At the School of General Studies (SGS), we focus on you and your success. SGS is a one-year, full-time academic program for selected Northeastern first-year students who excel in small, structured, rigorous learning environments. The purpose of the curriculum is two-fold: to fulfill general first-year requirements and to ensure students' readiness for success in upperclass study. In addition to fulfilling first-year requirements, courses focus on critical analysis, writing, and studying.
SGS students fulfill requirements in their chosen field of study. And, because they participate fully in university programs and activities, SGS students enjoy all the benefits and resources available at Northeastern. In addition, SGS students have access to various unique features, including the following:
• Small classes (classes average 15 students)
• Intensive courses
• Extensive academic and one-to-one advising
• Nationally certified peer tutoring
In the School of General Studies, you're part of a community dedicated to success. You are among academically motivated first-year students who come from diverse academic, ethnic, and geographic backgrounds. SGS faculty and staff also have diverse backgrounds, but share common training and focus on first-year college learning.
SGS selects and carefully evaluates its faculty for their ability to teach and advise first-year students. They are devoted to teaching and available to you both inside and outside the classroom. They get to know you well because SGS classes typically have fewer students than other programs. SGS classes are never run by graduate assistants or student aides.
Each faculty member works closely with you and your other instructors to monitor your progress and help you turn any academic weaknesses into strengths. One person — your "Strategic Thinking and Learning" (SGS 101 & 102) instructor — is your academic advisor, who sees you three times each week in class and meets with you at least twice a month outside class. You also get together with your advisor between regularly scheduled appointments. Advisors and instructors meet regularly among themselves to discuss your progress.
SGS operates under the "House Plan" system, through which all your instructors sit down together twice each semester to talk about your performance, your areas of strength and weakness, and ways to help you improve. SGS instructors let you know how you're doing!
That kind of access extends to our staff and administrators. They’re always willing to answer your questions about scheduling, registration or other issues — and to help in any possible way. For complete contact information, visit the faculty/staff page.
Students also help and encourage each other. A few, who are especially skilled in the course material, serve as peer-tutors-in-training, providing assistance to individuals and small groups of students. The majority of peer tutors, however, have completed their extensive mandated training. They are upperclass Northeastern students who all were once School of General Studies freshmen and want you to have as positive an experience as they did. For more information, visit the peer tutoring page.
Aside from its nationally certified peer tutoring program, SGS is structured to encourage its students to form their own study groups. SGS groups students together by major (the "House Plan"), and more often than not, such groups form study sessions and learning communities to help each other with course material. Combine this support with your own effort and skills, and you have all the ingredients for success.