What has changed? Society has become more complex, the economy more global, technology more vital. To prepare young people for these challenges, professional education must be enriched and expanded. The intellectual capacities associated with the arts and sciences are essential tools in many practical fields. Young people know they face daunting new realities, and they crave opportunities to prepare themselves. Students in the liberal arts and sciences are demanding opportunities to develop professional skills. Students in all fields are asking for academic programs that include real-world experiences.

A new educational approach is needed, one that enables students to obtain the benefits of all three academic traditions, and in which each tradition reinforces the others. Northeastern intends to lead the way in this new form of learning, which we call practice-oriented education because it focuses on preparing students for the real-world challenges of professional practice.