LS Core students complete a core curriculum and several elective courses. The global great works curriculum has been carefully designed to build both interdisciplinary knowledge and critical skills that together create a foundation for further study in any field.
Depending on your intended major or bachelor’s degree school, you may focus your elective classes on pre-requisites for your major. Use the LS Core Advising Checklists below for guidance with planning your coursework accordingly.
*Science/Math Requirement: LS Core students are required to complete only one science or one math course prior to transition. However, because science and math requirements vary in the NYU schools and programs where you will ultimately earn your bachelor’s degree, you should consult with your academic advisor for assistance in class selection.
Students planning to transition to CAS are encouraged to take both science courses required by CAS while in the LS Core. Your math requirement depends on the major you wish to pursue. Therefore, we recommend that you fulfill your science courses prior to taking a math course, unless you have a clear direction in your major choice. You should consult your intended baccalaureate school to determine the school’s math requirement.
- Quantitative Reasoning (CORE-UA 100-199) or Calculus I (MATH-UA 121) fulfills the math requirement for many majors at NYU.
- Algebra and Calculus (MATH-UA 9) does not fulfill the math requirement for CAS, but might for other NYU schools.
- If you have an AP Calculus score of 4 or 5, you may also be exempt from Calculus I and/or Quantitative Reasoning, depending on the school. Please contact an academic advisor to request advanced standing credit for any eligible AP scores.
- Students with a qualifying score on the Mathematics SAT-II subject test (Level I or Level II) may be exempt from the QR course requirement in the college core curriculum for CAS, but not for other schools. Please check with your advisor.
*Prehealth Students: Prehealth is a track, not a major, so prehealth students should plan to use their elective space to fill major and prehealth requirements. Consult the Prehealth Curriculum Sheet, which outlines the basic sequence of courses you will take no matter your transition school. Graduate professional schools require these courses, and the MCAT is based on the assumption that students have completed these courses. Some medical schools may require additional coursework, particularly in mathematics; you should familiarize yourself with the specific requirements for those schools to which you plan on applying. The best source for this information is the Association of American Medical Colleges’ Medical Schools Admissions Requirements.
All prehealth students should speak to an LS Core pre-professional academic advisor for advisement on course selection.
LS Core Advising Sheets
Current Course Offerings
Ready to choose your classes? Check out the course descriptions for more detailed information about classes offered through Liberal Studies, including course themes and topics:
Spring 2020 Course Descriptions (please note: LS Core Cultural Foundations & Social Foundations sequence was updated to Arts and Cultures, and Global Works and Society sequences in Fall 2020)
Fall 2020 Course Descriptions
Spring 2021 Course Descriptions
Summer/Winter Classes
The LS Core generally offers a limited number of summer and winter courses; and students may take summer and/or winter courses through other NYU schools (most typically through CAS due to the number of offerings). If you plan to register for a summer or winter course, you must receive clearance from the LS Advising Center beforehand and should consult with your academic advisor first.