These guidelines apply only to GSP freshmen who originally applied to TSOA (for Film and TV majors only) and who were referred to GSP by the Admissions Office for enrollment in TSOA in the sophomore year.
NOTE: Other guidelines apply to GSP students who 1) did not originally apply to TSOA and/or 2) want to pursue TSOA majors in Drama, Dance, Musical Theatre, Photography, Cinema Studies or Dramatic Writing and/or 3) decide in the sophomore year that they are interested in TSOA. These students should meet with a GSP Academic Advisor to discuss the Transfer/Admissions guidelines and procedures that apply to them.
The Academic Program
During the freshmen year, all GSP students take core liberal education courses that are based on a reading of classical texts and that fulfill NYU-wide requirements. Therefore, all of the courses taken in the freshmen year of GSP will apply to the TSOA liberal education requirements for the bachelor’s degree.
Freshmen take Cultural Foundations I and II, and Social Foundations I and II, core courses that are based on a reading of the great books from antiquity to the beginning of the modern era. In Cultural Foundations students study literature, the visual and performing arts, and music. In Social Foundations students study history, philosophy, and political and social theory. Taken together, the two sequences can be seen as an introduction to the intellectual heritage upon which modern ideas were built and as an introduction to the skills in critical analysis and synthetic thinking that students need for successful study in all academic disciplines.
Freshmen are also required to take two semesters of writing. Writing I concentrates on the fundamentals of clear and correct expository writing. Writing II continues this work and also teaches students how to research, document and write a college term paper. GSP freshmen pursuing degrees at TSOA will take a specially designed Writing II section entitled, The World Through Art, a research and writing class that focuses on aesthetic theory, and the cultural and ethical implications of artistic production and performance.
In addition, freshmen also take one course in Global Cultures which introduces the history and culture of Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, South Asia or East Asia, and History of the Universe which meets the science requirement.
Following is a summary of the GSP freshman year curriculum for students transferring to TSOA for the sophomore year:
GSP Freshman Year Curriculum Outline for the TSOA-Bound Students
| Writing I-II |
8 credits |
| Cultural Foundations I-II |
8 credits |
| Social Foundations I-II |
8 credits |
| Non-Western Civilization |
4 credits |
| Science |
4 credits |
The Tisch School of the Arts (TSOA) Enrollment Process for GSP Students
Students admitted to GSP on a TSOA-track for Film and Television will enroll in TSOA as sophomores. This early enrollment in TSOA ensures that students will be able to complete all of the course requirements for the TSOA major in Film and Television in four years.
All admission to TSOA requires that students demonstrate the requisite artistic talent by presenting a successful portfolio or audition. However, all GSP students who originally applied to TSOA for Film and Television, and who were referred to GSP, have already submitted a successful portfolio during their initial application to TSOA, and therefore will not have to resubmit a portfolio during their freshman year. NOTE: By contrast, GSP students who are interested in TSOA but who did not originally apply to TSOA (and therefore did not go through the TSOA-GSP Admissions referral process of auditioning or submitting a portfolio), and who later wish to apply to TSOA (for any major —Film, TV, Drama, Musical Theatre, Dance, Photography, Musical Theatre or Dramatic Writing) will have to present a successful portfolio or audition for admission to TSOA. These students should talk to a GSP Academic Advisor as soon as possible to discuss options and procedures.
Requirements for Enrollment in TSOA for Freshmen Admitted to GSP on a TSOA-Track (for Film and Television)
1. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the freshman year GSP courses.
2. These students will not have to resubmit an artistic portfolio during their freshman year because they have already submitted a successful portfolio with their original TSOA application to NYU.
