Master’s Program Requirements
Master’s students within the Boston University Graduate Program in Urban Biogeoscience and Environmental Health must be enrolled in an associated degree-granting graduate program (such as Biology, Earth & Environment, Environmental Health, Mathematics & Statistics, Computing & Data Science, etc). All master’s students will participate in URBAN workshops focused on science communication, urban governance, and professional development. These workshops provide the opportunities to develop key skills and to engage with other graduate students across the university.
In addition, BU URBAN master’s students can choose between the URBAN Coursework Track and the URBAN Internship Track, depending on their professional interests and programmatic constraints. Details about each track are outlined below.
URBAN Master’s Coursework Track
- Introductory Workshop for new trainees
- Urban Governance Series
- Science Communication
- Professional Development
- Annual Symposium
Interdisciplinary coursework requirements:
- One course in Biogeoscience (4 credits)
- One course in Environmental Health (4 credits)
- One course in Statistics or Data Analytics (4 credits)
Master’s students in the URBAN Coursework Track take 12 credits of interdisciplinary coursework across Biogeoscience, Environmental Health, and Statistics. This will typically include classes students are already taking as part of their master’s program and some classes that would fit as electives. Selection of the specific courses that would best fit your program and professional aspirations would be supported by your advisor and the URBAN Program Manager, with the goal to help to you better understand urban environmental challenges from a range of perspectives and skillsets.
URBAN Master’s Internship Track
- Introductory Workshop for new trainees
- Urban Governance Series
- Science Communication
- Professional Development
- Annual Symposium
Internship
Master’s students in the URBAN Internship Track co-develop an internship project with a city government office, NGO, and/or the private sector. The internship timing and structure vary across degree programs, and can be used to fulfill related degree requirements (e.g., the MPH practicum). Trainees also enroll in a companion course (CDS DS 795) for 0-4 credits. The URBAN Program Manager can work with trainees to connect with internship partners and support the development of an appropriate project. Additionally, the Program Manager can help trainees determine how to fit the internship within their degree progression and timeline. The goals for trainees are to learn how policies are made and to develop collaborations with partner organizations that are focused on local, “real-world” environmental problems that have environmental policy implications.
If you have any questions about either track and how they might fit into your graduate coursework, please connect with the Program Manager Emily Walton (urban@bu.edu).
Optional Opportunities
URBAN master’s trainees are welcome to take the Fall URBAN Colloquium (CAS BI/EE 764 or SPH EH 799: Colloquium in Urban Biogeoscience and Environmental Health) to gain exposure to the varied climate research occurring across the university through rotating faculty guest lectures. Please reach out to urban@bu.edu if interested.
There are additional social events and group check-ins each semester that, while not required, are open to all members of the URBAN community and help connect trainees to each other and to faculty and staff across campus(es).