BU Hub
Boston University’s General Education Program
The BU Hub, Boston University’s general education program, provides a common educational experience for all BU undergraduates. It offers students the opportunity to develop the breadth of knowledge and essential skills that will enable them to be lifelong learners and leaders in a rapidly evolving, interconnected, and globalized world.
The Hub fosters intellectual exploration by encouraging students to take courses in schools and colleges across the University. Hub courses can fulfill both Hub and major requirements. Students can take Hub courses throughout all of their years of undergraduate study; they are not expected to complete their Hub requirements early in their studies. Hundreds of courses fulfill Hub requirements, and they are offered in all of the undergraduate schools and colleges at BU.
The Hub also offers innovative educational opportunities to students that fulfill Hub requirements and have “HUB” as the college code, including:
- The Cross-College Challenge (XCC), the Hub’s signature interdisciplinary, collaborative, project-based 4-unit courses, open to juniors and seniors, that fulfill 4 Hub requirements (“HUB XC”).
- Hub social and racial justice courses, which are 4-unit courses that fulfill 3 Hub requirements per course (“HUB SJ”).
- Hub interdisciplinary courses, which are 4-unit courses that fulfill 2–3 Hub requirements per course (“HUB IC”).
- Hub cocurricular experiences, 0-unit offerings that fulfill 1 Hub requirement (“HUB CC” and “HUB FY”).
- Hub Study Abroad experiences, 0-unit courses that fulfill 1 Hub requirement (“HUB SA”).
- Research and Information Literacy (RIL) in Honor’s Thesis or Directed Study, a 0-unit course that fulfills 1 Hub requirement in RIL (“HUB RL”).
Learning Outcomes
The BU Hub is founded on a set of learning outcomes that are designed to help students navigate and contribute to an increasingly complex world. To learn more about Hub learning outcomes, please visit the Hub website.
Requirements
There are two Hub curriculums, depending upon a student’s point of entry. Each has been designed to ensure that all BU undergraduates develop the breadth of knowledge and essential skills that will enable them to be lifelong learners and leaders in a rapidly changing and interconnected world. First-year entering students will complete 26 Hub requirements, while transfer students will complete 10 Hub requirements. Please note: The BU Hub Transfer Student curriculum has been designed to acknowledge general education coursework completed at a student’s previous institution while still ensuring that transfer students acquire the breadth of knowledge and essential skills required of all BU undergraduates.
Requirements for Students Who Enter BU as First-Year Students
All students who matriculate as first-year students share the same BU Hub requirements, regardless of their program of study. Students who enter BU as first-years must complete 26 Hub requirements. Most students will fulfill their Hub requirements in 10–12 courses, and some of these courses will count toward their major requirements as well. To learn more about the Hub curriculum, please visit the Hub website.
The minimum requirements are listed below. However, most students will complete many more than the minimum number of requirements, especially in areas central to their major field of study. Students can track their progress in the Hub, along with their overall progress toward their degree, using Degree Progress in MyBU Student Portal.
Philosophical, Aesthetic, and Historical Interpretation
- Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings (1 requirement)
- Aesthetic Exploration (1 requirement)
- Historical Consciousness (1 requirement)
Scientific and Social Inquiry
- Scientific Inquiry I (1 requirement)
- Social Inquiry I (1 requirement)
- Scientific Inquiry II OR Social Inquiry II (1 requirement)
Quantitative Reasoning
- Quantitative Reasoning I (1 requirement)
- Quantitative Reasoning II (1 requirement)
Diversity, Civic Engagement, and Global Citizenship
- The Individual in Community (1 requirement)
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy (2 requirements)
- Ethical Reasoning (1 requirement)
Communication
- First-Year Writing Seminar (1 requirement)
- Writing, Research, and Inquiry (1 requirement)
- Writing-Intensive Course (2 requirements)
- Oral and/or Signed Communication (1 requirement)
- Digital/Multimedia Expression (1 requirement)
Intellectual Toolkit
- Critical Thinking (2 requirements)
- Research and Information Literacy (2 requirements)
- Teamwork/Collaboration (2 requirements)
- Creativity/Innovation (2 requirements)
Requirements for Transfer Students
All students who matriculate as transfer students beginning fall 2020 or as BU Metropolitan College students beginning fall 2021 share the same BU Hub requirements, regardless of their program of study. Students who enter BU as transfers must complete 10 requirements. Most students will fulfill their Hub requirements in 4–5 courses, and some of these courses will count toward their major requirements as well. To learn more about the Hub curriculum, please visit the Hub website.
The minimum requirements are listed below. However, most students will complete many more than the minimum number of requirements, especially in areas central to their major field of study. Students can track their progress in the Hub, along with their overall progress toward their degree, using Degree Progress in MyBU Student Portal.
Philosophical, Aesthetic, and Historical Interpretation
1 requirement in one of the following Hub areas:
- Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Historical Consciousness
Scientific and Social Inquiry
- 1 requirement in Scientific Inquiry I or Scientific Inquiry II
- 1 requirement in Social Inquiry I or Social Inquiry II
Quantitative Reasoning
1 requirement in Quantitative Reasoning II
Diversity, Civic Engagement, and Global Citizenship
1 requirement in one of the following Hub areas:
- The Individual in Community
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Ethical Reasoning
Communication
1 requirement in Writing, Research, and Inquiry or Writing-Intensive Course
Intellectual Toolkit
- 1 requirement in Critical Thinking
- 1 requirement in Research and Information Literacy
- 1 requirement in Teamwork/Collaboration
- 1 requirement in Creativity/Innovation
