FAQs
⊕ This program sounds great! How do I apply?
- If you are applying to Boston University for Fall admission, you can apply to BU URBAN after you’ve submitted your application to BU. We provide equal opportunity for all applicants, and we encourage individuals from groups underrepresented in STEM to apply, especially those who have attended Historically Black Colleges and Universities; Tribal Colleges and Universities; and Hispanic Serving Institutions. If you are a current student at Boston University, applications to join our Fall cohort will open in the Spring and will be due in May.
⊕ Do I have to pursue a Ph.D. to participate in this program?
- Starting in Fall 2025, BU URBAN will be piloting a master’s level version of our program. We encourage Master’s and Ph.D. students to apply! You need to be pursing a graduate degree at Boston University to qualify for the BU URBAN program.
⊕ Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to apply to the program?
- No, you do not have to be a U.S. citizen to be a BU URBAN trainee.
⊕ Which courses count towards my BU URBAN requirements?
- The course requirements are listed here. Ph.D. students take one Biogeoscience course (4 credits), one Environmental Health course (4 credits), one statistics course (4 credits), and the core Colloquium course (2 credits). Students are also required to enroll in CDS DS 795, Urban Biogeoscience and Environmental Health: From Research to Policy, in order to receive credit for the required internship. Master’s students who choose the URBAN Coursework Track can also select their courses from the course requirements list.
⊕ What other requirements do I need to fulfill as a BU URBAN trainee?
- As part of the BU URBAN traineeship you will participate in workshops that foster your career development and skills in science communication. All Ph.D. students and those master’s students who choose the URBAN Internship Track will also participate in an internship where you will work with government, non-governmental organization (NGO), or the private sector to tackle an urban environmental challenge in collaboration with your host organization. Ph.D. students’ research will be guided by an interdisciplinary faculty committee that has at least one member from Biogeoscience and Environmental Health. Check the program requirements page for more information.
⊕ I’ve taken a course in Biogeoscience/Environmental Health/Statistics that is not listed in the course requirements, but I think it supports my BU URBAN themed training. Can I make my course count towards my requirements?
- We carefully created a suite of required courses that provide a broad background in urban Biogeoscience and Environmental Health. If you think that a non-BU URBAN listed course you have taken should count towards your requirements, please follow the instructions on our Course Petitions page. Please be aware that filling out this petition does not guarantee approval.
⊕ How will I find my internship host and what are the requirements for completing my internship?
- To establish an internship or discuss internship options, contact Emily Walton (Program Manager, urban@bu.edu) or Pamela Templer (Program Director, ptempler@bu.edu), so you can find an appropriate organization to work with. You’ll also enroll in CDS DS 795 “Urban Biogeoscience and Environmental Health: From Research to Policy”, during the semester that you are participating in the internship to earn credit for the internship and to benefit from additional professional development. To complete the internship, you will spend a minimum of 80 hours with the internship organization.
⊕ Does BU URBAN provide salary support?
- Only BU URBAN Ph.D. Trainees are eligible to apply for an URBAN non-service stipend that includes basic BU health insurance, tuition and fees. These stipends are competitive awards, and not all students who apply will receive stipend support for any given semester. However, we encourage all Ph.D. students (and/or their advisors) to apply for URBAN non-service stipends. Stipends are paid on the 4th Wednesday of each month are not subject to tax withholding by BU. It is your responsibility to report it accurately to the IRS and make payments on the taxable portion of your award.
⊕ What do I do if I have questions about BU URBAN?
- We encourage you to reach out to Program Manager Emily Walton (urban@bu.edu) or Director Pamela Templer (ptempler@bu.edu). We are here to help!