Core Curriculum FAQs

Global Perspectives on Society, Writing as Inquiry and Perspectives on Humanities (GPS, WAI, and PoH)

What is the sequence and requirement for Global Perspectives on Society (GPS), Writing as Inquiry (WAI) and Perspectives of Humanities (PoH)?

All students are required to take the three-courses (GPS, Writing, PoH) in the following sequence.

First Year Fall Global Perspectives on China* Students would need to earn a grade of D or better to fulfill the GPS core requirement.
First Year Spring Writing as Inquiry Students would need to earn a grade of C or above for Writing as Inquiry to satisfy the prerequisite for PoH.
Sophomore Fall Perspectives on Humanities (prerequisite: WAI with a grade of C or above) Students would need to earn a grade of D or better to fulfill the PoH core requirement.
What if students failed or didn’t take one of these courses during the semester they should have taken it?

Students who missed GPS because of a leave of absence or who failed to complete it successfully ​in the first attempt are required to propose a substitute SSPC course and get it approved by their advisor, and then complete the course in a later semester.

Students who missed WAI or POH because of a leave of absence or who failed to complete it successfully ​in the first attempt are required to complete the course(s) in a later semester as part of their graduation requirements.

Mathematics
What is the core curriculum math requirement and how this requirement can be fulfilled?

Only the following four exams can be used to fulfill the core curriculum mathematics Requirement:

  • AP Calculus AB or BC: Score of 4 or higher
  • IB Mathematics: Score of 6 or higher
  • A Level Mathematics: Score of B or higher
  • NYU Shanghai Placement Into Calculus

 

If you are placed into calculus based on other exams (ACT, Gaokao, and etc), you would still need to successfully pass one (1) four-credit Math course or take and pass the NYU Shanghai Placement Into Calculus exam. Check out more information about the Placement Into Calculus exam.

What are some courses in New York that students can take to fulfill the core curriculum math requirement?

The following New York Math course can be counted towards the core curriculum math requirement:

  • MATH-UA 9 Algebra and Calculus
  • CORE-UA 1XX Quantitative Reasoning

Please refer to the Global courses satisfying Shanghai degree requirements (New York Tab). You may filter the column E core and select mathematics.

Language
Can a student take a language course as P/F? (Guidelines for Pass/Fail Grades Infographics ☈

Students cannot take the core curriculum Chinese language and English for Academic Purpose courses P/F.

For advanced Chinese classes that are taken as general electives, students may request from their advisors the option of taking it P/F. Courses taken P/F may not be counted toward a Chinese language minor.

Courses in other languages can be taken P/F but grades of C or higher must be earned for a prerequisite course to advance to higher level courses. Language course requirements at study away sites cannot be taken P/F.

In what situations are students eligible for the 2-credit English for Academic Purpose/Chinese class?

Students are permitted to take 2-credit Chinese/English for Academic Purpose if they take all the Foundation of Science classes (e.g. Foundations of Physics I Honors/General Physics, Foundations of Chemistry I, Physics I Lab) during one semester.

Non-Foundations of Science students must enroll in the 4-credit Chinese/English for Academic Purpose courses.

Science Core (Experimental Discovery & Science, Technology, and Society）
How could the core curriculum Experimental Discovery requirement be fulfilled? Do students have to take a course with a lab?

Students are required to take one laboratory science course to fulfill the Experimental Discovery requirement. For example, students must take both Physics I and Physics Lab (5 credits in total) to fulfill the science core ED requirement. Or, they may take a 4.0 credit core class such as CCEX-SHU 122 Perception and the Brain, PSYC-SHU 101 Intro to Psychology, etc.

Students who are majoring in Math or Honors Math should refer to their respective major website.

* Please note students may choose to follow a bulletin from their admitted year or a later bulletin. For example, students who are admitted in Fall 2018 may choose to follow the AY 18/19 bulletin or 19/20 bulletin.

Algorithmic Thinking
Could a student satisfy the Algorithmic Thinking (AT) category with an exam score?

Yes. The following three exams can be used to fulfill the core curriculum Algorithmic Thinking requirement:

  • AP Computer Science A: Score of 4 or higher
  • IB Computer Science HL: Score of 6 or higher
  • NYU Shanghai Placement into Introduction to Computer Science