Program Notes
- No GRE required.
- Merit scholarships available, with no additional application required.
- Current BU students & alumni: learn about the Double Terrier scholarship.
- The MS in TV is a creative producing and management program. The TV producing/writing track is no longer being offered. If you’re interested in writing for TV, we encourage you to apply to our MFA in Screenwriting.
What is Television Producing?
Television producers turn ideas into shows. They develop projects, assemble creative teams, manage budgets and production, pitch to networks and streamers, and guide content from concept to audience. Their work spans every stage of bringing a television project to life, including:
- Creative Development: Discovering ideas, optioning intellectual property (IP), and assembling writing and talent teams.
- Production Logistics: Structuring line budgets, managing shooting schedules, and overseeing physical production.
- Business Strategy: Pitching concepts to networks, negotiating streaming distribution rights, and managing international monetization.
The MS in Television: Creative Producing and Management gives you the skills to lead every stage of the television business—from story development and production to distribution and streaming. You’ll graduate ready for leadership roles across television networks, streaming platforms, production companies, studios, and digital media organizations. Because great television is built by people with diverse perspectives and experiences, our cohorts welcome students from all professional and academic backgrounds—whether you’re entering straight from an undergraduate program or pivoting into media leadership from an entirely different field.
What makes BU’s MS in Television different
Two cities. One career advantage. Spend semesters one and two in Boston — a top-10 media market with active production companies and professional connections. Then take your third semester in Los Angeles, where studio internships and West Coast entertainment professionals open doors that don’t open anywhere else.
Faculty who’ve been in the room where decisions get made. Your professors have produced primetime dramas, sitcoms, documentaries, and reality shows. They bring strong professional networks into the classroom, and offer genuine connections to the people who do the hiring.
Alumni at the top of the field. Graduates of this program work at Disney, HBO, Netflix Originals, National Geographic, CNN, Warner Bros. Discovery, GBH, PBS, the BBC, and Paramount Studios — and they frequently hire new BU graduates into competitive roles.
Careers + alumni
Your professional network starts growing on day one. Between Boston, Los Angeles, faculty mentors, alumni, internships, and studio partners, you’ll graduate with connections that span television and streaming.
Where our alumni work
- Streaming + Networks: Apple TV+, HBO, Netflix Originals, Disney (including ABC network), NBCUniversal, FX, Paramount Global, Paramount Studios, Warner Bros. Discovery, TelevisaUnivision, MTV Entertainment Group, Hallmark Media, National Geographic.
- Production Studios + Agencies: DreamWorks Animation, Skydance Media, MGM Studios, Sony Entertainment, Fremantle, Cyber Group Studios, White Horse Pictures, Circle M+P, Confluent, WME Talent Agency, Paradigm Talent Agency.
- Broadcast, News, + Public Media: CNN, PBS, GBH, WBZ CBS Boston, WCVB Television
- Sports Media, Tech, + Digital: National Basketball Association (NBA), Comcast SportsNet, Google LLC, YouTube, Universities + colleges worldwide
What can you do with a television producing degree?
Graduates pursue careers such as:
- Creative + Line Producing: Showrunner, Executive Producer, Film Producer, Line Producer/Field Producer, Associate Story Producer, Director
- Development + Network Operations: Creative Executive/Strategist, Programming Executive, Content Manager/Head of Content, International Distribution Director, Operations Supervisor
- Production Management: Production Supervisor, Script Coordinator, Planning & Production Manager
- Marketing, Representation, + Academia: Business Development + Marketing Manager, Advertising + Promotions Manager, Marketing Manager, Talent Agent, Faculty of TV, Film + Media
What you’ll learn
You’ll learn the business models driving today’s television and streaming industry while developing expertise across four core areas:
- Development & Pitching: Create concept packages and develop industry-standard series bibles and professional lookbooks. Learn to pitch episodic concepts directly to studio and network executives.
- Line Producing & Operations: Build accurate line budgets, manage complex physical production schedules, and manage production challenges. Learn the operational logistics required to run a professional set.
- Content distribution + streaming: Analyze how international sales, syndication windows, and algorithmic audience data influence what content gets financed and distributed globally.
- Cross-Format Narrative: Master production management for multiple content styles, including scripted prestige dramas, episodic sitcoms, reality formats, documentaries, and limited docuseries.
- Electives: Tailor your professional profile with graduate-level courses in writing, directing, television studies, cinematography, or advanced post-production editing.
During Creative Producing II, I had to develop a solo pitch. Though the assignment was challenging, I learned so much about the pitching process and was able to practice public speaking. I know how to develop questions on pitches I hear at work, and I am able to use that knowledge almost every day. That class also taught me the life cycle of a scripted television show.
Tia Black, Alumna and TV Assistant at Proximity Media
Real-World Productions + BUTV10
Two signature experiences give students hands-on production and management experience before they graduate:
- Real World Productions: A student-run production company that operates as an immersive class. Students partner with corporate and nonprofit organizations to produce broadcast-quality media while developing producing, leadership, project management, and client communication skills in a real production environment.
- BUTV10: BU’s award-winning, student-operated television station and digital streaming platform. MS in Television students produce, direct, and manage content for a public audience, gaining tangible skills and executive credits that matter to employers.
Featured industry insights
Industry Veteran Craig Shepherd Is New Film and Television Chair
As a television and film producer and director, Craig H. Shepherd has worked on projects that have won the Sundance…
The faculty
Our faculty include producers, directors, executives, and showrunners who bring current industry experience—and the relationships that come with it—into every course.
Sheila Sitomer, Director of the MS in TV: Creative Producing and Management
“Early in my career, I was a field producer/director at Good Morning America. One of my segments was on a California elementary school that regularly paired non-disabled students with those with disabilities. As a result, these children formed deep friendships as well as an appreciation for other children with whom they might not otherwise interact. Sarah Vaughan, a well-known jazz singer and pianist, saw the segment and decided to make a generous contribution to the school. I knew at that moment that my work had the power to make a positive contribution.”
Boston and LA: A dual-coast network
Boston (Semesters 1 & 2): Boston is a top-10 US media market—home to GBH, PBS, WBZ, WCVB, and active commercial production companies. This media landscape gives students deep access to professional connections before they ever get to LA. You’ll spend your first two semesters developing technical, creative, and leadership skills while connecting with one of the country’s top media markets.
Los Angeles (Optional Semester 3): Los Angeles is optional for your final semester—but the vast majority of students take it. You’ll study with West Coast industry professionals, complete internships at companies including The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal, CBS Studios, AMC Networks, The Hollywood Reporter, and Hello Sunshine, and expand your Hollywood network that lead directly to career placement.
If you’re really looking at getting into the entertainment business, I think to combine the Boston experience with an LA experience, there’s nothing that compares.
Jay Roewe, alumnus and senior vice president of production at HBO
Beyond the Classroom
- Cinemathèque — BU COM’s ongoing series of private screenings and intimate conversations with leading filmmakers, showrunners, and television makers.
- Krasker Film and Video Resource Center — Direct access to an extensive collection of 16mm prints, rare films, and media assets housed at BU’s Mugar Memorial Library.
- Boston’s film community — Complimentary or discounted access to world-class cinema curation at the Harvard Film Archive, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the historic Brattle Theatre.
Program details at a glance
- Degree: MS
- Full name: MS in Television: Creative Producing and Management
- Length: 3 semesters
- Credits: 48
- Format: On campus — Boston (semesters 1 + 2); optional LA semester (semester 3)
- GRE: Not required
- Scholarships: Merit scholarships available – no separate application required
- Double Terrier: Scholarship available for current BU undergraduates and alumni
- Curriculum note: The TV producing/writing track is no longer offered. Writers should apply to the MFA in Screenwriting.
Frequently asked questions about the MS in Television at BU
Is this a writing program or a producing/management program?
This is strictly a producing and management program. The curriculum focuses entirely on development, line producing, global distribution, and the business side of television and streaming. The TV producing/writing track is no longer offered. If you’re interested in writing for television, the MFA in Screenwriting is the right program.
Is this program focused on television or streaming?
Both. You’ll learn producing and management skills that apply across traditional television, streaming platforms, digital media, and emerging entertainment formats.
Do I need industry or production experience to apply?
No. Students come from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds. The program builds your technical expertise in producing, management, and development from the ground up, while giving you ample opportunities to gain hands-on set experience through coursework, internships, and student operations like BUTV10 and Real World Productions. What matters most is a genuine drive to master the business side of the entertainment ecosystem.
What jobs can I get with an MS in Television?
The program prepares you for careers across television, streaming, and entertainment—from creative development and production to programming, business strategy, marketing, and studio management. Graduates work as producers, development executives, production managers, content strategists, talent representatives, and other creative leaders at networks, streaming platforms, studios, production companies, and media organizations. Because you’ll learn how projects move from concept to audience, you’ll graduate with skills that apply across many areas of the television business.
Is the LA semester required?
No, it is entirely optional, but the vast majority of our cohort chooses to take it. The LA term gives you access to West Coast industry professionals, major studio internships, and BU’s massive, active Hollywood alumni network (“The BU Mafia”) while completing your final degree credits.
What kinds of internships do students complete in LA?
Students regularly land highly competitive internships at major media entities, including The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal, CBS Studios, AMC Networks, The Hollywood Reporter, Hello Sunshine, and leading talent agencies.
What is Real World Productions?
Real World Productions is a student-run production company where students partner with corporate and nonprofit organizations to create professional media while developing producing, leadership, and client communication skills.
How is this different from the MFA in Screenwriting or the MS in Media Ventures?
Choose Television if you want to produce and manage television and streaming content. The MFA in Screenwriting is for writers committed to building a body of scripts. Choose Media Ventures if you want to launch new media companies, products, or entertainment startups.
See all frequently asked questions.
Also worth exploring
Learn more about our other graduate programs in communication and media, including:
- MFA in Screenwriting: For writers committed to getting their original scripts developed and made. Four semesters, seven completed scripts, and a guaranteed semester in Los Angeles.
- MFA in Film and Television Studies: For students who want to analyze, critique, and write about media at a scholarly level—offering an exceptional foundation for doctoral work or media curation.
- MS in Media Ventures (Media Innovation): For students with entrepreneurial ambitions in tech, entertainment, and media startup creation. An accelerated 11-month program split between Boston and Los Angeles.
