BU in Brussels Graduate Certificates
NOTE: This site is an archive of 2012–2013 programs and policies at Boston University Metropolitan College. If you are looking for current information about Metropolitan College and its programs, please go to our official website.
The graduate certificate programs at Boston University in Brussels are an excellent option for students who seek professional advancement without committing to a graduate degree program, or for those who already have an advanced degree and wish to update their knowledge and skills.
Students may pursue certificates as either non-degree or degree students. A non-degree student who applies for admission as a degree candidate may apply credits earned in a certificate program toward a master’s program.
Admissions and Prerequisites
Students enrolling in graduate certificate programs or the graduate diploma program must have a four-year undergraduate degree from an accredited institution, college, or university.
Note: Applied sustainability, human resources, management, marketing, and project management students are required to take MET OM 500B, Introduction to Quantitative Management (2 credits), unless they have an undergraduate degree in business or engineering, or have successfully completed a waiver exam. International students in these programs are required to take MET AD 501 Business Communications for International Students (4 credits) during their first semester unless they can demonstrate fluent written and oral English skills by passing the waiver exam, or have worked or studied in an English-speaking country for at least two years.
In addition to satisfying the prerequisites, four 4-credit courses, for a total of 16 credits, are required. Students with demonstrable proficiency in any of these courses may apply to waive specific courses. Waived courses from the core area must be replaced by an elective in order to meet the 16-credit-hour requirement.
Graduate Certificates
Applied Sustainability
The Graduate Certificate in Applied Sustainability is a unique, interdisciplinary look at what it takes to make urban and economic development compatible with the natural environment. To meet the increasing demand for sustainability experts in government, corporate, and community settings, this program prepares students to assess environmental impact, navigate national and international regulations, minimize waste by streamlining IT infrastructure, propose budget-cutting energy strategies, and implement policies that are as financially and politically sound as they are eco-friendly.
Coursework covers the foundations of ecology; current theories of sustainability; methods for optimizing energy and land use; building management techniques; the politics, law, and economics of the global green movement; and the relationship between IT and the consumption of resources.
Curriculum (four courses/16 credits)
- MET AD 620 Environmental Law, Regulation, and Sustainability
- MET CS 504 Green Information Technology
- MET UA 515 History and Theory of Urban Planning
- MET UA 617 Human and Ecological Systems: Living Systems Theory and Application
Human Resources
The Graduate Certificate in Human Resources examines the fundamental principles of group dynamics and organizational behavior as these concepts relate to organizational functioning and the impact of the Human Resources Department. Students analyze case studies, develop effective communication skills, and practice decision-making strategies.
Curriculum (four courses/16 credits)
- MET LD 705 Leadership in a Dynamic Environment
- MET LD 740 Group and Organizational Dynamics
- MET AD 643 Project Communications Management
- MET AD 711 Leadership and Strategy
International Relations
The Graduate Certificate in International Relations provides the practical know-how for conducting international trade in the constantly changing global marketplace. Students analyze the interplay between governments, economic systems, labor, and multinational corporations.
Transfer of Credits to Degree Programs
Academic credits earned toward the Graduate Certificate in International Relations may be applied toward the Master of Arts in International Relations; please contact Boston University in Brussels for details.
Prerequisites
International students in the International Relations graduate certificate program are required to demonstrate fluent written and oral English skills. Prerequisites can only be satisfied by obtaining a C grade or better in the prerequisite course or by passing the waiver exams.
Course to satisfy the prerequisites:
- MET AD 501 Business Communication for International Students (must be taken during the first semester)
Students are expected to satisfy the program prerequisites prior to enrolling in a second course and before any course that would require a specific prerequisite.
In addition to satisfying the prerequisites, four 4-credit courses, for a total of 16 credits, are required. Students with demonstrable proficiency in any of the core courses may apply to waive specific courses. Waived courses from the core area must be replaced by an elective in order to meet the 16-credit-hour requirement.
Curriculum (four courses/16 credits)
- CAS IR 550B European Integration
- GRO IR 701B Introduction to International Relations
- GRO IR 704B Global Economic and Development Policy
Plus one of the following:
Electives
- CAS IR 524B War and Statecraft
- CAS IR 535B Diplomacy and Statecraft
- CAS IR 589B North Atlantic/European Security Issues
- GRO IR 760B The Political Economy of the European Union
Management
The Graduate Certificate in Management focuses on the multiple skills that are necessary to become a business leader in today’s global environment. Subject matter includes the basics of financial and managerial accounting and analysis, marketing, information systems, and human resource management.
Curriculum (four courses/16 credits)
- MET AD 630B Financial and Managerial Accounting
- MET AD 632 Financial Concepts
Plus two courses, selected with the approval of an advisor, from the Brussels course listing.
Marketing
The Graduate Certificate in Marketing provides focused study of marketing and its applications in a multinational environment. Students learn the practical skills behind bringing a product to market, as well as how to successfully and strategically position that product in a highly competitive global arena.
Curriculum (four courses/16 credits)
- MET AD 739 Marketing Management
- MET AD 852B International Market Research
Plus two courses, selected with the approval of an advisor, from the Brussels course listing.
Project Management
The Graduate Certificate in Project Management immerses students in the methodologies of effective leadership and communication. Through detailed case studies and project simulations, students learn essential project management principles and techniques for cost-effective management of long- and short-term projects.
Upon completion, students will be prepared for Project Management Institute (PMI®) certification exams, including:
- CAPM® (Certified Associate in Project Management Certification)
- PMP® (Project Management Professional Certification)
These certifications demonstrate expertise in project management and are increasingly sought after in the international market.
Curriculum (four courses/16 credits)
- MET AD 642B Project Management
- MET AD 643B Project Communications Management
- MET AD 644B Project Risk and Cost Management
- MET AD 646B Program Management
