Overview
I chose the Northeastern explore program because coming into Northeastern, I knew I had interest in Behavioral Neuroscience and Economics, but had not experienced either subject at the collegiate level. Even before I arrived at Northeastern, I realized I would either have to create a combined major with the two or have one of these interests become a minor, but I had not yet decided which of those paths I would take. Taking classes within these fields my first semester would help me decide which major I wanted to pursue. The explore program allowed me to take classes in all the disciplines I found interesting. This semester I was able to take a psychology course, a sociology course, a biology course, and an economics course. I was only able to take such a wide variety of courses through the flexibility of the explore program which placed practically no limits on the classes I could take. From taking these classes, I realized I have a greater interest in Behavioral Neuroscience, but would still like to study Economics as a minor. I originally wanted a combined major, but as that is not feasible, I am settling with the major/minor combination. Through my Drugs and Society class, I realized I had an interest in psychoactive pharmaceuticals. This interest sparked a desire to have the option in my career path to practice psychiatry. However, in order to have this option open to me, I need to complete pre-med requirements. Thus for my Possible Path to Degree, I chose the Behavioral Neuroscience Major, a minor in Economics, honors distinction, and the premed requirements.
Planning your Possible Path to Degree
INSTRUCTIONS:In order to accurately complete this worksheet you will need to read the degree audit carefully. Your degree consists of 8 academic semesters = 32 courses = 128 credits. As you plan, keep in mind that more than 8 academic semesters means spending more time and money on your degree.
Major and NUpath requirements:
1. Pick a major to explore and run a degree audit for this major: _____Behavioral Neuroscience____
2. Count the number of remaining major requirements: _____13_______
This includes all requirements listed above NUpath in your degree audit.
3. Use the NUpath table below to check off the attributes that you have already satisfied.
ND
EI
IC
FQ
SI
AD
DD
ER
WF
WD
WI (1)
WI (2)
CE
EX
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Will double count in all majors
Fulfilled by co-op, etc.
4. Use the NUpath dashboard to determine if any of the remaining attributes will be satisfied by a requirement in your major of interest. Indicate this in the table above.
5. Count the number of attributes that remain. _____3_______
6. Add the totals from step 2 and 5 to determine the number of 4-credit courses needed to meet major and NUpath requirements: _____16_______
Remaining space for minor and/or general electives:
7. How many 4-credit courses have you registered for thus far (completed and pending courses)? _____8___
8. Add totals from steps 6 and 7: _______24_____
9. Subtract this number from 32. This number will give you an idea of how much flexibility you have to explore and/or take classes outside of your requirements for graduation. _____8_______
Possible Path to Degree Worksheet
Bring this form and your questions to your next Explore Program advising appointment. When you are ready to declare, you will need to confirm your degree requirements with your major advisor.
Planning for Co-op: How many co-ops would you like to complete? 3
When do you plan to go out on co-op? Spring/Summer 1
FALL
SPRING
SUMMER 1
SUMMER 2
Year 1:
2018-
2018
Drugs and Society
4
Molecular Biology and Genetics (HON)
5
Abnormal Psychology
4
Foundations of Psychology(HON)
4
Clinical Neuroanatomy
4
Biological Inquiries (HON)
4
Statistics
4
Personality
4
Microeconomic Theory
4
Biological Psychology
4
First Year Courses (HON)
3
Dialogue of Civ.
Credits:
19
Credits:
17
Credits:
Credits:
8
Year 2:
2019-
2020
Organic Chemistry 1(HON)
5
COOP
COOP
Interdisciplinary Seminar(HON)
4
Developmental Neurobiology
4
Advanced Econometrics
4
Credits:
17
Credits:
Credits:
Credits:
Year 3:
2020-
2021
Organic Chemistry 2
5
COOP
COOP
Writing in the Disciplines
4
Psychopharmacology
4
Neuropsychology
4
Physics in the Life Sciences 1
5
Contested Issues in the US Economy
4
Credits:
17
Credits:
Credits:
Credits:
9
Year 4:
2021-
2022
Biochemistry
5
COOP
COOP
Biology Capstone
4
Comparative Neurobiology
4
Cell and Molecular Neuroscience
4
Physics for the Life Sciences 2
5
American Economic History
4
Credits:
17
Credits:
Credits:
Credits:
9
Total credits:
113(Above) +32(Transfer) =
145
(At least 128 credits needed to graduate)
Degree Path Reflection
Creating the Possible Path to degree Worksheet ultimately allowed me to decide my major. In creating this plan, I strove for accuracy and efficiency. Every class I take at Northeastern costs my family money. Every semester I spend here, my parents are forced to pay for my housing. Thus to minimize the cost to my parents, I wanted to minimize the time spent here at Northeastern while maximizing the time spent on Co-Op, so I can start earning money to offset tuition. My question before starting this process was whether I could fit in 3 Co-Ops into four years while still being able to graduate with honors and accommodate my pre-med requirements and my economics minor. Thus, any time I could find a class that satisfied multiple requirements, I used it to my advantage. I additionally have a great amount of transfer credit from high school, which is partially what allows me to do this. Since I know that such a schedule would be tight, I wanted to plan out my entire time at Northeastern to ensure it could actually work. While I will need to take classes during the summer, I am able to fulfill all requirements (including NU Path) with my current plan.
The format of the Possible Path to Degree worksheet was much cleaner and more user-friendly than the honors Educational Vision Plan, so I was better able to visualize my time and notice potential issues. If not for the Possible Path to Degree worksheet, I would have never noticed that I needed the WD requirement, which is not included in the major courses. In choosing my classes, I started with the degree audit for Behavioral Neuroscience. Using this as a jumping off point, I used the Course Catalog for finding the required courses for both my major and minor.
Once I had the core classes decided, I used NU Path Dashboard to check that my current plan fulfilled NU path. I also met with the head of the Behavioral Neuroscience major to ask for a clarification about the ability to use Statistics as a substitute for Statistics in Psychological Research. I also spoke with my pre-med advisor and showed him my plan to confirm my plan incorporates all classes necessary for pre-med. The Possible Path to Degree worksheet forced me to plan out my future. While I was initially afraid to do such a thing, I feel much less stressed now that I know I will always register for courses that will help me towards graduation.
Sail Learning Dimensions
My first semester here has challenged me in ways I never expected. Since joining Northeastern, my most major obstacles have concerned the SAIL attribute of wellness. Near the beginning of the semester, I had a relationship with my roommate that negatively affected my happiness and mental health. It took over a month of paperwork and stress, but I was able to get a room change and optimize my emotional health. This in itself was learning experience, as I realized I needed to advocate for myself in order for meaningful change to occur. At one point in the room change process, it appeared there were no rooms that would take me. This was disheartening and I almost gave up hope for helping myself out of the damaging situation I was in. However, I kept emailing, kept seeking change, all while ensuring I kept my communications with everyone involved kind and professional. I persevered through my setbacks and disappointment in constructive way. After months of wading through bureaucracy with a professionally effective mindset, I finally found a roommate willing to take me, and I am in a much better place now.
Another challenge to well-being I faced during this semester was social isolation. As with most people entering a new place, I had trouble finding my niche. I had many acquaintances, but it was impossible to have the type of intimacy and comfort one has with a friend of many years. I felt lonely and sought out the comfort of my friends from high school. However, I realized that relying on my friends from high school was counterproductive to building that type of support network here at Northeastern. While I didn’t stop talking to my old friends, I started spending more time with the people I had met at Northeastern, asking them to eat with me, joining them in the residence common rooms, and exploring Boston with them. While I still don’t feel that I can be as open with my new friends as I was with my high school friends, I now feel that I have built meaningful relationships of at Northeastern that I can rely on.
Perhaps the event this semester that has had the most influence on my degree path, was actually the informational interview. My interview was with Dr. Hughes, a retired psychiatrist. My desire to interview him about his profession came from my enjoyment of the Drugs and Society Course I took this semester, and my subsequent fascination with the benefits and flaws of psychoactive medicine. Reflecting upon my new interest, I sought to learn more information about Psychiatry, the profession which specializes in it. I arranged to meet with Mr. Hughes and asked him about his occupation. His career path really inspired me because he was able to use his degree to do all sorts of different jobs within the field. The flexibility of Dr. Hughes’ career made me realize that Psychiatry could be a potential career path for me. This made me decide that I should do pre-med while at Northeastern so that I can at least have the option of going to medical school. This formative experience was only possible because I was willing to test my intellectual agility and take a class that was vastly different than anything I had taken in high school. Additionally, it was only due to my professional and personal effectiveness, as I had to communicate with him both by email and in person, that I was able to interview Dr. Hughes.
Growth in SAIL
I’ve mentioned my strengths within SAIL framework, but there are still many attributes I plan to improve on. Due to my intellectual agility (I took European History, World History, and comparative government and politics at the college level in high school) and my hobby of reading newspapers like the New Yorker, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal, I believe I am already somewhat aware of the wider world. However, I do not think one can be truly globally-minded until they have actually experienced a culture outside their own. This is why I plan to take the Abnormal Psych: The Intersection of Culture and Science Dialogue of Civilizations in London this summer. I think this dialogue will be really fascinating way to look at cultural differences between Europe and America through the lens of mental health treatment. I am certain this experience will provide me with a better understanding of the world and of myself.
The second part of the SAIL framework I want to improve on is my social consciousness and commitment. While I have done small things throughout this semester to help the surrounding community such as phone-banking for the “Yes on 3†proposition to protect trans rights and making blankets and meals for those in need, I have been facing so many personal challenges that I have not had time to dedicate myself to volunteering organization here in Boston. Next semester, I plan to volunteer at the VA Hospital or Mass. General Hospital, so I can provide care to those who desperately need it.
Conclusion
Even if I completely change my mind on my major by next semester, ultimately, I want to have a career where I help people. My core values are honesty and self-improvement, which is why I am attracted to a career in psychiatry. As I learned from my informational interview, the certification allows for career development which will allow me to grow personally. Dr. Hughes was never stuck in any one part of psychiatry and was even able to transition out of the profession and into teaching and curriculum design. In addition, the nature of the psychiatry itself requires someone who is honest and comfortable with hearing that same honesty in others. While this career path makes sense right now, I am certain there are other careers that match my values that I have yet to discover.
Whatever my future professional trajectory, I am focused on becoming the best version of myself, and I know making mistakes and facing challenges are opportunities to become better. This process of discovering my purpose in life is growth in itself. This assignment has given me the opportunity to contemplate my future, my values, and the connection between them. Reflecting on my experiences this semester has allowed to be become more confident in my degree path. Using the SAIL framework and the vast opportunities available to me at Northeastern, I know I will be ready for the future.