Hampton University- Programs
The PEAR trainee model is not one-size-fits-all, it packages different PEAR components for different training programs: master’s degrees, doctorates, and graduate certificates. Different pathways have been created for students coming from social sciences, business, engineering, and computer science.
Engineering Graduate Program
Hampton is offering a new engineering graduate program, an MS in Engineering Entrepreneurship, for interdisciplinary-minded students. This program will house PEAR Fellows along with other students across a variety of disciplines to help prepare them for professional careers or Ph.D. programs.
Three courses from our NRT program, plus a semester at Northeastern University are mandatory. Students must also attend community seminars, join the mentorship program, and co-design research projects.
Research Traineeship Program
Collaboration between Hampton University, University of Houston, and Northeastern University.
Hampton students will likely pursue the Product Management and Platform-based Business Model Innovation track. Information about training tracks can be found here.
Curriculum
Master’s and doctoral stipend- and non-stipend-supported NRT trainees are required to complete three NRT core courses listed below. Each of the NRT core courses will be offered once per year in a small class-size setting to provide a better learning experience for NRT trainees. NU Certificate candidates are required to complete four NRT core courses listed below.
Fall Semester:
Students with a background in engineering and computer science will choose a course in a non-engineering or computer science field.
Examples include:
- Big Data for Cities
- Economic Institutions and Analysis
- Work, employment, and Inequality
- Information Ethics and AI Ethics
Students with a background in social sciences and business choose a course in a non-social science or business field.
New graduate engineering courses will be developed in the fundamentals of knowledge engineering, including an introduction
to data analytics, algorithms, and platform architecture.
Spring Semester:
Course 2 is a required interdisciplinary common core course taught by two PEAR faculty. Northeastern University, University of Houston, and Hampton University students who are obtaining the certificate will attend this in-person class at the Northeastern campus. The class will consist of a semester-long project consisting of three reports, completed in interdisciplinary teams. Students will also be trained in value-sensitive design (VSD). VSD is a skill-oriented approach to teaching ethical reflectivity in technology design.
Fall and Spring Semester of Year 2:
During the second year of the program, students will choose a course from a set of PEAR electives from one of the following training tracks: Modeling and Algorithms; Economic and Policy Analysis; Product Management, and Platform-Based Business Model Innovations. Click here to learn more about the tracks.
Seminars:
Community seminar series are hosted at each partner site on a rotating basis and broadcast on Zoom to the broader PEAR community. Speakers will include industry partners and government leaders. Topics include the design of digital platforms, policy considerations, privacy issues, as well as professional development including mentoring skillsets, resume, and cover letter writing workshops.