Before You Enroll
The summer 2025 course listings are now available. Before choosing your summer courses, please review the information below to better understand our course codes.
Summer Term offers two six-week sessions. To obtain a summer I-20 immigration document from Boston University, which is required to apply for the F-1 student visa, you must be a full-time student in the summer. Full time is defined as enrollment in 8 credits (typically two courses) if you will be studying in one six-week summer session or a minimum of 12 credits (typically three courses) if studying in both sessions. A maximum of 16 credits may be earned by students who study in both sessions.
How to read the course listings
The first three letters of a course’s code represent the sponsoring BU school or college. The second two letters indicate the academic department. The next three digits are the course number, and the final combination of a letter and a number indicates the course session and section. Use these keys to help understand the course codes.
Example: COM FT 310 B1—COM represents the College of Communication, FT represents the Film & Television Department, 310 is the number of the course, and B1 designates that the course runs during the Summer 2 session.
Boston University Summer Term Schools and Colleges |
|
| CAS | College of Arts & Sciences |
| CDS | Faculty of Computing and Data Sciences |
| CFA | College of Fine Arts |
| COM | College of Communication |
| ENG | College of Engineering |
| MET | Metropolitan College |
| QST | Questrom School of Business |
| SAR | College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College |
| SHA | School of Hospitality Administration |
| SSW | School of Social Work |
| STH | School of Theology |
| WED | Wheelock College of Education & Human Development |
Course Number/Level |
|
| 000–099 | Nondegree credit |
| 100–199 | Introductory or general undergraduate |
| 200–299 | Intermediate undergraduate |
| 300–499 | Advanced undergraduate |
| 500–599 | Advanced undergraduate, graduate |
| 600–799 | General graduate |
| 800–899 | Advanced graduate |
| 900–999 | Advanced graduate, directed study, and research |
Section Codes |
|
| A | Session 1 courses (A1, A2, A3) |
| B | Session 2 courses (B1, B2, B3) |
| C | Twelve-week courses (C1, C2) |
| O | Online courses (O1, O2, O3) |
In general, course numbers reflect the level of the course in terms of the type of information presented in the class and the expectations instructors have of students. In order to register for any 500-level course, you must provide an academic transcript with your application materials. In order to register for any course numbered 600 or above, you must provide an academic transcript and a copy of your most recent TOEFL/IELTS score (unofficial copies are accepted).
Checking the credits
During summer, most of the courses offered are four-credit courses. However, there are some courses that have fewer credits. Additionally, some courses require students to enroll in both a lecture and a discussion or laboratory section. Please check the course requirements and credit hours to ensure you are enrolling in enough credits to satisfy the full-time requirement. The number of credits a course earns is included in the course’s description (e.g., “4 cr.” indicates that the course earns four credits).
Getting approval for transfer credit
Approval to transfer credit back to your home institution after successful completion of BU Summer Term courses must be arranged with your home institution. Inquiries regarding Summer Term course selection should be directed to your advisor or the international office at your home institution. Before enrolling in Summer Term, please verify your home institution’s credit-transfer policies and obtain permission to transfer credits for specific courses. If you need a syllabus in order to get a course approved to transfer credits, please contact us.
