Why GSP?
At the General Studies Program (GSP), we focus on you and your success. The GSP is a one-year, full-time academic program for selected Northeastern first-year students who excel in small, structured, rigorous learning environments. The purpose of the curriculum is two-fold: to fulfill general first-year requirements and to ensure students' readiness for success in upperclass study. In addition to fulfilling first-year requirements, two seminars focus on critical analysis and learning strategies.
GS students fulfill requirements in their chosen field of study. And, because they participate fully in university programs and activities, they enjoy all the benefits and resources available at Northeastern. In addition, GSP students have access to various unique features, including the following:
- Core community, with an approximate total of 180 students
- Critical analysis seminars
- Frequent advising
- Nationally certified peer tutoring
In the General Studies Program, you're part of a community dedicated to success. You are among first-year students who come from diverse academic, ethnic, and geographic backgrounds. GSP faculty and staff also have diverse backgrounds, but share common training and focus on first-year college learning.
General Studies selects and carefully evaluates its faculty for their ability to teach and advise first-year students. They are devoted to teaching and available to you both inside and outside the classroom. They get to know you well. General Studies courses are never run by graduate assistants or student aides.
Each GSP faculty member works closely with you and your other instructors to monitor your progress and help you turn any academic weaknesses into strengths. Your "Strategic Thinking and Learning" (GENS 1101 & 1102) instructor is also your academic advisor, who sees you each week in class and meets with you frequently outside of class. GSP advisors and instructors meet regularly to discuss your progress.
GSP operates under the Learning Community model, through which all your instructors sit down together each semester to talk about your performance, your areas of strength and weakness, and ways to help you improve. GSP instructors let you know how you're doing!
That kind of access extends to our Associate Director who is willing to answer your questions about scheduling, registration or other issues and to help in any possible way.
Students also help and encourage each other. Some, who are especially skilled in the course material, serve as peer-tutors-in-training, providing assistance to individuals and small groups of students. The majority of peer tutors, however, have completed their extensive mandated training. They are upperclass Northeastern students who all were once General Studies freshmen and want you to have as positive an experience as they did. For more information, visit the peer tutoring page.
Aside from its nationally certified peer tutoring program, the GSP is structured to encourage its students to form their own study groups. The GSP groups students together by their intended major (the "Learning Community model"), and more often than not, such groups form study sessions to help each other with course material. Combine this support with your own effort and skills, and you have all the ingredients for success.