NYU Core: Frequently Asked Questions

Unsure which core requirements apply to you? Generally speaking, you’ll find that information on your school’s website. Still, core requirements can vary slightly depending on your program. For example, the Stern School of Business doesn’t require students to take foreign language courses.

And communicate with your adviser! Once you’re a student, your academic adviser will usually be in touch with necessary forms and information.

There aren’t any hard rules on when you should begin taking your core classes, but start as early as possible! There’s nothing worse than having to do four core courses in the spring semester of your senior year rather than taking some fun electives! Some majors might have stricter guidelines, so always talk to your academic adviser. For example, for the nursing program, the clinical sequence begins your junior year, so you’d be expected to finish all your core courses before then.

You can potentially plan them out for when you study away! This is particularly popular for people who are double majors, since they have more credits to complete for both of their programs. It’s nice to finish up most of the core during study away, especially because most core courses are available at all study away locations!

Most courses offered at NYU study away locations will explicitly display which core requirement it goes toward. Additionally, study away sites usually have spreadsheets with each course and to which core it applies. If there’s a course you’re really interested in, talk to your academic adviser.

For example, I had to complete the core requirement: Cultures and Context, which is part of the Foundations of Contemporary Culture core component. I found a really amazing class called Shanghai Stories at NYU Shanghai, but it didn’t count as a core course for my degree. However, I talked to my academic adviser and after reviewing the course’s syllabus, I was able to use the class to count toward my core requirements! We read short historical stories about the city of Shanghai. I learned so much about urbanization as well as history through fiction and culture.