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When Antonio Brust from Argentina reviewed his options to pursue urban informatics abroad, Northeastern University’s College of Social Sciences and Humanities (CSSH) immediately stood out. “I felt that here I would get the chance to hone a comprehensive set of skills, with a focus on research and policy impact,” he says. “I’m very happy with my decision.”
It’s easy to understand why. As a student, he went headfirst into the world of big data and mastered the future-focused skills of programming, statistical analysis, and data visualization. Brust’s internship at The American City Coalition in Roxbury, MA — a nonprofit dedicated to neighborhood revitalization — showed he was ready for bigger things. His contributions earned him accolades, including the prestigious Barry Bluestone “Think and Do” Award and the Outstanding Academic Performance Award. For his capstone project, he led a team of fellow students in assessing the capacity of cities to manage federal grant funding.
After graduating, he returned to his hometown Buenos Aires to establish a Data Lab at Universidad Torcuato Di Tella’s School of Government. There he led initiatives at the intersection of urban economics and data science. Brust also shared his expertise by teaching courses at Universidad Di Tella and the University of Buenos Aires.
Source: Northeastern University
The Arlington Advantage
With journeys like Brust’s as a blueprint, CSSH is expanding its reach by bringing innovative programs to its Arlington, VA, campus. The move to the Washington DC area signifies more than just a geographic expansion — it’s a commitment to nurturing the next generation of data-driven social scientists in the US capital. Where better to earn experience and make an impact at the intersection of data, public policy, and urban challenges?
Situated in the National Capital Region (NCR), the Arlington campus offers Northeastern’s experiential opportunities in a region known for technical innovation, security, defence, and policy, and an unemployment rate 44% lower than the national average.
The campus’s proximity to key industry players, government agencies, research institutions, think tanks, trade associations, and NGOs provides students with access to real-world projects and professional networks — such as Amazon, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Capital One.
Innovative and Experiential Degrees
Brust’s launchpad to success, the Master of Science (MS) in Urban Informatics, is one of the programs set to launch in Arlington in fall 2024. This STEM-certified degree is designed to prepare a new generation of experts to navigate the technical and socioeconomic landscapes of modern cities. Students are trained to tackle critical social, infrastructural, and environmental challenges facing urban areas in the 21st century. With 75% of the world’s population projected to be living in cities by 2050, Northeastern stands out among the handful of US institutions to focus on this discipline.
“There are five core courses — one of them is Big Data for Cities,” shares program director. Moira Zellner. “It builds on the data libraries provided by the Boston Area Research Initiative — an evolving body of work that supports projects in the city of Boston. Students get that experiential learning opportunity from this and other courses to work on actual projects. It’s this kind of experience that helps students get placed in data analytics positions, in private consulting firms, in city or upper-level government agencies, or in non-governmental organizations.”
Another STEM-certified degree, the Master of Science in Applied Quantitative Methods and Social Analysis, will also debut at Northeastern’s Arlington campus in fall 2024. This interdisciplinary degree emphasizes quantitative research methods and social analysis strategies, equipping students with the computational tools needed to address questions of equity, hierarchy, social organization, and social systems. They also receive advanced training in statistical analysis and research methodology.
This breadth ensures students of all academic backgrounds can future-proof their careers. “Coming from a journalism background, I chose the program because I want to equip myself with better statistical skills, more policy analysis knowledge, and more research experience that can make me a better data storyteller,” shares student Manyun Zou, who completed a co-op at Northeastern’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering as a research assistant.
To apply knowledge, students work with faculty on projects linked with centres and institutes such as the Dukakis Centre for Urban and Regional Policy, the Boston Area Research Initiative, the NULab for Texts, Maps and Networks, and the Institute for Race and Justice. Such exposure prepares graduates to pursue a range of analytical, social science, and academic careers.
All CSSH degrees include Northeastern’s signature experiential learning program. Co-ops provide a professional experience much like an internship, but for six months, and with mentoring support and guided reflections to ensure students get the most out of the experience.
As the MS in Urban Informatics and MS in Applied Quantitative Methods and Social Analysis are both STEM-designated, international students with F1 visas can apply to extend their Optional Practical Training in the US for an additional 24 months beyond the standard 12 — totalling 36 months of professional development.
If you’re ready to become a leader at the intersection of data and social science, learn more about joining Northeastern University’s CSSH programs in Arlington, VA.
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