UMass Boston offers a number of academic programs for both degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking students. To learn more, select an academic program from the lists below and click Go.
Academic Structure
Schools and colleges
- College of Liberal Arts
- College of Management
- College of Nursing & Health Sciences
- College of Public & Community Service
- College of Science & Mathematics
- Graduate College of Education
- McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies
Administration
Provost and Vice Chancellor
for Academic Affairs
is the chief academic officer of the campus
Office of Graduate Studies
administers all graduate programs in conjunction with the
schools and colleges
Office
of Undergraduate Education
oversees the University's General Education requirements in
conjunction with the five undergraduate colleges
Division of Corporate,
Continuing & Distance Education
administers off-campus, weekend & night programs, summer
& winter sessions.
UMassOnline
An innovative distance-learning collaboration among all the
UMass campuses.
Degree seeking and non-degree seeking students
Degree seeking students are those students who have applied to and been accepted to specific programs that grant certificates or a formal degree (bachelor's, master's and doctorate). Students seeking a formal degree are also referred to as matriculated students.
Non-degree seeking students are those who may be taking courses for professional or personal enrichment at UMass Boston. Many students considering a degree program will first enroll in a course as a non-degree student as a way of preparing or evaluating their ability and interest in a program. Some programs have specific policies about how many courses someone can take as a non-degree student. At the beginning of each semester, there is a special period reserved for non-degree student registration.
Program tracks and concentrations
UMass Boston has been able to expand its academic offerings by creating tracks or concentrations of a broader degree-granting program. This allows the university to offer modern and specific areas of study around a core of established degrees. For example, our Green Chemistry Program is a track within the PhD in Environmental Sciences. The actual degree awarded is Environmental Sciences while the student's transcript will reflect the specialization in Green Chemistry.
- Doctoral: PhD and EdD programs and tracks
- CAGS: Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study are offered to students who have already achieved a master's-level degree
- Master's: MS, MA, and MEd programs and tracks
- Bachelor's: BA and BS programs and tracks as well concentrations within our management degree offered by the College of Management
- Minors: Minors are available to students seeking a bachelor's degree in another area of study
- Certificates: At both the undergraduate and graduate level, we offer programs that award a certificate of completion and in some cases prepare students for government or industry certification in a particular field
- Programs of study: Special groupings of courses. In several cases the programs are open to both degree-seeking students, who will have the program noted on a their transcripts, and non-degree-seeking students, who receive a certificate at the program's completion.