About Liberal Studies

Redefining the Liberal Arts for the 21st Century

Liberal Studies (LS), an undergraduate division of New York University, is home to 2450 students in two academic programs: the two-year Core Program and four-year Global Liberal Studies degree.

Both programs employ a core curriculum that emphasizes the great works of the world’s cultures across time and disciplines. Students encounter directly classic works by reading primary texts and viewing original works of art rather than distillations in textbooks. Four course sequences comprise the core curriculum: Cultural Foundations (CF), Social Foundations (SF), Writing, and Science. Courses in every track are small, discussion-based, and writing-intensive.

Global content and global perspectives are integral to the curriculum, not only fostering global awareness but also orienting students’ perspectives on the works studied.

To complement the interdisciplinary, intercultural curriculum, students are encouraged to move across geographical borders by pursuing unique global study opportunities at NYU’s thirteen study centers worldwide during freshman, sophomore, and junior year. At each of the global sites, LS instructors draw upon cultural resources that allow them to infuse the curriculum with the culture and contemporary life of the city in which it is taught.

To connect a geographically dispersed learning community, LS emphasizes the innovative use of technology in teaching. This includes tools such as video- and web-conferencing and web publishing, as well as pioneering online courses that enable students across global sites from Shanghai to Buenos Aires to collaborate meaningfully.