Academic Progress and Graduation

University Policy

School of Management Policy

Undergraduate

To obtain a bachelor’s degree, most students must have completed a minimum of 128 credits and 32 courses. As a guide for completing the four-year undergraduate program, students should keep in mind that sophomore status usually is attained by satisfactorily completing 32 credits of coursework; junior status, 64 credits; and senior status, 96 credits. The number may vary depending on the college of enrollment.

The University trustees award degrees upon the recommendation of the faculty of the School of Management (SMG). Degree candidates must meet all requirements as published in the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration section of this website. At least three semesters of full-time coursework must be completed in residence. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required for a degree. All degree requirements must be completed within seven years of the initial date of registration in an undergraduate degree program. Students must apply to graduate two semesters prior to their expected date of graduation. Physical education courses and ROTC credits cannot be applied toward the degree or the final cumulative grade point average.

Graduate

The University trustees award degrees upon the recommendation of the faculty of the programs within the Graduate School of Management (GSM). Students must fulfill the requirements of their respective program (MBA, MS in Mathematical Finance, MS in Investment Management, MS·MBA, other dual degree program, or PhD in Mathematical Finance). To graduate, students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.70 from the GSM and have no “I” or “MG” grades.

Doctoral candidates, regardless of field of study or degree, must follow dissertation requirements set by the University. Please see the most recent Guide for the Writers of Dissertation and Theses, prepared by Mugar Library, for all-University requirements and for microfilming and binding charges. Two copies of the approved dissertation must be submitted to Mugar Library with the permission form, which can be obtained from the PhD Associate Director. PhD degree requirements are complete only when copies of the dissertation have been certified as meeting the standards of the Graduate School of Management and are accepted by Mugar Library.

Students must submit a graduation application at least seven months before the date they expect to complete degree requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate the process for graduation. The application is available in the Graduate Program Office, and should be returned there for September, January, or May graduation.

Time Limit for Graduate Degree Completion

There is a time limit for completion of degree requirements of six years for graduate programs. Leaves of absence do not extend the six-year time limit for completion. A student may petition for an extension of the time limit for a valid reason. A letter of petition must be submitted to the Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs. This letter must state the reason for the request, the proposed graduation date, and the specific plan of study—including a detailed map of specific courses and when they will be taken—to complete all degree requirements. The extension is subject to departmental and Program Development Committee approval. Students who do not graduate within the six-year time limit must petition for extension of the time limit or face withdrawal from the program.