I couldn’t find much information about the core on the website (it was confusing) so I was wondering if anyone here could help me explain it in simple words.
So I’m an incoming freshman majoring in Computer Science. My goal is to focus on classes that relate to my major or will benefit me for the future and I’m trying to limit the amount of classes I have to take for the sake of completing the requirements.
What are the requirements of the core? How intense is the core compared to other colleges?
I will be entering with AP Credit for AP Calculus BC, APES, and AP Statistics. Will those place me out of any classes? (I would REALLY hate to have to take chemistry or biology in college, so id also like to know if one of those sciences are a required course.)
Any advice in general for freshman about the core?
Core Requirements
Northeastern’s core is incredibly flexible, which is a big draw for many, myself included (technically I’m on an old version of the core, but the concept was similar). The cool thing is that beyond your major, there are no specifically required courses. It’s all up to you and your interests.
Essentially, you have 11 required learning goals to hit, called NUpath requirements. As long as you take at least one course or experience to cover each, you have fulfilled the core curriculum. Every course is evaluated for which learning goal or goals it covers. Some courses cover multiple, others only cover one. If you find a course that you think covers one but isn’t listed, you can appeal to have it added for that requirement.
Many are covered by your major. Others can be covered by AP credit (see transfer equivalency for NUpath classification). One is covered by experiental learning (co-op or other).
Here is the full list of requirements:
Natural and Designed World
Creative Expression/Innovation
Interpreting Culture
Formal/Quantitative Reasoning
Societies and Institutions
Analyzing and Using Data
Differences and Diversity
Ethical Reasoning
Writing Across Audiences/Genres (fulfilled by most majors)
Integration of Experience (fulfilled by co-op)
Capstone Experience (fulfilled by all majors)
So, first go through your major and see which ones are fulfilled. Found at the bottom of the link:
So that leaves you with:
Creative Expression/Innovation
Interpreting Culture
Societies and Institutions
Differences and Diversity
Ethical Reasoning
So at most, that is 5 total core courses. Remember, courses can count for multiple requirements, so finding courses that hit 2 of those you need can be really helpful if you’re looking to take the least number of courses possible. I’ve heard that some even hit three. You can search the course database by these attributes to find classes you want.
Any course that is part of NUpath can also go towards a minor as well, so consider that if you have an interest in a minor that would hit a few of those requirements. I’m getting a minor in Ethics, and that hit two of my requirements on the old core based on the courses I chose.
CS Science Requirements
As you can see at the CS requirements above, you will need to take some sort of science. You choose between Physics/Chemistry/Biology/Geology/Environmental Science tracks and take 2 courses in the one you choose. AP credit can be used for Physics/Chemistry/Bio. APES won’t count.
AP Calculus BC = credit for MATH 1341 and MATH 1342.
AP ES = ENVR 1101
AP Stats = MATH 2280
AP Calc will get you out of Calculus 1 and 2 for a CS degree, so that’s very useful. You’ll need a calculus based stats course so that credit will only be useful as a general elective. AP ES will be the same, as you will cover the requirement it hits in the CS major.