These guidelines apply only to Liberal Studies freshmen who originally applied to TSOA (for Film and TV majors only) and who were selected to attend Liberal Studies by the Admissions Office.
NOTE: Other guidelines apply to Liberal Studies students who 1) did not originally apply to TSOA and/or 2) want to pursue TSOA majors in Drama, Dance, Recorded Music, Photography and Imaging, Cinema Studies or Dramatic Writing and/or 3) decide in the sophomore year that they are interested in TSOA. These students should meet with a Liberal Studies Academic Advisor to discuss the Transfer/Admissions guidelines and procedures that apply to them.
The Academic Program
During the freshmen year, all Liberal Studies students take core liberal education courses that fulfill NYU-wide requirements. Therefore, all of the courses taken in the freshmen year of Liberal Studies will apply to the TSOA liberal education requirements for the bachelor’s degree.
Freshmen take Cultural Foundations I and II, and Social Foundations I and II, core courses that are based on a reading of the great books from antiquity to the beginning of the modern era. In Cultural Foundations students study literature, the visual and performing arts, and music. In Social Foundations students study history, philosophy, and political and social theory. Taken together, the two sequences can be seen as an introduction to the intellectual heritage upon which modern ideas were built and as an introduction to the skills in critical analysis and synthetic thinking that students need for successful study in all academic disciplines.
Freshmen are also required to take two semesters of writing. Writing I concentrates on the fundamentals of clear and correct expository writing. Writing II continues this work and also teaches students how to research, document and write a college term paper. Liberal Studies freshmen pursuing degrees at TSOA can take a specially designed Writing II section entitled, The Artist and Critic in New York, a research and writing class that focuses on the role and influence of artistic critics. In addition to working with theoretical texts, visual texts, research, and their own writing, students take advantage of the city's art offerings by way of field trips to museums and galleries.
In addition, freshmen also take one course in Global Cultures that introduces the history and culture of Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, South Asia or East Asia, and choose an elective with the assistance of an academic advisor, which will meet an additional general education requirement once they transition to Tisch.
Following is a summary of the Liberal Studies freshman year curriculum for students transferring to TSOA for the sophomore year:
Liberal Studies Freshman Year Curriculum Outline for the TSOA-Bound Students
| Writing I-II |
8 credits |
| Cultural Foundations I-II |
8 credits |
| Social Foundations I-II |
8 credits |
| Global Cultures |
4 credits |
| Elective |
4 credits |
The Tisch School of the Arts (TSOA) Transition Process for Liberal Studies Students
Students admitted to Liberal Studies on a TSOA-track for Film and Television will enroll in TSOA as sophomores beginning the summer immediately following their freshman year. This early enrollment in TSOA ensures that students will be able to complete all of the course requirements for the TSOA major in Film and Television in four years.
All admission to TSOA requires that students demonstrate the requisite artistic talent by presenting a successful portfolio or audition. However, all Liberal Studies students who originally applied to TSOA for Film and Television, and who were referred to Liberal Studies, have already submitted a successful portfolio during their initial application to TSOA, and therefore will not have to resubmit a portfolio during their freshman year. NOTE: Liberal Studies students who are interested in TSOA but who did not originally apply to TSOA (and therefore did not go through the TSOA-LS Admissions referral process of auditioning or submitting a portfolio), and who later wish to apply to TSOA (for any major — Film and Television, Drama, Dance, Photography and Imaging, Recorded Music or Dramatic Writing) will have to present a successful portfolio or audition for admission to TSOA. These students should talk to a Liberal Studies Academic Advisor as soon as possible to discuss options and procedures.
Requirements for Enrollment in TSOA for Freshmen Admitted to Liberal Studies on a TSOA-Track (for Film and Television)
1. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the freshman year Liberal Studies courses.
2. These students will not have to resubmit an artistic portfolio during their freshman year because they have already submitted a successful portfolio with their original TSOA application to NYU.
