BU Virtual extends Boston University’s academic excellence to learners around the world. In close collaboration with faculty across BU’s schools and colleges, we design and deliver online programs that carry the depth, rigor, and intellectual energy of a leading research university.
Through BU Virtual, students engage with world-class scholarship, diverse perspectives, and learning experiences that connect theory with practice—preparing them to advance their careers and contribute meaningfully to their fields and communities.
Explore our expanding portfolio of online programs, developed in collaboration with top tier faculty and researchers at Boston University.
Building on BU Virtual’s commitment to innovation and interdisciplinary excellence, we are excited to introduce a new suite of online graduate degrees launching in 2026, focused on workforce transformation in artificial intelligence.
These programs will equip learners with cutting-edge technical skills, ethical frameworks, and strategic insights needed to lead in AI-driven industries. Developed through close collaboration across BU’s renowned faculty, this next generation of online degrees will prepare professionals to shape the future of work, technology, and society.
BU Virtual offers a coordinated suite of interdisciplinary AI online graduate programs designed to prepare professionals for leadership in the rapidly evolving world of AI. Unlike a “one size fits all” approach, our interdisciplinary ecosystem builds on Boston University’s strengths across business, computing, engineering, technology, and education to provide broad perspectives that enhance real-world relevance and impact.
Our programs emphasize not only technical excellence but also a responsible, human-centered approach to AI—focusing on governance, ethics, bias mitigation, transparency, and the human impact of AI technologies. We believe leadership in AI demands sound judgment alongside technical skills, empowering learners to harness AI strategically and ethically in their careers and communities.
The work we are doing today will shape the future of global online education tomorrow. We believe that our work at BU Virtual, which is done in collaboration with our award-winning schools and colleges, brings a new level of innovation, reach, and access to learners around the globe and reinforces our commitment to inclusion at scale. —Wendy Colby, VP and Associate Provost
Wherever you are in your life or career, BU Virtual helps you develop the knowledge and capabilities needed to navigate a complex and evolving professional landscape.
Our online programs combine BU’s academic rigor with practical, applied learning—equipping you to think critically, lead effectively, and adapt with confidence. As part of Boston University’s global community, you gain access to distinguished faculty, a powerful alumni network, and the enduring advantages of a BU education.
BU Virtual is redefining online graduate education by delivering rigorous, career-focused programs to a broad, diverse audience. Our flagship degrees—Online MBA, Online Master of Public Health, and Online Master’s in Data Science—combine academic excellence, innovative teaching, and flexible formats to meet the needs of today’s working professionals. Grounded in interdisciplinary collaboration and ongoing innovation, these programs empower learners to advance their careers while engaging with a vibrant global community.
What distinguishes BU Virtual is the combination of academic prestige, affordability, and real-world relevance. Our flagship programs deliver the rigor of a Boston University education for $25K -- opening access to high-quality graduate study for professionals around the world. Drawing on BU’s strengths across disciplines, courses evolve continuously to reflect emerging technologies and workforce demands—ensuring that graduates leave not only with a degree, but with the skills, perspective, and momentum to lead in a rapidly changing global economy.
BU Virtual meets learners where they are—geographically, professionally, and academically. Whether you are advancing in your current field, expanding your expertise, or preparing for new opportunities, our programs support learning that evolves with you.
Working alongside faculty and university leaders across BU, we are expanding access to the university’s scholarship, innovation, and community—bringing Boston University to the service of the world, and connecting the world more closely to BU.
Artificial intelligence is no longer a future issue for schools to monitor from a distance. It is already shaping how students research, write, solve problems, and engage with course material. The challenge for educators is not whether AI belongs in education. It is how to guide its use in ways that strengthen learning, support teachers, […]
Online learning provides the flexibility to advance your career without hitting "pause" on your professional life. Whether you’re looking to move into leadership or pivot to a new field entirely, Boston University offers online certificates, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs designed to fit your goals. To help you decide if this path is right for […]
The AI career shift is here. Pick the AI Master’s built for how work actually changes. Organizations are moving past AI experiments. They want outcomes: faster decisions, better services, stronger products, and real productivity. Accenture’s Pulse of Change shows the direction clearly: 86% of C-suite leaders plan to increase AI investment in 2026. It also […]
Artificial intelligence has arrived in higher education amid a familiar mix of urgency and unease. Institutions feel pressure to respond quickly, even as they worry about hype, mission drift and whether today’s technologies will still matter tomorrow. The challenge is not whether to engage with AI, but how to do so in ways that are […]
A Complete Comparison: Online vs. On-Campus Computer Science Master’s at Boston University If you’re searching for an online master’s in computer science or weighing an in-person graduate experience, Boston University offers two strong pathways—each designed for a different kind of learner. This guide compares: BU’s Online MS in Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence (CS+AI) and […]
The traditional silos of public relations, advertising, and marketing have dissolved. In today's "Answer Engine Economy," where AI agents scan data and consumers expect hyper-personalized brand experiences, leadership requires more than just channel expertise. It requires a holistic, data-driven approach. Boston University’s College of Communication (COM) is meeting this shift head-on with its fully online […]
What Is Software Engineering for AI — and Why Does It Matter? Software engineering and artificial intelligence used to operate in separate worlds. Data scientists built models in Jupyter notebooks. Software engineers shipped production applications. These disciplines rarely overlapped. But that separation is disappearing rapidly. Today, as AI systems move from research labs and proof-of-concepts […]
The tech landscape isn't just changing; it’s being rebuilt around AI. BU’s new Online MS in Computer Science & AI is designed for those who don’t just want to watch the revolution—it's for those who want to lead it. Online MS in Computer Science & AI: At a Glance Format: 100% online; structured asynchronous learning […]