2011-2012 Archived Catalog Information

The purpose of an independent study is to provide students with unique research opportunities with an individual faculty member. This is a student-initiated effort that is normally for 3 credits and completed during one semester. Students draft a proposal and find a willing and appropriate full-time faculty member. Prior to registration for the independent study, the faculty member and student must concur on a final written proposal. It must include learning goals, a reading list, description of the research project and requirements for grading of the final project.

The guidelines with respect to independent study assignments are as follows:

1. Students must have a 2.5 average at the time of  application.
2. Students must gain authorization prior to registration. Independent Study forms are available from the Undergraduate Programs Office and from Onesource via the Suffolk website.
3. A description of the independent study project must be approved by the faculty member, by the department chair, and then by the Academic Dean. All three signatures are required on the independent study approval form before a student is allowed to register.

The Business School faculty develops transfer and validation policies that are incorporated into guidelines prepared in cooperation with the Undergraduate Admission Office. Students requesting transfer credit must complete the process during Admissions, and not later than the second semester of attendance at Suffolk, including summer sessions.

In general, transfer credit may be awarded to students who have:

• attended an accredited institution of collegiate rank;
• taken courses equivalent in content to those offered at Suffolk University; and
• taken courses for which a satisfactory grade has been obtained. Prior to matriculation to Suffolk University, a minimum grade of “C– ” must be earned for a course to be reviewed for transfer. After matriculation to Suffolk University, a minimum grade of “C” must be earned for a course to be reviewed for transfer.

Direct Transfer of Credit for Transfer Students

The Business School will accept direct transfer credit for freshman or sophomore courses taken at accredited two-year and four-year colleges that correspond directly to freshman or sophomore courses offered at Suffolk University. Students wishing to transfer to Suffolk University contact the Admissions Office to discuss transfer credits.

Courses at Other Institutions for Current Students

Once matriculated into a degree program at Suffolk University, students are expected to complete all their coursework at the University. Exceptions are made for international study, or where academic hardship merits consideration. In such cases, undergraduate students in the Business School may petition the Business School’s Undergraduate Programs Office to determine whether their situation warrants an exception. Petitions must be received at least two weeks prior to the start of Suffolk University semesters or summer sessions.

These courses may affect student eligibility for graduation honors and department and school honors. Please refer to the "Graduation Honors" guidelines included in the Sawyer Business School section of the catalog. 

Once matriculated, a student may take no more than two courses of outside coursework during the BSBA degree program. Grades of “C” or higher must be attained in order to receive transfer credit. All courses must be reviewed and pre-approved by the Undergraduate Programs Office of the Sawyer Business School to be eligible for transfer.

The following conditions also apply: 

• Students must have transferred in fewer than 63 outside credit hours into Suffolk University.
• Students who do not maintain satisfactory academic progress (2.0 grade point average or better), may not be approved for outside courses.
• New students in their first semester without final grades may not be approved for outside courses.
• Students in their final 30 credit hours of the BSBA program may not be approved for outside courses. The final 30 credit hours in the BSBA degree program, including all major and general education/liberal arts requirements, must be earned at Suffolk University.
• Most upper level business courses are not applicable.

Validation Credit

Selected business courses taken elsewhere at the freshman or sophomore level, but offered by Suffolk University at the junior or senior level, require validation in order to be eligible for transfer of credit. In order to validate a course, students must have:

• earned a grade of “C” or better in the course to be validated; and
• successfully completed, with a grade of “C” or better at Suffolk University, an advanced course in the subject field for which the transfer course is a foundation.

Upon completion of the advanced course, a student must complete a Validation of Transfer Credit Form in the Registrar’s Office. The course(s) which may be validated will be listed on the student’s Suffolk University transcript and Credit Evaluation. The Credit Evaluation is the student’s original document of transfer credit provided by the Undergraduate Admission Office when the student was first admitted to the University. If a student has taken a junior/senior level course that is not required at Suffolk University, it cannot be validated.

When validating, no more than two transfer courses may be applied toward your major requirements.

Questions regarding transfer credit and validation procedures should be referred to the Business School Undergraduate Programs Office, 617-573-8345.

College Level Examination Placement (CLEP) Policy

New students seeking credit for the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) must complete this process as soon as possible.

Students who earn CLEP credits may use these credits toward general education requirements, liberal arts elective courses and free electives in the BSBA degree program. In addition, Business School students who major in Global Business may use approved CLEP language exams to satisfy/waive the foreign language requirement, but course credits will not be awarded. Passing CLEP examinations in modern languages will not earn credit for language courses offered at Suffolk University.

CLEP credit will not be awarded in the senior year.

Math Assessment and Placement Policy

 Incoming students to the University (who have not transferred in the math requirement) take the University math assessment for placement in an appropriate math course.

Accounting and Finance majors are required to complete MATH 134 or MATH 165.

All OTHER Business majors may choose among MATH 130, 134 or 165 to complete the Math requirement.

Students may be placed in prerequisite math courses based upon their assessment results in order to prepare for the above requirements.

English Assessment and Placement Policy

All incoming students to the University take the English Assessment Exam, even if they have already transferred in the writing requirement courses.

Academic Honors

Each year the University recognizes students for outstanding scholarship, leadership and service to the Suffolk Community.

Outstanding Leadership Award

This award is presented at Recognition Day to the student(s) who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and service to the Sawyer Business School while maintaining exceptional academic achievement.

In the spring of each year, the Business School presents an Outstanding Student Award to the individuals with the highest cumulative grade point average in their Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior Class. To be eligible for consideration, a student must have accrued the following minimum credit hours while in attendance at Suffolk University. A fifth award is presented to the Senior transfer student with the highest cumulative grade point average who has earned not less than 39 credit hours while in attendance at Suffolk University. A grade of “D,” “F,” or “I” disqualifies a student, regardless of average.

Dean’s Honors List

The Dean’s Honors List is composed of students deemed worthy of recognition on the basis of high scholastic achievement. Dean’s List honors are awarded on a semester basis and are announced soon after the close of the semester.

•  Full-Time Dean’s Honor List A student who achieves Dean’s List honors must be in regular attendance during the appropriate semester, and must have completed a minimum of four courses (excluding Pass/Fail courses), as a full-time student with a grade point average of 3.3 or higher for the semester. A grade of “D,” “F,” or “I” disqualifies a student for the Dean’s List, regardless of average. Students who entered Suffolk University prior to Fall 2007 must earn a minimum GPA of 3.2.

•  Part-Time Dean’s Honor List The Sawyer Business School Dean’s Honor List recognizes BSBA students who have achieved high scholastic achievement. In some cases, full-time students will see their name on the Part-Time Dean’s List. This may happen if the student is part of a 2+2 program. While we understand that the student is full-time, we are honoring them for the excellence in the Suffolk courses they have completed in a given semester. To be considered for the Part-Time Dean’s List, a student must be in regular attendance during the appropriate semester, and shall have completed a minimum of two Suffolk courses with an average of 3.3 or better for the semester. A grade of “D,” “F,” or “I” disqualifies a student for the Dean’s List, regardless of average. Students who entered Suffolk University prior to fall 2007 must earn a minimum GPA of 3.2.

Graduation Honors

Each year, at Commencement, students are recognized for high academic achievement. The three categories of achievement are:

• Summa Cum Laude, for students who have completed at least 60 semester hours at Suffolk University, have a minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 3.85, and have no grades of “F” or “I.” Students who entered Suffolk University prior to fall 2007 must earn a minimum GPA of at least 3.8.
• Magna Cum Laude, for students who have completed at least 60 semester hours at Suffolk University, have a minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 3.7 and have no grades of “F” or “I.” Students who entered Suffolk University prior to fall 2007 must earn a minimum GPA of at least 3.5.
• Cum Laude, for students who have completed at least 60 semester hours at Suffolk University, have a minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 3.3 and have no more than one grade of “F” or “I.” Students who entered Suffolk University prior to fall 2007 must earn a minimum GPA of at least 3.2.

Graduation Honors – Transfer Students

Each year, at Commencement, transfer students with fewer than 60 semester hours at Suffolk University are recognized for high academic achievement. The three categories of achievement are:

• Highest Distinction, for transfer students who have completed 45– 59 semester hours of Suffolk University courses, have a minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 3.85 and have no grades of “F” or “I.” Students who entered Suffolk University prior to fall 2007 must earn a minimum GPA of at least 3.8.
• High Distinction, for transfer students who have completed 45– 59 semester hours of Suffolk University courses, have a minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 3.7 and have no grades of “F” or “I.” Students who entered Suffolk University prior to fall 2007 must earn a minimum GPA of at least 3.5.
• Distinction, for transfer students who have completed 45– 59 semester hours of Suffolk University courses, have a minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 3.3 and have no more than one grade of “F” or “I” to be eligible. Students who entered Suffolk University prior to fall 2007 must earn a minimum GPA of at least 3.2.