XCC: BU Spark! courses

The BU Cross-College Challenge (XCC) is the Hub’s signature interdisciplinary project-based, 4-credit elective course open to juniors and seniors from all of BU’s undergraduate schools and colleges. The XCC engages students in team projects that address a real-world problem or an enduring human question. Students who are especially passionate about a particular subject matter and prepared to be active participants in a rigorous team-based experience are highly recommended to register early as seats are limited. Through the Cross-College Challenge (XCC), BU Spark! offers students in tech and relevant non-computing majors the opportunity to participate in interdisciplinary practicum courses while fulfilling multiple BU Hub requirements.

BU Spark! students discuss during class.

APPLICATION + INTERVIEW REQUIRED

HUB XC475: Spark! Technology Innovation Course

Spring 2024: Mondays from 2:30 PM — 5:15 PM, including required events outside of class time*

If you have a project you want to build or take to the next level but don’t know where to start, XC475 will help you take your project from an idea to a working prototype in one semester. If you don’t have an idea but want to join a student-driven innovation project, this course is for you too. You will work through Spark!’s structured product innovation process with technical support from Spark! experts and industry mentors. An application and interview for registration to this course are required.

This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following Hub areas: Creativity/ Innovation, Teamwork/ Collaboration, Oral and Signed Communication, Research and Information Literacy.

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APPLICATION REQUIRED

HUB XC410 A1: Spark! Justice Media co-Lab

Spring 2024: Fridays from 11:15 AM – 2:00 PM*

If you have a background in computer and data science, statistics, computer engineering, or journalism-related disciplines, XC410 A1 will match you with computational journalism projects provided by external media partners (like the Boston Globe, CBS Boston, GHB, USA Today, and more). You will work on computational investigations focused on issues of justice and accountability, and be guided by veteran faculty practitioners in journalism and computer and data science. An application for registration to this course is required.

This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following Hub areas: Creativity/ Innovation, Teamwork/ Collaboration, Writing Intensive, Research and Information Literacy.

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NOT OFFERED FOR AY 2024-2025

HUB XC410 B1: Spark! Data Science for Good (DS4G)

NOT OFFERED IN FALL ’24 OR SPRING ’25

If you want to tackle real-world computing and data science challenges related to a pressing social issue, in XC410 B1, you will work in teams on client-based projects. You will engage with a wide range of potential stakeholders, iterating and producing usable data sets, tools, software products, or research that addresses their data needs. You will develop technical artifacts involving data science and strengthen your computational and analytical skills by working with messy, real-world data to yield meaningful, reproducible, and defensible insights and compelling interfaces. An application for registration to this course is required.

This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following Hub areas: Creativity/ Innovation, Teamwork/ Collaboration, Writing Intensive, Research and Information Literacy.

About BU Spark!

Housed at the Boston University Faculty for Computing & Data Science, BU Spark! is an innovation and experiential learning lab for computing, data science, and engineering projects. Spark! provides the infrastructure to support student innovation projects and engagement in applied research or real-world technology projects, while fostering an inclusive, connected community around interdisciplinary computing and data science.

*Course offerings and times are subject to change.

This page was last updated on January 5, 2023.