Program Overview

Global Liberal Studies (BA)

Overview

The Global Liberal Studies (GLS) program is an innovative interdisciplinary bachelor’s degree that explores the spatial, conceptual, and temporal understandings of a highly interconnected world. This program is grounded in the critical and creative study of texts and their contexts, the movement of ideas and peoples, the confluence of material cultures, cities, crossroads, and changing modes of communication.

Program Description

Global Liberal Studies is a framing that draws on philosophy, history, politics, literature, and the arts to uncover the historical legacies in which current crises are rooted and the dynamics of shifting social imaginaries and geopolitical realities. The program encourages intellectual curiosity and agility, the ability to think critically and expansively, make connections across disciplinary boundaries, embrace new perspectives, and transcend barriers and horizons. The GLS major is distinguished by experiential learning, study away, and independent research focused in one of six interdisciplinary concentrations. The junior year includes a semester-long internship or place-based independent study, with most students studying away for the entire year at one of nine NYU academic sites. All seniors complete a thesis, based on original research or creative production, gaining expertise that prepares them for advanced graduate studies, fellowships, or entry into a wide range of international careers.

Admissions

New York University's Office of Undergraduate Admissions supports the application process for all undergraduate programs at NYU. For additional information about undergraduate admissions, including application requirements, see the university's admissions policies.

Program Requirements

• Required Core Courses:
  • GWS-UF 101: Global Writing Seminar (4 credits)
  • ACA-UF 101: Arts and Cultures across Antiquity (4 credits)
  • ACC-UF 102: Arts and Cultures towards the Crossroads (4 credits)
  • GWA-UF 101: Global Works and Society: Antiquity (4 credits)
  • GWC-UF 102: Global Works and Society in a Changing World (4 credits)
  • Natural Sciences 1 (8 credits)
  • Foreign Language (8-16 credits)
• Upper Division Coursework:
  • Advanced Global Topics (chosen from approved options) (4 credits)
  • Select one of the following Global Cultures Courses: (4 credits)
    • AFGC-UF 101: African Cultures
    • CAGC-UF 101: Caribbean Cultures
    • EAGC-UF 101: East Asian Cultures
    • LAGC-UF 101: Latin American Cultures
    • MEGC-UF 101: Middle Eastern Cultures
    • SAGC-UF 101: South Asian Cultures
    • INGC-UF 101: Indigenous Cultures
  • APR-UF 201: Approaches: Sophomore Seminar (4 credits)
  • GT-UF 201: Global Topics (4 credits)
  • EXL-UF 302: Experiential Learning (2 credits)
  • CAT-UF 301: City As Text (4 credits)
  • JIRS-UF 301: Junior Independent Research Seminar (2 credits)
  • Select one of the following Advanced GLS Electives: (4 credits)
    • ACM-UF 201: Arts and Cultures of Modernity
    • AWS-UF 201: Advanced Writing Studio
    • GT-UF 201: Global Topics
    • GWM-UF 201: Global Works and Society: Modernity
• Senior-Level Courses:
  • SCOI-UF 401: Senior Colloquium I (4 credits)
  • SCAI-UF 401: Senior Seminar (4 credits)
  • SRTH-UF 401: Senior Thesis (6 credits)
• Other Elective Credits: 34-42 credits
• Total Credits: 128 credits

Sample Plan of Study

The sample plan of study for the Global Liberal Studies program is outlined over eight semesters, including:

• First Semester: Global Writing Seminar, Arts and Cultures across Antiquity, Global Works and Society: Antiquity, and Sustainability Science
• Second Semester: Global Works and Society in a Changing World, Arts and Cultures towards the Crossroads, Global Cultures, and an Elective
• Third Semester: Two Elective Courses, Advanced GLS Elective, and Language
• Fourth Semester: Approaches: Sophomore Seminar, Global Topics, Language, and an Elective
• Fifth Semester: City As Text, Elective, Junior Independent Research Seminar, and Language
• Sixth Semester: Experiential Learning, Language, Two Elective Courses, and Advanced Global Topics
• Seventh Semester: Senior Colloquium I, Senior Seminar, Principles of Macroeconomics, and an Elective
• Eighth Semester: Senior Thesis, Senior Seminar, and Electives

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will have the skills and competencies to:

1. Demonstrate understanding of transregional perspectives.
2. Describe the substance and significance of important works, ideas, events, and cultural practices from different global regions.
3. Communicate effectively and with increasing complexity in a number of genres and modes.
4. Synthesize and justify intellectual arguments through independent inquiry.
5. Demonstrate interpretive literacy across a variety of disciplines and genres.

Policies

• NYU Policies: University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.
• Liberal Studies Policies: Additional academic policies can be found on the Liberal Studies academic policies page.