Honors and Award Opportunities

Liberal Studies offers several honors and awards to outstanding students within the LS community.

Dean’s Circle

The Dean’s Circle is Liberal Studies’ sophomore honor seminar, a year-long course with the Dean on a selective theme . Dean’s Circle scholars engage with classmates in critical discussions of theme-based, interdisciplinary readings and conduct independent research. Together they

• Participate in a year-long seminar around a selected topic
• Travel abroad as a group for an immersive learning experience
  
• Conduct independent research and present their projects at the end of the year
  

Rising sophomores who have completed the first year having earned at least 28 credit hours are eligible to submit an application. Additional eligibility requirements may apply. A call for applications goes out in the spring.

Dean’s Global Research Grant

(GLS only) Global Liberal Studies emphasizes independent research. As such, GLS students can apply for grants to help offset travel or other extraordinary expenses associated with major research projects, such as presentation of research at a conference. Students may submit an application for either a Thesis Research Grant or an Open Research Grant, which supports research projects not related to the senior thesis. More about Dean’s Global Research Grants.

Dean’s List

At the end of each academic year, a Dean’s Honors List is compiled. This is an honor roll of matriculated students who have achieved an average of 3.65 or higher for that academic year in at least 28 graded credits. For returning students and first-year students who matriculate in the fall semester, the Dean’s List will be determined on the basis of Fall, J-term, and Spring semesters. For first-year students who matriculate in the spring semester, eligibility for the Dean's List will instead be based on the Spring and Summer semesters (for the first year only). In order to be selected for this honor, a student must not have any grades of Incomplete or N at the time the list is compiled. In addition, grade point averages are not rounded off.

Elaine Kuntz Memorial Writing Prize

The Elaine Kuntz Memorial Writing Prize was established in 1988 in memory of Dr. Kuntz, who was the program’s first associate director and a member of the writing faculty. The prize is awarded to a first-year student each year for an outstanding essay composed in a writing course. The award recipient receives a certificate and a monetary award.

Founders Day Award

(GLS only) This honor recognizes graduating seniors that rank in the top 35% of the senior class of their school based on GPA. To be eligible, a student must have completed at least 64 points in the GLS B.A., in courses in which letter grades were received. Awardees are notified on Founders Day (April 21).

Latin Honors

(GLS only) To graduate with Latin honors, a student must have completed at least 64 points in the GLS B.A., in courses in which letter grades were received. All graded courses taken while enrolled in GLS, including courses taken from other divisions of the University, will be used in computing the honors average. Pass grades are not counted, and grades received in courses taken at other institutions are also not included. The student must also have a satisfactory record of conduct. More about Latin Honors.

Senior Thesis Prize

(GLS only) The GLS Senior Thesis Awards recognize outstanding achievement in GLS student scholarship and creative work. Each GLS concentration selects a Best Scholarly Thesis winner and, in concentrations where creative theses are permitted, a Best Creative Thesis winner within the concentration. Concentrations may select up to two Honorable Mentions in each category. The Best Overall Scholarly Thesis Award and the Best Overall Creative Thesis Award in each concentration come with a monetary prize.

Valedictorian and Banner Bearer

(GLS only) Each year the graduating senior with the highest cumulative GPA is named Valedictorian of the graduating class and at All-University Commencement processes and serves as class representative for receiving the bachelor’s degree. The graduating senior with the second highest cumulative GPA is named Banner Bearer of the graduating class and processes at All-University Commencement.

Community Leadership Award

(GLS only) This award is presented annually to a graduating senior on the basis of outstanding contributions to the Global Liberal Studies community. Students may be nominated for the award by Liberal Studies faculty, staff, or students.

Global Service Award

This award is presented annually to an undergraduate student in recognition of exceptional engagement and leadership in creating a global network. The honoree will have served as a Liberal Studies ambassador abroad through participation in student activities and academics that connect Liberal Studies students and faculty across the globe; both the extent and the quality of services created will be considered. Students may be nominated for the award by Liberal Studies faculty, staff, or students.

Schwarzbach Global Impact Award

(GLS only) This award is presented to a graduating senior based on accomplishments that have potential for meaningful global impact, responding to global challenges through scholarship, engagement, innovation and/or creative practice. The honoree will have an outstanding academic record and a demonstrated commitment to making positive impact for global communities. Students may be nominated for the award by Liberal Studies faculty, staff, or students.

Social Impact Grants

Social Impact Grants (SIG) fund student initiatives that involve making a difference in the community and enriching quality of life. These grants model the idea that contributing back to a particular community is an important educational experience and is critical preparation for the practice of global citizenship. Applicants must be matriculated Liberal Studies students in at least the second semester of their first year. More about Social Impact Grants.

Torch Award

This award honors outstanding service and leadership in student activities, including student organizations and School and University governance. The Torch Award is presented to an undergraduate student in recognition of the unique and beneficial quality of their record of service to classmates, the faculty, and the administration of Liberal Studies. Students may be nominated for the award by Liberal Studies faculty, staff, or students.

Michael Probst Scholarships

Sophomores with outstanding academic records are eligible to apply for a small number of $2,500 Probst Scholarship merit awards. The Probst Scholarships are highly competitive and non-renewable. Students having earned a cumulative GPA of 3.85 or higher and at least 32 credit hours in Liberal Studies with no outstanding incomplete grades are eligible to submit an application. A call for applications goes out in the spring. The award is for the fall semester of sophomore year and is not renewable.

Global Access Grant

LS Global Access Grants provide need-based financial assistance in the form of cash awards to LS students who have been admitted to study away at one of NYU’s global academic centers during the academic year, and who would be giving up a current on- or off-campus job. The fund helps to replace loss of income, for a semester/academic year.  Students will need to provide proof of their most recent employment. Students who have been admitted to a study away location will automatically receive an application in May for Fall and full year study away, and November for spring study away.