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BA Degree Requirements
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undergraduate
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# BA Degree Requirements

**Source**: https://gallatin.nyu.edu/academics/undergraduate/requirements.html
**Parent**: https://gallatin.nyu.edu/admissions.html?challenge=d06e90d7-4d8f-4b88-9d8c-10b73beb60f1

Students are bound by the degree requirements in effect during the first semester in which they matriculate at Gallatin, and are responsible for tracking their progress toward the degree. For specific information about the semester of matriculation, see [Understanding the Degree Requirements](#Understanding) below.  Students can learn how to track their degree progress and monitor remaining requirements by reading [Tracking Completion of Degree Requirements](#tracking) below.\

## Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements Program: Individualized Major Effective Summer 2024

NYSED: 08440 HEGIS: 4901.00 CIP: 24.0101

*A more extensive explanation of each degree requirement can be found below the summary below, or by clicking on each topic.*

### [Total Credits](#totalunits)

128 credits (A minimum of 64 credits must be completed after matriculation at Gallatin.)

### [Undergraduate (UG) Core Requirement](#Undergraduate)

*The Core comprises both credit-bearing (32 credits) and non-credit bearing requirements.\*

#### [Gallatin Courses 32 credits](#Courses)

- First-Year Interdisciplinary Seminar, 4 credits (Transfer students who enter with more than 32 credits may substitute this course with another Gallatin course.)
- First-Year Writing Seminar and First-Year Research Seminar,8 credits ([Transfer students can learn more about satisfying this requirement by selecting this link.](#writing))
- Interdisciplinary Seminars, 16 credits (The First-Year Interdisciplinary Seminar counts as an interdisciplinary seminar; thus first-year students who have completed a First-Year Interdisciplinary Seminar are required to complete only 12 more credits in Interdisciplinary Seminars.)
- Remaining credits may be taken in any Gallatin curricular area (course subject area ending -UG)

#### [Intellectual Autobiography and Plan for Concentration](#IAPC)

Approved by the student’s adviser by the completion of the sophomore year (64 credits)

#### [Colloquium](#Senior) (Rationale and List of Works)

Students are required to complete the Colloquium, a two–hour presentation and discussion with faculty. Both the Rationale and List of Works serve as the main focus of the discussion in the Colloquium.

### [Liberal Arts Requirement, 20 credits](#liberalarts)\*

- Humanities, 8 credits
- Social Sciences, 8 credits
- Mathematics or Science, 4 credits

### [Historical & Cultural Requirement,12 credits](#historicalcultural)\*

- Premodern, 4 credits
- Early Modern, 4 credits
- Global Cultures, 4 credits

### [Critical Race Studies, 4 credits](#CRS)\*

\*The Liberal Arts, Historical & Cultural, and Critical Race Studies requirements can be completed with as few as 20 credits or as many as 36 credits. See [Liberal Arts Requirement](#liberalarts), [Historical & Cultural Requirement](#historicalcultural), or [Critical Race Studies](#CRS) for more information about how a single course might fulfill two or three areas.

### [Academic Good Standing](#goodstanding)

A final minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is required for graduation.

### [Classroom Credit Requirement](#classroom)

A minimum of 64 credits in classroom courses is required.

### [Residency Requirements](#residency)

- A minimum of 64 credits of coursework must be completed after matriculation in Gallatin.
- The last 32 credits must be taken at NYU.\

### [Limitations](#limitations)

- Time Limit for the Completion of the Bachelor's Degree - 10 years
- Maximum attempted credits - 145 credits
- Transfer Credit - 64 credits maximum
- Business Courses - 31 credits maximum
- Private Lessons - 24 credits maximum
- Internship - 24 credits maximum\

---

## Degree Requirements Archive

Select an Option...
If you matriculated Summer 2022-Spring 2024If you matriculated Spring 2015-Spring 2022If you matriculated Summer 2011-Spring 2015If you matriculated Summer 2010-Spring 2011If you matriculated Summer 2009-Spring 2010If you matriculated Summer 2008-Spring 2009If you matriculated Summer 2006-Spring 2008If you matriculated Summer 2004-Spring 2006

### Understanding the Degree Requirements

Students are bound by the degree requirements in effect during the first semester in which they matriculate at Gallatin.

- **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.

#### Transfer Students

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.

#### Readmitted Students

Students who are readmitted must fulfill the degree requirements that are in effect when they are readmitted, unless their offer of readmission states otherwise.

**Note:** Students who matriculated prior to Summer 2015 should reference the Degree Requirements Archive above.

Authoritative curriculum information can be found exclusively in the University  Bulletin. All other content, including this web-page, is for informational purpose only. You can find the curriculum for this program on [this page of the Bulletin](https://bulletins.nyu.edu/undergraduate/individualized-study/programs/individualized-major-ba/#curriculumtext).

### Tracking Completion of Degree Requirements

Students are responsible for tracking their progress toward their degree by viewing their [Degree Progress Report](https://www.nyu.edu/students/student-information-and-resources/registration-records-and-graduation/albert-help/training/students/degree-progress-report.html), which is available from a link on the Academics tab in their Albert Student Center (NYU’s online student information system). The Degree Progress Report will indicate which requirements the student has completed and which are still remaining.

---

### Total Credits

To be eligible for the Bachelor of Arts degree, students must complete 128 credits and all degree requirements within 10 years of matriculating at Gallatin. A minimum of 64 credits must be completed after matriculation at Gallatin. Students are expected to satisfy all degree requirements and thus graduate in the semester in which they complete 128 credits. If unusual circumstances require additional course work in excess of 145 credits, the student may file a Petition to request permission to take extra credits for one additional semester only.

No student may attempt or earn more than 168 credits. This limit itself is a rarity--a student may reach it only through receiving approval via a Petition.\

---

### Undergraduate Core Requirement

**The Core comprises both credit-bearing (32 credits) and non-credit bearing requirements.**

#### Gallatin Courses, 32 credits

Students must complete 32 credits in Gallatin School courses, all of which contain the letters “UG” in the course subject area. In fulfilling this requirement, students must earn 4 credits in the \*First-Year Interdisciplinary Seminar, 4 credits in \*First-Year Writing Seminar, 4 credits in \*First-Year or Transfer Student Research Seminar, and 16 credits in interdisciplinary seminars. Any remaining credits may be taken in any Gallatin curricular area (course subject area ending -UG).

***\*Please note**:*

1. *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 credits in Interdisciplinary Seminars.*
2. *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.*

\
**For Transfer Students:**

- Transfer students who enter with 32 or more credits may substitute another Gallatin interdisciplinary seminar for the First-Year Interdisciplinary Seminar.\
- Transfer students may satisfy the required First-Year Writing Seminar and First-Year Research Seminar with approved expository writing courses from other schools; this substitution does not reduce the required 32 credits in Gallatin courses. Transfer students who must complete one or both seminars in Gallatin should consult with their transfer adviser.

**The following Core requirements are in addition to the 32-credit course requirements:**

#### Intellectual Autobiography and Plan for Concentration

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 credit toward the B.A. degree. Students who transfer into Gallatin with 64 credits must complete this requirement during their first semester at Gallatin (deadline: summer/fall admits – November 1; spring admits – April 1). 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](https://gallatin.nyu.edu/academics/undergraduate/iapc.html).

#### Senior Colloquium (Rationale and List of Works)

Students must successfully complete a final oral examination called the Colloquium, to occur preferably during the penultimate semester of the senior year. The Colloquium is an intellectual conversation between the student, the student’s primary faculty adviser, and one other member of the faculty about a selection of works representing several academic disciplines and historical periods. Under certain circumstances, a third committee member (an additional faculty member) can be included.

Both the Rationale and List of Works serve as the main focus of the discussion in the Colloquium. Students are required to submit (1) a five- to eight-page adviser-approved Rationale about the topic or topics to be discussed in the Colloquium and (2) a List of Works consisting of 20-25 works representing several academic disciplines and historical periods related to the theme or themes described in the Rationale. The Rationale and the List of Works must be formally approved by the student’s adviser, who may opt to request a second review by another member of the Gallatin faculty.

For more information about this topic, see [Colloquium](https://gallatin.nyu.edu/academics/undergraduate/colloquium.html) and [Rationale and List of Works](https://gallatin.nyu.edu/academics/undergraduate/colloquium/booklistrationale.html).

---

### Liberal Arts Requirement

All students must complete the Liberal Arts requirement, which is distributed as follows: 8 credits in the Humanities; 8 credits in the Social Sciences; and 4 credits in either Mathematics or Science.

#### Liberal Arts Course Policies

- Some Liberal Arts courses may also satisfy one of the Historical & Cultural requirements, and/or the Critical Race Studies requirement (for example, a course may satisfy the Humanities area of the Liberal Arts requirement, as well as the Early Modern area of the Historical & Cultural requirement, as well as the Critical Race Studies requirement). In this example, three requirements would be satisfied by the completion of a single course. \
- To fulfill the Liberal Arts requirement, students may take courses in Gallatin, as well as in several departments and programs in other schools of the University. A list of Gallatin interdisciplinary seminars that may be counted toward the Liberal Arts requirement is available on the [Gallatin Courses page](https://gallatin.nyu.edu/academics/courses.html). A list of other NYU departments and courses that satisfy an area of the Liberal Arts requirement is available on the [NYU Courses that Fulfill Gallatin Requirements page](https://gallatin.nyu.edu/academics/undergraduate/requirements/nyucourses.html).
- Please note that the following Gallatin courses do not fulfill any area of the Liberal Arts requirements: Individualized projects, including independent studies, tutorials, etc. (INDIV-UG), First-year program courses, including first-year interdisciplinary seminars and first-year writing and research seminars (FIRST-UG), Advanced writing courses (WRTNG-UG), Arts Workshops (ARTS-UG), Community Learning courses (CLI-UG), Practicums (PRACT-UG).
- Courses taken to fulfill the Liberal Arts requirement may not be taken on a pass/fail basis. After admission, transfer students' prior coursework will be evaluated to determine which, if any, of the Liberal Arts requirements they have fulfilled. AP course credit and credits earned from other similar programs may not be used to fulfill the Liberal Arts requirement.

\
\

---

### Historical & Cultural Requirement

This requirement is designed to help students think historically—and culturally---about their concentration work. To that end, students are required to take at least 4 credits of coursework in the 'Premodern' period, 4 credits in the 'Early Modern' period, and 4 credits in ‘Global Cultures’ for a total of 12 credits. While some courses may satisfy multiple areas of the Historical & Cultural requirement (i.e. Global Cultures and Premodern), one course cannot be used to fulfill more than one area of the requirement (in this example, either Global Cultures or Premodern, but not both).

#### Premodern Period

The 'premodern' period traditionally extends from the world of antiquity, from the earliest records of human civilization up to the emergence of early modern social, political, and technological regimes (14th-16th centuries CE). It is common to include under this vast temporal umbrella such disparate phenomena as the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean, the Middle East and South Asia; the societies and cultures of the European 'Middle Ages'; the Mayan and Incan civilizations of South and Central America; pre-Ming dynasty China; the Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates of the Middle East, north Africa, and Spain. Students of the premodern world might expect to study (among many possibilities) Classical Greek philosophy and drama, Ancient Mediterranean wisdom Literature, Epic poetry and romance, the interplay of oral and written cultures, the Han legacy in the East, the Roman legacy in the West, heresy and the institutionalization of religion, the rise of Islam, crusade, the flourishing of scientific learning at Baghdad and Cordoba.

For a course to fill the Premodern requirement, at least half of the semester's coursework should focus on this historical period. Courses that use this historical period as foundation or context for later historical periods do not fill this requirement.

\*\*It is important to understand that 'premodern' and 'early modern' are categories created by Western scholars to describe cultural, political, social, and economic differences across vast periods of time. For this reason, these categories are not fixed, and they vary across disciplines and geographic regions. In other words, while the terms 'premodern' and 'early modern' can be useful for exploring the diversity and development of ideas across time, they also invite debate, discussion, and interrogation.\

#### Early Modern Period

The 'early modern' period is understood to begin in many regions around the 14th century, and to continue to the 18th century, or, depending on geographic region, to the late 18th or 19th century CE. It describes the era from the invention of the printing press to the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, from the early contact of European explorers with the Americas to the American Revolution. It marks the beginning of world exploration and the expansion of world trade, the beginning of a global economic system; and the beginning of European colonialism, including the Atlantic Slave trade. It is common to associate this period with, for some examples, the European Renaissance, the Ottoman Empire, the Tokugawa Shogunate in Japan, the Ming and Qing Dynasties in China, colonial Latin America, the colonial and early revolutionary culture of the United States.

For a course to fill the Early Modern requirement, at least half of the semester's coursework should focus on this historical period. Courses that use this historical period as foundation or context for later historical periods do not fill this requirement.

\*\*It is important to understand that 'pre-modern' and 'early modern' are categories created by Western scholars to describe cultural, political, social, and economic differences across vast periods of time. For this reason, these categories are not fixed, and they vary across disciplines and geographic regions. In other words, while the terms 'pre-modern' and 'early modern' can be useful for exploring the diversity and development of ideas across time, they also invite debate, discussion, and interrogation.

#### Global Cultures

Gallatin students are required to stretch beyond the cultural context that is most familiar to them, and take (at least) 4 credits of coursework in classes dealing with the beliefs, practices, literatures, or intellectual traditions found in contexts beyond the boundaries of, in general, the United States and Europe. Students are encouraged to take classes that address the various contexts of Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Middle East.

For a course to fulfill the Global Cultures requirement at least half (seven weeks) of the semester's coursework should focus on a single non-Western cultural context. Please note that courses focused on globalization, colonialism, or imperialism do not necessarily satisfy the requirement. While a course may cover other contexts, courses that fill this requirement will demonstrate a strong focus on a single non-Western context so that some depth of understanding can be achieved. Courses that survey a range of contexts with limited depth do not fulfill this requirement.\

#### Historical & Cultural Course Policies

- Some Historical & Cultural courses courses may also satisfy one of the Liberal Arts requirements, and/or the Critical Race Studies requirement (for example, a course may satisfy the Early Modern area of the Historical & Cultural requirement, as well as the Humanities area of the Liberal Arts requirement, as well as the Critical Race Studies requirement). In this example, three requirements would be satisfied by the completion of a single course.
- To fulfill this requirement, students may take courses in Gallatin, as well as several other NYU departments and programs. A list of Gallatin interdisciplinary seminars that may be counted toward the Historical & Cultural requirement is available on the [Gallatin Courses page](https://gallatin.nyu.edu/academics/courses.html). A list of other NYU departments and courses that satisfy the Historical & Cultural requirement is available on the [NYU Courses that Fulfill Gallatin Requirements page](https://gallatin.nyu.edu/academics/undergraduate/requirements/nyucourses.html).
- Please note that the following Gallatin courses do not fulfill any area of the Historical & Cultural requirements: Individualized projects, including independent studies, tutorials, etc. (INDIV-UG), First-year program courses, including first-year interdisciplinary seminars and first-year writing and research seminars (FIRST-UG), Advanced writing courses (WRTNG-UG), Arts Workshops (ARTS-UG), Practicums (PRACT-UG).\
  Courses taken to fulfill the Historical & Cultural requirement may not be taken on a pass/fail basis. After admission, transfer students' prior coursework will be evaluated to determine which, if any, of the Historical & Cultural requirements they have fulfilled. AP course credit and credits earned from other similar programs may not be used to fulfill the Historical & Cultural requirement.
- Courses taken to fulfill the Historical & Cultural requirement may not be taken on a pass/fail basis. After admission, transfer students' prior coursework will be evaluated to determine which, if any, of the Historical & Cultural requirements they have fulfilled. AP course credit and credits earned from other similar programs may not be used to fulfill the Historical & Cultural requirement.

\
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\

---

### Critical Race Studies Requirement

The Critical Race Studies 4-credit requirement is met by classes, across disciplines and intellectual traditions, that foreground race/racism and structures and practices that produce them. These classes will help students better understand how to unpack the racial grammar, sometimes visible and often latent, that shapes and constricts “knowledge” in different domains about that theme. This may entail focusing on how the legacies of racial and colonial violence have given rise to “common sense” notions about race, naturalizing uneven distributions of power, resources, cultural worth, and life chances.

Courses meeting this requirement address how modern race/racism emerged and attend to the flexibility and adaptability of ruling ideas about race in the U.S. and transnationally. Some courses allow students to examine how seemingly group-specific racial ideologies change across time and place, with attention to the ways in which racial thinking has led to dispossession, elimination, and social deaths of others. Other courses focus on decolonizing movements and cultures that have envisioned marginalized peoples as sources of social transformation and liberation. Regardless of their specific topics, courses meeting this requirement help students develop their concentrations by situating different ways of knowing in relation to historical and contemporary maps of racial power and privilege, local and/or global. Courses may examine political economies, cultural production, scientific knowledge, and people’s understanding of themselves and others.

Students must take (at least) 4 credits of coursework to fulfill this requirement. For a course to fulfill the Critical Race Studies requirement, at least half (seven weeks) of the semester’s coursework should focus explicitly on the above.

#### Critical Race Studies Course Policies

- Some Critical Race Studies courses may also satisfy one of the Liberal Arts requirements and/or one of the Historical & Cultural requirements (for example, a course may satisfy the Critical Race Studies requirement, and the Humanities area of the Liberal Arts requirement, and the Early Modern area of the Historical & Cultural requirement). In this example, three requirements would be satisfied by the completion of a single course.
- To fulfill the Critical Race Studies requirement, students may take courses in Gallatin, as well as in several departments and programs in other schools of the University. A list of Gallatin interdisciplinary seminars that may be counted toward the Critical Race Studies requirement is available on the [Gallatin Courses](https://gallatin.nyu.edu/academics/courses.html) page. A list of other NYU departments and courses that satisfy an area of the Critical Race Studies requirement is available on the [NYU Courses that Fulfill Gallatin Requirements](https://gallatin.nyu.edu/academics/undergraduate/requirements/nyucourses.html) page.
- Please note that the following Gallatin courses do not fulfill the Critical Race Studies requirement: Individualized projects, including independent studies, tutorials, etc. (INDIV-UG), First-year program courses, including first-year interdisciplinary seminars and first-year writing and research seminars (FIRST-UG), and Practicums (PRACT-UG).
- Courses taken to fulfill the Critical Race Studies requirement may not be taken on a pass/fail basis. After admission, transfer students' prior coursework will be evaluated to determine if the Critical Race Studies requirement could be fulfilled by a transfer course. AP course credit and credits earned from other similar programs may not be used to fulfill the Critical Race Studies requirement.

---

### Academic Good Standing

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](https://www.nyu.edu/admissions/financial-aid-and-scholarships.html) for more information on [satisfactory academic progress](https://www.nyu.edu/about/policies-guidelines-compliance/policies-and-guidelines/eligibility-for-financial-aid.html#progress).

### Classroom Credit Requirement

Students must complete at least 64 credits in classroom courses. Transfer credits from college courses generally count toward this 64-credit requirement, but independent study, tutorial, internship, and private lesson credits do not.

### Residency Requirements

A minimum of 64 credits of coursework must be completed after matriculation in Gallatin.

In addition, students are required to complete their last 32 credits 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 do so before they complete 96 credits, or they should file a petition asking to be waived from the requirement.

---

## Limitations

### Time Limit for Completion of the Bachelor's Degree

Undergraduate students must complete all degree requirements within a period of 10 years from the first semester of matriculation at Gallatin.

Students who are readmitted after an extended absence from NYU will have their records evaluated upon readmission to determine the remaining time permitted to complete the degree.

### Maximum Attempted Credits - 145 credits

Students are expected to satisfy all degree requirements and thus graduate in the semester in which they complete 128 credits. If unusual circumstances require additional course work in excess of 145 credits, the student may file a Petition to request permission to take extra credits for one additional semester only.

No student may attempt or earn more than 168 credits. This limit itself is a rarity--a student may reach it only through receiving approval via a Petition.

### Transfer Credit Maximum

A student may apply a maximum of 64 transfer credits toward the Gallatin degree. Included in this maximum are all credits earned prior to admission to Gallatin (including Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Maturity Exam Certificate, etc.) and any non-NYU credits a student may be approved to take after matriculation at Gallatin. Please note: all Gallatin degree candidates must complete a minimum of 64 credits after matriculation at Gallatin and must satisfy all other degree requirements.

Transfer credit is applied to a student's NYU record according to the following policies:

- No credit will be given for courses graded on a "Pass/Fail" basis.
- For undergraduate students, only grades equivalent to "C" or higher will be accepted for transfer.
- The amount of transfer credit will be based on the number of credits or points earned at the external institution, as well as the length of that institution's academic term.
- Course titles will not necessarily appear on the student's NYU transcript.
- Grades for these courses are not recorded on the NYU transcript nor are they computed in the NYU grade point average.
- Transfer credits that are more than 10 years old may not be transferable.

For more information about transfer credit, please see [Advanced Placement and other pre-college credit](https://gallatin.nyu.edu/about/bulletin/undergrad/policies/ap.html).

### Business Courses Maximum Credits

No more than 31 credits in business courses can count towards the Gallatin BA degree. This includes, but is not limited to: all courses in the Stern School; business courses in the School of Professional Studies, Tandon School of Engineering, NYU Shanghai, and NYU Abu Dhabi; and business courses transferred from other colleges and universities.

### Private Lessons Maximum Credits

Undergraduate students may take a maximum of 24 credits in private lessons during their studies at the Gallatin School.  Included in this total will be credits earned from Gallatin Private Lessons (INDIV-UG 1701) as well as credits earned from Steinhardt music courses noted as “individual instruction in the performing arts” (e.g., Participation in NYU Orchestra, Vocal Training (Private Lessons), etc.).

### Internship Maximum Credits

Students may take a maximum of 24 credits in internship during their studies at the Gallatin School.

[Gallatin Courses that fulfill Gallatin Requirements](https://gallatin.nyu.edu/academics/courses.html)

[NYU Courses that fulfill Gallatin Requirements](https://gallatin.nyu.edu/academics/undergraduate/requirements/nyucourses.html)