BU Hub

Contact

For contact information, please visit the BU Hub website.

Boston University’s General Education Program

The BU Hub, Boston University’s general education program, establishes a common educational experience for all BU undergraduates. It offers them the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, and habits of mind 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, and are interwoven throughout a student’s undergraduate education.

In addition, the Hub offers innovative educational opportunities to students, including its optional signature learning experience, the Cross-College Challenge (XCC), and Hub cocurricular experiences.

Hundreds of courses carry Hub units, and they are offered in all of the undergraduate schools and colleges at BU. In addition, there are two types of Hub experiences that carry Hub units and have “HUB” as the college code. HUB XC 433 (the Cross-College Challenge) is a 4-credit, project-based course open to juniors and seniors. “HUB CC” offerings (e.g., HUB CC 101) are 0-credit cocurricular learning experiences that carry Hub units.

Requirements

All students who matriculate as freshmen in 2018/2019 share the same BU Hub requirements, regardless of their program of study. Students who enter BU as freshmen must earn 26 Hub units, spread across 6 Capacities. 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 see more about the specific requirements within each Capacity, click here.

The minimum requirements are listed below. However, most students will earn many more than the minimum number of units, especially in areas central to their major field of study.

Philosophical, Aesthetic, and Historical Interpretation

  • Philosophical Inquiry and Life’s Meanings (1 unit)
  • Aesthetic Exploration (1 unit)
  • Historical Consciousness (1 unit)

Scientific and Social Inquiry

  • Scientific Inquiry I (1 unit)
  • Social Inquiry I (1 unit)
  • Scientific Inquiry II OR Social Inquiry II (1 unit)

Quantitative Reasoning

  • Quantitative Reasoning I (1 unit)
  • Quantitative Reasoning II (1 unit)

Diversity, Civic Engagement, and Global Citizenship

  • The Individual in Community (1 unit)
  • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy (2 units)
  • Ethical Reasoning (1 unit)

Communication

  • First-Year Writing Seminar (1 unit)
  • Writing, Research, and Inquiry (1 unit)
  • Writing-Intensive Course (2 units)
  • Oral and/or Signed Communication (1 unit)
  • Digital/Multimedia Expression (1 unit)

Intellectual Toolkit

  • Critical Thinking (2 units)
  • Research and Information Literacy (2 units)
  • Teamwork/Collaboration (2 units)
  • Creativity/Innovation (2 units)

In addition to these requirements, students are encouraged to pursue opportunities on campus to develop Life Skills.