Students are bound by the degree requirements in effect during the first semester in which they matriculate at Gallatin. The Office of the University Registrar calculates each student’s progress toward the Bachelor of Arts degree and generates a degree progress report, which students can access through Albert, NYU’s online student record and registration system.
Note: If you matriculated prior to Summer 2011, please reference the Degree Requirements Archive.
A more extensive explanation of each degree requirement can be found below the chart, or by clicking on each topic.
| Total Units | 128 units (A minimum of 64 units must be completed after matriculation at Gallatin) | |
| Academic Good Standing | A final minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 | |
| Undergraduate (UG) Core Requirement | 32 units in Gallatin courses as follows:
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Liberal Arts Foundation, 20 units
Historical and Cultural Foundation, 12 units | 32 units, distributed as follows:
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| Intellectual Autobiography and Plan for Concentration | Approved by the student’s adviser, by the completion of the sophomore year (64 units) | |
| Classroom Unit Requirement | A minimum of 64 classroom units | |
| Residency Requirement | The last 32 units must be taken at NYU | |
| Senior Colloquium | Two–hour presentation and discussion with faculty. | |
| Other Degree Components | Transfer Credit Course Equivalency Credit |
The Office of the University Registrar monitors each student’s progress toward the Bachelor of Arts degree and generates a degree progress report. Gallatin students can review their degree progress report by using Albert, NYU’s online registration system. Students should also bear in mind that they are bound by the degree requirements in effect during the first semester in which they matriculate at Gallatin, according to the following pattern. Fall matriculants will be bound by the degree requirements in effect for the fall term in which they entered Gallatin. Spring matriculants will be bound by the degree requirements in effect during the fall term immediately preceding their enrollment. Summer matriculants will be bound by the degree requirements in effect for the fall term immediately following their enrollment.
Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 to remain in academic good standing. A final minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required for graduation. .
Please note: Academic good standing is not the same as satisfactory academic progress. Satisfactory academic progress refers to the academic requirement students must meet to maintain eligibility for financial aid. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information on satisfactory academic progress.
Students must complete 32 units in Gallatin School courses, all of which contain the letters “UG” in the course subject area. In fulfilling this requirement, students must earn 4 units in the First-Year Interdisciplinary Seminar, 4 units in First-Year Writing Seminar, 4 units in First-Year or Transfer Student Research Seminar, and 16 units in interdisciplinary seminars. Please note the First-Year Interdisciplinary Seminar counts as an interdisciplinary seminar; thus first-year students who have completed a First-Year Interdisciplinary Seminar are only required to complete 12 units in Interdisciplinary Seminars.
Any remaining units may be taken in other Gallatin curricular offerings, including additional interdisciplinary seminars, advanced writing courses; arts workshops; practicum courses; community learning courses; travel courses, and individualized projects (independent studies, tutorials, internships, and private lessons).
Students may not take the First-Year Interdisciplinary Seminar, First-Year Writing Seminar, First-Year Research Seminar or the Transfer Student Research Seminar on a pass/fail basis.
Transfer students who enter with 32 or more units may substitute another Gallatin interdisciplinary seminar for the First-Year Interdisciplinary Seminar. Transfer students who have completed one or two expository writing courses may substitute these units with other Gallatin courses; transfer students who are required to take a research seminar should enroll in the Transfer Student Research Seminar.
All students must complete a foundation requirement, which is comprised of two areas: the liberal arts foundation and the historical and cultural foundation. Some courses may satisfy more than one foundation requirement (for example, a course may satisfy the humanities area of the liberal arts requirement, as well as the pre-modern area of the historical and cultural foundation). In this example, both requirements would be satisfied by the completion of the one course.
Courses taken to fulfill the foundation requirement may not be taken on a pass/fail basis. Transfer students will have their transcripts reviewed on admission to determine which, if any, of the foundation requirements they have fulfilled. AP course credit/unit and units earned from other similar programs may not be used to fulfill the foundation requirement.
The liberal arts foundation must be distributed as follows: 8 units in the humanities; 8 units in the social sciences; and 4 units in either mathematics or science. To fulfill the liberal arts foundation, students may take courses in several departments and programs of the University, as well as in Gallatin. A list of Gallatin interdisciplinary seminars that may be counted toward the liberal arts foundation is available on Gallatin’s course listing page. See the Liberal Arts Foundation page for a list of other NYU departments and courses that satisfy an area of the liberal arts foundation .
Courses taken to fulfill the liberal arts foundation requirement may not be taken on a pass/fail basis. Transfer students will have their transcripts reviewed on admission to determine which, if any, of the liberal arts requirements they have fulfilled. AP course credit/unit and units earned from other similar programs may not be used to fulfill the liberal arts foundation requirement.
Students are required to take at least 4 units of coursework in the 'pre-modern' period,
4 units in the 'early modern' period, and 4 units in ‘global cultures.’ Students are expected to complete one course in each of the areas of historical and cultural requirement for a total of 12 units. While some courses may satisfy multiple areas of the historical and cultural foundation (i.e. global cultures and premodern), only one of these areas will be counted toward the requirement (in this example, either global cultures or premodern, but not both). To fulfill this requirement, students may take courses in Gallatin, as well as several CAS departments and programs. A list of Gallatin interdisciplinary seminars that may be counted toward the historical and cultural foundation is available on the course listing page. A list of CAS departments and courses that satisfy the historical and cultural foundation requirement is available here.
More information about the premodern, early modern, and global cultures areas is available here.
Courses taken to fulfill the historical and cultural foundation requirement may not be taken on a pass/fail basis. AP course credit/unit and units earned from other similar programs may not be used to fulfill the historical and cultural foundation requirement.
Students are required to write a two- to three-page essay called the Intellectual Autobiography and Plan for Concentration by the end of the semester in which they complete the 64th unit toward the B.A. degree. Students who enter with 64 transfer credits are required to complete the Intellectual Autobiography and Plan for Concentration by the end of theirfirst semester at Gallatin. Students write the essay in consultation with their adviser, and the essay must be approved by the adviser.
This essay has several purposes. First, students are expected to compose an intellectual history that describes the trajectory of their interests and education thus far. Second, students are asked to frame a plan for future study, including classroom course work and individualized projects. In constructing this essay, students should describe their educational experiences, the central idea or ideas informing their concentration, and the course work relevant to their concentration. Finally, this essay should be understood as an opportunity for students to reflect on how they learn as individuals and to consider what they find academically interesting and worthwhile.
For more information about this topic, see Intellectual Autobiography and Plan for Concentration.
Students are required to complete their last 32 units at NYU, through courses at NYU in New York City or at an NYU study away program. Students who wish to study abroad through a school other than NYU or who wish to take courses outside of NYU should either do so before they complete 96 units or file a petiion asking to be waived from the requirement. Such arrangements require prior permission, which may be requested by submitting an External Study application (and petition, if necessary) to the Gallatin Office of Global Programs, 411 Lafayette Street, 3rd Floor.
Students must successfully complete a two-hour presentation and discussion with the student’s adviser and two other faculty members on a list of 20 to 25 books chosen by the student.
For more information about this topic, see Colloquium.
Degree requirements in the Gallatin School are subject to change. Generally, students must fulfill the degree requirements that are in effect when they enroll in Gallatin. Degree requirements for students transferring from a school or college within the University are those that are in effect when they first matriculate at Gallatin. Students who are readmitted must fulfill the degree requirements that are in effect when they are readmitted, unless their offer of readmission states otherwise. Students who entered Gallatin prior to Summer 2011 should consult the Degree Requirements Archive located at the top of this page.
A student may apply a maximum of 64 transfer units toward his or her Gallatin degree. Included in this maximum are all units earned prior to admission (e.g. Advanced Placement , International Baccalaureate, Maturity Exam Certificate, etc.), any non-NYU units a student may be approved to take after matriculation at Gallatin, as well as units granted for course equivalency. Please note: all Gallatin degree candidates must complete a minimum of 64 units after matriculation at Gallatin and must satisfy all other degree requirements.
For more information about Advanced Placement and other pre-college credit, please visit here.
Undergraduate students may earn a maximum of 32 course equivalency credits for professional experiences they have had before matriculating in Gallatin. Please note: Course equivalency credits will be applied toward the transfer credit limit. The number of course equivalency and transfer credits may not exceed 64 units.
The process of receiving credit begins with the compilation of an extensive portfolio documenting the student’s learning experiences prior to Gallatin matriculation and ends with a rigorous evaluation process by NYU faculty. Students must demonstrate through the portfolio that they have mastered the material they would have learned in comparable NYU courses.
Course equivalency credit does not count toward the undergraduate residency requirement and should therefore be submitted in time to be evaluated before the senior year. Credits will not be evaluated for undergraduate students who intend to graduate with more than 128 units.
To begin the process of applying for course equivalency credit, students should consult the director of external programs about the rules and regulations governing the course equivalency process.
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