New Student Faqs

What about housing?
There isn't much housing on campus set aside for graduate students. To apply for graduate housing on campus, visit the Residential Life website. There are many rental units available in the immediate neighborhood, and in the Boston area in general. Start your search at Northeastern's Off-Campus Housing website. There also are private agencies which will help you with your search. If you don't plan to bring a car (or even if you do), be sure to look for housing near MBTA subway or commuter rail stations. Be aware that rentals in Boston are anything but cheap.

When do classes start?
Classes start the beginning of September, depending on the exact date of the Labor Day holiday. This year they begin on September 9.

When should I arrive on campus?
All students should arrive the week before classes begin. There is a variety of orientation events that new students are expected to attend. International students in particular have a number of mandatory events; please be sure to arrive in enough time to attend them all.

How do I find out about the events and meetings that I should attend before classes begin?
A list of these events will soon be posted on our website's News & Events page. You will also receive information from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences about events that are university-wide.

Who will be my advisor?
Both new M.A. and Ph.D. students have Professor Wassall, the Graduate Coordinator, as their advisor. Professor Wassall remains the advisor for Master's students throughout their program. Doctoral students should switch to their dissertation chair as their advisor when their dissertation committee is formed.

How do I choose courses?
Feel free to contact the Graduate Coordinator if you have questions about your course choices. However, for most new students, the process of choosing courses is simple and painless. For new students, choosing courses involves following the advice for first-year students found in Navigating Your Way Through the MA Program or Navigating Your Way Through the PhD Program. Students entering the doctoral program with prior graduate credit toward the degree should consult the Graduate Coordinator. If you have a question about your eligibility for any elective course, please contact the instructor or the Graduate Coordinator.

How many courses should I enroll in?
The University defines a full-time load for graduate students as eight semester hours per semester. Virtually all our courses are four credits, so taking at least two makes you full time. Most graduate students take three courses per semester. Some may take four or two in a given semester. Our Teaching Assistants are required to enroll in three courses per semester. Those with a Graduate Student Scholarship receive free tuition for up to two courses per semester. International students are required to maintain full-time enrollment (i.e., take at least two courses per semester) throughout the program. Obviously, the more courses you take each semester, the sooner you graduate, all else equal.

How do I register for courses?
Domestic students can register on line after fall graduate registration becomes available--the latest estimate is mid-July. International students cannot register for classes until they complete a clearance process the week before classes begin.

What transportation is there available to reach Northeastern?
Northeastern is located in the heart of Boston. If you are coming from a long distance, you can travel by plane to Logan Airport. From the airport you can take a taxi to Northeastern. If you are traveling light, you can take the Blue Line subway to State Street, where you change to the Orange line and get off at Ruggles. Both the Orange (Ruggles stop) and Green lines (Northeastern stop) serve Northeastern. You can also travel to Boston by train. Amtrak's Boston-New-York-Washington service stops at Back Bay Station. From Back Bay, you can then transfer to the Orange Line and travel two stops to Ruggles. There are also several Washington-New York-Boston bus lines, some of which are very cheap, which drop you off in various locations in Boston, none far from Northeastern. There are many ways to reach Northeastern by automobile. Visit the University's website for campus maps. If you use GPS, enter 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston as your destination.

What do I do after I arrive?
After you arrive, visit the Department of Economics, whose main office is located at 301 Lake Hall. The Graduate Studies office is 304 Lake Hall. The Economics Department faculty and instructor offices, seminar rooms and other facilities are found on the third floor of Lake and Holmes Halls. These two "Halls" are simply parts of the same building, which has four different names depending on which part you are in. Also, if you are new to Boston, take some time to locate and enjoy the multitude of cultural and recreational opportunities in the area, some of which are within walking distance of Northeastern.

Whom should I get to know?
All of us, hopefully. You will find your graduate student colleagues friendly and helpful. Faculty and staff you should get to know include Professor Morrison, the department chair, Professor Wassall, the graduate coordinator, Norma Soto, the student services secretary, and Cheryl Fonville, the department's administrative assistant. You should also acquaint yourself with the faculty who will be teaching your first-semester courses. To assist you in this process, there will be a social event just before classes begin, and another one about a week after classes begin.

I'm a new teaching assistant. How do I find my assignment and how do I start?
You will be notified of your assignment and faculty supervisor about a month before the fall semester begins. The assignment typically involves working for a faculty member in the department or tutoring in our Principles of Economics Workshop. You should meet with your faculty supervisor as early as possible during the first week of classes.

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