Online Courses

College of Arts & Sciences

Please note: CAS EC 102 O2 Introduction to Macroeconomic Analysis, CAS PS 101 O2 General Psychology, QST SM 101 O2 Introduction to Management, CAS SO 241S O2 Sociology of Gender and CAS MA 121S O2 Calculus for the Life and Sciences are FULL.
  • Eating and Drinking in the Ancient World

    CAS AR 280

    Prereq: First-Year Writing Seminar (e.g., CAS WR 100 or CAS WR 120) or consent of instructor. Survey of the archaeological evidence of the diets of human societies, from earliest humans to the present. Emphasis on the remains of plants, animals, and humans and what they tell us about ancient food and drink within their social contexts. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry I, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Writing-Intensive Course. 4 cr. Tuition: $3260

    Summer 1 (May 13-June 27)

    Summer 2 (June 30-August 15)

    BU Financial Aid: Summer Term HUB Courses

    Financial aid may be available to BU need-based scholarship recipients for certain HUB courses in summer 2025, including this one. For more information, please contact BU Financial Assistance at 617-353-2965 or finaid@bu.edu. Check out Summer 2025 HUB Course Scholarship eligibility requirements to see if you qualify.

    For information about technology requirements for online courses at Boston University, see bu.edu/online/online-learning/technology. BU Virtual can be reached at buvirtual@bu.edu or 617-358-1960 for additional information.

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  • Introduction to Film & Media Aesthetics

    CAS CI 200

    Online offering. Introduction to fundamental concepts for the analysis and understanding of film and media. Key concepts of formal composition (e.g., editing, mise-en-scene, cinematography, sound and more) over a diverse set of media texts. Foundational skills in analysis appropriate to film, television, and moving-image media. Effective Fall 2022, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Digital/Multimedia Expression, Aesthetic Exploration, Critical Thinking. 4 cr. Tuition: $3260

    Summer 2 (June 30-August 15)

    BU Financial Aid: Summer Term HUB Courses

    Financial aid may be available to BU need-based scholarship recipients for certain HUB courses in summer 2025, including this one. For more information, please contact BU Financial Assistance at 617-353-2965 or finaid@bu.edu. Check out Summer 2025 HUB Course Scholarship eligibility requirements to see if you qualify.

    For information about technology requirements for online courses at Boston University, see bu.edu/online/online-learning/technology. BU Virtual can be reached at buvirtual@bu.edu or 617-358-1960 for additional information.

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  • Introduction to Computer Science 1

    CAS CS 111

    Online offering. This course is a rigorous introduction to programming for students intending to major or minor in Computer Science, Data Science, and related disciplines. The course introduces numeric, string, and list data, functions, decisions, recursion, iteration, and object- orientation. Applications include matrix operations, image manipulation, games, rules-based and generative artificial intelligence, and searching. Learning to program is a skill that can only be learned through practice -- it cannot be acquired from merely watching a series of lectures. Rather, students will learn through a combination of short readings; mini-lecture videos; interactive examples; and complex problem sets. Students must actively engage with these examples and problem sets to develop both the muscle memory of programming as well as a mental model of how programs execute and interact with data. Students will learn new concepts independently and attend regular workshop sessions to develop debugging skills and to obtain assistance with problem sets. The structure of the online class demands that students be intrinsically motivated to acquire programming skills, so that they will be motivated to keep up with a demanding schedule of learning activities and problem sets. To be successful in this course, students must be prepared to dedicate approximately 25-30 hours per week to the learning objectives. Students must have a Mac or Windows computer on which they can install the required software for the course. Carries MCS divisional credit in CAS. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Creativity/Innovation, Critical Thinking. 4 cr. Tuition: $3260

    Summer 1 (May 13-June 27)

    Summer 2 (June 30-August 15)

    CAS CS 111 Online: Introduction to Computer Science 1

    Students must register for a LEC and a LAB. Instructor Permission Required.

    CS111 is a rigorous programming class, in which each topic/problem set builds upon the previous ones. Due to the intense Summer Term schedule, it is not possible to catch up from missing any topic or problem set.

    Students must plan for 25-30 hours of work per week. There are 2 problem set workshops per week, and students need to dedicate 5-8 hours of active preparation before each workshop. It is not possible to do the problem sets without adequate preparation.

    There is zero tolerance for use of Chat GPT or other AI tools to solve problem sets, quizzes, and exams. Students suspected of using these tools will be subject to oral examination by the instructor, and students unable to explain their work or solve similar problems will receive an automatic grade of F in the course. Students who refuse an oral exam will receive an F in the course.

    Students wishing to take the course must email Prof. Aaron Stevens azs@bu.edu to seek approval. If he approves, he will help facilitate your registration through the Summer Term office.

    SUM 1 Schedule
    Lecture: O1
    Lab Workshops meet Tuesday and Friday
    W1 – 10am-12pm
    W3 - 12pm-2pm
    W5 - 3pm-5pm
    W7 - 6pm-8pm
    W9 - 8pm-10pm

    SUM 2 Schedule
    Lecture: O2
    Lab Workshops meet Tuesday and Friday
    W2 – 10am-12pm
    W4 - 12pm-2pm
    W6 - 8pm-10pm

    BU Financial Aid: Summer Term HUB Courses

    Financial aid may be available to BU need-based scholarship recipients for certain HUB courses in summer 2025, including this one. For more information, please contact BU Financial Assistance at 617-353-2965 or finaid@bu.edu. Check out Summer 2025 HUB Course Scholarship eligibility requirements to see if you qualify.

    For information about technology requirements for online courses at Boston University, see bu.edu/online/online-learning/technology. BU Virtual can be reached at buvirtual@bu.edu or 617-358-1960 for additional information.

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  • Combinatoric Structures

    CAS CS 131

    Representation, analysis, techniques, and principles for manipulation of basic combinatoric structures used in computer science. Rigorous reasoning is emphasized. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Critical Thinking. 4 cr. Tuition: $3260

    Summer 1 (May 13-June 27)

    Summer 2 (June 30-August 15)

    BU Financial Aid: Summer Term HUB Courses

    Financial aid may be available to BU need-based scholarship recipients for certain HUB courses in summer 2025, including this one. For more information, please contact BU Financial Assistance at 617-353-2965 or finaid@bu.edu. Check out Summer 2025 HUB Course Scholarship eligibility requirements to see if you qualify.

    For information about technology requirements for online courses at Boston University, see bu.edu/online/online-learning/technology. BU Virtual can be reached at buvirtual@bu.edu or 617-358-1960 for additional information.

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  • Introductory Microeconomic Analysis

    CAS EC 101

    The first semester of a standard two-semester sequence is for those considering further work in management or economics. Coverage includes the economics of households, business firms, and markets; consumer behavior and the demand for commodities; production, costs, and the supply of commodities; price determination; competition and monopoly; efficiency of resource allocation; governmental regulation; income distribution; and poverty. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry I, Ethical Reasoning, Critical Thinking. 4 cr. Tuition: $3260

    Summer 1 (May 13-June 27)

    BU Financial Aid: Summer Term HUB Courses

    Financial aid may be available to BU need-based scholarship recipients for certain HUB courses in summer 2025, including this one. For more information, please contact BU Financial Assistance at 617-353-2965 or finaid@bu.edu. Check out Summer 2025 HUB Course Scholarship eligibility requirements to see if you qualify.

    For information about technology requirements for online courses at Boston University, see bu.edu/online/online-learning/technology. BU Virtual can be reached at buvirtual@bu.edu or 617-358-1960 for additional information.

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  • Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis

    CAS EC 102

    The second semester of a standard two-semester sequence is for those considering further work in management or economics. National economic performance; the problems of recession, unemployment, and inflation; money creation; government spending and taxation; economic policies for full employment and price stability; and international trade and payments. Carries social science divisional credit in CAS. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry I, Global Citizenship, and Intercultural Literacy. 4 cr. Tuition: $3260

    Summer 2 (June 30-August 15)

    BU Financial Aid: Summer Term HUB Courses

    Financial aid may be available to BU need-based scholarship recipients for certain HUB courses in summer 2025, including this one. For more information, please contact BU Financial Assistance at 617-353-2965 or finaid@bu.edu. Check out Summer 2025 HUB Course Scholarship eligibility requirements to see if you qualify.

    For information about technology requirements for online courses at Boston University, see bu.edu/online/online-learning/technology. BU Virtual can be reached at buvirtual@bu.edu or 617-358-1960 for additional information.

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College of Fine Arts

  • Classic Theatre through a Contemporary Lens

    CFA TH 401

    Undergraduate Prerequisites: First Year Writing Seminar (CAS WR120 or equivalent), CFA TH 101, and at least one of the following: CFA TH 102, CFA TH 201, CFA TH 202; or consent of instructor - Online offering. Explores and applies contemporary theories, ideas, and research to canonical works of theatre. Considers how race, gender, identity, nationality, structure, and politics consort in the making, production, distribution, reception, and legacy of classic works. Students learn to approach theatre as a dramaturg/scholar would: by reading texts and generating writing and projects with a theatrical sensibility, asking rigorous questions of all. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing- Intensive Course, Research and Information Literacy 3 cr. Tuition: $2445

    Summer 2 (June 30-August 15)

    BU Financial Aid: Summer Term HUB Courses

    Financial aid may be available to BU need-based scholarship recipients for certain HUB courses in summer 2025, including this one. For more information, please contact BU Financial Assistance at 617-353-2965 or finaid@bu.edu. Check out Summer 2025 HUB Course Scholarship eligibility requirements to see if you qualify.

    For information about technology requirements for online courses at Boston University, see bu.edu/online/online-learning/technology. BU Virtual can be reached at buvirtual@bu.edu or 617-358-1960 for additional information.

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College of Communication

  • Super Heroes in Film

    COM FT 460

    Online Offering. Focusing on films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), this course explores the thematic and aesthetic aspects that have made super hero films so popular. Students learn and utilize basic film studies terminology (the close-up, the long take, cross-cutting, etc.) in order to understand how filmmakers create meaning through the use of specific cinematic techniques. In addition, the course contextualizes MCU films by explaining how each has operated within Marvel's cinematic history and its competition with DC. Taking the films themselves and their historical context into consideration, students are introduced to a basic understanding of the field of film studies and the types of analyses those working in the field undertake. 4 cr. Tuition: $3260

    Summer 2 (June 30-August 8)

    Read a BU Today article about this course: A Scholarly Take on Superheroes.
    For information about technology requirements for online courses at Boston University, see bu.edu/online/online-learning/technology. BU Virtual can be reached at buvirtual@bu.edu or 617-358-1960 for additional information.

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Questrom School of Business

  • Business Law, Contracts, and Regulation

    QST LA 245

    Undergraduate Prerequisites: QST SM131 and sophomore standing ¿ This course provides a broad overview of the fundamental legal issues of significance for business. It examines contracts, business organizations, employment law, intellectual property, and international law. It explores the regulatory environment affecting businesses in the United States and around the globe. The course¿s goals include understanding the basic rules of business law and the underlying social policies and ethical dilemmas that affect business operations and investments. 4 cr. Tuition: $3260

    Summer 2 (June 30-August 8)

    For information about technology requirements for online courses at Boston University, see bu.edu/online/online-learning/technology. BU Virtual can be reached at buvirtual@bu.edu or 617-358-1960 for additional information.

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  • Introduction to Management

    QST SM 101

    Online offering. A broad introduction to the nature and activities of business enterprises within the United States' economic and political framework. Course content introduces economic systems, essential elements of business organization, production, human resource management, marketing, finance, and risk management. Key objectives of the course are development of business vocabulary and a fundamental understanding of how businesses make money. This course is intended for non-business majors. It may not be taken by Questrom students for credit nor can it be used by Boston University students toward the Business Administration minor. Non-Questrom students may register for this course directly via the Student Link. 4 cr. Tuition: $3260

    Summer 2 (June 30-August 8)

    For information about technology requirements for online courses at Boston University, see bu.edu/online/online-learning/technology. BU Virtual can be reached at buvirtual@bu.edu or 617-358-1960 for additional information.

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School of Hospitality Administration

  • Introduction to Hospitality

    SHA HF 100

    This introductory course is open to all BU students and is the prerequisite for School of Hospitality courses. Students gain an historical perspective and identify current events and trends in lodging, restaurants, and event management. Provides an overview of the global hospitality/tourism industry, including the critical elements of managing services. The Boston market, multimedia assignments, and team-based projects are integrated into the learning environment. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Digital/Multimedia Expression, Teamwork/Collaboration. 4 cr. Tuition: $3260

    Summer 1 (May 13-June 27)

    BU Financial Aid: Summer Term HUB Courses

    Financial aid may be available to BU need-based scholarship recipients for certain HUB courses in summer 2025, including this one. For more information, please contact BU Financial Assistance at 617-353-2965 or finaid@bu.edu. Check out Summer 2025 HUB Course Scholarship eligibility requirements to see if you qualify.

    For information about technology requirements for online courses at Boston University, see bu.edu/online/online-learning/technology. BU Virtual can be reached at buvirtual@bu.edu or 617-358-1960 for additional information.

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