MS in Innovation & Entrepreneurship
The Master of Science in Innovation & Entrepreneurship (MSIE) at Boston University’s Metropolitan College positions students to apply leading-edge innovation and technology to the challenges of rapidly changing markets and industries, as well as to intensive research and development, new product development, international competition, and increasingly mobile, global, professional contexts.
The MSIE degree provides students with a versatile set of innovation competencies, alongside specialized knowledge in developing and navigating business transformation driven by strategic technological innovation. The curriculum provides a comprehensive understanding of key concepts applicable to a wide range of roles in multiple technology-driven or technology-using industries. From product development and marketing to project management, business analytics, financial management, and beyond, graduates learn to excel in diverse business sectors, including consumer electronics, transportation, communications, retail, healthcare, luxury goods, financial services, and more. The expertise acquired can be applied—in start-ups as well as existing firms—toward ensuring enterprise continuity, risk management, ethical foundations, project agility, and sustainability amid the increasingly rapid rise of digital innovations in a competitive global business landscape.
This program requires an average of 8–16 months to complete. Students may begin the program in the fall, spring, or summer term.
Learning Outcomes
- The ability to communicate and present business opportunities effectively using financial analysis, investment pitches, market research, and data-driven assessments.
- The ability to apply innovative and analytical thinking to develop, evaluate, implement, and scale new business models, products, processes, or services.
- The ability to use data analytics and market analysis to assess demand, uncertainty, and feasibility for business innovations.
- Demonstration of leadership by building and managing innovation teams using ethical principles and strategic decisionmaking.
- The ability to develop and execute industry-based projects or start-ups, emphasizing knowledge of innovation capital, networking, and digital, technological, human, social, and financial resource management.
Admissions Information
For current admissions information, please visit the Metropolitan College website.
Degree Requirements
A total of eight courses (32 units) is required.
Students are required to finish the core curriculum and a concentration in Strategy, Technology, or Sustainability.
Core Courses (four courses/16 units)
- MET AD 514 The Innovation Process: Developing New Products and Services
- MET AD 667 Innovation, Global Competitiveness, and National Economic Development
- MET AD 740 Planning and Operating New Ventures
- MET AD 746 Business Law and Regulation for Entrepreneurs
Concentrations
Strategy
The Strategy concentration equips students with the analytical and tactical knowledge to develop competitive advantage, drive business expansion, and create venture success in niche or global markets. Required courses in marketing, finance, and project value strategies provide a foundation for evaluating opportunities and promoting innovation, with an emphasis on managing risk and uncertainty. Electives enable students to further customize their learning in areas such as business analytics, supply chain strategy, entrepreneurial decisionmaking, or risk management, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of leading strategically and scaling effectively in the interconnected global market space.
Learning Outcomes
- Develop and apply strategic frameworks to assess business opportunities, manage innovation, guide project management, and enhance competitive advantage in rapidly changing markets.
- Evaluate and implement financial and marketing strategies to secure venture funding, optimize resource allocation, and scale business expansion in competitive conditions.
- Use data-driven decisionmaking to analyze market trends, assess risk, formulate business strategies, and optimize use of new technologies.
- Demonstrate leadership and negotiation skills to manage innovation teams, resolve organizational conflicts, and implement strategic initiatives effectively.
Concentration Requirements
In addition to the MS in Innovation & Entrepreneurship core courses (16 units), students pursuing a concentration in Strategy must also take the following courses:
(four courses/16 units)
- MET AD 737 Innovative Marketing Techniques
- MET AD 744 Venture Finance
- MET AD 782 Project Value Strategies
- Plus one of the following:
- MET AD 503 Enterprise Risk Management
- MET AD 515 Project Management
- MET AD 516 Project Leadership and Emerging Communication Technologies
- MET AD 571 Business Analytics Foundations
- MET AD 576 Social Media Marketing
- MET AD 582 Entrepreneurship in Health IT and Biotech
- MET AD 618 Technology Risk Management
- MET AD 680 Global Supply Chains
- MET AD 715 Quantitative and Qualitative Decisionmaking
- MET AD 725 Negotiations and Organizational Conflict Resolution
Technology
The Technology concentration provides students with the technical and analytical skills needed to build innovation through data-driven decisionmaking and emerging technologies. Students gain expertise in business analytics, Python, and SQL while exploring venture financing methodologies to support technology-driven ventures. Students also have the option to choose courses in areas such as blockchain finance, AI-driven business analytics, web and data mining, and enterprise risk analytics, equipping them to leverage leading-edge technologies for business launch, expansion, and ongoing innovation.
Learning Outcomes
- Apply business analytics, Python, and SQL to extract insights, evaluate market trends, and support data-driven decisionmaking in technology-driven ventures.
- Develop financial and risk assessment models to analyze investment opportunities and optimize funding strategies for technology-based startups and enterprises.
- Use emerging technologies such as blockchain, AI, and web analytics to enhance business operations, improve efficiency, and drive innovation.
- Integrate advanced data mining and quantitative methods to identify patterns, forecast trends, and create competitive advantages in entrepreneurial and corporate technology initiatives.
Concentration Requirements
In addition to the MS in Innovation & Entrepreneurship core courses (16 units), students pursuing a concentration in Technology must also take the following courses:
(four courses/16 units)
- MET AD 571 Business Analytics Foundations
- MET AD 599 Introduction to Python and SQL for Business Analytics
- MET AD 744 Venture Finance
- Plus one of the following:
- MET AD 528 Blockchain Finance
- MET AD 561 Financial Analytics
- MET AD 587 Interdisciplinary Methods for Quantitative Finance
- MET AD 616 Enterprise Risk Analytics
- MET AD 685 Quantitative Methods for Finance
- MET AD 688 Cloud Analytics for Business
- MET AD 698 Applied Generative AI for Business Analytics
- MET AD 699 Data Mining for Business Analytics
- MET CS 688 Web Mining and Graph Analytics
Sustainability
The Sustainability concentration prepares students with the knowledge and capabilities to develop socially responsible, ethically grounded, and environmentally sustainable innovative and entrepreneurial business solutions. Students explore environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investments, social entrepreneurship, and venture financing strategies to drive impact-driven enterprises and sustainable market transformations. By integrating leadership, ethical decisionmaking, and regulatory insights, students gain skills to launch, transform, and manage innovative start-up or existing businesses to align financial success with long-term environmental and social responsibility.
Learning Outcomes
- Assess the financial, social, and environmental impacts of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investments and sustainability-driven business models to develop responsible and profitable innovation strategies.
- Analyze global sustainability trends, regulatory frameworks, and market dynamics to identify opportunities for innovation in sustainable entrepreneurship.
- Amplify sustainable business models by integrating ESG principles and practices to drive long-term financial and societal impact in global markets.
- Apply ethical leadership and impact-driven financial strategies to design and implement sustainable business solutions that address environmental and societal challenges in the global, digital context.
Concentration Requirements
In addition to the MS in Innovation & Entrepreneurship core courses (16 units), students pursuing a concentration in Sustainability must also take the following courses:
(four courses/16 units)
- MET AD 580 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Investments
- MET AD 633 Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- MET AD 744 Venture Finance
- Plus one of the following:
- MET AD 511 International Business, Economics, and Cultures
- MET AD 581 Energy Transition: Markets and Regulation
- MET AD 619 Applied Neuromarketing Research and Ethics
- MET AD 634 Entrepreneurial Leadership and Ethics
- MET AD 678 Financial Regulation and Ethics
- MET AR 670 Creative Start-ups: From Idea to Impact
- MET UA 549 Planning Sustainable and Climate-Adapted Urban Futures
- MET UA 617 Actionable Sustainability
Master’s Thesis Option (two courses/8 units)
Students have the option to complete a master’s thesis in addition to the program’s eight-course (32-unit) requirement. The thesis must be completed within 12 months and is available to MSIE candidates who have completed at least five courses toward their degree and have a GPA of 3.7 or higher. Students are responsible for finding a thesis advisor and a principal reader within the department. The advisor must be a full-time faculty member; the principal reader may be a part-time faculty member with a doctorate. Permission must be obtained by the department.
- MET AD 800 Master’s Thesis I
- MET AD 801 Master’s Thesis II
