All of the XCC courses follow the naming convention HUB XC 4XX and fulfill 4 BU units and 4 Hub requirements satisfying the Intellectual Toolkit in Creativity/Innovation (CRI), Research and Information Literacy (RIL), and Teamwork/Collaboration (TWC). The fourth Hub requirement addresses Communication in either written (WIN), oral (OSC), or digital (DME) forms, and varies by course number.
Policies
The Cross-College Challenge (XCC) is designed as a signature Hub elective for juniors and seniors however limited seats in some sections are reserved for rising sophomores. Others may petition to enroll in an XCC course at the discretion of the instructors.
Cross-College Challenge course (HUB XC) cannot be completed on a Pass/Fail basis by any student, regardless of entering year. More info at: https://www.bu.edu/academics/hub/policies/cross-college-challenge/
Individual XCC course numbers (XC 410, 420, 433 etc) are not repeatable for credit so students should plan their degree progress accordingly. There are several new course numbers available beginning with Spring 2025 registration that will allow students to take courses of different numbers and fulfill Hub requirements for each however, students are not permitted to take more than one HUB XC course in the same semester.
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Fall 2025 Courses
HUB XC 433 A1
Exploring World Cultures through Puppetry Arts
Felice Amato (CFA) and Veronica Rodriguez Ballesteros (CAS)
Explore world cultures and current events through the lens of puppetry arts! Come tap into your creative, playful, and risk-taking selves. Learn a variety of world puppetry techniques and find your own voice through teamwork and collaboration. Experience the power of global storytelling to build bridges of intercultural communication. 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.
We 6:30PM – 9:15PM
HUB XC 437 A1
Environmental Justice and Urban Tree Canopies
Sal Genovese (CGS) and Joelle Renstrom (CGS)
Students will learn about urban tree canopies, the environmental, socio-cultural, physiological, and psychological benefits of tree cover; understand the causes and effects of redlining and other policies that contribute to tree canopy variations and environmental injustice; gain insight into attitudes and values of residents and communities; and perhaps even plant trees. Working in teams, students will collaborate with community partners on projects relevant to the course and to those partners’ goals. They will present their findings and report to their community partners. Effective Fall 2025, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Creativity/Innovation, Oral and Signed Communication, Research and Information Literacy, Teamwork/Collaboration.
Mo 2:30PM – 5:15PM
HUB XC 411 A1
Back to the Past: Gaming and Design for Immersive Role Play
Kathryn Lamontagne (CGS) and Seth Blumenthal (CAS)
In this game-based Cross-College Challenge (XCC) course, students will play and then design an immersive role-playing game for the Reacting to the Past (RTTP) consortium, our community partner. RTTP uses active, experiential learning to help students engage with important social, political, historical, and cultural debates. Student teams will research, create, playtest, and pitch their own micro-games based on controversies broadly related to topics such as social justice, science and technology, law, and/or focused in the Northeast.
This course fulfills a single requirement in each of the following Hub areas: Creativity/Innovation, Teamwork/Collaboration, Writing Intensive, Research and Information Literacy.
TuTh 11:00AM – 12:15PM
HUB XC 422 A1
Exploring Walkability in Boston
Tom Anastasi (QST) and Stacey Gelsheimer (CAS)
Students will explore concepts of social justice as they relate to walkability in Boston while working with our community partner WalkMassachusetts. Students will identify a problem and create a compelling short video that will provide solutions to social justice inequities using economic principles and theories. No filmmaking experience required and all filming can be done with a cell phone camera.
This course fulfills a single requirement in each of the following Hub areas: Creativity/Innovation, Teamwork/Collaboration, Digital Multimedia Expression, Research and Information Literacy.
We 2:30PM – 5:15PM
BU Spark! XCC 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.
HUB XC 473 A1: Spark! Justice Media Co-Lab
Brooke Williams (COM) and Langdon White (CDS)
Fall 2025:
Fridays 11:15 am–2:00 pm*
Wednesday 6:30–8:30 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, GBH, 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 requirement in each of the following Hub areas: Creativity/Innovation, Teamwork/Collaboration, Writing Intensive, Research and Information Literacy.
HUB XC 475 A1: Spark! Technology Innovation Fellowship
Ziba Cranmer (BU Spark!) and James Grady (CFA)
Fall 2025:
Mondays 2:30—5:15 pm, including required events outside of class time*
Wednesday 6:30–8:30 pm*
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 requirement in each of the following Hub areas: Creativity/Innovation, Teamwork/Collaboration, Oral and Signed Communication, Research and Information Literacy.