Students & Advisors

What is NUpath?

NUpath is Northeastern University’s set of institution-wide general education requirements for all students in all majors.

NUpath is competency-based rather than course based. This gives you, the student, lots of choices of courses, thus maximizing your flexibility in meeting NUpath requirements as you are pursuing your overall academic goals. Because the competencies are designed and assessed based on learning goals, it ensures a rigorous treatment of these key elements to your future success, regardless of your chosen field of study.

 

What are the rules?

Courses can count for any other program requirement AND NUpath.

Courses can have multiple NUpath attributes, but there is a limit of only 2 of the following requirements:

  • Natural and Designed World
  • Creative Expression and Innovation
  • Interpreting Culture
  • Formal and Quantitative Reasoning
  • Societies and Institutions
  • Analyzing and Using Data
  • Differences and Diversity
  • Ethical Reasoning

You can use transfer credits for up to 5 of the following requirements:

  • Natural and Designed World
  • Creative Expression and Innovation
  • Interpreting Culture
  • Formal and Quantitative Reasoning
  • Societies and Institutions
  • Analyzing and Using Data
  • Differences and Diversity
  • Ethical Reasoning

NUpath courses can be at any level and from any program.

How to meet NUpath requirements

An overview of how to find courses with NUpath requirements along your educational journey.

* NUpath requirements apply to students entering Northeastern Fall 2016 or later.

1

Determine which NUpath requirements are met by the required courses in your major.  (see Undergraduate Catalog 
or Advisor)

2

Think about what minors/concentrations/ interest areas you have beyond your major.

3

Identify courses within your minor/concentration/interest area that provide NUpath attributes using the Dashboard.

How to use Dashboard

The Dashboard tool can be used to help you discover the different course options that will help you fulfill the NUpath requirements.  Select one of the following goals below to start the process.

  • Read the Course Catalog or talk to your advisor to determine the NUpath attributes fulfilled by your major requirements.
    NOTE: Many curricula have restricted lists of courses from which to choose to fulfill a major requirement.  These may have NUpath attributes also, and they are NOT included in the count of NUpath attributes met by fulfilling major requirements.  To see NUpath attributes are filled by specific courses on lists such as this, see Goal 4 below.
  • For most programs, 5 classes are required to complete a minor.

 

Goal 1: To complete all NUpath requirements.

  1. Select a NUpath Attribute needed or a pair of two attributes needed. [See note below]
  2. Select the option to filter by college and/or by course prefix.
  3. Click on course title to view the course description and prerequisite courses.
  4. Choose preferred option.

Goal 2: To complete a minor.

  1. Select the course prefix filter for the appropriate program.
  2. Select a NUpath Attribute needed or a pair of two attributes needed. [See note below]
  3. Click on course title to the view the course description and any prerequisite courses.
  4. Choose preferred option.

Goal 3: Take classes to explore interests across different disciplines.

  1. Select a NUpath Attribute needed or a pair of two attributes needed. [See note below]
  2. Click on course title to the view the course description and any prerequisite courses.
  3. Choose preferred option.

Goal 4: To find NUpath attributes for a specific course.

  1. Go to Catalog and select course: OR, in Dashboard Select the option to filter by course prefix.
  2. Scroll to desired course (numerical order by prefix)