Northeastern 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.
Graduate Certificate
This certificate can be completed as stand-alone credentials or in combination with a graduate degree to quickly gain a credential, advance skills and knowledge, and meet an emerging career market need. A new interdisciplinary graduate certificate program is offered called: “Design, Management, and Regulation of Platform-Based Socio-Technical Systems” which can either be embedded in disciplinary graduate programs of study (with no additional time to degree) or taken as stand-alone credentials. Certificates will be made available to online students and at NU’s global campuses via remote learning.
Three courses from our NRT program, plus one additional elective from the PEAR elective list. Attending community seminars is a requirement.
Research Traineeship Program
Collaboration between Northeastern University and two Minority-Serving institutions – Hampton University in Virginia and the University of Houston.
National Research Trainees may pursue any of the six training tracks found here by enrolling in a multitude of courses from engineering, computing, business, and social sciences.
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 is 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.