BU Hub Learn More - Creativity/Innovation
- Oral and/or Signed Communication
- Research and Information Literacy
- Teamwork/Collaboration
Are you looking to take on a real-world challenge, build your collaboration, leadership, and communication skills? Would you like to work with fellow students from across BU and with a community partner on an interesting and engaging project? Then the Cross-College Challenge (XCC) is for you! This particular course will focus on oral/signed communication within the communication Hub area. Each semester there are exciting new courses offered in areas such as social equity, data science, sustainability, public health, and more. XCC courses are open to juniors and seniors from all schools and colleges at BU. For specific course offerings visit: bu.edu/xcc. Create-Communicate-Collaborate. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Teamwork/Collaboration, Creativity/Innovation, Oral and/or Signed Communication, Research and Information Literacy.
FALL 2024 Schedule
| Section |
Instructor |
Location |
Schedule |
Notes |
| A1 |
Shuckra |
PSY B35 |
W 2:30 pm-5:15 pm |
Project: Cross-Cultural Storytelling
This Cross-College Challenge (XCC) course provides students with the opportunity to study and practice social cross-cultural research methodologies with the Spirit of Wonder project, including designing qualitative research questions, connecting, and engaging with targeted populations, and conducting Spirit of Wonder’s storytelling interviews, and to work collaboratively to present their findings in written and visual formats. Students receive the tools they need to interview candidates, analyze their stories, and develop narratives, and work as a team to make presentations on various themes. Cross-College Challenge courses offer a unique project-based learning experience in which interdisciplinary student teams tackle real-world problems in collaboration with community partners. |
FALL 2024 Schedule
| Section |
Instructor |
Location |
Schedule |
Notes |
| B1 |
Genovese |
PSY B35 |
M 2:30 pm-5:15 pm |
Project: Environmental Equity & Urban Tree Canopies
This course explores the critical role of urban tree canopies in mitigating the urban heat island effect, which can result in city temperatures being 20-50 degrees warmer than their rural counterparts. With Boston ranked sixth in “heat intensity” among U.S. cities, the course underscores the disproportionate impact on lower-income, older, and chronically ill populations. Through understanding the benefits of trees in sequestering carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, alongside their aesthetic value, students will engage with the concept of environmental equity. The curriculum involves learning about the socio-cultural aspects of urban tree canopies, conducting surveys, interviews, and research to gather data on tree health and canopy coverage, and developing actionable recommendations to enhance urban tree cover. |
FALL 2024 Schedule
| Section |
Instructor |
Location |
Schedule |
Notes |
| C1 |
Hibbard |
HAR 326 |
F 11:15 am-2:00 pm |
Project: Marketing & Equity in the Cannabis Industry
In this Cross-College Challenge (XCC) course, student teams will work with the leadership of cannabis industry organizations in Massachusetts as they seek to promote entrepreneurial interests among social equity applicants. Teams will design and develop marketing plans, materials, and other wrap around services, for approved applicants. As part of this course, XCC student teams will conduct market research, develop strategies, and offer creative solutions around what those clients can do to generate awareness and market for those new businesses. Cross-College Challenge courses offer a unique project-based learning experience in which interdisciplinary student teams tackle real-world problems in collaboration with community partners. |
FALL 2024 Schedule
| Section |
Instructor |
Location |
Schedule |
Notes |
| D1 |
Sarid |
CDS B64 |
R 3:30 pm-6:15 pm |
Project: The Art and Science of Technology Consulting
An increasing number of BU graduates are taking roles as technology consultants, and this experiential course will prepare you for a career in technology consulting. This course introduces practical concepts of consulting using an experiential project which is developed and implemented in collaboration with course faculty, and mentors from Innovate@BU. Each inter-disciplinary student team will act as a consulting firm, that understands and solves a given customer problem and proposes a solution and creates a detailed Requirement Specification for the customer. |
SPRG 2025 Schedule
| Section |
Instructor |
Location |
Schedule |
Notes |
| A1 |
Preston |
NO ROOM |
T 12:30 pm-3:15 pm |
Project: Border Studies Program/Projects: A Cross-College Challenge at the US-Mexico Border
Why is the US-Mexico border so crucial to the national imaginary and political scene? How can we at Boston University make sense of challenges at the border and design projects that address them? The “Southern Border” is regularly cited as a “crisis” in the popular press, and border security and immigration policy are furiously debated but rarely changed. Each of the two main political parties in the US uses the border to advance its agenda, and activists sling slogans like “secure our borders,” “build the wall,” and “fight ignorance not immigrants.” US policies and practices at the border may contribute to human suffering, the rise of political extremism and bigoted nationalisms, and racial and class-based inequities. At the same time, border communities are unique and vibrant cultures, full of possibility, creativity, and hope for the future.
“Border Studies: A Cross-College Challenge at the US-Mexico Border” provides an expansive, interdisciplinary introduction to the US border regime. Migrants and asylum seekers are supported by networks of nonprofit organizations that intersect with state and federal agencies. Students will have an opportunity to meet with service providers and practitioners during a weeklong trip to the Rio Grande Valley. After learning about their work, experiences, and challenges firsthand, students will develop projects to address a problem they identify with our partner, Rio Valley Relief Project.
Course will meet in the CFD Seminar room, Center on Forced Displacement, Suite 121, 111 Cummington Mall.
Interested students should schedule a conversation about the course by writing to cfd@bu.edu. |
SPRG 2025 Schedule
| Section |
Instructor |
Location |
Schedule |
Notes |
| B1 |
Kleiman |
CAS 116 |
T 12:30 pm-3:15 pm |
From Concept to Cart (C2C) : Starting a Consumer Products Business
In this hands-on entrepreneurship course, students will learn about the building blocks that form a successful consumer products company. They will gain practical experience by conceiving and pitching a new consumer product. As the course goes on, they will continue to work on their projects using class insights and assignments to apply to their ventures in real-time. While many factors are similar to other entrepreneurial ventures, consumer products companies have some distinctive elements and functions that are key to success in creating a physical product. Students will learn to think holistically about all those success factors and gain exposure to real-life examples of entrepreneurs and their actions in building consumer product companies.
The course is divided into three phases. Phase One will take students into the mindset of a person who wants to start a consumer product company. The second phase of the course will focus on exposing students to the wide range of competencies required in a consumer products company. Learning will be complemented by guest speakers with deep industry and market expertise relative to the topics presented in class, as well as case studies, multimedia assignments and group work. Students will be challenged to apply the topics discussed to their product ideas, their peers’ ideas, and real business cases. The final phase involves student presentations sharing the progress of their product development, their new venture (if they plan to pursue one), and the next steps to the “Board of Advisors.” The class and invited guests will serve as the Board for these presentations and determine “Go, No-Go” decisions related to the request for funding and other support measures presented by the business. This class is open to all majors and anyone interested in learning about new product development and innovation.
*Note: Students do not need to have a new product idea to take the class, but they will need to join a team pursuing a project in the class to get the most from the experiential nature of the course. |
SPRG 2025 Schedule
| Section |
Instructor |
Location |
Schedule |
Notes |
| D1 |
Meusel |
KCB 103 |
R 12:30 pm-3:15 pm |
Project: The Art and Science of Technology Consulting
The world is turning digital and the demand for technology consulting continues to grow as it enables this rapid transformation. An increasing number of BU graduates are taking roles as technology consultants, and this experiential course will prepare you for a career in technology consulting. It will allow students to understand the role and help prepare them to successfully interview for a technology consultant position upon graduation. Specifically, you will learn to convert customer problems into requirements; innovate with multiple solution options; and use data and analytics to inform recommendations. Even if you decide not to be a consultant, these are the skills that every company would love to see in employees.
This course introduces practical concepts of consulting using an experiential project which is developed and implemented in collaboration with course faculty, and mentors from Innovate@BU. Each inter-disciplinary student team will act as a consulting firm, that understands and solves a given customer problem and proposes a solution and creates a detailed Requirement Specification for the customer. |
Note: this course was also offered during Summer Term
Note that this information may change at any time. Please visit the MyBU Student Portal for the most up-to-date course information.
