Start with the degree and school
Boston University’s catalogue spans 17 schools and colleges and more than 300 programmes of study, but that range is not a single uniform course list. Begin with the award level and school, then compare the major, curriculum, prerequisites, entry term and campus. The BU majors catalogue lists programmes across the College of Arts & Sciences, College of Communication, College of Engineering, College of Fine Arts, College of General Studies, Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences, Questrom School of Business, Sargent College, Wheelock College and additional schools. Examples include Biology and Economics in Arts & Sciences, Advertising in Communication, Aerospace Engineering in Engineering, and business programmes in Questrom. These examples illustrate disciplinary range; they do not establish the content of every degree. Follow the programme-detail link for required courses, electives, concentrations and any professional accreditation. If you are comparing two majors, map first-year prerequisites and later required sequences side by side instead of relying on a short catalogue description.
Compare curriculum, not just the major title
A major’s name does not tell you how much flexibility, laboratory work, studio instruction, clinical practice or quantitative coursework it contains. Open the school’s curriculum or bulletin and look at the required course sequence, elective space, prerequisites and progression rules. BU permits students to consider multiple majors, minors and electives, but whether a combination can be completed on time depends on overlapping requirements, course availability and advising. A cross-school option may involve additional applications or capacity limits. The catalogue links to degree details, and the school is the responsible source for current course offerings. Ask how often required courses run and whether the schedule permits a second major or study abroad. Course codes and titles can change; use the current bulletin for the student’s matriculation year and check with an adviser before changing plans. Do not treat a sample schedule or an individual student’s route as a guaranteed curriculum for everyone.
Entry term and programme availability
The BU major list flags programmes that are unavailable for January admission. This matters if you are applying for a spring start: the university may offer January entry while a particular major does not. The catalogue also states that the School of Hospitality Administration does not accept first-year student applications. That is a first-year route restriction, not evidence that the school lacks a programme or that no transfer route exists. Check the exact major listing for first-year, transfer and term availability, then verify that the application choice matches it. BU’s College of General Studies is another distinct path: BU describes a two-year interdisciplinary global liberal-arts programme, with a Boston semester and six-week London summer, followed by progression to a major in another school. Confirm how the pathway affects total degree timing, course selection and costs. Do not assume that every student starts in the same school or follows the same sequence.
Interdisciplinary and global options
BU’s breadth makes interdisciplinary study possible, but the practical question is how an option fits the degree. The university reports 170+ study-abroad programmes. That is a portfolio count, not a guarantee that every major can travel in every term or that all credits will satisfy major requirements. Compare the intended destination, language or course prerequisites, programme cost, application process and credit approval with the academic department. Some opportunities are tied to a school or course sequence; consult the study-abroad office and programme adviser before assuming transfer credit. Students interested in the College of General Studies should treat its London summer as part of a particular curricular pathway, not a general study-abroad entitlement. Ask whether participation changes the graduation plan, housing arrangements or financial aid. If an overseas term conflicts with required labs, clinical placements or a sequential course, the academic calendar may matter more than the headline number of destinations.
Examples across BU schools
The school context helps students understand the kinds of learning pathways available. Arts & Sciences includes disciplines such as Biology, Economics and American Studies. The College of Communication lists Advertising and other media-oriented study. Engineering offers majors such as Aerospace Engineering, with term restrictions shown for selected programmes. Questrom is BU’s business school; its applicant math preparation is described separately on the international admissions page. Sargent focuses on health and rehabilitation sciences, while Wheelock covers education and human development. These are orientation examples drawn from BU’s catalogue, not a ranked list or recommendation. A student should check the current departmental page for actual course requirements, concentrations, experiential learning and professional qualification implications. If a field leads to a regulated occupation, verify the relevant licensure requirements as well as the degree curriculum; a university major alone may not qualify a graduate to practise in every jurisdiction.
A practical course comparison
Before selecting a BU programme, make a short comparison sheet with the exact degree title, school, first-year or transfer eligibility, entry term, required subjects, curriculum link, campus location and annual cost basis. Add the courses that interest you and note whether they are required, elective or examples only. Check whether you can add a minor or second major without delaying completion, and ask the school about class registration and access to limited-capacity courses. For international applicants, align prerequisite planning with your curriculum and predicted results. Compare the intended major with its placement or career information only when that data is programme-specific; university-wide statistics do not establish the outcome for one degree. Finally, save the current bulletin and application page for the year you intend to enter. Course content and availability evolve, so an older catalogue remains useful for orientation but should not be treated as the current required sequence.