Tutorials

Tutorials are small groups of two to five students working closely with an instructor on a common topic, project, or skill. Students in the group follow a common syllabus; all participants complete the same readings, write papers on similar topics, etc. Faculty members (both full-time and part-time) are limited to supervising no more than one tutorial per term (Fall, Spring, or Summer). Students in the same tutorial must register for the same number of credits. Tutorials may range from 2 to 4 credits. Like classroom courses, tutorials also have a minimum number of contact hours (for more details, see Meeting Hours below). In general, long distance tutorials (where at least one of the students or the instructor is not able to meet regularly with the group) are not permitted.

If you are interested in conducting a tutorial, you must first:

• With the other members of your tutorial, generate a basic idea: a problem or a question, a time period, a literary genre, a natural phenomenon, a philosophical theme, or a creative skill. 
• Identify an appropriate instructor for your group to work with:  one of your academic or Gallatin class advisers, a member of Gallatin or NYU faculty and with special approval your group may also work with professionals outside of NYU.
• Contact the prospective instructor to propose the study and to discuss the plans for the work of the group.

Designing a Tutorial 

Policy

Before registering for a tutorial, the students involved must agree on the aim, content and work to be submitted with the instructor.  Each student must also secure the approval of their faculty advisor and the group’s proposal must be approved by the Curriculum Committee.  

Tutorial groups must include at least two but no more than five students.  All students enrolled in the same tutorial must register for the same number of credits and follow the same syllabus. 

While students are encouraged to engage in independent work with University faculty, the Gallatin program is designed for a careful balance between independent and classroom experience.  Students therefore may register for no more than 8 credits per semester in any combination of independent study and/or tutorial.

Additionally, graduate students may take a maximum of 12 credits of Individualized Projects.  This includes any combination of Independent Study, Tutorial, Internship, and Private Lesson credit. If you receive credit for Course Equivalency, this will decrease your allowance of Individualized Project credit and you should check with the Office of Advising to confirm the number of Individualized Project credits remaining.

Procedure for Graduate Students 

• Thoroughly review the guidelines for designing a tutorial on the Tutorial Proposal Form.   
• Each member of the tutorial must fill out a proposal form, attach the required components and secure the approvals of the instructor and academic adviser.
• Each member of the tutorial must submit the completed proposal to Kathe Ann Joseph in Gallatin’s Student Services office (1 Washington Place, 8th floor) for review and final approval of the Curriculum Committee by the semester deadline.   ** At least two proposals must be submitted in order for the tutorial to be reviewed and considered for approval.      

• Fall Submission Deadline (graduate): May 1st
• Spring Submission Deadline (graduate):  December 1st  
• Summer Sessions Submission Deadline (graduate):  April 1st 

 ** If the submission deadline falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the deadline will be extended to the Monday following the deadline. 

• After the review process, students will receive an email regarding the approval status.  If approved, the email will contain registration information and instructions; students will not be registered by Gallatin. 

For further information about tutorial, please contact Kathe Ann Joseph in the Gallatin Office of Student Services: (212) 992-9822 or e-mail:katheann.joseph@nyu.edu