NU Core
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The NU Core is Northeastern University’s set of institution-wide general education requirements for all students in all majors. The goal of the NU Core is to develop in our students the knowledge and skills to be lifelong learners with success in many careers, thoughtful global citizens, and fulfilled human beings. The NU Core is required for all freshmen who entered in fall 2007 and later. It does not apply to students already admitted with a different set of core requirements or to transfer students whose entry year was earlier than the fall of 2008.
The NU Core Requirements
- First-Year Learning Communities
A first-year experience - Knowledge Domains
Four courses - Writing-Intensive Instruction
Four courses - Mathematical/Analytical Thinking
Two courses - Comparative Study of Cultures
One course - Integrated Experiential Learning
One course or approved activity - Capstone
One course
Description of NU Core Requirements
The entry-level NU core courses (comparative cultures, level 1 knowledge domains, first-year writing, and level 1 mathematical/analytical thinking) and the experiential learning requirement involve exploring broad, new ways of thinking. To ensure the intended breadth, double counting of core requirements is not allowed among those domains. Some courses fit more than one of the entry-level categories, e.g., a knowledge domain category as well as the comparative study of cultures category. These courses are listed in both appropriate NU Core categories to give students more flexibility in how they select courses to meet requirements. However, a student cannot fulfill two of the entry-level NU Core requirements by taking a single course.
The intermediate and advanced NU Core requirements involve more focused, in-depth experiences that sometimes can be combined effectively in one course, e.g., many capstone courses also satisfy the writing-intensive requirement, some level 2 mathematical/analytical thinking courses also satisfy the writing-intensive requirement, some intermediate/advanced courses outside the major might also satisfy the comparative cultures requirement.
The following sections describe in greater detail the specific NU Core requirements:
First-Year Learning Community
Freshmen are cohort-registered in a linked set of two or more courses in the same semester to provide integration of subject matter and an opportunity for students and faculty with similar interests to become acquainted.
Knowledge Domains
Complete an approved introductory-level course in each of three level 1 knowledge domains listed below and a level 2 intermediate or advanced course outside the major department. Generally, one of the introductory-level courses also satisfies a requirement for the major.
- Arts/Humanities Level 1
Complete one approved course in arts level 1 or one approved course in humanities level 1. - Social Science Level 1
Complete one approved course in social science level 1. - Science/Technology Level 1
Complete one approved course in science/technology level 1. - Level 2 Elective
Complete one intermediate or upper-level course (generally numbered 2000 or above) outside your major.
Comparative Study Of Cultures
Complete one approved course in comparative study of cultures or another approved approach, including traditional and short-term faculty-led study-abroad programs.
Mathematical/Analytical Thinking
Complete an approved introductory-level course in mathematical thinking and its application to posing and solving problems and an approved intermediate-level course in modes of thought that allow abstraction, application, and synthesis of information.
- Level 1
Complete one approved course in mathematical/analytical thinking level 1. - Level 2
Complete one approved course in mathematical/analytical thinking level 2.
Writing-Intensive Courses
Complete a first-year writing course and an advanced writing course provided by the Department of English and two approved writing-intensive courses in the major. Usually, the capstone course serves as one of the major-specific writing courses.
Capstone
Complete one approved capstone course within your major in the final semesters. This course acts as a final integrator of the major, general education, and experiential aspects of the student’s education. Generally, this course also includes writing-intensive work and research or creative activity, and, in most cases, the second writing-intensive-in-the-major requirement is satisfied by the capstone course.
Experiential Learning
Complete one approved experiential learning activity with a reflective component. Experiential learning opportunities are disbursed throughout each student’s undergraduate education to encourage the development of seeing connections between course work and experiential learning. Students should consult their college or their major department for advice on approved activities.
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