Current graduate students: Registration for classes at COM

Ready to plan your next semester? Use the MyBU Student Portal to build your schedule and register for classes each semester (https://student.bu.edu/MyBU/).

STUDENT Portal

Before you register

A little planning can make registration much easier. Here’s what to do before registering for classes:

  • Review your program’s curriculum. It is your responsibility to make sure you enroll in the courses required to complete your degree.
  • Plan ahead for required courses. If you’re unsure whether a required class will be offered in a future semester, contact your department administrator.
  • Check prerequisites and restrictions. If you can’t find a course or if the class has a hold, review all prerequisites and enrollment requirements. You may need to contact the department administrator to register for a class outside your department (Journalism; Film and Television; Emerging Media Studies; Mass Communication, Advertising, and Public Relations).
  • Register as early as possible. Classes have a limited number of seats, so it’s important to register for classes on the first day of registration. Once a class is full, additional seats generally cannot be added.
  • Know which courses count as graduate-level. At COM, courses numbered 500 through 900 are considered graduate-level. Because some 500-level courses enroll both undergraduate and graduate students, be sure to select both undergraduate- and graduate-level options when searching in the MyBU Student Portal.
  • Review important semester deadlines. Check the Withdrawal and Tuition Refund Schedule before making changes to your enrollment.

How to register for classes

Use the planning tools in the MyBU Student Portal to prepare before your registration appointment:

  1. Search for classes using Class Search.
  2. Place classes in the Schedule Builder to compare potential options.
  3. Add preferred classes to your Shopping Cart and validate that you’re eligible to register for them.
  4. Register for your classes when your registration appointment opens.

Helpful tips:

  • Planning your schedule and adding courses to your Shopping Cart in advance can make registration faster and easier.
  • The MyBU Student Portal also offers training videos and knowledge articles to guide you through the process. We especially recommend watching “Preparing for Registration” to familiarize yourself with the registration process.

Adding, dropping, or changing sections

To add or drop a course or change sections, use the MyBU Student Portal. Adding a course or changing sections is permitted only when space is available.

Enrollment status

Full-time students

Full-time graduate students must enroll in a minimum of 12 credits (3 classes) per semester. Graduate students may enroll in up to 18 credits (4 classes) per semester without special approval.

Enrolling in more than 18 credits (overload)

Graduate students who want to enroll in more than 18 credits must have a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Before enrolling in an overload, contact Kayla Ring at kbring10@bu.edu or Lu He at helu@bu.edu for assistance with approval and any applicable tuition adjustments.

Part-time students

Part-time graduate students may enroll in 1 to 11 credits (units) per semester.

For current costs, visit Tuition and Fees.

Enrollment requirements for international students

International students generally must maintain full-time enrollment of at least 12 credits (units) per semester to meet immigration requirements.

International students may be eligible to enroll part-time during their final semester before graduation if they have fewer than 12 credits remaining to complete their degree. Additional requirements and approval through BU’s International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) may apply.

Extending your program to an additional semester

Are you planning to extend your degree program to a fourth, part-time semester? You’ll need to plan your course schedule carefully in advance.

To remain enrolled in an additional semester, you must have an outstanding academic requirement or remaining credits needed for degree completion.

For example, an MS in advertising student planning to extend their program to a final, fourth semester must save a required course, such as CM721 Advertising Management, to complete in their final semester OR enter that semester with remaining credits still needed to complete the degree.

If you plan to extend your program:

  1. Review your curriculum and plan ahead. Make sure you have an academic requirement or remaining credits to complete during your additional semester.
  2. Apply for graduation with your new expected graduation date during your third semester.
  3. International students: Apply for a Reduced Course Load with the ISSO, if applicable.
  4. International students: Check the program end date on your I-20 form and determine whether it needs to be updated to reflect your extended graduation date.
  5. International students: Do not apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) until your graduation date is confirmed.

Have questions about registration, enrollment status, or extending your program? Contact Kayla Ring at kbring10@bu.edu or Lu He at helu@bu.edu and we’ll help you plan your next steps.