MBA/MS in Media Ventures

Application for Admission

Application for Admission to the dual degree program must be made to both COM and GSM. The Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) is the required entrance exam for applicants seeking admission to the dual degree program.

Some COM requirements may be waived for students who have completed equivalent graduate-level courses. Up to 8 graduate semester credits may be accepted from other colleges and up to 4 graduate semester credits may be allowed for certain previous professional experience or internship work done while the student was in either of the two programs.

Requirements for the Dual Degree

Students pursuing the School of Management’s MBA Program (GSM) and the Master of Science in Media Ventures Program at the College of Communication (COM) must give special attention to the course requirements of both programs. This memo is designed to assist you in this planning. You should meet with the COM Media Ventures advisor and the academic advisor in the MBA Program in the first semester, and as needed during the program.

This is a two-year, five-semester option where students pursue an MBA with Boston University Graduate School of Management before joining the single MS degree program in Media Ventures at College of Communication. Students must complete at least 40 credits at the School of Management (GSM) and 40 credits at the College of Communication (COM). Students who pass the GSM waiver exam or transfer credit for a course must take a GSM course to replace it.

Students must meet all of the requirements for the degree in each school, AND must take at least 80 credits at Boston University.

MS in Media Ventures Requirements

Students must take a minimum of 48 credits for the COM degree:

Fall semester—Boston Campus (20 credits)

• COM FT 701 Media in Evolution, Media Business Entrepreneurship
• COM FT 728 Creating New Ideas With Existing Content

Spring semester—Los Angeles (16 credits)

• COM CM 561 HL Survey of Entertainment Promotion
• COM CM 561 HW Careers in Hollywood for Advertising and Public Relations (Speaker Series)
• SMG SI 435 Entertainment Management
• On-the-job experience at an emerging media division of a traditional media company (COM FT 953 Internship)

Summer semester—Los Angeles (12 credits)

• GSM SP 840 Graduate Summer Management Practicum
• COM FT 856 Graduate Media Seminar
• On-the-job experience at a media start-up company (COM FT 954 Internship)

In addition, students must develop a new business idea, complete with business and marketing plans. Students will present their capstone project to media professionals. (COM FT 825 Thesis Project)

MBA Requirements

Students must take 40 credits of MBA courses at the School of Management. They must satisfy all of the required core courses. Courses which are waived or transferred do not count toward the 40-credit residency required for the MBA degree.

MBA Considerations

Team-Building in the MBA Program

Special attention is given to team-building in the first semester of full-time study in the MBA Program. In the first year, students are assigned to a cohort: a group of 50–55 students who take core courses together. Through this model, students often establish strong professional and personal bonds with their cohorted colleagues.

Course Sequencing

Full-time MBA: In the Fall semester, OB 713, AC 710, QM 716, MK 723, and FE 721 are offered during the day for first-year full-time students. Four more core courses, IS 710, FE 727, OM 725, and SI 750 are offered during the day in the Spring semester for first-year full-time students.

MBA Electives

In the Fall and Spring semesters there are many MBA electives offered, some of which are day sections. However, most electives are offered during the evening. A smaller number of electives are offered (evenings) in the Summer Session.

Full-time MBA Program of Study (40 credits)

• OB 713 Managing Organizations & People (3 credits)
• AC 710 Financial Reporting & Control (3 credits)
• FE 721 Financial Management (3 credits)
• MK 723 Marketing Management (3 credits)
• QM 716 Data Analysis for Managerial Decision-Making (3 credits)
• FE 727 Economics & Management Decisions (3 credits)
• IS 710 IT Strategies for a Networked Economy (3 credits)
• OM 725 Creating Value through Operations & Technology (3 credits)
• SI 750 Competition, Innovation & Strategy (3 credits)
• PL 700 Business Law and Ethics (2 credits)
• ES 704 Career Toolkit (2 credits)
• ES 700 Executive Presentations (1 credit)
• ES 701 Executive Written Communication (1 credit)
• ES 705 Career Portfolio Program (1 credit)
• Two Additional 3-credit GSM Electives (6 credits)

Summer Options

It is possible to complete the 80 credits for the COM and MBA degrees by taking courses in the summer session(s) following the first years. Please see the advisors in both schools regarding exceptions to standard course planning.

It is also possible to gain valuable experience during the summer between the first and second year by pursuing a management/media internship. More information about opportunities for hands-on experience may be obtained from the Career Center at the School of Management and the College of Communication.

Media Ventures Contact:

Cathy Perron
Director of Media Ventures
Department of Film & Television
617-353-4976
cperron@bu.edu

School of Management Contact:

Emily Libby
Assistant Director, Graduate Programs
Boston University School of Management
617-358-2788
emilyfl@bu.edu