May 2024 Commencement information will be published on the BU Commencement homepage. Commencement 2024 will be held May 16-19, 2024.
COM Graduate Convocation Ceremony
The College of Communication invites all August 2023, January 2024, May 2024, and August 2024 graduates to attend the 2024 Graduate Convocation Ceremony. The COM Graduate Convocation Ceremony is exclusive to COM graduate students (master’s and Ph.D.). Please read the information below in detail.
Other information about the All-University Commencement and special events can be found on Boston University’s Commencement website.
When: Friday, May 17th – Students must arrive at 2 P.M. for the lineup. Guests should arrive no later than 3 P.M. for the ceremony.
Where: Walter Brown Arena (285 Babcock Street)
Length of Ceremony: The ceremony will be approximately two hours.
Caps, Gowns, and Announcements: Order your cap, gown, and hood. When you receive your order, open the bag to make sure you have a 1. Gown, 2. Cap + Tassel, 3. Hood. No additional regalia will be available at the ceremony.
Transportation: There is a shuttle service and public transportation all along the campus.
Guests: There is no limit on the number of guests permitted to attend. No invitations or tickets are required.
Disability Accommodations for Students and Guests: Should you or any member of your party have particular accessibility issues which require accommodations (i.e., accessible parking, seating, and individual services), you can find more information here.
Reception: A reception will immediately follow the Graduate Hooding Ceremony in the Walter Brown Arena. Appetizers and drinks will be served.
Diplomas: Diplomas will be mailed to all graduates. No diplomas will be available on the day of the ceremony. See the diploma mailing schedule.
BU All-University Commencement Ceremony
When: May 19, 2024, 1 P.M. Rain or Shine
Where: Nickerson Field
The All-University Commencement will comprise of speeches from Boston University President Robert A. Brown, the Commencement speaker, and the student speaker, plus presentations to the Honorary Degree Recipients and the conferring of degrees. The Class of 2024 graduates will be seated with their school/college and recognized as a group.
General Graduation Application Instructions
Boston University has three graduation dates per academic year. Please note that the “graduation date” is the date that degrees are officially conferred by the University Registrar, and does not imply that the University has ceremonies for these dates. COM graduates participate in the May commencement only. There is no January or August ceremony.
More instructions are below.
- Application for Graduation: Complete an application for graduation.
- Diplomas: See the schedule for mailing diplomas.
- Regalia (Cap, Gown, and Hood): If you would like to purchase your cap & gown, please visit Herff Jones to place your order.
Graduation Checklist
- Review the courses, credits, academic, and completion projects required to complete your degree.
- Complete an application for graduation.
- Receive an email certifying your graduation from kbring10@bu.edu. This cannot be completed until final semester grades are submitted.
- Federal Loan Borrowers: Complete your Exit Counseling requirement through http://www.studentloans.gov.
- Complete an Exit Survey and submit proof of completion to comgrad@bu.edu.
- Please update your Diploma and Graduation Information in the Student Link listed under the academics tab (bu.edu/studentlink).
- Review alumni services available to you.
Credit Requirements
- Mass Communication with a concentration in Marketing Communication Research: 48 credits
- Mass Communication with a concentration in Communication Studies: 48 credits
- Media Science: 48 credits
- Media Science with a concentration in Marketing Communication Research: 48 credits
- Advertising (Students who entered before Fall 2019): 52 credits
- Advertising (Students who entered after Fall 2019): 48 credits
- Public Relations: 48 credits
- Mass Communication, Dual degree with Law: 32 COM credits
- Journalism: (Students who entered before Fall 2020): 48 credits
- Journalism: (Students who entered after Fall 2020): 50 credits
- Television: 48 credits
- Media Ventures: 40 credits
- Screenwriting: (Students who entered before Fall 2020): 64 credits
- Screenwriting (Students who entered after Fall 2020): 60 credits
- Film and TV Studies: 64 credits
- Television: 48 credits
- Emerging Media Studies (MA): 40 credits
- Emerging Media Studies (Ph.D.): 62 credits
Additional Academic Requirements
- A 3.0 (B) grade point average is required to qualify for a BU COM graduate degree. If a student’s grade point index is less than 3.0 in ANY semester, or if more than 8 credits for grades below B- are received during the length of the program, the student’s record is reviewed by the department of enrollment to determine whether the student should be permitted to continue as a candidate for the degree.
- A grade below a C- will not receive graduate credit (information taken from the COM bulletin).