’ self-confidence and fluency by engaging them in the use of writing to express, explore, and develop ideas through a variety of forms, including informal writing (free writing, journal writing, etc.). The second objective is to engage them in practicing the critical and analytical skills they will use throughout their academic and professional careers. The course is conducted as a workshop. Students produce a wide range of writing, both in and out of class, which forms the basis for classroom activities. All papers go through multiple drafts, often with input from peers in addition to the instructor. In Writing II, students develop their skills in analysis and argumentation by exploring the ways in which the ideas of others can be incorporated into their own writing. Students read and discuss longer, more challenging texts; in their own writing, students are expected to incorporate a broad range of primary and secondary sources to develop and support their increasingly complex ideas. Students are familiarized with a wide variety of possible resources at the library and learn the mechanics and conventions of the academic research essay. The course continues to encourage in-class participation, collaborative learning, and workshop presentations.

In addition to the standard sections of Writing II described above, GSP offers two specialized Writing II sections. These sections are designed for students pursuing a major in visual and performing arts, teaching, or social work or for anyone interested in combining the Writing II class experience with a community service project.

Writing II: The World

Through Art

Students pursuing degrees in the visual and performing arts will take The World Through Art, a writing course that fulfills the Writing II requirement. The course focuses on artistic and ethical issues concerning the artist and his or her relationship to the University, the community, and the world. The format of the course incorporates guest lecturers and talks by local artists, writers, and performers. Students read texts and write papers connected to the thematic work of the class. The readings include classic and modern texts about aesthetic theory and the cultural and ethical implications of artistic production and performance.

Writing II: Service Learning

Service Learning fulfills the Writing II writing requirement for students pursuing careers in social work or teaching as well as for others who wish to expand their education through community service. Students read a variety of texts related to education and social issues and develop independent research projects by participating in volunteer work that is meaningful to them and to the communities they serve. This work culminates in a final paper combining ethnography, personal experience, and critical reflection.

FRESHMAN FOUNDATIONS

Cultural Foundations I

This course introduces the concept of the self from antiquity through the Middle Ages, focusing on how individuals and social relations are portrayed in literature, in the visual and performing arts, and through music. Ideas and images of the self are examined within the context of their origins in the classical, Judaic, Christian, and Near Eastern traditions and their development through the multiple discourses and traditions that converge in the Middle Ages. Conceptions of the divine and heroic, power and disenfranchisement, and beauty and love are examined. Works studied may include Homeric epics, the Bible, the Egyptian necropolis, Greek and Roman drama, Socratic dialogues, classical and medieval sculpture and architecture, Byzantine icons and murals, illuminated manuscripts, Gregorian chants, troubadour love poetry and medieval romance, the Gothic cathedral, and the Islamic mosque.

Cultural Foundations II

This course continues the thematic and historical lines of development begun in Cultural Foundations I and follows them to the beginning of the modern era. Students continue the examination of the self as it is embodied in a variety of ideals, values, and practices. Particular emphasis is placed on three areas of tension: ancient and modern, self and other, and masculine and feminine. These key dichotomies are examined in successive periods of rebirth and revolution as societies and individuals struggle to redefine human culture and its possibilities. Works studied may include Shakespearean drama, Renaissance portraiture, Restoration comedy, baroque architecture, the opera, the novel, Romantic lyric, autobiography, travelogues, slave narratives, and the bildungsroman.

Social Foundations I

This course introduces the primary questions of philosophic, religious, political, social, and historical discourse. The texts raise the enduring questions of the relationships between the individual, the environment, the community, the polity, and the divine. Special attention is paid to the development of analytic techniques and the language of critical discussion. Texts are chosen from among the major writers of antiquity and the Middle Ages, such as Plato, Aristotle, Thucydides, Cicero, Seneca, St. Augustine, Einhard, and St. Thomas Aquinas, and from historic texts, such as the Koran and the Bible.

Social Foundations II

This course continues the examination of philosophic, religious, political, social, and historical ideas from the Renaissance through the Enlightenment and the revolutions of the 18th century. The course studies the clash of ideas and values as the Renaissance and Reformation confront the medieval heritage, as science confronts religious cosmology, and as notions of liberty and equality confront traditional authority. Texts are chosen from among the major writers of the period, such as Petrarch, Machiavelli, Sir Thomas More, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Galileo, Montaigne, Descartes, Hobbes, Locke, Voltaire, Rousseau, Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, and the Federalists.

SOPHOMORE SEMINARS

The GSP sophomore seminars (Topics in Modern Culture and Topics in Modern Society) constitute a very different experience from that of the freshman-year courses. While the freshman-year courses encourage students to comprehend the possibilities for broad interdisciplinary understandings, the sophomore seminars emphasize writing-intensive research on specific topics as well as seminar activities, such as student presentations, student-moderated discussions, and peer feedback.

Topics in Modern Culture and Topics in Modern Society are capstone courses that build on and develop themes introduced during the freshman year. The Topics seminars are offered by faculty from Cultural and Social Foundations as well as the other curriculum areas, global cultures, science, writing, and economics.

In the Topics courses, students have the opportunity to see how a particular theme or set of issues plays out in the modern world while doing advanced work with a faculty member in his or her special area of expertise. Students work on individual research projects under the supervision of the instructor. All Topics courses are interdisciplinary, but Topics in Modern Culture seminars focus on literature and the arts, while Topics in Modern Society seminars focus on history, philosophy, and politics. A broad range of courses is offered each semester.

Topics in Modern Culture

In a Topics in Modern Culture course, students may study American cultural history through the lens of jazz music or examine modern literature and film to gain insight into the effects of immigration on culture and identity. Past courses have focused on topics such as New York and the arts, the conceptualization of the body, gender and sexuality, and modern adaptations of myth and legend.

Topics in Modern Society

In a Topics in Modern Society course, students may examine the political, economic, and social effects of globalization or study the development of modern human rights movements. Offerings change each semester; past courses have focused on topics such as existentialism, the Holocaust, and the influence of Darwin’s theory of evolution.

GLOBAL CULTURES

The study of global cultures is required in the GSP curriculum and also fulfills a core requirement for several baccalaureate schools and colleges of NYU. Students choose from one of five courses featuring the regions of Africa, East Asia, the Middle East, South Asia, and Latin America. Given the ever-increasing complexity of today’s world, this component of the curriculum is designed to help students understand societies that have long histories and enormous diversity within themselves—societies and cultures that intersect across the globe. These courses introduce students to aspects of one particular region’s cultural development. “Culture” is broadly defined as including, but not limited to, such disciplines as history, philosophy, the arts, politics, and social institutions. Course materials stress primary over secondary sources and may include multimedia ones. Following are the GSP global cultures courses.

African Cultures

This course is an introduction to modern African history and culture. The configurations and problems of modern African society are examined in the context of and as a product of a rich history and tradition. The social, political, economic, and intellectual dimensions of African life are approached through a wide variety of readings from the disciplines of history, political science, anthropology, and literature.

Middle Eastern Cultures

This course examines major problems and issues in the history of the Near East since 1798. Topics include modernization, colonialism, and the Muslim revival and revolution.

East Asian Cultures

This course surveys the civilizations of Japan and China, concentrating on their last 200 years and their position in today’s world. Each country’s unique culture and civilization provides the backdrop against which modern events are viewed. Major topics include the imperialist conquests of the 19th century, the nationalist movements and revolutions of the 20th century, and the impact of modernization on traditional Asian societies.

South Asian Cultures

This course examines the historical and cultural roots of political and social change in 19th- and 20th-century South Asia (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal). The course explores the complex interaction of ancient traditions, colonialism, and independence movements. It also examines a number of postindependence issues, such as development and modernization, hierarchy and democracy, and continuing religious strife.

Latin American Cultures

This course examines major literary texts in the context of political and social change in postindependence Latin America. Genres including the novel, the essay, and poetry are read in light of the emerging nations’ quest to consolidate their identities vis-à-vis Spain, Europe, and 20th-century United States. The course explores how Latin American texts address the challenges of establishing viable politics across class and racial divides; the transition from monocultural and agricultural economies to industrialization and mass urbanization; responses to economic and ideological neocolonialism; the opportunities and crises created by integration into a global economy; the impact of the global media; and the struggle for civil rights.

LS SCIENCE CURRICULUM*

Liberal Studies science curriculum is designed to help meet the LS goal of giving our students the best possible foundation in the liberal arts and science. LS offers three science courses.* History of the Universe examines the development of the universe and of life on Earth together with an examination of the growth of our scientific understanding of that development. Life Sciences introduces students to evolution, genetics, molecular biology, and biotechnology. Environmental Studies examines the science of our environment and its role in the making of environmental policy.

Students pursuing a prehealth track should take physics, chemistry, and biology courses at the College of Arts and Sciences. Please see the LS Web site at LS.nyu.edu for the Guidelines for LS Pre-Health Students.

LS students who plan to transfer to the College of Arts and Science are required take two science courses in different branches of science. In addition to presenting scientific subject matter, each course works to develop student understanding of the methods of science and an understanding of the role of science in each student’s life. In keeping with the integrated, interdisciplinary nature of Liberal Studies, historical science is related to the context in which it developed, and contemporary science is related to the issues of the day. Readings from appropriate original scientific literature are included. The courses include lectures and laboratory sections. The laboratory components include some hands-on experimentation, but they also include computer-based simulations and scientific inquiry using online databases. Students are introduced to a range of scientific concepts including some, using worldwide databases, that would not be practical in a traditional laboratory setting. The LS science program brings students to a level of scientific literacy that enables them to understand and evaluate the science they will meet throughout their lives.

Environmental Studies

Through the application of fundamental physical and chemical processes, humans attempt to harness the environment for their particular needs. In examining this most significant dimension of modern life, this course emphasizes both its harmful and beneficial aspects and deals with such topics as air and water pollution, transportation, energy resources, and waste control. The political context in which these problems occur is also examined.

History of the Universe

This course deals with the history of events in the cosmos leading up to the formation of the solar system and the appearance of life on Earth. Topics include the origin of the universe; the birth and death of stars; the formation of the solar system; terrestrial and giant planets; properties of the Earth, the Moon, Mars, and Venus as seen from earthbound and spacecraft observations; the origin and history of life on Earth; the impact of astronomical and geological changes on biological evolution; life and intelligence in the cosmos; and philosophical implications in the synthesis of astronomy, earth sciences, and the history of life.

Life Science

This course examines the fundamental principles and processes of biological science. Topics include the structure and physiology of the cell; energy transformations; the major systems of the body (digestive, respiratory, circulatory, excretory, endocrine, nervous, skeletal, muscular, and reproductive); the synthesis of materials; genetics; and the heredity of selected organisms, with special emphasis on the human species.

MATHEMATICS

LS students must fulfill mathematics and science requirements for both the A.A. degree conferred by LS and the bachelor’s degree to be conferred by an undergraduate school or college of NYU. While LS requires only one mathematics or one science course for the A.A. degree, students are encouraged to satisfy the math requirement for their bachelor’s degree program. Students undecided about their major may postpone taking math until after transfer. LS does not offer mathematics courses; students take the math courses offered at the College of Arts and Science Department of Mathematics (in the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences).

There are different mathematics requirements depending on a student’s major. Students should consult the LS Advising Center staff and refer to the specific departmental Web sites and bulletins for information about the math requirements for their bachelor’s degree program.

Other LS Courses

While enrolled in LS, students take courses at the NYU school or college where they will earn their bachelor’s degree. While these courses are considered electives in LS, they should be selected so that they fulfill either school, major, or minor requirements in the school to which students intend to transfer. LS also offers a limited number of courses that are not required for the core program. These are listed below.

ECONOMICS

LS offers two economics courses as electives for students planning to transfer to the Department of Economics at the College of Arts and Science (CAS) or to the Stern School of Business. Economics I and Economics II meet requirements for students who transfer to CAS or Stern for the policy track of the economics major.

Economics I

This course introduces basic concepts of macroeconomic theory. Topics include unemployment; inflation; aggregate demand; income determination and stabilization policies; fiscal and monetary policies; and the Keynesian monetarist debate over stabilization policy.

Economics II

This course introduces basic concepts of microeconomic theory by examining price theory and its applications. Topics include consumer demand and choice; indifference curve analysis; big business and public policy; and factor markets and the distribution of income.

CREATIVE WRITING

Courses in creative writing are offered as electives in LS for students with strong creative writing interest. These courses offer LS students the opportunity to explore their creative writing interests in an intimate workshop setting.

Creative Writing I

This course is designed for students who have mastered basic writing skills but seek guidance in the fine points of literary craftsmanship. Although students are free to work in any medium, they are encouraged to experiment with professional creative writing techniques such as exposition, narration, description, characterization, monologue, stream of consciousness, dialogue, and dramatization.

Creative Writing II

This course focuses on in-class discussion of student manuscripts. Attention is given to point of view; structure as a means of arousing and satisfying curiosity; and effective use of analogy, irony, metaphor, and symbol. In individual conferences, students discuss their personal writing problems and learn how to edit their own work for syntactical precision. Underlying all work—at home, in class, and in conference—is concern for individual style.

LS Degree Requirements

Students who complete the following requirements are entitled to receive an Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree.

The student must complete at least 64 points with a minimum GPA of 2.0. The student must complete successfully the following required courses: Writing I and II, Cultural Foundations I and II, Social Foundations I and II, Topics in Modern Culture, Topics in Modern Society, one semester of a global cultures course, and one semester of either mathematics or science.

The student’s transcript must also indicate that the Office of Undergraduate Admissions has received an official final high school transcript indicating the date of the student’s high school graduation. If this transcript has not been received, the student will be notified by the Office of the University Registrar, and it will be the responsibility of the student to have such a transcript sent to the admissions office by whatever deadline established for graduation by the registrar.

Degrees are awarded three times each year (in January, May, and September). Students with incompletes on their transcripts must satisfy those incompletes by certain deadlines in order to receive their A.A. degree on time.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT

LS students planning to earn the Associate of Arts degree and to transfer to one of the baccalaureate programs at NYU must complete a minimum of three semesters of full-time enrollment in LS. Full-time enrollment is defined as the completion of a minimum of 12 credit hours in each of the three semesters. Summer session enrollment will not be counted toward the residency requirement.

Note: Other NYU schools have specific transfer requirements for applicants from LS, including the number of credits earned and the number of semesters in residency while in LS. Students should consult the LS Web site and those of the several baccalaureate schools for up-to-date information on these requirements.

WRITING PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENT

Writing proficiency is required for the NYU bachelor’s degree. The writing proficiency requirement is fulfilled by completing the Writing II course with a minimum grade of C. A Writing II grade that is below grade C requires that the student repeat the course.

LS COURSES AND COURSE NUMBERS

Freshman Core Courses
Writing I	T01.1001
Writing II	T01.2002
Cultural Foundations I	T02.0101
Cultural Foundations II	T02.0102
Social Foundations I	T03.0101
Social Foundations II	T03.0102
Sophomore Seminars
Topics in Modern Culture	T02.0201
Topics in Modern Society	T03.0201
Global Cultures
African Cultures	T04.4001
Middle Eastern Cultures	T04.3001
East Asian Cultures	T04.2001
South Asian Cultures	T04.1001
Latin American Cultures	T04.5001
Natural Sciences
Environmental Studies	T07.5005
History of the Universe	T07.6020
Life Science	T07.5010
Other LS Courses
Economics I	T08.1001
Economics II	T08.1002
Creative Writing I	T06.2001
Creative Writing II	T06.2002

COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE A.A. DEGREE**

Freshman Year	Points
Writing I and II	8
Cultural Foundations I and II	8
Social Foundations I and II	8
Science or Mathematics*	6,4
Global Cultures*	4
Sophomore Year	Points
Topics in Modern Culture (seminar)	4
Topics in Modern Society (seminar)	4
Electives	22-24
Total for A.A. degree	64

* Some students take these courses during the sophomore year. Course descriptions can be found on pages 15-18. Note: The LS curriculum requirements for students transferring to the Stern School of Business, the Tisch School of the Arts, and the College of Arts and Science for prehealth are posted at LS.nyu.edu.

** LS students studying in Florence, London, and Paris take equivalent LS and NYU courses and credit hours. For more information about NYU study abroad programs, go to www.nyu.edu/studyabroad.