In appreciation of the converging nature of management skills and technology, the Administrative Sciences department collaborates with Metropolitan College’s departments of Actuarial Science and Computer Science. Degree candidates in either program may apply 8 credits from one degree toward a second degree in one of these disciplines, thereby reducing their work by two courses. Students must be accepted by both departments, but they may request that application materials such as references and transcripts be forwarded from the first program to the second.

• Actuarial Science
• Computer Information Systems
• Computer Science
• Telecommunication

The department reviews each student’s prior academic background in relation to their current professional standing to determine suitability. Candidates for admission to the degree program are selected on the basis of academic transcripts, academic and professional references, and often interviews. Degree candidates have six years to complete the program from the date of their first course.

Part-time students who hold a bachelor’s degree but have not applied as degree candidates may enroll in the department’s classes on a space-available basis for a maximum of two courses prior to obtaining acceptance to the program. Students should consult prerequisite requirements for the program to determine what courses would be appropriate in this situation. It is important to note that a maximum of one course (four credit hours) with a grade of B+ or better completed prior to acceptance, not used toward another degree, and taken no more than four years prior to matriculation, may be credited toward degree requirements with department approval. A written request on the appropriate department form must accompany the student’s application. Students requesting full-time admission are expected to have completed a minimum of one year of work experience.

International Applicants

Applicants who require an I-20 visa from Boston University must submit an International Student Data Form (ISDF), along with financial and other documentation as required by the International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO). Since financial aid is not available to foreign students, each international applicant will be asked to provide a financial declaration showing adequate funding for both tuition and living expenses for the duration of the program. All credentials must be submitted in English. International students must submit copies of current or recently issued visa or I-20 documentation. Boston University will not issue an I-20 without this information. Additional information may be obtained at bu.edu/isso.

International students must demonstrate an understanding of English, including the ability to read and write with proficiency. Students whose native language is not English must submit results from the following:

• The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Internet-Based Test (iBT), with a minimum total score of 84, and minimum scores in each section as follows: Reading—21; Listening—18; Speaking—23; and Writing—22
• The International English Language Testing System (IELTS), with a minimum total score of 6.5, and minimum scores of 6.5 in each section

For TOEFL, the institutional code for Metropolitan College graduate programs is 3087. There is no institutional code required for the IELTS.

Applicants are exempt from language testing if they:

• Completed a four-year undergraduate degree at an accredited college or university in a country where English is the standard language: Australia, The Bahamas, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Province of Québec), Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

For information on these tests, visit the TOEFL website at www.ets.org/toefl or the IELTS website at ielts.org. Information may also be obtained at United States embassies or consulates.

Students who do not meet the minimum TOEFL requirement may wish to contact Boston University’s Center for English Language & Orientation Programs (CELOP) for further information.

All application materials must be submitted in English. A copy of the original document must accompany translations of academic records and other materials. Records of university study should show courses, grades, type of degree received, and exact or approximate rank in class.

Transfer of Credits

A maximum of two graduate-level courses (8 credits), completed with a grade of B+ or better and not used toward another degree, may be transferred from an accredited university with approval from the Administrative Sciences department. The courses must have been completed no more than two years prior to matriculation. To request transfer of credits to the MSERM, students must fill out a transfer of credit form and attach all pertinent information.

Part-time students who hold a bachelor’s degree, but have not yet applied as degree candidates, may enroll in a maximum of two courses on a space-available basis. Before registering in any of our graduate courses (600 level or higher) you will need to provide the department with an undergraduate transcript confirming your degree from an accredited university. Please note that only two courses taken prior to acceptance into the MSERM program will be counted toward the degree.

Students accepted into the program who have already earned the Graduate Certificate in Enterprise Risk Management at MET have satisfied the specialization requirements of the MSERM and need only complete the Degree Core Courses and two electives to earn the master’s degree.

Academic Standing

No grade lower than B– may be applied toward degree, certificate, or diploma requirements. Students with less than a 3.0 cumulative GPA will be placed on academic probation. Students on academic probation must make satisfactory progress toward achieving a minimum of 3.0 by the following semester, and must be in a position to graduate with a 3.0 or better within the remaining program courses. While grades of B or B– are normally considered passing, these grades will not assist in raising an unsatisfactory GPA to a satisfactory level. Therefore, students must obtain a minimum grade of B+ during a probation period.

Students who, in the determination of the department and based on past academic performance, are not in a position to raise their GPA to the necessary level to graduate within the remaining courses will be dismissed from the program. Students who have not removed themselves from academic probation after one semester for full-time status (three semesters for part-time status) will be dismissed from the program.

International students studying on campus are required to demonstrate proficiency in written and oral English skills, and must complete the following course unless waived by the department:

Prerequisites cannot be applied toward degree requirements. Students are expected to satisfy the program prerequisites in their first semester.