These instructions are specifically for students who want to take courses at the College of Communication as non-degree students. If you wish to take courses in another college at BU (like MET or CFA…), please follow the other college’s enrollment procedures.

The College of Communication (COM) at Boston University welcomes applications from special/non-degree students. You may be investigating graduate degrees, completing requirements for other degree programs, or looking for exciting and challenging courses for personal development.

The fee for auditing in-person courses or taking courses for credit is the same. Information regarding tuition and fees can be found here.

Non-degree students are not eligible for financial assistance in the form of federal loans or COM merit scholarships.

COM offers a full schedule of courses at all levels. COM Non-degree students can only look at College = COM courses that are 500 level and above.

  • Students cannot enroll in COM undergraduate courses as a non-degree student.
  • Please be aware of flagged or prerequisite courses.
  • Interested applicants must have an undergraduate degree conferred from an accredited university before applying to enroll in a COM course.
  • A maximum of two non-degree courses (8 credits) may be transferred if the student is admitted to a master’s, certificate, or doctoral program.
  • Please note, that you must reapply each academic semester (fall and spring) to enroll in classes as a non-degree student.
  • Admission to any course is contingent upon: (1) the instructor’s approval, (2) fulfillment of any prerequisites, and (3) space availability in the course.
  • The College of Communication allows all degree-seeking students to enroll before a non-degree student may enroll in a course.

Civic Science Certificate Online Classes

The brand new Civic Science Certificate offers COM’s only online classes. The graduate certificate consists of four online courses (16 credits total) that build your expertise in science communication in an asynchronous format that enables you to learn the content at your own pace and convenience. If you prefer to take a single class in the certificate program, please follow the non-degree/special student instructions below.

Registration Information

Taking courses as a non-degree or special student at COM requires that you follow several steps that must be completed before the start of the first day of class each semester. Calendar: www.bu.edu/studentaccountingservices/resources/withdrawal-and-tuition-refund-schedule

  1. Identify the class that you would like to take, here.
    • Enter the correct search terms below to find a COM course.
    • Semester: Fall or Spring
    • College: COM
    • Dept.: Choose either COMFT (Film and Television), COMEM (Emerging Media Studies), COMJO (Journalism), or COMCM (Mass Communication, Advertising and Public Relations), COMCO (Communications Core))
    • Class Number: 500 or above
  2. Complete Non-degree Application form below:
    • Emailed approval from the course’s professor. Please contact kbring10@bu.edu if you do not have the professor’s email address. Many COM faculty can be found here.
    • Upload a copy of your unofficial or official undergraduate transcript
  3. After your application is approved by COM’s Graduate Affairs Office, you will be enrolled in the course through Boston University’s MyBU Portal.
  4. Pay for your course(s) in full with Boston University’s Student Accounting Services office.

Post-registration Refund

After registration, please take note of the tuition refund schedule on BU’s Registrar’s website.  Registration and other fees are non-refundable as of the first day of the semester.

If you are enrolling in an online class, please take note of the tuition refund schedule.

Academic Record as a Non-Degree Special Student

An academic record is maintained for each special student, and the student’s work will be graded and recorded following the prevailing policies of the College of Communication.

If you decide in the future to seek admission to a graduate program as a degree candidate, you will be doing so in competition with all other applicants for admission to that program. If admission is gained as a degree candidate, credits earned as a special student may not necessarily apply toward the degree. No more than two courses taken for credit may be transferable if the student is admitted to a master’s or doctoral program.

International Students and Scholars

Generally, international students are ineligible to apply as a non-degree/special student.  Questions regarding visa status and or eligibility should be referred to the International Students and Scholars Office at Boston University.

Boston University/WBUR Employees and Tuition Remission

All BU employees will follow the same process/policies mentioned above. It is the employee’s responsibility to apply for tuition remission with Human Resources.

Summer Classes

The process and policies mentioned above are only applicable to courses offered during the academic year (fall and spring semesters). Students who wish to take classes in the summer should see the Boston University Summer Term. Please follow the instructions listed there and direct all questions to BU Summer Term.

  • Keep in mind that no more than two courses (8 credits) may be transferable if the student is admitted to a master’s, certificate, or doctoral program.

Non-Degree Special Student Registration Request

Please email comgrad@bu.edu with questions.

MM slash DD slash YYYY
Name(Required)
Address(Required)
Have you ever enrolled at Boston University before?(Required)
If you do not have a BU ID number because you have not studied or worked at BU, please enter 'no ID'.
When do you plan to enroll in a class?(Required)
Please see the semester calendar here for reference - www.bu.edu/reg/calendars/semester.
Max. file size: 100 MB.
Max. file size: 100 MB.
Upload a copy of your undergraduate transcript with degree confirmation.