Frequently Asked Questions

NUterm is a central part of a larger initiative to make the undergraduate curriculum more flexible, so that you have more options to create the learning experience you seek in the time frame that works best for you. So, whether you wish to graduate in four years with two co-ops and a research experience; in five years with two co-ops and a study abroad; in four years with one co-op, two Dialogues, and a service experience; or another combination, the increased flexibility in the curriculum will help make it possible.

Students planning to graduate in four years and take full advantage of co-op are strongly encouraged to enroll in NUterm.

By taking advantage of NUterm, you gain flexibility over the whole course of your undergraduate experience. You keep your options open for either a four or five year time to degree, as well as create an opportunity to fit in an extra co-op, research project, or global experience if you choose.

Increased options translate into increased learning opportunities for you to pursue a minor or another major, or even to elevate your ambitions and undertake one of Northeastern’s combined bachelor’s/master’s programs.

NUterm can also satisfy a more modest goal: to sample a new field of interest that you find intriguing.

And because Northeastern’s summer break is four months long, you are still able to enjoy two full months of summer vacation after completing your NUterm experience.

NUterm is Summer 1 for rising sophomores. Summer 1 courses are still offered for upperclass students.

If you are a NUterm student on campus, you will live in residence halls during the May–June session, housed with other NUterm students to help create a richer student-life experience. If you are pursuing an international NUterm option, such as a Dialogue of Civilizations, you will live abroad with your classmates.

Billing and financial aid for NUterm is based on the number of academic credits you take, in the same way that students are billed and/or aided for Summer I courses now. If you have specific questions about your financial aid, please contact your financial aid counselor.

The total cost of a Northeastern degree does not change with the introduction of these new offerings. You earn, and pay for, the same number of credits overall—NUterm and the other curricular initiatives simply change the time frame for earning those credits.

You have flexibility when it comes to deciding on the time span to earn a degree. Some students know right away while others need time to figure out their path: four years, five years, or a different time frame. All students receive guidance as they map out their plan.

We are introducing other curricular changes that benefit all of our undergraduates: strengthening the integration between coursework and co-op and other experiential opportunities; adding international options; and offering more courses online, thus expanding opportunities for students to take a class while on co-op.

Current courses, such as “Advanced Writing in the Disciplines” and “World History Since 1945,” can already be taken during co-op periods. Courses such as “Organizational Behavior,” which connect educationally to co-op, will also be developed in an online format. Another kind of example is the traditional independent study, using a co-op as the resource for the research or project, with the topic and scope determined by the student and a faculty member.

We know our students learn best and achieve the greatest success when they have both flexibility and guidance. Advisers and faculty mentors play a big role in helping you choose among your options and in charting your personal Northeastern paths. You should be proactive in seeking every opportunity to connect with your advisers and mentors on these important questions.