BU Arts & Sciences prepares students for any future that they choose. Our students learn to engage with complicated issues and different perspectives, to ask tough questions, to gather and analyze evidence, to make persuasive arguments, to put facts and figures in context, and to master a subject or subjects while honing critical thinking and analytical skills. Here are some spaces where our students, alumni, and faculty are taking arts and sciences into action.

A Road Map to CAS
“This new initiative will allow them to see the connection between their learning and real-world experiences, preparing them to be adaptable, resilient, and ready to succeed.” –Steve Jarvi, associate dean for student academic life.

Connecting students with chances to learn outside the classroom
“First-year students do not need to know what they want to major in before joining the program. The whole point is that exploration—of all kinds—is encouraged, and we want first-year students to feel supported as they try new things and follow their passions.” –Erin Salius, director, Experiential Learning Connector

Solving Real-World Environmental Problems
“As a non-profit we are limited in our time and resources to dive into the many topics and socio-environmental issues happening in our watershed. This partnership and the work the students are doing has jump-started CRWA’s efforts in looking into the impacts and mitigation strategies for urban heat islands.” –Dira Johanif on the Metrobridge partnership between BU and the Charles River Watershed Association , Project Partner at CRWA

Studying History at its Roots
“They teach themselves, that’s the experiential learning. You can’t get this in a classroom…That’s what the founders would have wanted, it’s a different kind of education.” –Deborah Kahn, Associate Professor of Medieval Art, on her course exploring Mount Auburn Cemetery

Revolutionizing American Sign Language Tools
“It has been a real revelation to me personally to come to understand the profound analogies between spoken and signed languages, despite some modality-specific differences. It’s been fun. It’s been a real discovery.” –Carol Neidle, Professor of Linguistics