NUpath requirements are a set of 11 competencies designed to prepare students for personal success in an ever-evolving global society regardless of their chosen field of study. NUpath requirements are as follows:

  • Engaging with the Natural and Designed World

  • Exploring Creative Expression and Innovation

  • Interpreting Culture

  • Conducting Formal and Quantitative Reasoning

  • Understanding Societies and Institutions

  • Analyzing and Using Data

  • Engaging Differences and Diversity

  • Employing Ethical Reasoning

  • Writing Across Audiences and Genres

  • Integrating Knowledge and Skills Through Experience

  • Demonstrating Thought and Action in a Capstone

Because NUpath is competency based rather than course based, students have many options of courses to fulfill the requirements. Students can use the Self-Service Banner "Browse Classes" tool to find class sections both in and beyond their major requirements that satisfy NUpath. Courses that meet major, minor, or concentration requirements can also meet NUpath requirements. There are no level restrictions or semester-hour restrictions. No course taken as pass/fail can be used to satisfy a NUpath requirement. A single course can count for up to two of the following requirements:

  • Engaging with the Natural and Designed World

  • Exploring Creative Expression and Innovation

  • Interpreting Culture

  • Conducting Formal and Quantitative Reasoning

  • Understanding Societies and Institutions

  • Analyzing and Using Data

  • Engaging Differences and Diversity

  • Employing Ethical Reasoning

The three additional requirements (writing-intensive in the major, capstone, and experiential) are not limited. So, for example, a course may have two out of the first list (such as Differences and Diversity and Societies and Institutions) and also fulfill writing-intensive in the major and capstone.

Transfer credit and placement tests can also be used to meet the NUpath attributes of the Northeastern University course equivalents. Up to five of the following eight requirements can be met by transferred or placement test credits:

  • Engaging with the Natural and Designed World

  • Exploring Creative Expression and Innovation

  • Interpreting Culture

  • Conducting Formal and Quantitative Reasoning

  • Understanding Societies and Institutions

  • Analyzing and Using Data

  • Engaging Differences and Diversity

  • Employing Ethical Reasoning

Transfer credits cannot be used to fulfill the capstone or experiential requirements. Of the writing requirements, only the first-year writing requirement can be met by transferred or placement test credits.