Boston University

Boston University is private, 4-year school located near the Fenway/Kenmore and Longwood communities of metropolitan Boston, MA. Founded in 1839 as the Newbury Biblical Institute by a group of Methodist ministers, it was chartered as Boston University in 1869. The school celebrates both years as anniversaries. The 135 acre Charles River campus features a wide array of architectural styles, due to the continuing expansion of the school. A significant portion of the campus is traditional “Boston brownstone.” The two primary open quads on campus are “BU Beach” which faces the Charles River and “BU Grounds South” on the eastern side of campus. Among non-political notable alumni are actors Jason Alexander, Marisa Tomei and Julianne Moore.

Academic Programs

Boston University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education and offers Bachelor’s Degrees, post-baccalaureate Certificates, Master’s Degrees, post-masters Certificates and Doctorates in a multitude of fields. Noted for many Healthcare-related programs as well as Occupational & Physical Therapy and Music, the largest programs on campus are in Business, Communications and Social Sciences. The university is comprised of 20 colleges and schools, each with their own hierarchy and administration. Per the Mission Statement, “Boston University is an international, comprehensive, private research university, committed to educating students to be reflective, resourceful individuals ready to live, adapt, and lead in an interconnected world. Boston University is committed to generating new knowledge to benefit society. Boston University comprises a remarkable range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs built on a strong foundation of the liberal arts and sciences. With the support and oversight of the Board of Trustees, the University, through our faculty, continually innovates in education and research to ensure that we meet the needs of students and an ever-changing world.”

Student Life

There are over 17,000 undergraduate students enrolled in Boston University, most of whom live on campus in the wide variety of housing types, ranging from single homes to high-rise apartments. The University sponsors a myriad of clubs and student organizations including club sports and intramurals. For the varsity athlete, the scarlet and white Terriers, led by Rhett the Boston Terrier field teams in 11 sports and participate in NCAA Division I competition. While on campus, students are exposed to the Vision and Values of the university: “We remain dedicated to our founding principles: that higher education should be accessible to all and that research, scholarship, artistic creation, and professional practice should be conducted in the service of the wider community—local and international. These principles endure in the University’s insistence on the value of diversity, in its tradition and standards of excellence, and in its dynamic engagement with the City of Boston and the world.”