Academic Degree Requirements and Policies
All regulations and rules or procedures contained in this official Bulletin apply to undergraduate and graduate programs. Questions in individual cases should be presented through written petition to the appropriate dean.
For non-academic matters, all students are governed by the Loyola Marymount University Student Conduct Code found in the Community Standards booklet. The booklet can be found on MYLMU.
Students are held individually responsible for information contained in these pages. Failure to read and understand these regulations will not excuse a student from their observance.
A graduate student is held responsible for academic regulations in effect at the time of entrance, provided the student maintains continuous enrollment. Similarly, a student who changes graduate programs or majors after being admitted to the University is held responsible for the academic regulations in effect at the time the program or major is changed. A student who interrupts academic enrollment is subject to the academic regulations in effect in the Bulletin at the time enrollment is resumed.
Academic Probation Academic probation carries a serious warning to the student that the scholastic record is unsatisfactory and continued failure to improve this record may result in being declared ineligible to attend the University. Students on probation may also have restrictions imposed by the dean regarding their program of studies and their participation in extracurricular activities.
The following classes of students will be placed on probation:
- An undergraduate student who in any term fails to earn a C (2.0) average or a graduate student who in any term fails to earn a B (3.0) average,
- An undergraduate student whose cumulative grade point average falls below a C (2.0) or a graduate student whose cumulative grade point average falls below a B (3.0)
- An undergraduate upper division student who in any one term fails to earn a C (2.0) average in the major requirements, or a graduate student who in any one term fails to earn a B (3.0) average in the major or program requirements
- An undergraduate student whose cumulative grade point average in the major requirements is below a C (2.0) or a graduate student whose cumulative grade point average in the major or program requirements is below a B (3.0).
- The following exception to the academic probation policy applies to the Executive MBA (EMBA) Program. Because the EMBA is a twenty-one month program in which students take a prescribed course of study, students receiving a failing grade in a course will be subject to disqualification from the program.
Academic Disqualification
terminates a student’s relationship with the University. A disqualified student may not register in any division or session of the University and is denied all privileges of the University and of all organizations or activities in any way connected with it.
The following classes of students will be subject to disqualification:
- An undergraduate student who while on probation fails to earn a C (2.0) average or B (3.0) average for a graduate student during the next semester, or who has not attained an accumulated grade point average of C (2.0) for an undergraduate or B (3.0) for a graduate within two semesters after having been placed on probation
- A student who does not make satisfactory progress in the coursework associated with the declared major.
- A student who has had special academic requirements imposed by the dean and does not meet the requirements within the time prescribed.
Disqualified students are not eligible for readmission until one calendar year has elapsed. At that time the student is required to adhere to the following procedures:
- A disqualified undergraduate student who wishes to be considered for readmission to the University must file a formal application with the Admission Office. A formal interview must take place with the Dean’s Office prior to formal readmission.
- A graduate student who wishes to appeal a disqualification must submit a written request to the Chair, Program Director, or Dean of the student’s college or school. If the appeal process cannot be resolved, an impartial three-person faculty panel will be assigned by the Chair of the Graduate Council to review the request. The panel will individually interview the faculty person and the student. After the interviews, review, and discussion, the panel will submit a formal decision to the Chair of the Graduate Council, whose decision will be final. School of Education appeals should be directed to the Program Coordinator. If the appeal cannot be resolved, the issue will then be submitted to the Associate Dean, and if necessary, the Dean.
- A disqualified student who is readmitted will be on strict probation which requires that the student must satisfactorily complete all requirements set by the Dean in the initial semester after readmission.
- A student who has been disqualified a second time may not apply for readmission.
Academic Standing
Calculation of academic standing for undergraduates bases the student’s standing on coursework completed in the Fall and Spring terms only. Academic standing for graduate students includes Summer enrollment as well as Fall and Spring.
Attendance
The policy on class attendance of enrolled students is within the discretion of the individual faculty member and shall be announced by the faculty member at the first class meeting of the semester or summer session or listed on the class syllabus. Students may not attend a class without being officially enrolled in that class.
Auditing a Course
Enrolled LMU students may not enroll as auditors in a regularly scheduled LMU course through LMU Extension.
Students will be permitted to register as auditors only for exceptional reasons and with the authorization of the Dean of the college or school in which the course is offered. Not all courses are open to auditors. Auditors are not held responsible for the work expected of regular students and receive no grade or credit for the course. Regular attendance at class is expected.
A student who has previously enrolled as an auditor may not take the course for credit in the subsequent term except by special permission of the Dean of the college or school in which the course is offered.
Part-time students and students enrolled in an overload seeking to change from credit to audit status will be eligible for tuition adjustment only if the change is made within the period for late registration.
Individuals may not be formally admitted to the University only to audit courses.
Baccalaureate Degree Requirements
All candidates for the baccalaureate degree at LMU must fulfill the following requirements:
| 1. |
|
All graduates in the undergraduate colleges must complete a minimum of 120 semester hours, including core and program requirements and 45 semester hours of upper-division course work. Certain programs require more than 120 semester hours. These are listed under the appropriate department listings. |
| 2. |
|
All work done at LMU must have a cumulative grade point average of C (2.0). All courses taken in the major, minor, or area of concentration must have a cumulative grade point average of C (2.0). |
| 3. |
|
At least 30 of the last 36 semester hours for the bachelor's degree must be taken in residence at LMU. At least two-thirds of the upper division semester hours of the major must be taken in residence at LMU unless, for programmatic purposes, the dean and the director of the major deem an exception appropriate. |
| 4. |
|
A student is held responsible for acedemic regulations in effect at the time of entrance or for those in effect in the senior year provided the student maintains continuous enrollment. Similarly, a student who declares or changes a major after being admitted to the University is held responsible for the academic regulations in effect at the time the major is declared or changed. A student who interrupts LMU enrollment is subject to the academic regulations in effect in the University Bulletin at the time enrollment is resumed. |
| 5. |
|
Degrees are awarded at the end of the Spring term, August 31, and December 31. The date of the degree posted on a student’s diploma is the one by which all graduation requirements are completed or documents are submitted. These include |
| A. |
|
A submission of transcripts from other institutions prior to the degree date; |
| B. |
|
The completion of all incomplete work prior to the degree date; |
| C. |
|
File application for degree by the deadline date for the term in which all of the above conditions will be met. If a student has been canceled for graduation in a given term, it is the responsibility of the student to again file for graduation for a later term; |
| D. |
|
All course requirements for a degree must be completed or be in progress before or during the term of degree conferral. The University will award a degree if all required coursework is completed, and needed documentation received, within 30 working days of the end of the term. After 30 working days, awarding of the diploma will be deferred to the next degree conferral date. |
Second Baccalaureate Degree
A student who possesses an earned bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by one of the six regional associations of the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities may earn a second undergraduate degree with a different major field of study by meeting all of the following requirements:
The articulation services at LMU help students to identify courses completed at other academic institutions that are transferable to LMU baccalaureate degree programs. Courses taken at other academic institutions may fulfill University core requirements, Program (major/minor) requirements or transfer in as electives. LMU has established articulation agreements with its major feeder community colleges. To view these articulation agreements, see http://www.lmu.edu/pages/1252.asp. Current students should consult the articulation agreements of the institutions listed on this page as well as the "existing histories" of courses previously transferred in from other institutions. A signed Transfer Course Approval form and an official transcript from the transfer institution must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar before any transfer courses may become a part of the continuing student?s LMU degree program.
| 1. |
|
Completion of at least 30 semester hours at LMU beyond those required for the first degree; these must include at least 24 semester hours of upper division work and at least 20 semester hours of upper division work in the major fi eld of study; |
| 2. |
|
Fulfillment of the core requirements of the College or School in which the major is offered; |
| 3. |
|
Satisfaction of all the requirements for the major; |
| 4. |
|
Completion of the application for degree process (c.f., #5 above). |
Concurrent Enrollment
Enrollment by degree-seeking undergraduate students at another institution at the same time they are enrolled at LMU is not permitted.
Change of Address
All students must notify the Office of the Registrar immediately of any change in their addresses or those of their parents or guardians. Students may change their permanent, mailing, and billing addresses through PROWL. The University assumes no responsibility for materials sent through the mail or e-mail not received. In addition, students must submit through PROWL emergency contact information to the Office of the Registrar.
Classification of Matriculated Undergraduates
Undergraduate students are classified according to the following norms:
| Freshman: |
|
Satisfaction of entrance requirements |
| Sophomore: |
|
Completion of 30 semester hours |
| Junior: |
|
Completion of 60 semester hours |
| Senior: |
|
Completion of 90 semester hours |
Course Explanations
Classification of Courses
This section contains a list of symbols for all courses offered at the University, excluding the courses offered at Loyola Law School.
| 000-099 |
|
Courses offered in this number range do not carry degree-granting credit. |
| 100-299 |
|
Lower division courses—degree-granting credit |
| 300-499 |
|
Upper division courses—degree-granting credit |
| 500-599 |
|
Upper division undergraduate courses in which graduate students may enroll and receive graduate credit. Undergraduate students may not enroll in 500-level courses offered by the School of Education. |
| 600-699 |
|
Graduate courses—degree-granting credit |
| 800-999 |
|
LMU Extension courses. Courses offered in this number range do not carry degreegranting credit. |
| 5000-6999 |
|
School of Education graduate courses—degree-granting credit |
| 7000-7999 |
|
School of Education Doctor of Education courses—degree-granting credit |
| 8000 |
|
School of Education required course |
In exceptional circumstances, seniors may take courses in the 600 series with the written permission of the Chairperson of their major department and the appropriate College or School and with the approval of the Director of the graduate program offering the 600- level course. In such cases, they register for “599—Independent Studies.” In this instance, the course is calculated in the undergraduate career. No undergraduate student may register for a course in the 600 series. Only students accepted into the Graduate Division may register for 600-, 5000-, 6000-, and 7000-numbered courses.
Special Studies (98)
Courses whose numbers have as the last two digits “98” are Special Studies. These courses have a special syllabus and description not listed in the Bulletin. They can be held in a lecture, discussion, or seminar format at a specified or arranged time and place for a group of students. Each department sponsoring Special Studies courses maintains these course descriptions.
Independent Studies (99)
Courses whose numbers have as the last two digits “99” are Independent Studies. This is an individualized study arranged by a student with a full-time faculty member and approved by the Chairperson of the Department and the Dean.
These courses are for the educational enrichment of the student particularly qualified for the kind of experiences that are beyond the scope of a regular course. Under the supervision of a faculty member, the work will be of research or similarly creative nature and will normally culminate in a project or examination. Only full-time matriculated undergraduate students or full- and part-time graduate students are eligible, and approval will be given for only one Independent Studies course per semester. Freshmen and firstsemester transfer students are not eligible.
Arrangements to undertake an Independent Studies course must be completed during the semester prior to the one in which the student expects to enroll in the course. An Independent Studies course is considered part of the student’s semester program. Registration for such courses takes place only during the regular registration periods.
Course Load
In Fall or Spring semesters, the normal load for full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate students in good standing from the previous semester is 15-18 semseter hours. In order for an undergraduate student to enroll in 19 or more semester hours, the following criteria must be met:
| 1) |
|
3.50 overall GPA |
| 2) |
|
a minimum of 15 semester hours completed during the prior full semester |
| 3) |
|
petition signed by the Associate Dean’s office turned in to the Office of the Registrar to adjust hours. |
For Summer, undergraduate students in good standing may register for 6 semester hours per session.
The maximum load for graduate students during Fall or Spring is 15 semester hours.
During the Summer session, graduate students may take no more than 6 semester hours each term.
Fully-Employed graduate students should take no more than nine semester hours each semester unless they have permission from their advisors.
Comprehensive Examinations
In those graduate programs requiring comprehensive examinations, the candidate must register under the appropriate number in his/her program's course listings. If the comprehensive examination(s) carry course credit in semester hours, tuition per semester hour will be charged on the same basis as for a regular course. If the comprehensive examination(s) do not carry course credit in semester hours, no tuition will be charged. In every case, the candidate must, however, register for the comprehensive examination in the term in which he or she plans or is scheduled to take it.
Credit by Challenge Examination
MBA students may challenge MBA core courses only during the first semester of enrollment. A course may be challenged only once. If the student passes the challenge exam, that is equivalent to waiving the course.
Cross-Listed Courses
A cross-listed course is one that carries credit in more than one department or program. Students may not enroll in more than one section of a cross-listed course and may receive credit in one department only.
Diploma
Diplomas are granted and mailed to students who have completed all academic degree requirements and who have no outstanding financial obligations to the University. Diplomas left unclaimed are destroyed after three years. Students must re-order destroyed diplomas.
Double Credit
A student may not count the same course to meet the requirements for both an undergraduate and a graduate degree.
A graduate student who wishes to enroll for a second Master’s degree in the School of Education may apply up to three core courses towards a second Master’s degree. For other graduate programs, no more than two courses may be counted toward a second degree.
Electives
Elective courses do not fulfill requirements in the student’s University Core, major(s) or minor(s) programs, but they do fulfill overall semester hours requirements.
Final Examinations
Students are required to take all scheduled examinations. Final examinations are to be held at the time published by the Office of the Registrar. No student is allowed to take a final examination before the scheduled time.
Full-Time Standing
Any undergraduate student carrying 12 or more semester hours in the Fall or Spring term is considered a full-time student. Students carrying fewer than 12 semester hours are classified as part-time students. This applies to the academic standing. For Summer, an undergraduate enrolled in 6 or more semester hours is considered a full-time student and fewer than 6 semester hours a part-time student.
A graduate student is considered full-time when carrying 6 or more semester hours in the Fall, Spring, or Summer term. A load of five or fewer semester hours constitutes parttime status. Doctoral students completing the dissertation are full-time with at least two semester hours per term.
Please refer to the Financial Aid full-time/parttime standing for an explanation of how that department defines full-time standing and the impact on financial aid awards.
Grades
Final grades are submitted by the student’s instructors and are issued to the student by the Office of the Registrar via PROWL at the end of each term.
Credit/No Credit Grading
Students may not be graded on a Credit/No Credit basis in courses which are part of a major, minor, or core curriculum program. Credit courses count toward the fulfillment of graduation requirements. Neither Credit (CR) nor No Credit (NC) grades affect the student’s grade point average. Once the petition for either grade or Credit/No Credit basis has been filed in the Office of the Registrar, it may not be rescinded or changed after the last day of registration.
Students may be graded on this basis for not more than 20% of their total semester hours at LMU. Students wishing to be graded on this basis must file the appropriate petition in the Office of the Registrar by the published date in the Academic Calendar.
In the case of courses that are graded on a Credit/No Credit basis, the student may petition the instructor for a letter grade with the approval of the Dean, before the end of the third week of the semester.
In order for a student to receive a grade of Credit, the work must be of C (2.0) or better for undergraduates and B (3.0) or better for graduates.
Grade Appeals
It is understood that, except in rare instances, only the Instructor may change the final grade using the Correction of Grade form through the Office of the Registrar and then only with the approval of Department Chairperson’s, Program Director’s, or equivalent (hereafter called Department Chairperson), and the approval of the Dean of the Instructor’s college or school. The Dean may, however, change the grade if all of the following processes of appeal have been followed. The Dean must notify the Instructor, in writing, of the change in final grade.
| 1. |
|
No later than three weeks into the semester following the issuance of a disputed grade, the student must meet face-to-face with the Instructor to review the reasons for the grade |
| 2. |
|
No later than the following week, if the Instructor is not available for discussion or if discussion fails to resolve the problem, the student may ask the appropriate Department Chairperson (see above) to meet with both the Instructor and the student within five class days. If the Chairperson and the Instructor are in agreement about the validity of the grade, the student may appeal to the appropriate Dean. If the Chairperson cannot agree with the Instructor, the Chairperson will refer the student to file a written appeal to the Dean. Definitions of Academic Dishonesty: |
| 3. |
|
The student who appeals beyond the department level must file a written appeal to the appropriate Dean within five class days of the meeting with the Instructor and Chairperson, and no later than the end of the sixth week of classes. The Dean, upon receipt of the written appeal, will work with all parties in an attempt to resolve the matter by mutual agreement. If agreement cannot be reached, the Dean may appoint a committee of three impartial persons to investigate the matter and make a recommendation to the Dean. The Dean will normally follow the recommendation of the committee; however, the decision of the Dean is final. |
Grading System
The work of all students at LMU is reported in terms of grades. Instructors are required to assign a final grade for each student registered in a course.
Undergraduate Grades
The following grades are used to report the quality of undergraduate student work at LMU:
The following are examples of academic dishonesty which may be interpreted as intentional or unintentional. This list is not meant to be exhaustive. It is the students responsibility to make sure that his/her work meets the standards of academic honesty set forth in the Honor Code. If the student is unclear about how these definitions and standards apply to his/her work, it is the student's responsibility to contact the instructor to clarify the ambiguity.
| A |
|
Superior |
| B |
|
Good |
| C |
|
Satisfactory |
| D |
|
Poor |
| F |
|
Failure |
| CR |
|
Credit—Equivalent to grade of C or higher |
| NC |
|
No Credit—Equivalent to grade of C- or lower |
| NR |
|
Not reported by instructor |
| AU |
|
Audit |
| I |
|
Work incomplete |
| IP |
|
Work in progress (for courses requiring more than one semester to complete) |
| W |
|
Official withdrawal from course |
A grade of A may be modified by a minus (-) suffi x, and grades B and C may be modified by a plus (+) or minus (-) suffix. Grades A, B, C, and CR denote satisfactory progress toward the degree, but a D grade must be offset by higher grades in the same term for students to remain in good academic standing. Note that a “C-” grade is not a passing grade in courses requiring a minimum grade of “C.” An F or NC grade yields no semester hour or course credit.
Failure to withdraw officially from a course will result in a grade of F (see Withdrawal).
Graduate Grades
The following grades are used to report the quality of graduate student work at LMU:
| A |
|
Superior |
| B |
|
Satisfactorily demonstrated potential for professional achievement in field of study |
| C |
|
Passed the course but did not do work indicative of potential for professional achievement in field of study |
| F |
|
Failure |
| CR |
|
Credit—Equivalent to grade of B or higher |
| NC |
|
No Credit—Equivalent to grade of B- or lower |
| NR |
|
Not reported by instructor |
| AU |
|
Audit |
| I |
|
Work incomplete |
| IP |
|
Work in progress (for courses requiring more than one semester to complete) |
| W |
|
Official withdrawal from course |
A grade of A may be modified by a minus (-) suffix, and grades B and C may be modified by a plus (+) or minus (-) suffi x. Grades A, B, and CR denote satisfactory progress toward the degree, but a B- grade must be offset by higher grades in the same term for students to remain in good academic standing. Courses may be taken CR/NC only with approval from the Dean. Courses in which a grade of B through C- is received may be applied toward graduate degrees unless otherwise prohibited by the program requirements. A student must maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to remain in good academic standing. An F or NC grade yields no semester hour or course credit.
Failure to withdraw officially from a course will result in a grade of F (see Withdrawal).
Grade Point Average
Grade points are a measure of the quality of the academic work completed, just as semester hours are a measure of the quantity of this work. The University uses a letter grade to indicate the level of individual student achievement. Each letter grade has a point value assigned for the grade achieved. The point value assigned to each letter grade is as follows:
| A |
4.0 grade points |
|
C+ |
2.3 grade points |
| A- |
3.7 grade points |
|
C |
2.0 grade points |
| B+ |
3.3 grade points |
|
C- |
1.7 grade points |
| B |
3.0 grade points |
|
D |
1.0 grade points |
| B- |
2.7 grade points |
|
F |
0.0 grade points |
The grades of AU, CR, NC, I, IP, and W have no point value and are not used in calculating the grade point average.
The LMU grade point average is determined by dividing the total number of LMU grade points by the number of LMU semester hours completed with a letter grade.
Change of Grades
Grades, once submitted to the Office of the Registrar, will be changed only in case of error. An instructor desiring a change of grade must present a written explanation to the Chairperson and the Dean with a Correction of Grade form from the Office of the Registrar. No grade changes will be made after the fourth week of instruction of the next full term.
A student’s permanent record reflects the coursework upon which the University awarded the degree or recommended a credential. Therefore, no grade or other changes are permitted either after awarding the degree or recommending the credential.
Mid-Term Deficiencies
The Office of the Registrar e-mails and posts to PROWL mid-term deficiency notices to students informing them of unsatisfactory work as submitted by instructors. The notices, advisory in nature and issued prior to the last day to withdraw in a term, are not part of the student’s permanent academic record.
Graduation Rate
The completion or graduation rate by August 2006 for undergraduate students who entered Loyola Marymount University in Fall 2000 on a full-time basis was 75% .
Graduate Degree Requirements and Policies
Degrees are formally awarded at the end of May, December, and August. The date of the degree posted on a student’s diploma is the one by which all graduation requirements are completed or documents are submitted. These include :
a. a submission of official transcripts from other institutions prior to the degree date;
b. the completion of all incomplete work required for the degree prior to the degree date;
c. all academic requirements including a 3.0 cumulative GPA must be met prior to the degree date;
d. File application for degree with Registrar’s Office by the deadline date for the term in which
all of the above conditions will be met.
All course requirements for a degree must be completed or be in progress before or during the term of degree conferral. The University will award a degree if all required coursework is completed, and needed documentation received, within 30 working days of the University conferral date. After 30 working days, awarding of the diploma will be deferred to the next degree conferral date.
Failure to comply with these regulations will preclude the granting of the degree at the next commencement. Those who have filed for graduate clearance and do not complete the requirements before the projected date of completion for which they filed are required to refile for the next commencement. It is the student’s responsibility to make certain he/she has completed all the requirements for the degree and has filed the appropriate paperwork for graduation.
Incomplete Course Work
Undergraduate:
An incomplete grade may be assigned by the professor only if a student has completed at least 80% of the coursework.
Normally the student obtains from the Office of the Registrar a “Petition to Receive a Grade of Incomplete” form. The form is filled out by the student and given to the instructor who then completes the form by assigning a default grade which will be entered on the student’s record if the student does not complete the coursework by the deadline.
It is the student’s responsibility to ensure a “Deferred Grade Form” is sent to the course instructor from the Office of the Registrar for the submission of the final grade. An incomplete grade not removed by the deadline, which is three weeks after the first scheduled class day of the next semester, will result in the assignment of the default grade as submitted by the instructor. If no default form or grade was submitted, the incomplete grade will be converted to an F by the Office of the Registrar.
If a student requires an extension to the deadline, the student must petition to obtain an extension to the deadline for removal of the incomplete grade. The petition, approved by the instructor, must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar.
A degree will not be granted while a grade of Incomplete remains on a student’s record.
Graduate:
“I” (Incomplete) indicates that the student has not completed the requirements for a course in which he or she was enrolled. “IP” (Work in Progress) indicates that a student is in the process of completing a requirement that extends beyond a single semester (e.g., internship work, fi eld work, a thesis project, the MBA Integrative Project, the Teacher Orientation and Practicum in Philosophy).
A student who wishes to be granted an “I” must do so by arrangement with the course instructor before the end of the semester in which the course for which the student seeks an Incomplete is offered. The student must obtain the “Request for an Incomplete” form and meet with the course instructor. The course instructor, in consultation with the student, shall complete the form, determining the date by which the unfinished work must be submitted and the default grade the student shall receive if the work is not submitted by the specified date. Incompletes must be cleared within one year of their being granted, but an earlier deadline may be set by the course instructor. However, students are advised that the usual default grade is an “F.” Students may seek an extension for clearning an Incomplete by completing a General Petition and obtaining the approval of the course instructor and the Dean of the college or school in which the course is offered.
A graduate department or program may have further limitations on the granting and clearing of the “I” and “IP,” and the student is notified herewith to consult the Bulletin or the Department Chairperson or Director of his or her program.
It is the student’s responsibility to ensure a “Deferred Grade Form” is sent to the course instructor from the Office of the Registrar for the submission of the final grade. if the “Deferred Grade Form” is not submitted to the Registrar within one year, the “I” defaults to an “F.”
Students who wish to retake a course must pay regular tuition. Students carrying any “I” grades toward a degree are not permitted to take a comprehensive examination until all “I” grades have been removed or the course requirements are met.
If a graduate student enrolls in an undergraduate course (000-499), receives a grade of “I,” and fails to complete the work in the specified time period, the grade defaults to an “F.”
Leave of Absence
A leave of absence may be granted to a student upon written request to the Office of the Registrar. A leave of absence may be granted for no more than two years. The leave of absence date will be the date that the Leave of Absence/Withdrawal form is received in the Office of the Registrar.
For a student enrolled in a current term, application for the leave must be made before the stated deadline for withdrawal from classes. This date may be found in the academic calendar in the University Bulletin or online for the given term. A leave of absence may be granted only if the student withdraws from all courses in the term. If completed by the deadline, a student will receive grades of W for all courses in that given semester. A student may not take a leave of absence from the term if application is made after the stated deadline for withdrawal from classes. Any student who stops attendance after the deadline to withdraw from classes will receive a grade of F for each course in progress.
A student who is accepted to the University but not yet enrolled may defer admission through the Admission Office. A student with prior enrollment may apply for a leave through the Office of the Registrar. A leave of absence is canceled if the student registers in another college or university without prior written permission of the student’s Dean. In this case, the student has de facto withdrawn (see Withdrawal) from LMU and must reapply through the Admission Office. The student may enroll again at LMU if accepted through the Admission Office. Similarly, a student is considered to have withdrawn from LMU if the leave of absence is extended unofficially beyond two years.
LMU Honor Code and Process
Loyola Marymount University is a community dedicated to academic excellence, studentcentered education, and the Jesuit and Marymount traditions. As such, the University expects all members of its community to act with honesty and integrity at all times, especially in their academic work. Academic honesty respects the intellectual and creative work of others, flows from dedication to and pride in performing one’s own best work, and is essential if true learning is to take place.
Examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, the following: all acts of cheating on assignments or examinations, or facilitating other students’ cheating; plagiarism; fabrication of data, including the use of false citations; improper use of non-print media; unauthorized access to computer accounts or files or other privileged information; and improper use of Internet sites and resources.
Definitions of Academic Dishonesty
| A. |
|
|
Ceating and Facilitating Cheating |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. |
|
Possession, distribution, and/or use of unauthorized materials or technology before or during an examination or during the process of preparing a class assignment. |
|
|
|
2. |
|
Collaboration on class assignments, including inclass and take home examinations, without the permission of the instructor. |
|
|
|
3. |
|
Provision of assistance to another student attempting to use unauthorized resources or collaboration on class assignments or examinations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| B. |
|
|
Plagiarism |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. |
|
Presentation of someone else's ideas or work, either in written form or non-print media, as one's own. |
|
|
|
2. |
|
Omission or improper use of citations in written work |
|
|
|
3. |
|
Omission or improper use of credits and attributions in non-print media. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| C. |
|
|
Falsification of Data |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. |
|
Presentation of altered or fabricated data, such as lab reports, with the intention of misleading the reader |
|
|
|
2. |
|
Presentation of forged signatures as authentic. |
|
|
|
3. |
|
Use of false citations, either incorrect or fabricated, including sources found on the Internet. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| D. |
|
|
Unauthorized Access to Computers or Privileged Information |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. |
|
Use of University network and/or computer hardware to gain unauthorized access to files, and alteration or other use of those files. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| E. |
|
|
Improper Use of Internet Sites and Resources |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. |
|
Inappropriate use of an Internet source, including, but not limited to, submission of a paper, in part or in its entirety, purchased or otherwise obtained via the Internet, and failure to provide proper citation for sources found on the Internet. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| F. |
|
|
Improper Use of Non-Print Media |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. |
|
All above standards apply to non-print media. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| G. |
|
|
Group Work—Group and team work are an integral part of theExecutive MBA and some other graduate programs. Classmates areencouraged to work with and support each other, as much of thelearning results from mutually shared experiences and expertise ofclassmates. There is a point, however, where students must maketheir own use of materials and present their own ideas, thoughts, andsolutions. Examples where work must be clearly individual includeindividual papers, exams, and projects. There is a fi ne line betweenshared learning and cheating. If the student is unclear between whatconstiutes group work and what constitutes individual work, it isthe student’s responsibility to contact the instructor to clarify the ambiguity. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| H. |
|
|
Other Academic Dishonesty |
|
|
|
1. |
|
Any other means of violating the standards of academic honesty set out above. |
|
|
Honor Code Process
This section sets out the process to be followed when an Instructor suspects a violation of the Honor Code. The recommended sanctions are not mandatory, but are intended to guide the Instructor's discretion. Instructors are encouraged to consult with their colleagues and chairs in making these decisions. This section also outlines the student appeal process for Honor Code violations.
I. Intentional and Unintentional Academic Dishonesty
| A. |
|
Notification: Instructors will notify the Student of the suspected act of academic dishonesty. The Student will be given the opportunity to admit, deny, or explain the situation. If the suspected violation of the Honor Code occurs with respect to an assignment that the Instructor has not reviewed until after the class has stopped meeting, the Instructor will send a letter to the permanent address of the Student and keep a copy of the letter. Failure to notify will result in a reasonable extension of the Student's time to appeal, but is not in and of itself a defense to the violation of the Honor Code. |
| B. |
|
Determination: If the Instructor determines that a violation has occurred, he/she will next determine whether or not the violation was intentional or unintentional. The distinction between intentional and unintentional violations of academic honesty is not based upon the purely subjective intentions of the Student. The question is whether a Student who has carefully read the Honor Code should have understood that his/her action violated the Honor Code and standards of academic honesty. |
| C. |
|
Unintentional Violation: If the Instructor believes the violation was unintentional, he/she may take any of the following actions: |
|
1. |
|
Warn Student |
|
2. |
|
Require assignment or exam to be resubmitted |
|
3. |
|
Reduce the grade on the assignment, project, or exam The Instructor shall inform the Student of his/her decision and also inform the Student of the right to appeal the Instructor’s decision. |
|
D. |
|
Intentional Violation: If the Instructor believes the violation is intentional, he/she may take any of the following actions: |
|
1. |
Fail the Student on the assignment or exam |
|
2. |
Fail the Student in the course |
The Instructor shall inform the Student of his/her decision in writing and also inform the Student of the right to appeal the Instructor's decision.
The Instructor may consult with the Chairperson, Program Director, or equivalent and refer the matter directly to the Dean of the Instructor's college or school with a recommendation that the Student be suspended or expelled. Upon such a referral, the Dean shall appoint an Academic Honesty Panel consisting of two Faculty members and one Student from the ASLMU Judiciary.
II. Departmental Appeal
A. The Student may appeal the Instructors decision under section I(C) or (D) to the Department Chairperson, Program Director, or equivalent. In accordance with the grade appeal policy in the University Bulletin, the Student will be required to make his/her appeal in writing no later than three weeks into the semester following the decision.
B. If either the Student or Instructor wishes, he/she may appeal the decision of the Department Chairperson, Program Director, or equivalent to the Dean of the Instructor's college or school, who will refer the matter to the Academic Honesty Panel. Appeals must be made within 30 days of receipt of the Chairperson's decision.
III. Academic Honesty Panel Appeal
| A. |
|
The Academic Honesty Panel is an ad hoc recommending bodyof the Instructor’s college/school. The Panel consists of twoFaculty members for undergraduate students and three Facultymembers for graduate students, and one Student appointed bythe Dean. The Dean will appoint one of the Faculty members asChair of the Academic Honesty Panel. |
| B. |
|
Responsibilities of the Panel |
-
The Panel will hear appeals by the Student or Instructor of the Chair's decision for any penalty short of expulsion or suspension
-
The Panel will make the initial recommendation as to whether the Student should be suspended or expelled.
C. In fulfilling these responsibilities, the Panel will make two determinations:
-
It will determine whether there is clear and convincing evidence that the Student has violated the Honor Code. The Student is entitled to the presumption of innocence and the right to review and respond to all evidence and information relevant to the Panel's decision.
-
Upon the finding of clear and convincing evidence of a violation, the Panel is to determine the appropriate penalty. With regard to the appropriateness of serious recommendations such as suspension and expulsion, the Panel shall take into account the following factors:
a. the severity of the violation;
b. whether the violation is an isolated instance, or part of a pattern of two or more violations; and
c. other mitigating or extenuating circumstances.
| D. |
|
The recommendation of the Academic Honesty Panel, along with an explanation of the reason for the recommendation, will be reported in writing to the Dean of the Instructor's college or school. The Dean will normally follow the recommendation of the Panel. However, the Dean's decision is final. |
| E. |
|
The Dean will inform the Student and Instructor, in writing, of his/her decision. The Dean will also report his/her decision to the Senior Vice President/Chief Academic Officer. The Office of the Senior Vice President/Chief Academic Officer will keep a permanent, confidential record of all proceedings of the Academic Honesty Panel. |
Major
A major indicates a particular curriculum within a degree program offered by one of the four Colleges and two Schools. The major is usually declared by the student at the time of acceptance to the University. If a student is unsure about a particular program of study within a degree program, some Colleges will allow for an undeclared major within that college. This option is at the discretion of the College or School. An undergraduate student must, under normal circumstances, declare a major within a degree program prior to earning sixty semester hours of credit.
An undergraduate student must have a cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) and a graduate student must have a cumulative grade point average of B (3.0) in all courses required by the major. Please note that certain majors have more stringent requirements. The particular requirements are listed under the department listings in this Bulletin.
Change of Program or Emphasis
A graduate student who wishes to change a program before completing adegree or credential must submit a new application form to the GraduateAdmissions Offi ce. A graduate student who wishes to change from oneemphasis to another before completing a degree must request approvalfrom the Program Director.
Double Major
An undergraduate student may earn a Bachelor’s degree with a double (secondary) major by successfully completing the following requirements for the second major prior to, or in the same term as, the first (primary) major:
1. Completion of the requirements of the primary major; and
2. Completion of the requirements of the secondary major; and
3. Completion of requirements for the primary Bachelor’s degree.
No more than eight semester hours of upper division work in the primary major can be used to satisfy the requirements of the secondary major. The two majors will be printed on the student’s transcript of record and University diploma.
Minor
Undergraduate students who choose to complete a minor must meet the following general requirements:
1. A minor program consists of 18 or more semester hours. At least half of the upper division semester hours of the minor program must be completed in residence at Loyola Marymount.
2. Specific semester hour requirements are listed by each department offering a minor program. A student who declares a minor is held responsible for the academic regulations in effect at the time the minor is declared.
3. A student must have a cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) for courses taken in the minor program.
4. The minor may not be in the same program as the student’s major.
5. Courses may not count as fulfi lling both a major and minor program, unless a specific course is required by both programs.
6. A minor may be earned only while the student is concurrently completing the requirements for a baccalaureate degree. The minor must be cleared by the Dean’s offi ce at the same time that the baccalaureate degree is cleared.
7. Students are advised to consult department regulations in the Bulletin for further information.
Non- Degree Graduate Students
Non-degree students are those who are not pursuing a formal graduate program but who are eleigible to take courses at LMU. If such a student is taking 500- or 600-level courses, he or she will be a non-degree graduate student. If the student is taking strictly undergraduate courses (400 or lower), he or she will be a non-degree undergraduate and must be enrolled through Undergraduate Admission. Students may take more than two courses while in the non-degree status; however, only two courses taken in the non-degree status may apply toward a degree or credential. Normally, non-degree students are not allowed to take MBA, or Film, Television, and Screenwriting, as well as Marriage and Family Therapy courses. Admission to the non-degree status does not garuntee admission to degree candidacy or credential recommendation.
Privacy Rights of Students in Education Records
The Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. 1232g) (“FERPA”) and regulations adopted thereunder and California Education Code Section 67100 et seq., set out requirements designed to protect the privacy of students concerning their education records maintained by LMU.
Specifically, FERPA governs access to student records maintained by the campus and the release of such records. In brief, the law dictates that LMU provide students access to records directly related to the student and an opportunity for a hearing to challenge such records on the grounds that they are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise inappropriate. The right to a hearing under the law does not include any right to challenge the appropriateness of a grade as determined by the instructor. The law generally requires that written consent of the student be received before releasing personally identifiable data about the student from records to other than a specifi ed list of exceptions.
Among the types of information included in the campus statement of policies and procedures are: 1) the types of student records and the information contained therein, 2) the official responsible for the maintenance of each type of record, 3) the location of access lists that indicate persons requesting or receiving information from the records, 4) policies for reviewing and expunging records, 5) the access rights of students, 6) the procedures for challenging the content of student records, 7) the cost that is charged for reproducing copies of records, and 8) the right of the student to file a complaint with the Department of Education.
An office and review board have been established by the Department of Education to investigate and adjudicate violations and complaints. The office designated for this purpose is the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202.
LMU is authorized under the Act to release public “directory information” concerning students. “Directory information” includes the student’s name, address, telephone number, electronic mail address, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student.
The above designated information is subject to release by LMU at any time unless it has received prior written objection from the student by the close of official registration. Written objections should be sent to the Office of the Registrar. Requests to withhold “directory information” must be filed each semester.
LMU is authorized to provide access to student records without a student’s consent in a limited number of situations, including but not limited to: campus officials and employees who have legitimate educational interests in such records, pursuant to a lawfully issued subpoena, to educational institutions where a student seeks to enroll, to authorized Federal and state officials, and in the event of an emergency if necessary to protect health and safety.
Program Completion
The normal time allowed for the completion of graduate degree programs is five years. A student who has not completed the degree within five years must request an extension of time. If the extension is granted by the Program Director or Dean of the student's college or school, the student may be required to undertake additional coursework. Some departments have a shorter limit for the completion of the program.
A minimum of 30 graduate semester hours (500 and 600 level) and a minimum of 3.0 (B") cumulative grade point average are necessary to qualify for completion of a program. See individual program descriptions for specific and additional graduation requirements.
Registration
The days of registration are listed in the University Calendar. All students must follow the registration procedures as established by the Office of the Registrar. A student is not considered registered until official clearance has been obtained from the Controller’s Offi ce and successful registration has been processed by the Office of the Registrar. The official academic program consists of the courses in which the student is enrolled at the close of official registration. Students may not attend a course for which they are not registered. Enrollment in a closed class must be authorized by the Department Chairperson. In the College of Business Administration, this authorization is from the Associate Dean.
Undergraduate students are limited to enrolling in a maximum of 17 semester hours during advance registration. If the requirements for a primary major require additional registration, contact the Associate Dean’s office for written permission. Once the approval for more than 17 semester hours has been received in the Office of the Registrar, the necessary adjustments will be made to allow for the additional registration. Two weeks prior to the first day of classes, students are eligible to enroll in 18 or more semester hours.
Repeating Courses
Students may repeat a course previously taken at LMU in a subsequent term at LMU once, including any withdrawals. The third time a course is taken requires approval from the Dean. The prior occurrence is excluded from the cumulative grade point average but remains on the transcript. All semester hours attempted are used to determine the student’s grade point average and graduation eligibility. The grade of the latest occurrence of the repeated course will be the one calculated into the cumulative average. Please note that although the term GPA will change accordingly, the academic status of the term will not change. Courses taken on a Credit/No Credit basis may not be used as a repeat course to exclude from the cumulative average a grade of a prior occurrence taken on a letter grade basis. Students may not register for any course in the College of Business Administration for a third time without the written permission of the Department Chairperson of the course and the Dean. Questions concerning this policy should be directed to the Office of the Registrar.
Undergraduate students may not repeat an elementary or intermediate foreign language course after successful completion of a more advanced course in the same language.
Courses taken at LMU after a degree has been granted will not change the graduation GPA.
Transcripts
Official transcripts of courses taken at the University are issued only with the written permission of the student concerned. Partial transcripts are not issued.
Transcripts show all Loyola Marymount University work completed as of the date of application for the transcript. Work in progress accompanies the transcript. Requests for transcripts to show end of current semester’s work are held until all grades are recorded.
Transcript requests are processed in accordance with the date of filing. Transcripts will not be issued when a student has outstanding financial obligations to the University. In this case, the student will be notified by the Controller’s Office.
Transcripts from other institutions which have been presented for admission or evaluation become a part of the student’s permanent academic file and are not returned to the student. Students desiring transcripts covering work attempted elsewhere should request them from the appropriate institutions.
Transfer Credit
Credit for work completed at institutions accredited by one of the six regional associations of the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities, other than course work identified by such institutions as remedial or in other ways as being nontransferable, may be accepted toward the satisfaction of degree and credential requirements at the University within limitations of residence requirements and community college transfer maximums. Undergraudate courses with grades below C (2.0) or graduate courses with grades below B (3.0) do not transfer. A maximum of 60 semester hours from a community college and 90 hours from a four-year institution is transferable to the baccalaureate degree program of the University.
Any student regularly enrolled as a degree candidate who elects to take courses at a college or university other than Loyola Marymount University must obtain written approval of the Chairperson of the major department and the Dean prior to enrollment in such courses. Courses taken without this approval may not be counted toward the degree. Approved undergraduate courses must be passed with a grade of C (2.0) or higher, or approved graduate courses must be passed with a grade of B (3.0) or higher, in order to transfer. Semester hour value is granted to transfer courses; grades or GPA information on transfer work is neither listed on nor calculated in LMU work printed on the academic record.
Course work completed at non-U.S. institutions must be documented on an official academic record from an international institution recognized by the Ministry or Department of Education of that country.
It is the responsibility of the student to submit all international transcripts to an LMU-approved credentials-evaluating agency for evaluation of U.S. equivalent course work and corresponding grade.
In order to receive credit toward a degree for post-baccalaureate work taken at other colleges and universities, the student must obtain a general petition to transfer credit from the Office of the Registrar Two official transcripts recording the transfer courses must be sent directly by the institution to the Graduate Admissions Office or the Office of the Registrar. If approved by his/her Department, Program Director, and/or Dean of the student's college or school, a student may transfer a maximum of two applicable courses of approved graduate credit from an accredited institution for work completed no more than five years ago. No course credit may be transferred unless the grade received was at least a "B" (3.0). If a course was used to satisfy a degree requirement, it usually cannot be used for transfer credit, with the exception of core or prerequisite requirements. Transfer credits are not used to calculate GPA.
Contact the following agencies for further information:
Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
PO Box 514070
Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470
(414) 289-3400 / (414) 289-3411 (fax)
http://www.ece.org
eval@ece.org
American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO)
International Education Services
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 520
Washington, D.C. 20036-1135
(202) 296-3359
http://www.aacrao.org/international/ ForeignEdCred.cfm
oies@aacrao.org
International transcripts submitted without appropriate evaluations will not be considered for eligible transfer work to LMU.
Articulation
The articulation services at LMU help students to identify courses completed at other academic institutions that are transferable to LMU baccalaureate degree programs. Courses taken at other academic institutions may fulfill University core requirements, Program (major/minor) requirements or transfer in as electives. LMU has established articulation agreements with its major feeder community colleges. To view these articulation agreements, see http://registrar.lmu.edu, and click on “Articulation Agreements.” Current students should consult the articulation agreements of the institutions listed on this page as well as the “existing histories” of courses previously transferred in from other institutions. A signed Transfer Course Approval form and an official transcript from the transfer institution must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar before any transfer courses may become a part of the continuing student’s LMU degree program.
Tutorials
Only regularly offered courses described in this Bulletin may be taken as tutorial courses. Students may individually arrange with a faculty member to take the course as a tutorial. A tutorial course is considered part of a student’s semester program. Registration for it takes place during the regular registration periods. Only full-time students are eligible, and approval will be given for only one tutorial course per semester. Freshmen and first-semester transfer students are not eligible.
Veterans
Students eligible for veteran’s benefits begin the enrollment certification process by submitting an application for benefits to the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. Once the student has committed to LMU, the student must submit a copy of the Report of Separation form, commonly referred to as the DD214 form, to the Offi ce of the Registrar. At the end of the offi cial drop/add period, the Office of the Registrar will complete an enrollment certification (VA28-1905) form and submit it to the Department of Veterans Affairs in Muskogee, Oklahoma. The VA28-1905 forms are submitted to Muskogee at the beginning of each term of enrollment until the University is notified that benefits have been exhausted or the student graduates.
back to the top