{"id":66,"date":"2009-07-21T15:03:36","date_gmt":"2009-07-21T19:03:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/housing\/residences\/stuv\/specialty\/"},"modified":"2026-07-02T16:18:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T20:18:18","slug":"specialty","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/housing\/undergrad-housing\/specialty\/","title":{"rendered":"Living-Learning &#038; Specialty Communities"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>At BU, we offer more than just a comfortable place to lay your head, study, and eat. We provide housing that nourishes the mind, and spirit, by connecting students through academic or extracurricular passions.<\/p>\n<p>There are two types of shared-interest communities on campus: Living-Learning and Specialty. The key difference is the former is connected with academic credit and the latter is not.<\/p>\n<h3>Living-Learning Communities (LLC)<strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>These faculty-guided communities focus on experiential learning and discovery beyond the classroom. They offer opportunities for interdisciplinary and interprofessional collaboration with students and faculty from across disciplines, direct advising and mentoring, and interactions that promote intellectual development and foster community learning.<\/p>\n<p>Some examples of BU\u2019s LLCs include Earth House, focusing on sustainability and environmental issues, and Global House, centered around foreign language proficiency. Kilachand Honors College also offers an LLC, and another is built around the Core Curriculum.<\/p>\n<h3>Specialty Communities<\/h3>\n<p>Specialty community houses, and floors in dormitories large and small, are accommodations in which students with similar interests live, study, and socialize. They are created and sustained by students with the support of faculty and staff and provide unique living environments based on mutual intellectual, cultural, and social affinities. The specialty houses on campus are centered around such interests as educational interests, community service, and music, to name a few.<\/p>\n<p>Specialty community residences are designed to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Encourage the in-depth exploration of academic disciplines and\/or special interests.<\/li>\n<li>Promote group participation in University programs and events.<\/li>\n<li>Facilitate the development of mutually respectful relationships within the community.<\/li>\n<li>Provide safe forums in which to freely share personal perspectives.<\/li>\n<li>Offer access to a resident assistant whose interests, qualifications, and training help effectively guide and assist community members.<\/li>\n<li>Provide residents, in most cases, access to an involved faculty advisor who is able to answer course- and career-related questions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>For more information about living-learning and specialty communities, please contact Residence Life at 617-353-4380, or visit any residence office.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Click here to apply: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/reslife\/resources-for-students\/specialty-communities\/\">Learn more about Living-Learning and Specialty Communities<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>How to Apply<\/h3>\n<h4><strong>Freshmen and Transfers<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Can indicate their interest in up to three Living-Learning Communities or Specialty Communities on their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/housing\/assignments\/application-tutorials\/\">New Student Housing Application<\/a>; no further application or approval is required.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Continuing Students<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Must complete an application and be approved to live in Living-Learning Communities or Specialty Communities. Current students must receive approval before they can select the residence during room selection in the spring or change rooms (through a direct swap or room change offer). This application process is administered by Residence Life.<\/p>\n<p>Instructions for how to apply to live in a Living-Learning Communities or Specialty Communities, as well as the application itself, can be found on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/reslife\/resources-for-students\/specialty-communities\/\">Living-Learning and Specialty Community Residences website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>There are specific times each year when students are encouraged to apply for\u00a0Living-Learning Communities or Specialty Communities (e.g., prior to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/housing\/assignments\/continuing-student\/\">Room Selection<\/a> process). However, students may submit an application at any time.<\/p>\n<h3>Living-Learning and Specialty Communities Requirements<\/h3>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"color: #006699;\"><strong>Living-Learning Communities<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"color: #006699;\" align=\"center\"><strong>Requirements<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;\"><strong>Core Curriculum House<em><br \/>\n<\/em><\/strong><em>141 Carlton Street<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>Enrollment in the College of Arts and Sciences <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/core\/\">Core Curriculum Program<\/a>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;\"><strong>Core Curriculum Floor<em><br \/>\n<\/em><\/strong><em>Warren 8 C<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>Enrollment in the College of Arts and Sciences <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/core\/\">Core Curriculum Program<\/a>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td id=\"earth-house\">\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;\"><strong>Earth House<br \/>\n<\/strong><em>7 Buswell Street<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td><span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">Strong interest in the environment, energy, and\/or climate change issues; participation in sustainability initiatives on campus; involvement in activities to reduce one&#8217;s environmental footprint<\/span>. For more information click <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sustainability\/what-you-can-do\/green-teams\/earth-house\">here<\/a>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td id=\"global-house\">\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;\"><strong>Global House<br \/>\n<\/strong><em>610 Beacon Street, 4th Floor<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>Proficient in a language at the second-semester level or above. For more information click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cas\/academics\/undergraduate-education\/special-academic-opportunities\/language-learning-at-cas\/bu-global-house\/\">here<\/a>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td id=\"kilachand-honors-college-house\"><strong>Kilachand Honors College House<br \/>\n<\/strong><em>117 Bay State Road<\/em><\/td>\n<td>All students in good standing in the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/khc\/\">Kilachand Honors College\u00a0<\/a>are eligible to live in the Kilachand Honors College House. No application necessary.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td id=\"kilachand-honors-college-floors\"><strong>Kilachand Honors College &#8211; Floors<\/strong><\/p>\n<div>Kilachand Hall 2, 3, 4, 5, &amp; 6<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>Enrollment in the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/khc\/\">Kilachand Honors College<\/a>. No application necessary.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Lavender House<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>165 Bay State Road<\/em><\/td>\n<td>Find out more information <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/lgbtqia-student-center\/programs\/lavender-house\/\">here<\/a>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Trustee Scholars House<br \/>\n<\/strong><em>200 Bay State Road <\/em><\/td>\n<td>Enrollment in the Trustee Scholars Program.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"color: #006699;\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"color: #006699;\" align=\"center\"><strong><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"color: #006699;\"><strong>Specialty Communities<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"color: #006699;\" align=\"center\"><strong>Requirements<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td id=\"classics-house\">\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0;\"><strong>Classics House<br \/>\n<\/strong><em>176 Bay State Road<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>A major or minor in classical studies, Greek, Latin, Modern Greek, or archaeology.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td id=\"college-of-communication-floor\"><strong>College of Communication Floor<\/strong><em><br \/>\nWarren C 11 <\/em><\/td>\n<td>Enrollment in the College of Communication.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td id=\"college-of-fine-arts-floors\"><strong>College of Fine Arts Floor<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>Claflin 9<\/em><\/td>\n<td>Enrollment in the College of Fine Arts.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td id=\"college-of-general-studies-house\"><strong>College of General Studies House<br \/>\n<\/strong><em>166-168 Bay State Road<\/em><\/td>\n<td>Enrollment in the College of General Studies (juniors and seniors who are selected to reside in the House will act as mentors to the underclassmen and will be expected to participate in House activities).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td id=\"common-ground-house\">\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0;\"><strong>Common Ground House<\/strong>\u00a0<em><br \/>\n158-160 Bay State Road<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>Martin Luther King Scholar, Howard Thurman Center Ambassador, or demonstrated commitment to the Howard Thurman legacy by attendance at Common Ground Orientation or other programs sponsored by the Howard Thurman Center.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td id=\"community-service-house\"><strong>Community Service House<\/strong>\u00a0<em><br \/>\n31 Buswell Street<\/em><\/td>\n<td>Involvement in local community service organizations and projects; participation in FYSOP or the Community Service Center strongly preferred.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td id=\"education-house\"><strong>Education House<\/strong>\u00a0<em><br \/>\n179 Bay State Road<\/em><\/td>\n<td>Open to any undergraduate student enrolled in the Wheelock College of Education and Human Development.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td id=\"engineering-house\">\n<div style=\"margin-top: 0;\"><strong>Engineering House<br \/>\n<\/strong><em>1 Buswell Street<br \/>\n<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>Enrollment in the College of Engineering.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td id=\"engineering-floors\"><strong>Engineering Floors<\/strong>\u00a0<em><br \/>\nWarren C 12, Towers 4W<\/em><\/td>\n<td>Enrollment in the College of Engineering.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td id=\"limited-parietal-house\"><strong>Limited Parietal House<\/strong>\u00a0<em><br \/>\n157 Bay State Road<\/em><\/td>\n<td>For female students who prefer more restricted visiting hours (no Specialty Residence application required).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td id=\"management-house\"><strong>Management House<\/strong>\u00a0<em><br \/>\n161<\/em> <em>Bay State Road<\/em><\/td>\n<td>Enrollment in the Questrom School of Business.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td id=\"management-floors\"><strong>Management Floors<\/strong><em><br \/>\nTowers 8W, 9W<\/em><\/td>\n<td>Enrollment in the Questrom School of Business.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td id=\"music-house\"><strong>Music House<\/strong>\u00a0<em><br \/>\n207 Bay State Road<\/em><\/td>\n<td>A major or minor in music or the ability to demonstrate an active interest in music.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td id=\"sargent-college-house\"><strong>Sargent College House<\/strong><em><br \/>\n205 Bay State Road<\/em><\/td>\n<td>Enrollment in Sargent College.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td id=\"sargent-college-floor\"><strong>Sargent College Floor<\/strong>\u00a0<em><br \/>\nTowers 7W<br \/>\n<\/em><\/td>\n<td>Enrollment in Sargent College.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td id=\"wellness-housing\"><strong>Wellness Housing<\/strong><br \/>\nsome suites on floor 7<em><br \/>\nKilachand Hall<\/em><\/td>\n<td>Desire to live in a substance-free space with other students who want to support their mental &amp; physical health.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td id=\"writers-corridor\"><strong>Writers&#8217; Corridor<br \/>\n<\/strong><em>Kilachand 4<br \/>\n<\/em><\/td>\n<td>Interest in writing and in sharing your work with others, and in submitting original work for floor publications.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"button-primary\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/housing\/residence\/living-learning-specialty-communities\/\">View Residences<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At BU, we offer more than just a comfortable place to lay your head, study, and eat. We provide housing that nourishes the mind, and spirit, by connecting students through academic or extracurricular passions. There are two types of shared-interest communities on campus: Living-Learning and Specialty. The key difference is the former is connected with [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":24111,"menu_order":12,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/housing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/66"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/housing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/housing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/housing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/housing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=66"}],"version-history":[{"count":50,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/housing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/66\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33500,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/housing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/66\/revisions\/33500"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/housing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/housing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=66"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}