The numbers say it all. According to the United Nations, more than half of the world's population now lives in cities. In just a few decades, this share will increase to two-thirds. As urban areas consume our planet's resources, we must meet the demands of an ever-growing population. The management of cities will be the key to the future of our society.
This is Northeastern University's challenge, one of many College of Social Sciences and Humanities (CSSH) helps solve with data-driven graduate programs. In addition to its main campus in Boston, itself a bastion of high-tech innovation with social impact, Northeastern is growing its footprint in Seattle.
There is no better place for this kind of work. The Seattle Campus is located in South Lake Union — a hub of innovation and discovery, home to companies and institutions that share the university's vision. This prime location offers a range of experiential opportunities, which complement Northeastern's future-focused, industry-aligned programs.
For more than 100 years, this dynamic university has been a world leader in co-op education. Source: Northeastern University
Among the degrees offered in both Boston and Seattle are the Master of Science in Urban Informatics, which prepares students to leverage technology and data to better understand and serve cities. By combining training in data analysis with a specialized course, students learn how to solve key social, infrastructure and environmental challenges.
This covers everything from transport to housing, from community dynamics to how a government deals with potholes. “All these things are open questions and they are very interesting both from a scientific point of view and from the practical question of how the city itself actually works.” explains Associate Professor Dan O'Brien. “This program is especially needed because it is one of the few in the country dedicated to urban computing.”
Another typical program is the Master of Science in Security and Resilience Studies. It prepares graduates to support domestic and international efforts to reduce turbulence in the 21st century. To do this, the course explores how strategic doctrines, organizational processes, bureaucratic behaviors, and security tools and tactics are being adapted to become more resilient.
“The program has faculty who have been at the forefront of safety and resilience studies,” enthusiastic graduate Rose Leopold;. “They bring students into the real world from the moment they step on campus. As a final project, we had to evaluate the durability and safety of the Massport, presenting our recommendations to two senior officials, the TSA and the Department of Homeland Security.”
Another plug-in is the Master of Science in Economics, which is a STEM-engineered program designed to provide a solid foundation in economic theory, quantitative methods, and policy. It prepares students for career opportunities across multiple disciplines in professions such as applied statistics, data science, or financial analysis. It is ideal for those looking for an entry point into a multi-faceted career in politics. As Zachary Nielsen (MS Economics '18) summarizes, “An applied degree takes the skills I'm learning and allows me to see how they will be used in the real world.”
MS Economics students have the option to add a data science concentration in partnership with Northeastern's Khoury College of Computer Science. This concentration allows students to build a foundation in economics while honing their computational modeling and programming skills. Students enrolled in Seattle are required to complete the concentration.
CSSH's newest program is a Master of Science in Applied Quantitative Methods and Social Analysis. “The program offers advanced methodological and statistical training that prepares the next generation of data analysts and social scientists to tackle society's toughest challenges,” explains Professor Gregory Zimmerman, program director.
This interdisciplinary degree enables aspiring social scientists to use computational tools for social analysis. It merges quantitative research methods and analytical techniques with a specialized course that addresses the social issues of equality, hierarchy, social organization and systems. Students can choose from five concentrations: Data Analytics in the Social Sciences; Computational Social Science; Network Analysis in the Social Sciences? Statistical Methods in the Social Sciences? and Information Ethics.
Joining Northeastern means joining a network of 3,300 businesses and nonprofits in 136 countries on six continents. Source: Northeastern University
The Northeast advantage is evident in all programs. For more than 100 years, this dynamic university has been world leader in cooperative education, known as “co-op”. The signature program enables students to add full-time work experiences to their academic degrees.
Access to a network of more than 3,300 employers in 136 countries it opens many doors to students around the world. So are regional campuses. The programs listed above can also be facilitated at Northeastern's main campus in Boston.
The result? Students explore potential career paths, forge valuable industry connections, broaden their perspectives and gain the practical knowledge they will need to succeed. It's a formula that works – apply to CSSH today.
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