Last year marked a new academic era for the University when we launched the BU Hub, our University-wide undergraduate general education curriculum. Entering freshmen from the Class of 2022 were the first to embark on this new four-year academic program.
The BU Hub was created to ready students for an increasingly complex and interconnected world. It ensures that all undergraduates, regardless of major, are exposed to a broad range of knowledge and disciplines and given the tools to apply their learning and skills in diverse settings. In short, to position our graduates for success no matter what life throws at them.
To that end, students will develop six essential capacities: Philosophical, Aesthetic, and Historical Interpretation; Scientific and Social Inquiry; Quantitative Reasoning; Diversity, Civic Engagement, and Global Citizenship; Communication; and the Intellectual Toolkit, which includes skills such as Critical Thinking, Teamwork/Collaboration, and Research and Information Literacy.
For their part, our faculty have spent the past two years redesigning existing courses and developing new ones that incorporate this new approach. Some of the offerings on tap: The Graphic Novel; Human Infectious Diseases: AIDS to Tuberculosis; History of Boston: Community and Conflict; Project Citizen: Promoting Civic Engagement.
“One thing I really like about the Hub is that it allows you to explore a variety of academic interests before committing to your major,” says Xi Zhang (CAS’22). “It’s been a great opportunity to expand my knowledge in different fields.”