NU Core Overview

NU Core

NU Core Courses and Course Offerings

Course registration is handled through the Banner student system. One can search for courses that satisfy the NU Core in Banner Course Catalog and in Banner Student Schedule by using the “Attribute Type” feature.

In April 2006, Northeastern University adopted the NU Core, an institution-wide general education requirement. Northeastern faculty, administrators, and students worked together to identify a set of shared general education goals for all students in all majors. Our intention 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 entering 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 cognate year falls outside the NU Core implementation date.

The NU Core requirements are:

First-Year Learning Community: A linked set of two or more courses in the same semester in which students are cohort-registered; provides integration of subject matter and an opportunity for students and faculty with similar interests to become acquainted.

Knowledge Domains (4 courses): An approved introductory-level course in each of three knowledge domains—arts/humanities, social science, and science/technology—and an intermediate or advanced course outside the major department. Generally, one of the introductory-level courses also satisfies a requirement for the major.

Writing Intensive Instruction (4 courses): A first-year writing course and an advanced writing course provided by the English Department and two approved writing-intensive courses in the majors. Generally, the capstone course serves as one of the major-specific writing courses.

Mathematical/Analytical Thinking (2 courses): 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.

Comparative Study of Cultures (1 course): One course approved for this requirement or another approved approach, including study abroad.

Integrated Experiential Learning: One approved experience with a reflective component for each student and opportunities disbursed throughout each student’s undergraduate education to encourage the development of seeing connections between course work and experiential learning.

Capstone Experience (1 course): An approved course in the final semesters that 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.

The entry-level NU core courses (comparative cultures, level 1 knowledge domains, first-year English, and level 1 mathematical/analytical thinking) and the experiential learning requirement involve exploring broad, new ways of thinking, and we want to ensure that breadth by not allowing any double counting 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, 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.

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Registrar Home Catalogs Course Descriptions Schedules Calendars Student Billing Husky Card Academic Records Student Services Banner Forms FAQ Contact Us		NU Core NU Core Courses and Course Offerings Course registration is handled through the Banner student system. One can search for courses that satisfy the NU Core in Banner Course Catalog and in Banner Student Schedule by using the “Attribute Type” feature. Banner Course Catalog Banner Student Schedule In April 2006, Northeastern University adopted the NU Core, an institution-wide general education requirement. Northeastern faculty, administrators, and students worked together to identify a set of shared general education goals for all students in all majors. Our intention 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 entering 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 cognate year falls outside the NU Core implementation date. The NU Core requirements are: First-Year Learning Community: A linked set of two or more courses in the same semester in which students are cohort-registered; provides integration of subject matter and an opportunity for students and faculty with similar interests to become acquainted. Knowledge Domains (4 courses): An approved introductory-level course in each of three knowledge domains—arts/humanities, social science, and science/technology—and an intermediate or advanced course outside the major department. Generally, one of the introductory-level courses also satisfies a requirement for the major. Writing Intensive Instruction (4 courses): A first-year writing course and an advanced writing course provided by the English Department and two approved writing-intensive courses in the majors. Generally, the capstone course serves as one of the major-specific writing courses. Mathematical/Analytical Thinking (2 courses): 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. Comparative Study of Cultures (1 course): One course approved for this requirement or another approved approach, including study abroad. Integrated Experiential Learning: One approved experience with a reflective component for each student and opportunities disbursed throughout each student’s undergraduate education to encourage the development of seeing connections between course work and experiential learning. Capstone Experience (1 course): An approved course in the final semesters that 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. The entry-level NU core courses (comparative cultures, level 1 knowledge domains, first-year English, and level 1 mathematical/analytical thinking) and the experiential learning requirement involve exploring broad, new ways of thinking, and we want to ensure that breadth by not allowing any double counting 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, 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.



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