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Americas Scholars

group standing in Louis Armstrong Park

Americas Scholars in Louisiana

 

The Americas Scholars Program brings together high-achieving sophomores, juniors and seniors at Gallatin who are interested in matters related to the Americas—understood quite broadly to include the US, other parts of North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

Americas Scholars participate in academic seminars, cultural activities, and international or domestic trips with Gallatin faculty members.

A Year-Long Program 

Throughout the academic year, Americas Scholars explore a particular theme through bi-weekly meetings with a Gallatin faculty mentor. The majority of Americas Scholars activities will take place during this time, although some activities such as dinners and performances may occur at other times. Americas Scholars members must attend and participate in all Americas Scholars functions.

Examples of Americas Scholars activities:

  • Attending lectures and readings on topics related to the Americas
  • Visits to museums, dance performances, musical performances, and other cultural events
  • Independent research and collaborative group projects

International or Domestic Travel

The Americas Scholars investigate their yearly theme by traveling as a group during January to an international or domestic location with the Gallatin faculty mentor and a program administrator. Upon return, group members prepare a project based on their explorations and share it with the Gallatin community.


2023-2024: "States of Emergency and Disaster"
Faculty Mentor: Jacob Remes
Destination: Chile

Past Americas Scholars travel locations and themes:

  • Costa Rica: "Post-Colonial Science in the Mid-Anthropocene"
  • Atlantic Canada: "Labor and Landscapes of a Post-Industrial Periphery"
  • Dominican Republic: "Borders and Flows: Music in Haiti and the Dominican Republic"
  • Washington, Alaska, and British Columbia: "Decolonizing Cascadia"
  • Colombia & Brazil: "Urban Democracy"
  • Cuba: "Labor, Daily Life, and Creative Expression"
  • Argentina & Uruguay: "Intersecting Identities"
  • Puerto Rico: "Puerto Rico and New York: Culture and Community"
  • Cuba: "The Effects of Economic Embargo"
  • Hawaii: "Colonialism and Indigeneity"
  • Brazil: "Consumerism"
  • New Orleans: "The Social Production of Natural Disaster"

View photos from recent Americas Scholars trips!

 

Selection Process and Requirements

Gallatin sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have a GPA of at least 3.85 are invited to apply during the Spring semester. Selection is based on a student's academic record, his/her demonstrated academic and personal interest in global matters relating specifically to the Americas (Central America, South American, the Caribbean, and North America including the US), and his/her demonstrated commitment to civic engagement.

Once accepted to the program, Americas Scholars are expected to:

  • Earn a minimum semester GPA of 3.5 during each term of membership.
  • Register for and participate actively in their group’s bi-weekly seminar, which is 0 credits and graded on a "Pass/Fail" basis. The majority of group activities will take place during these meeting times, although some activities such as dinners and performances may occur at other times.
  • Contribute toward the cost of travel (special provisions such as payment plans are available if financial circumstances warrant; please do not let financial concerns prevent you from applying).

For more information, contact Gallatin's Office of the Associate Dean of Students at gallatin.deanofstudents@nyu.edu or 212.992.6300.
 

Past Years' Projects