Liberal Studies vs Global Liberal Studies

Liberal Studies Core is a two-year track during your first and second years at NYU. During those two years, you will focus on the great works in a global context. This means you’ll read books like the Iliad and Sundiata and learn about the philosophies of Plato and Sun Tzu. These foundational classes give you the groundwork for analyzing today’s issues. Additionally, all of these classes will be small and seminar style, no bigger than 25 students, and will foster amazing relationships with faculty. 

After your first two years, you and your adviser will work toward a seamless transition into one of NYU’s other schools. Throughout your time in LS Core, you will have ample opportunities to take classes in other disciplines, exploring other majors and programs to see what is the right fit for you and what you want to study for your two years after LS Core.

Global Liberal Studies is a four-year major, with about 100 students per grade. It is actually almost the same as Liberal Studies for the first year. However, in the first semester of your sophomore year, you will pick one of six concentrations. My concentration is politics, rights, and development. In the second half of your sophomore year, you will take classes within your concentration. 

And then in your junior year, you will study away! GLS students study for a full academic year at one of NYU’s study away sites. You will be fluent in another language, experience a new culture, and live in another country for a quarter of your time at NYU. Next year, I’ll be in Madrid, Spain! When you come back from your study away site for your junior year, you will write a thesis, synthesizing everything you’ve learned in your classes in New York City and while you studied away. 

Both LS Core and GLS offer the option of spending your first year away: in Florence, London, Paris, New York City, or Washington, DC. If you are in GLS, you then have the option of spending another year away during junior year. If you are in LS Core, you could spend a semester away at a new location or go back to your first one. Or, you can stay in the greatest city in the world: NYC!