launchpad to the liberal arts
NYU is an elite research university. The College of Arts and Science is a liberal arts college dedicated to the development of undergraduate students into rounded, curious, cosmopolitan, and free-thinking citizens. As CAS students, you have the best of both worlds: inside access to cutting-edge research, and a place to think and talk about ideas with our faculty. The First-Year Seminar is your gateway to both worlds.
While many of your major courses emphasize disciplinary knowledge or professional training, the First-Year Seminar is your introduction to a liberal arts education, with an emphasis on broad academic and personal growth. Your First-Year Seminar will introduce you to different domains of knowledge, and serve as your testing ground for critiquing concepts and challenging perceived wisdom.