Northeastern University Majors: A Comprehensive Guide

Choosing a major is a significant decision for prospective college students. Northeastern University offers a wide array of academic programs across various fields. This article provides a detailed overview of the majors offered at Northeastern, including popular choices, combined programs, and options for students with interdisciplinary interests.

Popular Majors at Northeastern University

Northeastern University boasts a diverse range of academic disciplines, catering to students with varied interests and career aspirations. Several majors consistently rank as the most popular among undergraduates. According to recent data, the ten most popular majors for 2023 graduates are:

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (23%): This field encompasses various aspects of business operations, strategy, and communication, preparing students for leadership roles in diverse industries.
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (14%): With the increasing importance of technology in modern society, this major equips students with the skills to develop software, manage data, and solve complex problems using computational tools.
Biological and Biomedical Sciences (10%): This major explores the intricacies of living organisms, preparing students for careers in healthcare, research, and biotechnology.
Health Professions and Related Programs (8%): This field focuses on the delivery of healthcare services, including nursing, pharmacy, and allied health professions.
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs (4%): This major equips students with the skills to communicate effectively through various media channels, preparing them for careers in journalism, public relations, and marketing.
Visual and Performing Arts (2%): This major fosters creativity and artistic expression, preparing students for careers in art, design, music, and theatre.
Mathematics and Statistics (2%): This major develops analytical and problem-solving skills, preparing students for careers in finance, data science, and actuarial science.

These popular majors reflect current trends in the job market and the growing demand for professionals in fields such as technology, healthcare, and business.

Academic Programs and Offerings

Northeastern University offers a comprehensive range of degree programs, including:

Bachelor's
Master's
Post-master's certificate
Doctorate - professional practice
Doctorate - research/scholarship

This variety of degree options allows students to pursue their academic interests at different levels and tailor their education to their career goals.

Combined-Degree Programs

For students with interests spanning multiple disciplines, Northeastern offers combined-degree programs. These programs allow students to integrate knowledge and skills from two different fields, providing a unique and interdisciplinary educational experience. Examples of combined-degree programs include:

BA Political Sci/Intl Affairs
BS Business Admin/Comm Studies
BS Business Admin/Design
BS Business Admin/Psychology
BS Comp Sci/Business Admin
BS Comp Science/Biology
BS Comp Science/Mathematics
BS Computer Sci/Game Develop
BS Computer Science/Design
BS Computer Science/Economics
BS Computer Science/Media Arts
BS Data Science/Business Admin
BS Economics/Business Admin
BS Economics/Mathematics
BS Health Science/Bus. Admin.
BS Health Science/Psychology
BS Intl Affairs/Intl Business
BS Mathematics/Business Admin
BS Political Sci/Business Adm
BSBioE Bioengineering/Biochem
BSCE Civil Eng/Arch Studies
BSCHE Chem Eng/ Biochem
BSCMPE Computer Engr/Comp.

These combined majors provide students with a competitive edge in the job market by equipping them with a diverse set of skills and knowledge. When applying to Northeastern through the Common or Coalition Application, you may apply directly into any of the combined majors. If you are interested in a major combination not listed below, upon enrolling at Northeastern, we encourage you to speak with your academic advisor to explore what opportunities may be available for you to study both subjects. Though the academic experience in a combined major may occur across two colleges, upon graduation, one degree will be conferred by one academic college. Combined majors are listed below in alphabetical order, along with the names of the associated colleges. For example: Computer Science and Behavioral Neuroscience (Khoury, COS) is a degree program consisting of courses housed in the Khoury College of Computer Sciences and the College of Science. If a program lists only one college, that combined major will include courses from two distinct degree programs within the same college. A list of college names and acronyms are provided below.

Interdisciplinary Studies Major

If you're unsure about your path, Northeastern offers an Interdisciplinary Studies major. A first-year advising support program, Discover Oakland, is built into the major. Discover Oakland embraces the spirit of the Bay Area, combining technology, business, healthcare, and science.

Declaring a Major

Undergraduate students may declare their majors upon admission to Northeastern University or may elect to join programs for undeclared students before declaring a major. Students must declare a major no later than the end of the sophomore year. Students should declare a minor as early as possible and no later than the end of the junior year. Students must fulfill all requirements for the minor and major concurrently and may not extend their program of study to complete a minor. The student has a cumulative grade-point average of 2.000 or greater and satisfactorily completes the transition criteria as defined by the receiving major. Students who are considering a major change must discuss their change in person with an advisor in the receiving major. The advisor will certify that the student meets the criteria for immediate entry to the major or will set up a transition term for the student to satisfy the change-of-major criteria. Transition criteria are designed to help ensure that students who change major have a reasonable chance of academic success and program completion. Students wishing to join some majors must also audition or submit a portfolio, as indicated on the aforementioned webpage.

Double Majors

Students may earn a double major by gaining admission to the second major and by completing all requirements for both majors. Because some double majors will have a significant overlap in courses, all double-major proposals must be approved by the home college of each major in the proposed double major. Students completing a double major receive one degree and one diploma. The two majors appear on the transcript. A student may earn a second Northeastern bachelor’s degree after the conferral of a first Northeastern bachelor’s degree. Following the first degree conferral, a student may seek and be granted admission into a second bachelor’s degree program. All degree requirements for the second major that are not included on the student record for the first degree must be fulfilled. Outdated coursework may not be accepted. Students must earn a minimum of 32 semester hours beyond those earned toward the first degree. Students must complete an application with the home college of the intended degree. Some programs may require prerequisites prior to admission. Students should apply by the normal transfer deadline to ensure timely consideration. The college makes the determination on admission; notifies the student of this decision; and, if the student is admitted, provides the student with a program of study and reactivates the student’s record.

Combined Majors Explained

Students with academic interests spanning two disciplines may choose to pursue a combined major. A combined major is one major that includes at least nine courses from each of the two participating disciplines. No more than two courses may count for both disciplines, i.e., there must be at least 16 courses in the combined major. There are multiple points of curricular integration between the two disciplines. This includes courses acting as a bridge between the two majors being combined, experiential learning opportunities, research and creative opportunities, and more. See the online list of current combined majors. Students may request admission to a combined major by following the standard procedure for changing majors. A home college is designated, in which the student will be registered and from which they will be graduated. Most combined majors allow the student to choose the home college. Upon graduation, students receive one major, one degree, and one diploma.

Independent Majors

In the rare cases when students have academic interests that fall within the expertise of Northeastern faculty members and are not available in the large number of existing majors and combined majors, they may propose an independent major. Independent majors form a cohesive program focusing on some issue, theme, or subject area not available within the context of existing curricula. These programs should be equivalent in depth and coherence to existing majors. No student with less than a 3.250 GPA will be approved for an independent major. The proposal must be approved by the end of the first semester of the junior year. Proposals will not be considered before the end of the freshman year. The student assumes the initiative in formulating an independent major. High degrees of student initiative and self-reliance are also necessary for completion of this type of major. The student is responsible for securing the advice and approval of faculty mentors, at least one from each of the disciplines. These faculty mentors will help the student design the curriculum. The faculty mentors will guide the student’s academic progress through the major. If the disciplines partnering in the independent major are in different colleges, the college of the primary mentor will be designated as the home college, in which the student will be registered and from which the student will be graduated. The student will enroll in the Approved Independent Studies major. Students completing an independent major receive one degree and one diploma. Upon graduation, a comment will be added to the transcript to reflect the title indicated on the approved independent major proposal. A meeting of all faculty mentors and the student must be held before college approval of the major program. In accepting the proposal, the home college dean’s office certifies that the rules established for the independent major have been followed, and it assumes administrative responsibility by assigning an academic advisor to monitor the student’s progress and clear the student for graduation. Any changes in the curriculum must be approved by the primary faculty mentor, and the home college advisor must be informed.

PlusOne Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree Programs

Northeastern offers a number of PlusOne bachelor’s/master’s degree programs that allow students to accelerate the completion of the bachelor’s degree by applying graduate credits taken as an undergraduate toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. Generally, both degrees may be earned in one more year than is the normal time allotted for completion of the bachelor’s degree.

Minors and Concentrations

Minors offer an opportunity for students to complement their major with study in another area. A minor consists of a minimum of four courses (16 semester hours) defined by a department or an interdisciplinary program. In some cases, background courses are also required. Unless otherwise indicated, minors are generally open to all university students. The program of study for the major and minor cannot be the same where the courses for the minor are a subset of required courses in the major, e.g., a Bachelor of Science student with a biology major cannot enroll in the biology minor. Students are permitted to double count a maximum of 50% of the credits required for a minor from their major, transfer credit, or advanced standing credit. A concentration consists of a minimum of three courses (12 semester hours) within a program.

Experiential Learning

Northeastern University is known for its experiential learning model, which offers students countless opportunities to impact the world. This model integrates classroom learning with real-world experiences, such as co-ops, internships, and research projects.

Student Satisfaction and Retention

The average freshman retention rate at Northeastern University is 97%, indicating a high level of student satisfaction. This statistic reflects the university's commitment to providing a supportive and engaging learning environment for its students. The student-faculty ratio at Northeastern University is 15:1, and the school has 63.5% of its classes with fewer than 20 students.

Considerations for Transfer, Returning, and Military Students

Are you a transfer student, returning learner, or military student who’s completed some college courses? Northeastern's experiential learning model offers you countless opportunities to impact the world.

Oakland Campus Transition

We are excited to welcome admitted Northeastern students to our Oakland campus! Students who enroll at the Oakland campus for Fall 2025 may transition to the Boston campus, if they choose, after completing their first year in Oakland.

Determining the Right Major for You

Find Your Ideal Major, College or CareerDiscover the perfect major for you based on your innate wiring. The Innate Assessment sets you up for success by pairing you with majors, colleges and careers that fit your unique skills and abilities.

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