a c a d e m i c p r o g r a m sGeneral Information
Cooperative Education :: Honors Program :: ROTC, Military Officers' Training Program :: University-Wide Writing Requirement :: Diversity Requirement :: Academic Common Experience :: About Sample Curricula :: Undergraduate Course Numbering System :: Undergraduate Degrees :: Majors and Concentrations :: Minors
DOREEN L. HODGKIN, MED, Senior Associate Dean
CANDACE A. HERENE, BA, Assistant Dean
PATRICIA A. VENTER, BS, Diversity CoordinatorASSOCIATE PROFESSORS
Betsey W. Blackmer, PT, EdD, Elizabeth A. Chilvers, MEd, Ann M. Galligan, EdD, Stephen M. Kane, EdD, Melvin W. Simms, EdD, Robert Tillman, EdDASSISTANT PROFESSORS
Veronica L. Porter, MEd, William A. Sloane, MBAASSOCIATE COOPERATIVE EDUCATION COORDINATORS
Robert J. Blaser, RPh, MS, Charles Bognanni, MEd, Alicia A. Canali, MEd, Martha F. Connors, MSN, Jacqueline Diani, MEd, Rosemarie DiMarco, MS, Jean F. Egan, MEd, Mark Erickson, MEd, Pamela W. Goodale, MA, Clinton R. Holland, MS, Karen P. Kelley, MEd, George F. Kent, MBA, Kellianne Murphy, MA, Behrooz (Barry) Satvat, PE, ScD, Jacqueline F. Sweeney, MS, Scott Weighart, MBA, William E. Wray, JD, Mark L. Yorra, RPh, MSASSISTANT COOPERATIVE EDUCATION COORDINATORS
Filomena M. Borba, MS, Anne Brady, MS, Richard C. Conley, MA, Cynthia A. Crespin, MSEd, Kimberly C. Eldred, MS, Lisa M. Foster, MS, Nancy Geoffrion, MEd, Michelle L. Israel, MS, Nora K. Jemison, MEd, Mary Kane, MEd, Lester P. Lee Jr., MA, Patricia B. Leonard, MEd, Kathryn Malloy, MS CCC-SLP, Dianne E. Matos, MA, Katherine Meller, MEd, William Munze, MS, Linda O’Connor, MS, David Potter, MSEE, Yvonne F. Rogers, MS, Jacqueline Salcedo, JD, Robert B. Sherman, PhD, Maria K. Stein, MEd, Kathy M. Tanner, MEd, Nancy Tavares, MSW, LICSW, Lorraine A. Walsh, MSME, Stephen Williams, JD, Lynn H. Yaffee, MEdCooperative education is a key component of a Northeastern University education. The cooperative education curricula leading to the baccalaureate degree generally require five years at Northeastern University. Programs typically consist of a freshman year of two consecutive semesters of full-time study followed by four upperclass years in which students alternate periods of classroom study with six-month cooperative education experiences. At graduation, students in the cooperative education program will have twelve to eighteen months of work experience. All of the colleges except the Bouvé College of Health Sciences also offer a four-year co-op option.
Cooperative education is based on the principle that what students learn in the workplace is a valuable complement to what they learn in the classroom. Studies show that reinforcing classroom learning with job responsibilities increases a student’s motivation and self-confidence. Greater interest in academic work develops when students are able to see the link between the co-op experience and classroom study. The academic faculty and cooperative education coordinators have worked together to create Integrated Learning Models that reinforce and leverage the experiences that students have in the classroom and in the workplace.
Co-op students also have opportunities to evaluate career decisions early in their college years, while gaining meaningful work experience before graduation and establishing valuable professional contacts and references. Students also earn experiential learning credit by satisfactorily completing the required components of the cooperative education learning process, and the salaries students earn may help defray a portion of the cost of their education.
Responsibility for all phases of the co-op program rests with the cooperative education faculty. In general, co-op experiences become increasingly challenging and career-specific as students continue their education and acquire greater skills. With permission from their cooperative education coordinator, students may use their co-op period for study abroad, for volunteer work, or to take specialized courses at another institution.
International Cooperative Education
The Department of International Cooperative Education offers a variety of services to international students as well as to U.S. citizens. Through the International Exchange Program, undergraduates may be placed abroad for their cooperative work experience. Placements are available in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and Israel for students who have the appropriate background and experience.
In addition, the department helps to prepare international students for co-op placements in the United States and in their home country.
Co-op Policies
Co-op start and end dates and college-specific policies may be found in the Co-op Handbook. Listed here are general policies regarding participation in the cooperative education program.
- Students must maintain the GPA required by their college to qualify for co-op. Students with deficiencies in course work or GPA should arrange a remedial schedule with their academic adviser and co-op faculty member. They will not be permitted to have a co-op placement until the deficiencies have been eliminated.
- Students must register for co-op just as they register for academic classes. Students register for eight semester hours of experiential learning credit for fall or spring semester and four semester hours of experiential learning credit for each summer half semester.
- Students earn grades of Satisfactory (S), Unsatisfactory (U), or Incomplete (X). Although experiential learning credit is not added to the academic credit hours required for graduation, students’ transcripts reflect their grades for each co-op placement.
- Students do not pay tuition for co-op.
- Students who are not registered for co-op or for academic course work will be withdrawn from the University. Withdrawal may affect eligibility for financial aid and, for international students, visa status.
The University offers to qualified students a comprehensive Honors Program designed to foster high intellectual development and achievement. The program provides numerous academic course options as well as cultural events for students from all colleges at the University. Entering freshmen are invited to join the program based on their high school record and academic preparation, and current students may join after certain semesters when they have a cumulative 3.400 grade-point average.
The program provides a rich academic experience for students. At the freshman and sophomore levels, selected honors sections are available in place of larger introductory
courses. In honors sections, course material is covered more intensively in a classroom setting with fewer students and greater opportunities for student-faculty interaction. At the sophomore and middler levels, these seminars are designed specifically for honors students. They focus on contemporary issues as well as topics related to the University’s mission as a place of scholarship and inquiry in an urban setting. Honors students also may enroll in a one-credit honors adjunct attached to an existing nonhonors course. In an honors adjunct, students and the professor meet outside of class to engage in additional discussions and projects to explore course work in greater depth. And finally, honors students complete a junior/senior honors project as a culminating experience in their academic field. The junior/senior honors project typically involves an independent research project or a set of courses designed for upperclass honors students.
Honors students may earn one of three Honors Program distinctions. Honors course distinction is earned after completion of six honors courses in the semester system, including one honors seminar. College honors project distinction is earned after completion of the junior/senior honors project. University Honors Program distinction is earned after completing requirements for both of the previous distinctions. These distinctions appear on a student’s transcript and in the commencement program.
The program offers cultural opportunities, including theatre, ballet, symphony, and sporting events tickets, at subsidized prices. The honors experience at Northeastern also includes special housing opportunities and facilities for study and interaction with other honors students. An honors residence hall is available primarily for freshmen and sophomores and includes a computer lab and study rooms as well as special activities. The Honors Program office, 1 Nightingale Hall, also offers a lounge and computer room for honors students who live on or off campus.
For more information about the Honors Program, including up-to-date listings of honors courses, please consult the program’s Web site at www.honors.neu.edu or contact the staff at 617.373.2333.
ROTC, MILITARY OFFICERS’ TRAINING PROGRAM
The Department of Military Science offers the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program. The goal of the program is to develop leadership potential in men and women and to prepare them for an officer’s commission in the military service of the United States. The curriculum teaches principles of personnel management and seeks to develop leadership traits such as teamwork, ready acceptance of responsibility, desire to achieve, self-confidence, and discipline.
Army ROTC Program
THOMAS M. CREA, LTC, U.S. ARMY, MCS
Professor and Chair, Department of Military ScienceASSISTANT PROFESSORS
Dana P. Barrette, MAJ, BS, Malcolm S. Burr, LTC, BS, Nathan P. Gruver, CPT, BS, Michael F. Howe, MAJ, MS, Sarah L. Johnson, MAJ, BS, Philip M. Peck, MAJ, BA, Nina Reyes-Richard, MAJ, BA, Brett P. Tashiro, CPT, John D. Williamson, MAJ, MBAINSTRUCTORS
Christopher Carter, MSG, James Zadra, SFCThe Army ROTC program is conducted at Northeastern University. For more information, write the Department of Military Science, 335A Huntington Avenue, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, or call 617.373.2372.
Completion of the Army ROTC program may lead to a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army, United States Army Reserve, or the Army National Guard. The program consists of the basic course (freshman and sophomore years) and advanced (middler through senior years) course. The program does not conflict with co-op schedules.
Enrollment in the basic course is voluntary and is open to all full-time students. However, only formally enrolled cadets may participate in leadership labs and other exercises. Students in the basic course do not incur a military obligation.
The advanced course is open to all qualified students who have basic course credit or equivalent military experience, as well as meet the Army’s physical, medical, and age requirements. Contracted students (advance course and scholarship) receive a monthly cash stipend while in school. Scholarship students also receive $17,000 and an additional grant of 20 percent tuition per year, as well as $600 for books. Scholarships are merit-based.
Air Force and Navy Nurse ROTC Programs
The Air Force and Navy Nurse ROTC programs are conducted at Boston University.
For more information about the Air Force ROTC program, write the Department of Aerospace Studies, Boston University, 118 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215-1501, or call 617.353.4705.
For more information about the Navy ROTC Nurse program, write the Office of the Commanding Officer, NROTC Unit, Boston University, 116 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215-1796, or call 617.353.2535.
UNIVERSITY-WIDE WRITING REQUIREMENT
The faculty expect all students to become effective writers in their disciplines. To help ensure this, two writing courses are required of all full-time undergraduate students: College Writing and Advanced Writing in the Disciplines.
All freshmen take College Writing, ENG U111. Entering freshmen write a diagnostic essay during summer orientation. Based on that essay, some students will first be placed into Introductory Writing, ENG U110. They must also complete ENG U111. Students whose first language is not English may be placed into Introductory Writing–SOL, ENG U101, and must also complete College Writing–SOL, ENG U102, to satisfy the requirement. Students must earn a grade of C or better in College Writing to satisfy the requirement.
Once students have earned 64 semester hours of academic credit, they are expected to register for the second half of the University-wide writing requirement: Advanced Writing in the Disciplines. Students are encouraged to complete this requirement before they have accrued 96 semester hours. They must earn a C or better in this course to satisfy the requirement. Transfer credit cannot be used to satisfy this requirement.
Northeastern University requires that all students complete a diversity requirement before graduation. The requirement may be fulfilled by completing a preapproved course or by participation in an activity such as international co-op, study abroad, or diversity training. Each college has developed its own program to satisfy this requirement, so please consult your college for more details.
THE ACADEMIC COMMON EXPERIENCE
In June 1995, Northeastern University adopted the Academic Common Experience (ACE), a new general education model for all undergraduate programs. In ACE, the faculty identified a set of shared general education goals for all students in all majors. The ACE shared goals are:
- Skills: Effective thinking, effective communication, information literacy, and interpersonal skills.
- Contexts: The natural world, and the social/cultural world.
- Perspectives: The historical, the ethical, the aesthetic, and the personal.
- Connections: Across disciplines, between the theoretical and the applied, between the academy and the world of work, and between college study and lifelong learning.
The Northeastern faculty, administrators, and students who worked together to create ACE believe that the best education instills a spirit of inquiry, a love of learning, and a habit of reflective thought. It prepares students for the future by enabling them to build on the knowledge they have already acquired. It also helps develop skills and understanding that can be transferred from one academic discipline to another and from the classroom to life experiences.
Course content and course assignments throughout the program of study reflect these shared goals. As students progress through their individual academic and cooperative education programs, progressive and cumulative learning reinforces and broadens understanding and appreciation of these goals, both personally and professionally.
Each major description includes a sample of the curriculum a student might follow to meet degree requirements. These sample curricula are for general information. Course requirements, elective course distribution, and achievement levels vary from program to program, and even from class to class. Consult with your academic advising office, listed below, to make certain you have all the necessary resources before planning your own curriculum.
College of Arts and Sciences, Dean’s Office 100 Meserve Academic Program Offices African-American Studies 132 Nightingale American Sign Language– English Interpreting 405 Meserve Architecture 151 Ryder Behavioral Neuroscience 125 Nightingale Biochemistry 414 Mugar Biology 414 Mugar Chemistry and Chemical Biology 102 Hurtig Communication Studies 101 Lake Economics 301 Lake Education 54 Lake English 406 Holmes Geology/Environmental Geology 14 Holmes History 249 Meserve Human Services 33 Lake Interdisciplinary Studies 9 Holmes International Affairs 303 Meserve Journalism 102 Lake Linguistics 563 Holmes Mathematics 567 Lake Modern Languages 400 Meserve Music 351 Ryder Philosophy and Religion 371 Holmes Physics/Applied Physics/ Biomedical Physics 111 Dana Political Science 303 Meserve Psychology 125 Nightingale Sociology and Anthropology 500 Holmes Theatre 337 Ryder Visual Arts 239 Ryder
Bouvé College of Health Sciences 120 Behrakis College of Business Administration 250 Dodge College of Computer and 161 Cullinane Information Science College of Criminal Justice 204 Churchill College of Engineering 220 Snell School of Engineering Technology 120 Snell School of General Studies 249 Ryder Special Notes
- One semester-hour of credit is equal to fifty minutes of instruction per week, plus two hours of preparation.
- The Office of the Registrar, 120 Hayden Hall, maintains the official record for all courses. In the event of error in any publication, the academic record will reflect the correct semester hours applicable to any degree requirement.
- On occasion, course titles change, while the course number remains the same. Despite such title changes, the course is still considered to be the same course. Students who have taken the course under the old title and then take the course again under the new title are considered to have repeated the course.
UNDERGRADUATE COURSE NUMBERING SYSTEM
Every semester course number at Northeastern University consists of three parts:
- A two- or three-letter department code
- A single-letter code, most commonly U indicating an undergraduate course or G indicating a graduate course
- A three-digit number
For example, in the course number ECN U115, ECN is the department code, U indicates an undergraduate course, and 115 is the three-digit number.
For undergraduate courses, the three-digit number indicates the level of the course as follows:
001–099 Basic/preparatory 100–299 Introductory 300–499 Intermediate 500–699 Advanced 700–799 Research, thesis, capstone 900–999 Special course work (directed study, independent study, special topics, seminar, workshop, or practicum) Listed below are the degrees conferred by the undergraduate full-time day colleges at Northeastern University.
College of Arts and Sciences
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of ScienceBouvé College of Health Sciences
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Science
Bachelor of Science in Toxicology
Master of Science in Physical Therapy
Doctor of Pharmacy (six-year program)College of Business Administration
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Bachelor of Science in International BusinessCollege of Computer and Information Science
Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Bachelor of Science in Information Science
Bachelor of Science (dual majors only)College of Criminal Justice
Bachelor of ScienceCollege of Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical EngineeringSchool of Engineering Technology
Bachelor of Science in Engineering TechnologyListed below are the majors and, where applicable, concentrations offered by the undergraduate full-time day colleges at Northeastern University. In some cases, the academic area under which the major is listed in this catalog is indicated parenthetically.
College of Arts and Sciences
African-American Studies
American Sign Language
Anthropology (listed under Sociology and Anthropology)
Applied Physics (listed under Physics)
Architecture
Art (listed under Visual Arts)
Concentration in Animation
Concentration in Photography
Behavioral Neuroscience
Biochemistry
Biology
Biomedical Physics
Chemistry
Communication Studies
Concentration in Media Studies
Concentration in Organizational Communication
Concentration in Public Communication
Cultural Anthropology (listed under Sociology and Anthropology)
Economics
English
Environmental Geology (listed under Geology)
Environmental Studies
French (listed under Modern Languages)
Geology Graphic Design (listed under Visual Arts)
History
Concentration in Public History
Human Services
International Affairs
Journalism
Linguistics
Mathematics
Multimedia Studies
Concentration in Animation
Concentration in Photography
Concentration in Graphic Design
Concentration in Music Technology
Music
Concentration in Literature
Concentration in Literature and Performance
Concentration in Music Industry
Concentration in Music Technology
Philosophy
Concentration in Law and Ethics
Concentration in Religious Studies
Physics
Physics, Applied (listed under Physics)
Physics, Biomedical (listed under Biomedical Physics)
Political Science
Concentration in Law and Legal Issues
Concentration in International and Comparative Politics
Concentration in Public Policy and Administration
Psychology
Sociology (listed under Sociology and Anthropology)
Spanish (listed under Modern Languages)
Theatre
Concentration in Performance
Concentration in ProductionDual Majors
Cinema Studies and Communication Studies (listed under Cinema Studies)
Cinema Studies and English (listed under Cinema Studies)
Cinema Studies and Journalism (listed under Cinema Studies)
Cinema Studies and Modern Languages (listed under Cinema Studies)
Cinema Studies and Theatre (listed under Cinema Studies)
Computer Science and Cognitive Psychology (listed under Computer Science)
Computer Science and Mathematics (listed under Computer Science)
Computer Science and Physics (listed under Computer Science)
Linguistics and English (listed under Linguistics)
Linguistics and Psychology (listed under Linguistics)Bouvé College of Health Sciences
Athletic Training
Cardiopulmonary and Exercise Sciences
Concentration in Respiratory Therapy
Concentration in Exercise Physiology
Clinical Exercise Physiology (listed under Cardiopulmonary and Exercise Sciences)
Medical Laboratory Science
Physical Therapy
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
Nursing
Pharmacy
ToxicologyCollege of Business Administration
Concentrations
Accounting
Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
Finance and Insurance
Human Resources Management
International Business (BSIB only)
Management
Management Information Systems
Marketing
Supply Chain ManagementCollege of Computer and Information Science
Computer Science
Information ScienceDual Majors
Computer Science and Cognitive Psychology (listed under Computer Science)
Computer Science and Mathematics (listed under Computer Science)
Computer Science and Physics (listed under Computer Science)College of Criminal Justice
Criminal JusticeCollege of Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering (listed under Civil and Environmental Engineering)
Computer Engineering (listed under Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Electrical Engineering (listed under Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Electrical/Computer Engineering (listed under Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Industrial Engineering (listed under Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering)
Mechanical Engineering (listed under Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering)School of Engineering Technology
Computer Engineering Technology
Electrical Engineering Technology
Mechanical Engineering TechnologyListed below are the minors offered by the undergraduate full-time day colleges at Northeastern University. In some cases, the academic area under which the minor is listed in this catalog is indicated parenthetically.
College of Arts and Sciences
African-American Studies
Animation (listed under
Visual Arts)
Anthropology (listed under
Sociology and Anthropology)
Architectural History (listed under Architecture)
Art (listed under Visual Arts)
Biology
Biology, Marine (listed under Biology)
Chemistry
Cinema Studies
Communication Studies
Cultural Anthropology (listed under Sociology and Anthropology)
East Asian Studies (listed under Interdisciplinary Minors)
Economics
English Literature (listed under English)
English Writing (listed under English)
Environmental Geology (listed under Geology)
Environmental Studies
French (listed under Modern Languages)
Geology
Graphic Design (listed under Visual Arts)
History
Human Services
International Affairs
Jewish Studies (listed under Interdisciplinary Minors)
Journalism
Latino, Latin American, and Caribbean Studies (listed under Interdisciplinary Minors)
Linguistics Literature (listed under English)
Marine Biology (listed under Biology)
Marine Studies (listed under Interdisciplinary Minors)
Mathematics Middle East Studies (listed under Interdisciplinary Minors)
Music
Music Industry (listed under Music)
Music Theatre (listed under Music)
Philosophy
Photography (listed under Visual Arts)
Physics
Political Science
Psychology
Religious Studies (listed under Philosophy)
Sociology (listed under Sociology and Anthropology)
Spanish (listed under Modern Languages)
Technical Communications (listed under English) Theatre
Urban Studies (listed under Interdisciplinary Minors)
Women’s Studies (listed under Interdisciplinary Minors)
Writing (listed under English)Bouvé College of Health Sciences
Clinical Chemistry (listed under Medical Laboratory Science)
Hematology (listed under Medical Laboratory Science)
Immunohematology (listed under Medical Laboratory Science)
Immunology (listed under Medical Laboratory Science)
Microbiology (listed under Medical Laboratory Science)College of Business Administration
Business AdministrationCollege of Computer and Information Science
Computer Science Information ScienceCollege of Engineering
Biomedical Engineering (listed under Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Computer Engineering (listed under Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Electrical Engineering (listed under Electrical and Computer Engineering)School of Engineering Technology
Computer Engineering Technology
Electrical Engineering Technology
Mechanical Engineering Technology
Cooperative Education :: Honors Program :: ROTC, Military Officers' Training Program :: University-Wide Writing Requirement :: Diversity Requirement :: Academic Common Experience :: About Sample Curricula :: Undergraduate Course Numbering System :: Undergraduate Degrees :: Majors and Concentrations :: Minors