Honors & Awards

Liberal Studies offers several honors and awards to outstanding students within the LS community. For more information, email ls.aid@nyu.edu.

Dean’s Circle

The Dean’s Circle is Liberal Studies’ sophomore honor society. Dean’s Circle scholars participate in the various activities of the University’s Scholars Programs and receive an award from the University to engage in special academic activities, including:

• Participate in a year-long seminar around a selected topic
• Attend relevant cultural events in New York
• Travel abroad as a group for an immersive learning experience

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. Membership is selective and is based on scholarship, leadership, and community service.

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 (September-May) in at least 28 graded points. In order to be listed, a student must not have any grades of Incomplete or N at the time when the list is compiled. Note that 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. Select outstanding seniors may also be given the Founders Day Award based on the discretion of the dean. 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 Prizes recognize outstanding achievement in GLS student scholarship and creative work. Each year, GLS awards prizes in two categories: Best Scholarly Thesis and Best Creative Thesis. Each GLS concentration first selects a Best Scholarly Thesis winner and, in concentrations where creative theses are permitted, a Best Creative Thesis winner within the concentration. A GLS-wide Best Overall Scholarly Thesis winner and Best Overall Creative Thesis winner are then chosen from among the concentration winners. Concentration Prizes are honorary recognitions. The Best Overall Scholarly Thesis Prize and the Best Overall Creative Thesis Prize each come with a cash award of $500.

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.

Guen Scholarship

(GLS only) Global Liberal Studies sophomores are eligible to apply for a limited number of Guen Scholarships, which provide additional financial aid to GLS students spending their junior year abroad. The scholarships have been funded through the generosity of the Guen family in the interest of assisting students in international study. A call for applications goes out in the spring. Ten scholarships of $5,000 each will be awarded based on a combination of merit and financial need. Scholarships will be applied to tuition charges for the junior year. The award is for one year only and is not renewable.

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.