MA, Earth and Environment

About University

Boston University (BU) is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1839 by a group of Boston Methodists, it initially had its campus in Newbury, Vermont, before being chartered in Boston in 1869. The university is a member of the Association of American Universities and the Boston Consortium for Higher Education. While it is nonsectarian, Boston University maintains its historical affiliation with the United Methodist Church. Boston University offers a wide range of degree programs through its 17 schools and colleges across three urban campuses. The main campus is situated along the Charles River in Boston's Fenway–Kenmore and Allston neighborhoods, while the Boston University Medical Campus is located in Boston's South End neighborhood. The Fenway campus includes the Wheelock College of Education and Human Development, which merged with BU in 2018. Boston University is known for its high research activity and is classified as "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity." The university's athletic teams, the Boston University Terriers, compete in the Patriot League and Hockey East conferences, and their mascot is Rhett the Boston Terrier. The Terriers participate in NCAA Division I sports. The university has a prestigious alumni and faculty network, including Nobel Laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, Rhodes Scholars, Marshall Scholars, Academy Award winners, and Emmy and Tony Award winners. Boston University has also produced MacArthur, Fulbright, and Truman Scholars, highlighting its distinguished academic and research contributions. Notably, in 1876, BU professor Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in a BU lab.