An innovative first-year program, Foundation Year offers students from the City of Boston an opportunity to start their journey at Northeastern University in a small cohort-based program in the College of Professional Studies. Launched in 2009, Foundation Year features rigorous academics, scaffolded supports, and access to a plethora of resources on the Boston campus. Foundation Year students can earn up to 32 credits during the year that transfer toward their major and/or general education requirements at one of the undergraduate colleges at Northeastern.
Upon completion of the program, students who meet the progression standards can seamlessly transition to their destination college at Northeastern where they pursue their intended major. Students who don't meet the progression standards and/or want to continue their education elsewhere are supported by the Foundation Year advisors to transfer to a program that is a good match for them. The progression standards that Foundation Year students have to meet in order to continue at one of the undergraduate colleges at Northeastern include:
- Cumulative grade-point average of 3.000
- Course grades of C or better in the fall term
- Course grades of B– or better in the spring and summer terms
Application
To be considered for Foundation Year, students must be:
- Boston residents
- High school graduates or students holding GED/HiSET completion certificates
- Motivated and willing to work hard to achieve their goals and earn a college degree
Process
- Submit an application to Northeastern using the Common Application or the Coalition Application.
- Submit required materials.
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and CSS Profile online.
Contact Information
foundationyear@northeastern.edu
Designed with the student in mind, Foundation Year’s intensive curriculum includes courses in English, sociology, mathematics, and history. Students can also focus their studies by choosing from electives in business, science, or liberal arts. Foundation Year students can earn up to 32 semester hours of credit—equivalent to one year of college credits.
To help facilitate learning, Foundation Year provides all students with textbooks and laptops to use for the entire school year.
Complete all courses below unless otherwise indicated.
Core Courses
Note: Students are placed into math courses based on proficiency.
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| 0 |
| 0 |
| CMN 2310 | Professional Speaking | 3 |
| ENG 1107 | College Writing 2 | 3 |
| ENG 1108 | Lab for ENG 1107 | 1 |
| 6 |
| Quantitative Skills and Reasoning: Practical Math | |
| Precalculus | |
| Calculus 1 | |
| Business Statistics | |
Electives
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| Social and Political Philosophy | |
| International Relations | |
| Comparative Politics | |
| American Government | |
| Foundations of Psychology | |
| Introduction to Sociology | |
| Race and Ethnicity | |
| Death and Dying | |
| Principles of Biology 1
and Lab for BIO 1100 | |
| Principles of Biology 2
and Lab for BIO 1200 | |
| General Chemistry 1
and Lab for CHM 1100 | |
| General Chemistry 2
and Lab for CHM 1200 | |
| Principles of Microeconomics | |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | |
| Managing Your Personal Finances | |
