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 flexible 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 BU’s growing portfolio of online programs in high-demand fields, developed in collaboration with top tier faculty and researchers at Boston University.
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.
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.
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 and diverse audience. Our flagship degrees, including the 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.
BU Virtual meets learners where they are, with flexible online programs designed for working professionals and students at different stages of their academic and career journeys. Whether you want to build new skills, deepen your expertise, or prepare for new opportunities, BU offers online degree and certificate programs that support your goals.
In partnership with faculty across Boston University’s schools and colleges, BU Virtual expands access to the University’s research, teaching, and innovation. Explore online programs that connect you to BU’s academic excellence, real-world relevance, and global community.
Software development is undergoing one of the most significant shifts in its history. Artificial intelligence is no longer just a tool developers use—it is becoming embedded in how software is built, deployed, and even how it behaves in production. On April 24, Professor Ed Solovey (Electrical and Computer Engineering) and collaborator Osama Alshaykh will present […]
Boston University’s Online MS in Strategic Communication Communication leaders today sit at the intersection of strategy, technology, and trust. A single product launch now spans paid, earned, shared, and owned channels simultaneously. A crisis can escalate from a Slack screenshot to a board-level issue in hours. And AI is rewriting the economics of content, research, […]
Artificial intelligence arrived in classrooms before most schools had a plan for it. Students started using it first. Teachers started adapting next. Administrators are still writing the policies. In the span of two school years, AI in education went from a novelty to a daily reality. Now the question is how to engage with it […]
The loudest voices on AI strategy inside most companies are engineers. That makes sense, they built the systems after all. But walk into any room where AI initiatives are stalling, and the problems on the whiteboard are rarely technical. They're about which problems to solve, how to fund them, how to govern them, how to […]
At Boston University, research is the driving force behind innovation that spans industries and shapes the future. BU empowers faculty and students to tackle complex global challenges, producing thousands of publications each year and fueling breakthroughs that extend far beyond campus. Learn more about the innovators whose work powers discoveries on and off campus. Boston […]
Most organizations have tried AI by now. They've built a chatbot, run a pilot, maybe automated a handful of internal tasks. But there's a meaningful difference between experimenting with AI and running it as part of how the business actually operates. That difference is what enterprise AI is about. If your job already involves deploying […]
In February 2026, Governor Maura Healey announced that every Massachusetts resident could access Google's AI Professional Certificate — and a full suite of career training programs — at no cost, through a new statewide partnership with Grow with Google. The courses, which normally run $49 a month, cover AI tools, cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing, […]
Earning a master’s degree is a significant investment, but how long does it really take? The answer depends on your goals and schedule structure. At Boston University, online master’s programs are designed with flexibility in mind. Whether you’re looking to accelerate your path or spread out your coursework, understanding your options can help you plan […]