New degree programs available to Hanscom personnel

  • Published
  • By Brandi Ruiz
  • Hanscom Education Center
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Boston University-Metropolitan College and the 66th Air Base Wing signed a memorandum of understanding Tuesday that will now provide graduate computer science degree and certificate programs to the Hanscom community.

Hanscom and BU signed an initial MOU in August 2004, making a Master of Science in Business Administration available, but the most recent Hanscom AFB Education Needs Assessment identified interest in the Master of Science degree in Computer Information Systems and a set of graduate certificates which can lead to other master's degrees. 

"These graduate programs will afford Air Force personnel the opportunity to obtain their educational objectives and to enhance their capability in on-the-job training," said Steve Ramos, program manager at the Hanscom Education Center. 

Those eligible to attend the BU Metropolitan classes at Hanscom are only limited by their ability to gain access to the base, said Mr. Ramos. Active-duty, reserve and guard members are all eligible, along with Defense Department civilians, contractors and military dependents. 

Furthermore, said Gerard Keegan, the director of BU programs at Hanscom, "Advanced education provides Air Force personnel with the potential to accomplish the complex tasks associated with the management and utilization of modern, sophisticated Air Force technologies and weapon systems." 

With the updated MOU between Boston University and Hanscom having been approved, Mr. Keegan will begin hosting informational briefings about the new graduate programs. While the current Master of Science in Business Administration degree program is being phased out and is closed to new students, with the last classes offered on base during the summer 2010 semester, BU is now authorized to offer degree and certificate programs which cover both information technology and business areas. 

From the information technology area, BU will offer: 

- The Master of Science in Computer Information Systems degree program
- The Information Technology Graduate Certificate (also part of the MSCIS degree program)
- The Information Security Graduate Certificate (also part of the MSCIS degree program) 

From the business area, BU will offer courses and graduate certificates leading to the Master of Science in Administrative Studies (MSAS - in class) degree program or the Master of Science in Management (MSM - online) degree program, including: 

- The Project Management Graduate Certificate
- The International Marketing Graduate Certificate
- The Banking and Financial Services Graduate Certificate
- The Risk Management and Organizational Continuity Graduate Certificate 

For more information visit www.bu.edu/military or contact Mr. Keegan at (781) 377-3454 on Hanscom, (617) 358-3095 at BU, or gkeegan@bu.edu.