a c a d e m i c p r o g r a m sCollege of Arts and Sciences
Introduction :: Interdisciplinary Studies :: Interdisciplinary Minors :: Interdisciplinary Facilities :: Special Programs :: Study Abroad :: Core Requirements :: List of Programs
JAMES R. STELLAR, PHD, Dean
Timothy Donovan, PhD, Associate Dean, External Affairs
Luis M. Falcon, PhD, Interim Associate Dean, Faculty Affairs, and Director of the Graduate School
Dawn Anderson, MA, Coordinator, International Programs
Bruce Ronkin, DMA, Interim Associate Dean, Undergraduate Affairs
Kimberly Irmiter, MA, Coordinator, Academic Student Services
Gail F. Leclerc, MEd, Academic Adviser
Kate McLaughlin, MA, Associate Director, Experiential Education
Mary Mello, MA, Director, Academic Student Services
TBA, Associate Director, International Study Programs
Andresse St. Rose, MA, Academic Adviser
Gail Stubbs, MEd, Senior Associate Director, Academic Student Services
Jan Swindlehurst, MFA, Coordinator, Academic Student Services
Carolyn Ketchum, MA, Academic AdviserA broad study of disciplines in the arts and sciences is the core of higher education. Most students in the University—no matter what career training they choose—devote a substantial portion of their studies to the arts and sciences.
The college as a whole emphasizes general education through the college core curriculum. In addition, a large number of interdisciplinary and extradisciplinary programs are available. These include national and international programs for study and experience; programs in field settings at sea and abroad; and programs involving affiliations in such areas as professional performing arts organizations, media organizations, and government offices. The college also emphasizes experiential education through cooperative education, service learning, and other kinds of internships, student-faculty research collaborations, and study abroad.
Students may choose a four- or five-year experiential education plan in most programs. Either plan offers co-op opportunities for paid employment, often in an area related to the student’s chosen academic area. Students are normally eligible to participate in co-op in the second semester of their sophomore year and after they have declared a major.
Students may enter the college with a specified major or with an unspecified liberal arts major preference (LAMP). Students in the LAMP program, however, are strongly encouraged to declare a major, particularly if they are interested in the co-op program, by the beginning of the sophomore year. Considerable flexibility exists, and many students change majors during the first two years. The college offers a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in most programs. In general, the Bachelor of Arts degree requires more college core curriculum courses as well as a foreign language or American Sign Language. The Bachelor of Science degree requires fewer core curriculum courses but more work in the specific majors.
Many programs are flexible enough to allow students to pursue a double major, and the college offers a number of specific integrated dual-major programs. In order to facilitate students’ ability to pursue either a double major or an integrated dual major, the college allows unlimited double counting between major and core curriculum courses, as well as more flexibility in the core curriculum. In addition, the college offers the option of an independent major for students whose interests and goals are not met by a specific major program.
In order to make normal progress, students in the College of Arts and Sciences are expected to maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.000 and to earn 16 semester hours of credit each semester. Some majors have additional specific requirements in order to progress from year to year.
Transferring to Arts and Sciences Majors
Students wishing to transfer into arts and sciences majors should consult with the Center for Experiential Education and Academic Advising (CEA) in 1 Meserve Hall. Although students may meet transfer criteria, acceptance into certain majors is also based on space availability.
Graduation Requirements
Quantitative. Candidates for either the Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree must successfully complete a minimum of 128 semester hours.
Qualitative. Candidates must achieve a minimum cumulative average of 2.000 (grade of C).
Transfer credit. Transfer credit is granted initially for courses that fulfill major, college, or elective requirements in an arts and sciences program. Courses must be from an accredited college or university, and credit will be granted only for courses in which the student earned a grade of at least C (2.000). Courses taken pass/fail are not eligible for transfer credit. To receive credit for courses in progress at the time of application, the student must submit an updated official transcript for review once grades for the courses have been posted. Students should contact a major or dean’s office adviser prior to enrollment or during their first semester to have transfer credits evaluated, both for major and college requirements. Students who believe that they should be granted additional transfer credit should consult with an academic adviser in Meserve Hall.
Core curriculum. All students in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete the college’s core curriculum in order to graduate. The core curriculum is a set of course requirements intended to offer the breadth of experience essential to a well-rounded individual and the broad base of knowledge traditionally associated with a liberal arts education, as well as to promote lifelong learning. The core curriculum complements students’ major programs by providing opportunities to present ideas from other disciplines found in the arts, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and sciences. The college believes that the core curriculum should enhance students’ critical reading, writing, thinking, and communication skills; introduce the foundational methods of perception and inquiry; engage interest in the analytical and integrative tools used in disciplines outside the students’ major; and encourage constructive thought about identity and respect for other ethnic and cultural heritages. Instruction in core courses strives to emphasize the critical skills, reflective thought, and ethical standards that form the basis of a well-educated, productive, creative, and intellectually responsible citizen.
The college core requirements, combined with the students’ major requirements, enable Arts and Sciences students to satisfy the University’s academic common experience (ACE) and diversity objectives for all undergraduate curricula.
The core curriculum encompasses the following areas:
- English. College writing (one or two courses depending on placement level upon entry to the University) and one advanced writing in the disciplines (AWD) course (Core Category I)
- Mathematics. One to three courses depending on placement level upon entry to the University (Core Category I)
- Foreign Language. A modern language or American Sign Language (one full year of college-level study required of all Bachelor of Arts candidates) (Core Category I)
- Methods of Inquiry. Arts context, humanities context, natural world context, and social world context (Core Category II)
- Diversity. (Core Category III)
- Historical, Ethical, and Aesthetic Perspectives.
(Core Category IV)- Analysis. (Core Category V)
For placement information on college writing, college mathematics, modern languages, or American Sign Language, students should consult the appropriate department or the Center for Experiential Education and Academic Advising (CEA), 1 Meserve Hall.
Descriptions for all College of Arts and Sciences courses can be found in the Course Description Registry. Courses approved for the college’s core curriculum are listed in the Core Curriculum section. Students are required to complete courses in each category of the core, depending on the major and degree pursued.
Experiential education requirement. All Arts and Sciences students are required to fulfill the college’s experiential education requirement. This requirement has two components: (1) an approved experiential activity (that is, co-op, internships, undergraduate research, fieldwork or practica, study abroad, community service, and others), and (2) a reflective academic component that integrates the experiential piece into the student’s academic studies. Students are considered to have fulfilled the requirement only when both components have been satisfactorily completed. Although the experiential requirement does not need to be fulfilled in the student’s major, each department does have options for fulfilling the requirement.
Academic departments and program offices have information about planning for and completing the experiential education requirement in their majors, and department experiential education advisers are available to answer questions and advise students on how best to fulfill it.
Foreign language. All Bachelor of Arts degree candidates must demonstrate proficiency in a modern foreign language or American Sign Language. To satisfy the requirement, students must complete two semesters of the language with grades of C or better in all courses. No language course that will be used to satisfy the requirement may be taken pass/fail. Students may also satisfy the language requirement by meeting a comparable criterion established by the Department of Modern Languages and the American Sign Language Program. This criterion requires that a student provide evidence of having been educated in the language at the high school level or equivalent.
Conditional exemption from this requirement may be granted to students who earned an average of C or better in a full, four-year language sequence in secondary school. A conditional exemption must be confirmed by taking a proficiency examination during the first semester at the University. A sufficiently high score will verify the exemption; otherwise, the student will be advised of the appropriate language course to take in the following semester.
Absolute exemption is granted to students for whom English is a foreign language or who receive a score of 550 or better in the Language Achievement Examinations.
The normal sequence for students with no prior preparation is one year of college-level course work in a language. The Department of Modern Languages or the American Sign Language Program will determine an appropriate entry point at which students who have partial language preparation may begin completing the requirement. Students who plan to use German, Russian, or Italian to fulfill the foreign language requirement should begin study as early as possible; the college is not able to offer these courses on a regular basis.
Advanced Writing in the Disciplines (AWD). The advanced writing in the disciplines requirement may not be fulfilled until the student has successfully completed at least 64 semester hours (including transfer credit). It is strongly suggested that students finish their AWD requirement before beginning their final year of course work. The requirement must be fulfilled in the full-time day programs at Northeastern. The College of Arts and Sciences strongly recommends Advanced Writing in the Disciplines, ENG U301, to complete the AWD requirement. Students may, however, also satisfy the requirement by completing one of the following courses with a grade of C or better:
ENG U302 Advanced Writing in the Technical Professions ENG U303 Advanced Writing in the Environmental Professions ENG U304 Advanced Writing in the Business Administration Professions ENG U305 Advanced Writing in the Criminal Justice Professions ENG U306 Advanced Writing in the Health Professions HST U302 Historical Writing JRN U301 Journalism 3 Students not participating in the cooperative education program should complete the AWD requirement in their junior year. INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
The Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences offers students the opportunity to study in a broad range of interdisciplinary programs suited to their curricular or career objectives and also permits students to design their own independent programs of study. The center is a resource for students who want to obtain more information about the various interdisciplinary programs, apply for interdisciplinary scholarships, join our affiliated academic organizations, enroll in special courses, and participate in our innovative community partnerships.
The center also supports and coordinates the individual programs. There are approximately twenty interdisciplinary programs within the College of Arts and Sciences and negotiations are ongoing to develop new undergraduate programs. Interdisciplinary programs consist of freestanding majors, dual majors, minors, and concentrations. This vast array permits students the flexibility to design their own interdisciplinary studies, to complete dual and double majors, to explore the boundaries at the cutting edge of existing disciplines, and to explore areas of secondary or personal interest and nontradi-tional courses of study. For more information on the programs, contact the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies (9 Holmes) at 617.373.2427 or the individual program directors. The interdisciplinary programs of the college follow.
Interdisciplinary Majors Behavioral Neuroscience Biochemistry Cinema Studies* (dual majors) Environmental Studies* Human Services* International Affairs* Linguistics* *A minor is also available. Double Majors
Students with interests in two separate fields have traditionally pursued both by enrolling in a double major. A double major allows students to combine two majors of their choice. Students pursuing double majors complete all major requirements in both majors, the Bachelor of Science degree version of the college core curriculum, and the Bachelor of Arts degree language requirement (if pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree). The college also allows unlimited double counting across core curriculum and major requirements for students in double majors.
Dual Majors
The integrated dual major allows students to link concepts across disciplinary boundaries. Dual-major options are limited to those combinations for which faculty from two majors have identified nine or more courses from each major, plus an additional one or two “capstone” or integrative courses, that specifically help students link the concepts learned in both majors. As with double majors, students pursuing dual majors complete the Bachelor of Science degree version of the college core curriculum and the Bachelor of Arts degree language requirement (if pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree), and there can be unlimited double counting between the core curriculum and major requirements. Fulfilling the college’s experiential education requirement (see page 30) provides an additional opportunity for supervised work linking the two areas of study. Currently, the following dual majors are offered within the College of Arts and Sciences:
Cinema Studies and English
Cinema Studies and Communication Studies
Cinema Studies and Journalism
Cinema Studies and Modern Languages
Cinema Studies and Theatre
Linguistics and English
Linguistics and PsychologyThe following dual majors are offered by the College of Arts and Sciences in conjunction with other colleges at the University:
Cognitive Psychology (Cognitive Psychology concentration) and Computer Science (College of Computer Science)
Mathematics and Computer Science (College of Computer Science)
Physics and Computer Science (College of Computer Science)
Students interested in these dual majors should contact the participating college or department, or consult interdisciplinary major details. Information may also be obtained at the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, 9 Holmes Hall, 617.373.2427. Other dual majors, both within the College of Arts and Sciences and across colleges, are currently under development or undergoing the University’s review process.
Teacher Training
All teacher-training programs in the College of Arts and Sciences require that students combine an Arts and Sciences major with a program in early childhood education or elementary education, certification in special education, or minor in secondary education at the School of Education (in some instances including courses in the Bouvé College of Health Sciences: counseling psychology, rehabilitation, and special education, or physical education and dance studies programs). Completion of these combined programs enables students to obtain advanced provisional certification, which is recognized in Massachusetts and in other states as well. See page 66 for details or contact the School of Education (54 Lake Hall) at 617.373.3302.
Independent Major
Eligible students who can demonstrate that none of the established major programs in the College of Arts and Sciences provides preparation for their academic or professional goals may petition to design an independent major. The independent major is expected to be interdisciplinary in nature, crossing two or more disciplines. All independent majors must also include a major research effort.
For proposal guidelines, contact the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies (9 Holmes) at 617.373.2427. To begin the process, contact your academic adviser in the Center for Experiential Education and Academic Advising (1 Meserve) at 617.373.3980.
INTERDISCIPLINARY MINORS
Cinema Studies
The cinema studies program at Northeastern University is unique in the Boston area, offering a broad interdisciplinary curriculum. Students who choose the cinema studies minor learn to approach the film and television medium from a range of aesthetic, historical, international, and sociological perspectives. They may also learn to integrate these analytical approaches with practical experience in videography and the study of broadcast technology. The diverse course offerings and carefully structured program have enabled our graduates to do well in the ever-expanding world of video production, distribution, and marketing, as well as to pursue careers as film scholars and teachers. Students take six courses: two required courses, the experiential learning requirement, and three electives. See page 58 for more information on cinema studies or go to the cinema studies Web site at www.cinemastudies.neu.edu.
Minor in Cinema Studies
See “Minor in Cinema Studies”.East Asian Studies
East Asian studies is a new program at Northeastern that offers a broad interdisciplinary curriculum. This course of international study not only prepares students to deal with an increasing global environment regardless of their career choice, but also provides insights into our own society.Minor in East Asian Studies
REQUIRED COURSES
Complete the following two courses from either regional study:
CHINA HST U350 Modern China 4 SH POL U485 Government and Politics in China 4 SH JAPAN HST U351 Japan since 1850 4 SH POL U480 Government and Politics in Japan 4 SH ELECTIVE COURSES Choose three courses from the following list. They may include up to three courses from an approved study-abroad program: ENG U399 Topics in Literature 4 SH HST U150 East Asian Studies 4 SH HST U243 American Images of China 4 SH HST U250 Emergence of East Asia 4 SH HST U251 Modern East Asia 4 SH HST U252 Japanese Literature and Culture 4 SH HST U253 History of Vietnam Wars 4 SH HST U313 Gender and Revolution in Russia 4 SH and China HST U450 Engendering China 4 SH HST U650 Topics in Asian History 4 SH LNC U101 Elementary Chinese 1 4 SH LNC U102 Elementary Chinese 2 4 SH LNC U150 Backgrounds of Chinese Culture 4 SH LNC U255 Chinese Film: Gender and Ethnicity 4 SH LNC U301 Intermediate Chinese 1 4 SH LNJ U101 Elementary Japanese 1 4 SH LNJ U102 Elementary Japanese 2 4 SH LNJ U150 Introduction to Japanese Pop Culture 4 SH LNJ U260 Japanese Film 4 SH LNJ U301 Intermediate Japanese 1 4 SH MUS U130 Music of Asia 4 SH PHL U275 Eastern Religions 4 SH GPA REQUIREMENTS 2.000 GPA required in the minor Minor in East Asian Studies—Language Track REQUIRED COURSES Complete the following two courses for either language: CHINESE LNC U101 Elementary Chinese 1 4 SH LNC U102 Elementary Chinese 2 4 SH JAPANESE LNJ U101 Elementary Japanese 1 4 SH LNJ U102 Elementary Japanese 2 4 SH ELECTIVE COURSES Choose three courses from the following list. They may include up to three courses from an approved study-abroad program: ENG U399 Topics in Literature 4 SH HST U150 East Asian Studies 4 SH HST U243 American Images of China 4 SH HST U250 Emergence of East Asia 4 SH HST U251 Modern East Asia 4 SH HST U252 Japanese Literature and Culture 4 SH HST U253 History of Vietnam Wars 4 SH HST U313 Gender and Revolution in Russia 4 SH and China HST U350 Modern China 4 SH HST U351 Japan since 1850 4 SH HST U450 Engendering China 4 SH HST U650 Topics in Asian History 4 SH LNC U150 Backgrounds of Chinese Culture 4 SH LNC U255 Chinese Film: Gender and Ethnicity 4 SH LNC U301 Intermediate Chinese 1 4 SH LNJ U150 Introduction to Japanese Pop Culture 4 SH LNJ U260 Japanese Film 4 SH LNJ U301 Intermediate Japanese 1 4 SH MUS U130 Music of Asia 4 SH PHL U275 Eastern Religions 4 SH POL U480 Government and Politics in Japan 4 SH POL U485 Government and Politics in China 4 SH GPA REQUIREMENTS
2.000 GPA required in the minorFor more information, contact the program director, Professor Christina Gilmartin (249 Meserve), at 617.373.4449 or at c.gilmartin@neu.edu.
Environmental Studies
The environmental studies program is designed for students who wish to apply an understanding of both social and scientific issues to the solution of environmental problems. The environmental studies minor is structured to provide a progressive development in skills and knowledge. It is flexible in that it allows latitude in upper-level course choices, selected with the approval of a faculty adviser, to suit individual student interests.Minor in Environmental Studies
See “Minor in Environmental Studies”.Human Services
The human services program prepares students for a career in one of the areas broadly defined as “the helping professions.” Society recognizes the necessity, value, and reward of dedicating time and energy to helping people.Minor in Human Services
See “Minor in Human Services”.Independent Minor
The independent minor gives students the opportunity to construct and obtain recognition for a coherent interdisciplinary content, thematic, or other focus of study supplementary to their major. Minors consist of six courses approved by a faculty adviser who acts as the minor’s sponsor as well as facilitator for the student. The minor should include a directed study course to help the student integrate the subject matter from the disparate disciplines.GPA REQUIREMENTS
2.000 GPA required in the minorFor proposal guidelines, contact the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies (9 Holmes) at 617.373.2427. To begin the process, contact your academic adviser in the Center for Experiential Education and Academic Advising (1 Meserve) at 617.373.3980.
International Affairs
International affairs brings together various disciplines from the social sciences and humanities, preparing students to live and work in our increasingly global society—the interdependent world in which they will be competing and cooperating.Minor in International Affairs
See “Minor in International Affairs”.Jewish Studies
The Jewish studies program provides students with the opportunity to explore the culture and religion of the Jewish people with a focus on contemporary Jewish life and thought. As a special feature of the program, a cooperative relationship between Northeastern University and Hebrew College allows for tuition-free cross-registration and concurrent library privileges at both institutions, allowing students to complete specialized courses in Judaic subjects at Hebrew College.Students who choose to minor in Jewish studies take a minimum of five approved courses either at the Northeastern campus, at Hebrew College, through the University’s study-abroad program, and/or through the new Jewish Renaissance Project. To minor in Jewish studies, a minimum of three courses must be completed at the Northeastern campus.
Minor in Jewish Studies REQUIRED COURSES Complete the following two courses: PHL U285 Jewish Religion and Culture 4 SH INT U660 Jewish Studies Module 1 SH or SOC U924 Directed Study 4 SH ELECTIVE COURSES Choose three courses from the following list: AFR U365 Blacks and Jews 4 SH ENG U710 Junior/Senior Seminar 4 SH HST U431 to HST G306 INT U640 Topics in Jewish Studies 4 SH MUS U132 Music of the Jewish People 4 SH PHL U150 Understanding the Bible 4 SH PHL U335 Nineteenth-Century Philosophy 4 SH POL U470 Arab-Israeli Conflict 4 SH SOC U259 Women in Jewish Culture 4 SH ANCILLARY ELECTIVE
Choose one course from the following list:
ED U521 Language, Culture, and Literacy in Middle and High Schools 3 SH PHL U110 Introduction to Religion 4 SH POL U370 Religion and Politics 4 SH POL U465 Government and Politics in the Middle East 4 SH SOC U240 Sociology of Prejudice and Violence 4 SH GPA REQUIREMENTS
2.000 GPA required in the minorFor more information, contact the program director, Professor Debra Kaufman (515 Holmes), at 617.373.4270 or at d.kaufman@neu.edu.
Latino/a Studies Minor
The LLACS (Latino, Latin American, and Caribbean Studies) program offers an interdisciplinary minor. It explores the historical, cultural, political, and economic foundations of and linkages between U.S. Latino society, Latin America, and the Caribbean. It draws from the heritages of the Americas that are grounded in predominantly indigenous, African, and European cultures.Minor in Latino, Latin American, and Caribbean Studies
REQUIRED COURSE Complete the following course: INT U220 Latino, Latin American, 4 SH and Caribbean Studies ELECTIVE COURSES Choose three courses from the following list: AFR U345 The Black Experience in the Caribbean 4 SH AFR U367 Race and Social Identity 4 SH CIN U240 Latin American Film 4 SH CIN U265 Spanish Civil War on Film 4 SH ECN U270 Economic Status of Ethnic Minorities 4 SH ENG U671 Multiethnic Literature of the U.S. 4 SH ENG U673 U.S. Latino/Latina Literature 4 SH HST U260 Modern Latin America 4 SH HST U261 The Modern Caribbean 4 SH LNS U160 Latin American Culture 4 SH LNS U170 Caribbean Literature and Culture 4 SH LNS U650 Latin American Literature 4 SH MUS U127 Introduction to World Music 4 SH MUS U131 Music of Latin America and Caribbean 4 SH PHL U265 Latin American Religions 4 SH POL U380 Latino Politics in the United States 4 SH POL U475 Government and Politics in Latin America 4 SH SOA U365 Sport, Culture, and Society 4 SH SOA U500 Latin American Society and Development 4 SH SOC U246 Environment and Sociology 4 SH SOC U270 Race and Ethnic Relations 4 SH SOC U460 Sociology of Latino Society 4 SH GPA REQUIREMENTS 2.000 GPA required in the minor Linguistics
What is language? How do children learn to speak? How are signed languages different from spoken languages? How do language barriers keep people apart, and how do language ties bring them together? Do men and women speak differently? How can language serve as a window into the mind? If you are interested in these questions, then linguistics is an essential field of study.Minor in Linguistics
See “Minor in Linguistics”.Marine Studies
The marine studies minor is designed to provide a structured program for students with an interest in the marine environment. The program allows a primary, but not exclusive, emphasis in either the scientific or the social science/humanistic study of the oceans.The program draws on courses throughout the University and is affiliated with several outstanding, specialized marine programs. These include the Sea Semester Program run by the Sea Education Association, which provides a rigorous program in marine sciences at Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and aboard one of its tall ships for training cruises in the Caribbean, Pacific, or Labrador Sea.
Students may also take courses through the Marine Studies Consortium, comprising sixteen area colleges and universities. These courses are taught by local experts and practitioners in marine fields.
Minor in Marine Studies
REQUIRED COURSES
Complete four courses from the following lists, with at least one course from humanities and one course from the sciences. In addition, two courses must be above the introductory level:
HUMANITIES HST U210 Atlantic Connection 4 SH HST U232 History of Boston 4 SH INT U305 Maritime History of New England 4 SH INT U310 Water Resources Policy and Management 4 SH SCIENCES BIO U151 Introduction to Marine Biology 4 SH BIO U315 Invertebrate Zoology 4 SH BIO U501 Marine Botany 4 SH BIO U503 Marine Invertebrate Zoology 4 SH BIO U505 Biology of Corals and Coral Reefs 3 SH BIO U507 Biology and Ecology of Fishes 3 SH BIO U509 Marine Birds and Mammals 2 SH BIO U511 Adaptations of Aquatic Organisms 3 SH BIO U515 Benthic Marine Ecology 3 SH BIO U517 Oceanography 2 SH BIO U519 Ocean and Coastal Processes 3 SH BIO U521 Experimental Design Marine Ecology 4 SH BIO U523 Molecular Marine Biology 3 SH BIO U525 Marine Microbial Ecology 2 SH BIO U589 Diving Research Methods 2 SH GEO U102 Marine Resources 4 SH GEO U104 Physical Oceanography 4 SH GEO U106 Biological Oceanography 4 SH GEO U108 New England Fisheries Resources 4 SH GEO U110 Geology of Oceans and Coasts 4 SH GEO U510 Environmental Planning 4 SH GEO U542 Fossils and Paleoecology 5 SH GEO U544 Sedimentation 5 SH GEO U546 Coastal Processes 5 SH GEO U548 Marine Geology 4 SH INT U200 Marine Studies 4 SH INT U210 Marine Mammals 4 SH INT U300 The Ocean World 4 SH INT U315 Wetlands: Ecology and Hydrology 4 SH INT U325 Coastal Zone Management 4 SH INT U500 Advanced Seminar in Marine Studies 4 SH GPA REQUIREMENTS
2.000 GPA required in the minorFor more information, contact the director of marine studies, Professor Peter Rosen (14 Holmes), at 617.373.4380 or at p.rosen@neu.edu.
Middle East Studies
The new interdisciplinary minor in Middle East studies available through the College of Arts and Sciences prepares students to study and understand the complexities of this region of the globe.GPA REQUIREMENTS
2.000 GPA required in the minorMinor in Middle East Studies
REQUIRED COURSES
Complete the following two courses:
HST U290 Modern Middle East 4 SH POL U465 Government and Politics in the Middle East 4 SH ELECTIVE COURSES Choose three courses from the following list. They may include up to three courses from an approved study-abroad program:
HST U393 Islam and Empires 4 SH HST U394 Islamic Nationalism 4 SH LNA U101 Elementary Arabic 1 4 SH LNA U102 Elementary Arabic 2 4 SH PHL U280 Islam 4 SH POL U470 Arab-Israeli Conflict 4 SH POL U915 Model Arab League 4 SH GPA REQUIREMENTS
2.000 GPA required in the minorMinor in Middle East Studies—Language Track
REQUIRED COURSES
Complete the following two courses:
LNA U101 Elementary Arabic 1 4 SH LNA U102 Elementary Arabic 2 4 SH ELECTIVE COURSES
Choose three courses from the following list. They may include up to three courses from an approved study-abroad program:
HST U290 Modern Middle East 4 SH HST U393 Islam and Empires 4 SH HST U394 Islamic Nationalism 4 SH PHL U280 Islam 4 SH POL U465 Government and Politics in the Middle East 4 SH POL U470 Arab-Israeli Conflict 4 SH POL U915 Model Arab League 4 SH GPA REQUIREMENTS
2.000 GPA required in the minorStudents may also fulfill the minor by completing approved courses through Northeastern’s Partnership with Hebrew College or by taking up to three courses from an approved Northeastern study-abroad program.
For more information, contact Professor Irm Haleem (303 Meserve) at 617.373.4400 or at i.haleem@neu.edu.
Urban Studies
The urban studies minor offers undergraduates interested in urban issues an opportunity to develop a tailor-made curriculum for their minor. Following Northeastern’s tradition of practice-oriented education, the program offers opportunities to engage in urban research and to complete cooperative education placements in organizations that address urban issues (that is, community-based organizations, city government agencies, or metropolitan planning agencies).
Minor in Urban Studies REQUIRED COURSES Complete the following two courses: POL U357 Growth and Decline of Cities 4 SH and Suburbs or SOC U357 Growth and Decline of Cities 4 SH and Suburbs POL U358 Current Issues in Cities and Suburbs 4 SH or SOC U358 Current Issues in Cities and Suburbs 4 SH ELECTIVE COURSES Choose two courses from the following list: AFR U140 African-American History 4 SH AFR U270 Economic Status of Ethnic Minorities 4 SH AFR U312 Black History of Boston 4 SH AFR U337 African-American History before 1900 4 SH AFR U360 Politics of Poverty 4 SH AFR U399 Black Community and Social Change 4 SH AFR U485 Educational Issues/Black Community 4 SH ARC U111 History of World Architecture 1 4 SH ARC U112 History of World Architecture 2 4 SH ARC U223 American Architecture 4 SH ARC U325 Nineteenth-Century Architecture 4 SH and Urbanism ARC U326 Twentieth-Century Architecture 4 SH and Urbanism ECN U101 Economic Problems and Perspectives 4 SH ECN U270 Economic Status of Ethnic Minorities 4 SH ECN U420 Urban Economic Issues 4 SH ECN U461 Government and Business 4 SH ECN U470 American Economic History 4 SH HST U140 Introduction to African-American History 4 SH HST U230 Contemporary America 4 SH HST U232 History of Boston 4 SH HST U338 African-American History since 1900 4 SH HST U344 U.S. Urban History 4 SH POL U165 Public Policy and Administration 4 SH POL U345 Urban Policies and Politics 4 SH SOA U305 Global Markets and Local Culture 4 SH SOC U220 Sociology of Boston 4 SH SOC U247 Urban Social Problems 4 SH SOC U403 American Society 4 SH SOC U418 Greater Boston Urban Policy Seminar 4 SH GPA REQUIREMENTS
2.000 GPA required in the minorBROWN BAG SERIES
Participation in a brown bag series. Talks are held once a semester to discuss timely urban topics.For more information, contact the program director, Professor Joan Fitzgerald (337 Meserve), at 617.373.3644 or at jo.fitzgerald@neu.edu.
Women’s Studies
The women’s studies program offers students an opportunity to work with respected scholars in a variety of disciplines to examine the human experience through the perspectives of women. This interdisciplinary program examines the importance of gender in societies around the world, past and present. The curriculum encourages students to learn and think about how changing beliefs about women and men have affected research and scholarship in the arts, humanities, and social and natural sciences. Students learn about gender stereotypes, the various ways ideas about gender and sexuality have developed, and the changing situation for women and men today. Key questions are posed that change how people see the world: How does gender influence the kinds of questions we can ask of the world around us? What information can become data when you use gender as a central part of examining a problem? The women’s studies program coordinates the Boston Area Colloquium on Feminist Theory lecture series, sponsors talks by scholars on campus, produces the Working Papers in Gender Studies Series, and sponsors the Visiting Research Scholars in Women’s Studies series. Women’s studies also works closely with the independent, student-run Women’s Center to sponsor programs for Women’s History Month and other events of special concern to women students.
Minor in Women’s Studies REQUIRED COURSE Complete the following course: INT U103 Women’s Studies 4 SH ELECTIVE COURSES Choose three courses from the following list: AFR U109 Foundations of Black Culture 1 4 SH AFR U185 Gender in the African Diaspora 4 SH AFR U220 African-American Theatre 4 SH AFR U261 The Modern Caribbean 4 SH AFR U320 The Black Family 4 SH AFR U350 History of Blacks in the Media 4 SH and the Press AFR U367 Race and Social Identity 4 SH AFR U500 Arts of the African Diaspora 4 SH AFR U663 Early African-American Literature 4 SH BIO U149 Biology of Human Reproduction 4 SH CAP U505 Human Sexuality 4 SH CIN U350 Film Theory 4 SH CIN U390 Film and Psychoanalysis 4 SH CJ U500 Gender, Crime, and Justice 4 SH CMN U304 Communication and Gender 4 SH ENG U226 Backgrounds in English and American 4 SH Literature ENG U350 Linguistic Analysis 4 SH ENG U399 Topics in Literature 4 SH ENG U588 Literature in Context 4 SH ENG U600 Major Figure 4 SH ENG U663 Early African-American Literature 4 SH ENG U670 Modern African-American Literature 4 SH ENG U671 Multiethnic Literature of the U.S. 4 SH ENG U691 Gender Roles in Literature 4 SH HST U203 Modern Family 4 SH HST U204 Third World Women 4 SH HST U242 Women in America 4 SH HST U350 Modern China 4 SH HST U372 Gender and Society in Modern Europe 4 SH HST U431 American Jewish History 4 SH LIN U350 Linguistic Analysis 4 SH LIN U412 Language and Culture 4 SH LNC U255 Chinese Film: Gender and Ethnicity 4 SH LNS U150 Spanish Culture 4 SH LNS U240 Latin American Film 4 SH LNS U265 Spanish Civil War on Film 4 SH MUS U106 Women in Music 4 SH MUS U924 Directed Study 4 SH NUR U302 Nursing with Women and Families 5 SH PHL U295 Religious Perspectives on Health 4 SH and Healing PHL U390 Cults and Sects 4 SH POL U375 Gender and Politics 4 SH POL U475 Government and Politics in Latin America 4 SH PSY U200 Psychology of Women 4 SH PSY U206 Food, Behavior, and Eating Disorders 4 SH PSY U354 Psychology and Film 4 SH PSY U404 Developmental Psychology 4 SH SOA U302 Sex, Sex Roles, and Family 4 SH SOA U305 Global Markets and Local Culture 4 SH SOA U307 Social Movements in the Third World 4 SH SOA U412 Language and Culture 4 SH SOA U500 Latin American Society and Development 4 SH SOC U255 Sociology of the Family 4 SH SOC U256 Violence in the Family 4 SH SOC U259 Women in Jewish Culture 4 SH SOC U260 Gender in a Changing Society 4 SH SOC U268 The Social Movements of the 1960s 4 SH SOC U272 Social Roles in the Business World 4 SH SOC U273 Women Working 4 SH SOC U280 Sociology of Work 4 SH UPPER-DIVISION ELECTIVE
Choose one upper-division course in consultation with the director of the women’s studies program.GPA REQUIREMENTS
2.000 GPA required in the minorFor more information, contact the program director, Professor Susan Setta (386 Holmes), at 617.373.7699 or at s.setta@neu.edu or women’s studies staff at 617.373.4984 or at l.wang@neu.edu.
INTERDISCIPLINARY FACILITIES
An interdisciplinary media training facility, featuring two television studios, state-of-the-art Avid and Media 100 digital video-editing suites, and digital audio recording and editing facilities, exists on the second floor of Shillman Hall. Qualified students may enroll in courses utilizing this facility through any of its six participating departments (visual arts, cinema studies, communication studies, history, journalism, music, or theatre) or through interdisciplinary studies. Note that these courses fill quickly; some require prerequisites; and many give preference to students whose majors require them. For field production, the studio offers an array of digital cameras and peripheral equipment including lights and microphones. For students who complete elementary and intermediate training in the studio, an interdisciplinary capstone production course is offered; resulting videos may be broadcast on a public access cable channel in Boston. For details about eligibility and availability, contact one of the participating departments or the studio manager, Ron Starr, at 617.373.2314.
The multimedia studies dual major (see course descriptions) offers its students access to a number of modern facilities. Among these are a dedicated computer music lab, an advanced music and sound synthesis facility, a graphics and media development room, and a state-of-the-art, multimedia development center constructed in 1999. The mul-timedia development center is used by students for courses in graphics and animation, and is also the site of the program’s capstone courses, in which students from all the core multimedia disciplines work together on team projects. In addition, the center is used by the guest speakers and lecturers who regularly appear on campus in support of the multimedia curriculum.
Hardware and software in the multimedia center permit the production of multimedia creations that integrate live action and/or animated moving images, graphics, photographs, sound effects, and music. The center can operate independently or via networked interchange with digital arts, digital music, and media production laboratories and studios on campus or, through NUNET links to the Internet, with resources available elsewhere.
For more information on the multimedia dual major and its facilities, contact the program director, Professor Anthony De Ritis, at 617.373.3914 or at a.deritis@neu.edu.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Additional information is available from involved departments and the Center for Experiential Education and Academic Advising, 1 Meserve Hall.
The availability of all special programs is contingent on meeting minimum enrollment numbers and, when an outside institution is involved, continued affiliation of that institution with the University. Overseas study programs are open to qualified middlers, juniors, and seniors with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.000 or higher.
Combined Program with Professional Schools
In the combined program, a preprofessional student may reduce by one year the time normally required for obtaining both the undergraduate and professional degrees. Students who have completed at least three-fourths of the work required for a baccalaureate degree in the College of Arts and Sciences and who are accepted into an approved professional school of dentistry, law, medicine, optometry, osteopathy, or veterinary medicine will be eligible for the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree at the end of their second year in a professional school. At least two-thirds of the work for the baccalaureate degree must be earned in residence at Northeastern, and all other College of Arts and Sciences requirements must be fulfilled. The residence requirement must be completed prior to entering the professional school.Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science/Juris Doctor Degree Program
Northeastern offers an eight-year joint degree program for aspiring lawyers. Each year a limited number of highly qualified freshmen are admitted to the five-year undergraduate portion of the program.To continue into the law school portion of the program, students must graduate in the top 15 percent of their class and score in the top 20 percent of the Law School Aptitude Test (LSAT). Students who meet these criteria will be qualified to continue their studies at Northeastern University School of Law.
Northeastern University–Hebrew College Exchange
This program offers students the opportunity to register for courses in specialized areas of Jewish Studies and Jewish education. See page 34, “Minor in Jewish Studies,” or for more information on the program, call the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies (9 Holmes) at 617.373.2427.Marine Science
East/West Marine Biology Program. The east/west marine biology program allows advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students in biology and related areas to spend a year of field study in three diverse marine environments.The program begins in the fall at Northeastern University’s Marine Science Center in Nahant, twelve miles from the main campus. In January, students travel to Jamaica to study tropical biology at the Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory on the island’s north coast. The final segment of the program is conducted at the University of Southern California’s Wrigley Marine Science Center on Santa Catalina Island, located twenty miles off the coast of Los Angeles. For more information, contact Sal Genovese at 781.581.7370, extension 311.
Marine Science Center Summer Program in Marine Biology. The summer program allows students to participate in intensive courses at the Marine Science Center (MSC). Students conduct independent research at the MSC laboratory throughout the year. Graduate students from other universities are encouraged to use the laboratory and field sites for thesis research.
Massachusetts Bay Marine Studies Consortium. Northeastern University is a member of the Massachusetts Bay Marine Studies Consortium. The consortium’s course offerings are interdisciplinary and seek to bridge academic disciplines and current concerns in the marine world. The consortium serves the students and faculty of twenty-two Boston-area colleges and universities. Students from Northeastern may take these classes, which are taught by specialists and government officials. For more information, contact the marine studies coordinator at 617.373.4380.
Sea Education Association. Sea Semester is an interdisciplinary program focusing on the sea in which students undertake course work ashore followed by a practical component at sea. The program combines intensive research in the areas of oceanography, maritime studies, and nautical science with hands-on experience aboard a traditional sailing ship. Piloting, celestial navigation, and practical seamanship are learned together with oceanographic sampling techniques and marine laboratory procedures during a six-week voyage on a ship sailing on either the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean. Critical thinking, problem-solving, team-building, and leadership skills are emphasized throughout the program. Sea Semester is appropriate for students in marine biology, geology and physical science, environmental studies, American studies, and most other areas within the liberal arts and sciences. For more information, contact the marine studies coordinator, Professor Peter S. Rosen, at 617.373.4380.
The Center for the Arts
The primary mission of the Center for the Arts is to support and develop the arts as a vital and integral component of the Northeastern community. Through a variety of main stage and artist-in-residency programs, featuring performing and visual artists acclaimed for their excellence, the center complements the academic arts departments in their effort to educate Northeastern students in becoming knowledgeable, discriminating, and active participants in the arts. In addition, the center supports curriculum-oriented arts projects and events, encourages interdepartmental collaborations, develops exhibitions and presentations that serve the on-campus community as well as the general public, provides multicultural arts programs, and acts as a primary facilitator for research in the arts.
The center also manages the Blackman Auditorium Theatre Complex and operates the Northeastern University Ticket Center. Tickets to and information about performing and visual arts events and other campus events are available in the ticket center as are tickets and passes to Boston-area dance, music, theatre, film, and visual arts events. The ticket center also provides free passes and maintains a University membership to the Museum of Fine Arts that entitles all undergraduate students in the full-time day programs to free membership privileges.
For information on arts activities, please call the Center for the Arts office at 617.373.2249. For ticket information, call the ticket center at 617.373.2247.
STUDY ABROAD
The College of Arts and Sciences strongly endorses international experience as an important dimension of learning. To foster this, it maintains an Office of International Study Programs that has developed a series of programs tailored to the interests and needs of Northeastern University students.
College of Arts and Sciences International Study Programs
While studying abroad in a Northeastern-sponsored program, students maintain full-time Northeastern status and earn Northeastern credits. Upon successful completion of the program, grades are calculated into students’ grade-point average (GPA) and students will have fulfilled the college’s experiential education requirement. For the international affairs major, study abroad fulfills the international experience requirement. Students may also fulfill additional requirements, depending upon their individual academic plan and approval by their adviser. The minimum requirements for participation in College of Arts and Sciences study-abroad programs are mid-dler-year standing and 3.000 GPA. The application deadlines are February 10 for fall enrollments and September 25 for spring enrollments.Students who wish to study abroad on a College of Arts and Sciences study-abroad program should start by researching program opportunities online at www.casdn.neu.edu/sap, then attend an information session, offered regularly in 1 Meserve. Finally, meet with a study-abroad adviser. Schedules for information sessions and advisers are posted online and in 1 Meserve.
The College of Arts and Sciences offers three types of study-abroad programs. Please see below for a complete list of current study-abroad locations.
Traditional. Students are based at a host institution where they attend classes, participate in student activities, and organize their extracurricular schedules just as they do on campus at Northeastern. Some examples include Monash University in Melbourne, Australia; University of Edinburgh in Scotland; and Obirin University in Tokyo, Japan.
Internship. These programs offer a combination of classes and related work experience for which students earn academic credit. For example, students typically intern with a member of the Australian Parliament in Canberra, the European Parliament in Brussels, the British Parliament in England, or the Irish Parliament in Dublin.
Experiential Research. The focus of the students’ time abroad is on an independent research project. The study-abroad program organizes small group seminars and field trips that are designed to help students learn about their international environment and focus on a research topic. Students spend three to four weeks toward the end of the semester working on their individual projects. Students may study tropical biology in Costa Rica, history and culture in Vietnam, and oceanography while sailing in the Caribbean or Canadian Maritimes.
Following is a list of locations where students can study abroad in College of Arts and Sciences programs:
Argentina, Buenos Aires Universidad del Salvador Australia, Canberra Australia National University Australia, Gold Coast Bond University Australia, Melbourne Monash University Australia, Perth Curtin University Australia, Sydney University of Sydney Belgium, Leuven and Brussels Irish Institute for European Affairs Canada, Vancouver Simon Fraser University Caribbean/Canadian Maritimes Woods Hole Sea Semester Chile, Santiago Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile China, Beijing Beijing Foreign Studies China, Hong Kong Chinese University of Hong Kong Costa Rica, Monteverde Monteverde Biological Research Station Costa Rica, San Jose International Center for Sustainable Human Development Czech Republic, Prague Charles University Dominican Republic, Santiago Pontificia Universidad Católica Madra y Maestra Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales Egypt, Cairo American University of Cairo France, Paris American University of Paris Ghana, Legon University of Ghana Greece, Thessaloniki American College of Thessaloniki Ireland, Dublin Institute of Public Administration Israel, Tel Aviv University of Tel Aviv Italy, Florence Studio Art Centers International Italy, Perugia Umbra Institute Japan, Tokyo Obirin University Mexico, Puebla Universidad de las Americas– Puebla New Zealand, Auckland University of Auckland
New Zealand, Christchurch University of Canterbury South Africa, Cape Town University of Cape Town Spain, Alicante University of Alicante Spain, Seville University of Seville UK: England, Cambridge University of Cambridge UK: England, London Goldsmith’s College UK: England, London Hansard Society at London School of Economics UK: Northern Ireland, Belfast Queens University UK: Scotland, Edinburgh University of Edinburgh Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City School for International Training Independent Study Abroad. Students who choose to study abroad on a non-Northeastern program must apply individually to their school of choice, take an official leave of absence from Northeastern, and petition to have their credits transferred. It is strongly recommended that students first meet with their dean’s office academic adviser for approval of their study-abroad program. It is the dean’s office adviser’s responsibility to evaluate and award transfer credit. Students may get leave-of-absence forms from the receptionist at the Center for Experiential Education and Academic Advising, 1 Meserve.