M.B.A. in Business Administration

Advisement and Plan of Study

Those students looking for advice and direction on academic issues, individual plans of study, course waivers and program requirements should contact the office of the Graduate Business chair or designee. Non-Degree students must obtain permission to register from the Graduate Business chair or designee before the beginning of each session.

All questions regarding degree requirements and waivers must be discussed with the Office of Graduate Admissions during the first session of study; no changes will be permitted thereafter.

Transfer Credits

Advanced graduate courses taken at other graduate schools of business prior to admission to the MBA program may be transferred for credit with the permission of the Graduate Business chair or designee, provided the student requests the transfer of credit in writing at the time of application. Transfer credit must be advanced work and is limited to six credits for courses with a grade of B or better completed within the five-year period prior to admission to the MBA program. The grades received in those courses for which transfer credit is granted are not computed in the quality-point average for work performed in the program. All transfer credits must be from courses completed within the last five years.

Maintenance of Matriculation

It is expected that students will fulfill the requirements for their graduate degree by registering over successive sessions. For cohort programs, registration is required during summer session(s). For non-cohort programs, summer registration is not required. Registration is accomplished by either enrolling in classes or maintaining matriculation. The Maintaining Matriculation fee is $100 per session and is processed as a registration.

Students who have not maintained matriculation and wish to return to their program within one year after their last course will be charged the Maintaining Matriculation fee of $100 for each missed session. Maintenance of matriculation without attending classes is limited to one year. Activated U.S. Military Reservists are not required to pay the Maintenance of Matriculation fee.

Procedures for Readmission

Students who have not attended classes for one year and who have not maintained matriculation, but are desirous of resuming their studies, are required to file an application for readmission with the Office of Graduate Admissions. Such students are required to re-enter under the existing admission standards and program requirements of the program at the time of re-entry.

Change of Status

Upon the satisfaction of all academic and/or technical deficiencies, the special matriculant must make a written request to the Graduate Business chair for the removal of deficiencies. Application forms are available in the Office of the Graduate Business chair.

Maintenance of Good Academic Standing

The cumulative GPA for both good academic standing and degree conferral is a 3.0. A student admitted as a Special Matriculant is required to achieve a 3.0 average or better after completing a certain number of credits as stipulated by their respective program. Grades are subject to review by the faculty advisor and Graduate Business chair at the end of each term. If the academic average falls below 3.0, the student will be placed on academic probation.

Students who have two or more Incompletes on their academic record will be put on an academic hold and will not be allowed to register. Future registration for any subsequent courses will not be permitted until all of the Incompletes but one are resolved and graded. A grade of F or FW in any graduate course is grounds for dismissal from the program.

Academic Probation

All students who have a cumulative GPA of below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. If a student will not be able to achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.0 within a reasonable time, the student will be dismissed from the program. If a student receives a grade of F or FW in any course, the student may be subject to dismissal from the college. For all students on probation, future registrations must be reviewed and approved by the Graduate Business chair or designee of the student's program as well as the school dean.

In all subsequent terms in which the student is on probation, the student is required to achieve a term GPA of 3.0 or better. If the 3.0 or higher is not achieved, the student will be dismissed. Students who receive a grade of less than B may be required to repeat the course. Students will be allowed to repeat a course only once.

Capstone Advisement

It is expected that Capstone students shall make satisfactory progress with their program's culminating activity. After the student registers for all sections of their Capstone requirement, they will be given one subsequent term to complete their work. The Maintaining Matriculation registration must be completed for this subsequent term if no other courses are taken. After this period, a Capstone Continuation fee (equal to the cost of one graduate credit) will be charged for each additional term required to complete the project. Students can only register for Capstone Continuation for two terms.

A student's degree will not be released until all Maintaining Matriculation and Capstone Continuation registration and fees are recorded appropriately on a student's record.

Incomplete Grades

The grade of Incomplete may be granted for a course in which the student has not completed all course requirements due to extenuating and unforeseeable circumstances. The student must request an incomplete grade directly from the instructor; it should not be considered automatic.

All grades of Incomplete must be completed within one year. If not completed in a year, the course must be retaken.

Degree Requirements

Each candidate for a degree or certificate must have completed all course requirements with a quality point index of not less than 3.0. The words, "With Distinction" will appear on the diploma of a degree student whose quality point index, upon meeting all requirements for graduation, is at least 3.75.

Time Limit

Requirements for the MBA must be completed within five years from the date of the candidate's admission (exclusive of time spent in the Armed Forces). Exceptions will be considered only if a student requests in writing an extension of time in advance and receives the approval of the Graduate Business chair and school dean.

Residency

A degree candidate must complete at least 30 credits of courses offered in the MBA program. To be in residence, the student must have registered for courses offered by Mercy College in the MBA programs.