What is the typical undergraduate course load at Lesley?
The prescribed four-year course load at the College of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies is five to six courses per semester (15–18 credits). Some students will take only four courses per semester, especially during the first year. However, to meet the minimum academic requirements of 120 credits, a student must average 30 credits per year. Courses taken during the summer or January term can help to contribute to this total.
Full-time students may register for up to 18 credits per semester. Those students who receive permission to carry a course overload will be charged per credit hour for all course credits over the normal course load of 18 credits per semester.
In order to be considered full-time, a student must be enrolled in at least 12 credits per semester. Part-time students must be enrolled in at least 9 credits per semester.
Can College of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies students take courses at the Art Institute of Boston (AIB) or in the Graduate Schools?
College of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies undergraduates may enroll in AIB courses and certain graduate courses if they have fulfilled the appropriate prerequisites. Some courses (such a certain graduate counseling courses, or upper level photography courses) may be limited to program participants.
Can students receive academic credit for AP exams? What about college courses taken during high school?
Yes, students can receive academic credit for an AP exam on which they scored a 4 or higher. In order to process these credits, the student should bring an official score report to the Academic Advising Center if the scores were not sent with the original admissions materials. If a student is unsure of whether or not he or she has received credit for an AP, the student can check his/her transcript on MyLesley or schedule a meeting with his/her academic advisor.
Some high schools have partnerships with local colleges or universities and offer college-level classes to high school students. Students may be able to receive Lesley credit for these courses, provided that they received a grade of "C" or higher. Please see the Advising Center for more information. Students need a course description and an official transcript from the college or university in order to receive Lesley course credit.
What is the honors program?
Students entering the College of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies who meet the appropriate requirements are invited to enroll in the First-Year Honors Program. Entrance to the program is based primarily on a student's high school record. The First-Year Honors program includes a set of linked liberal arts courses taken in the first semester.
The Self-Designed Honors Program, open to current Lesley students with a high GPA who exemplify the values of Lesley, includes self-designed honors-level experiences incorporated into existing courses, independent studies, and seminars on topics of interest identified by honors program students. Information about the First-Year Honors Program and the Self-Designed Honors Program may be obtained from the Director of the Honors Program, Christine Evans, at 617.349.8959 or cevans@lesley.edu.
What should a student do if she/he is having difficulty connecting with a professor?
Professors usually list their preferred method of contact on course syllabi. Students should first try to email the instructor at the address provided and/or call her/him at the number on the syllabus. Please note that not all faculty are on campus every day, so allow a few days for a professor to respond.
Students should also visit the professor's scheduled office hours if possible. If it is a time-sensitive issue and the student cannot get a hold of a professor, the student should contact his/her Advisor or a member of the Academic Advising Center staff.
During the first two weeks of the semester, students may add or drop courses with an advisor's approval, as long as they remain enrolled in enough credits to maintain full-time status. Course changes made during the Add/Drop period will not be reflected on the student's transcript. If students are planning on adding a course, they should do so as soon as possible to avoid falling behind in coursework. Students may not add a course after the Add/Drop deadline.
After the Add/Drop deadline, students may see their advisors to withdraw from a course with a grade of a "W." If a student feels that she/he is in danger of failing a course, it is better to withdraw than to receive a failing grade. A withdrawal will be reflected on the student's transcript as a "W" grade and the student will not receive credit for the course. However, withdrawing from a course will not impact a student's full-time status, as the "W" grade acts as a placeholder on the transcript. For example, if a student enrolled in 12 credits decides to withdraw from a course, the student is still considered full-time.
After the Withdrawal deadline, which typically falls about five weeks before the end of the semester, students will receive a letter grade for the course, even if they stop attending. Please refer to the Academic Calendar for Add/Drop and Withdrawal deadlines for each semester.
Can a student retake a course that she/he failed?
Yes, students can retake a course if it is offered again. When a student retakes a course, the new grade will replace the failing grade in the student's GPA. The original grade will still remain on the transcript, but successfully retaking the course shows an effort on the student's part to improve.
What is a mid-semester evaluation?
Mid-semester evaluations offer a valuable opportunity for faculty to provide feedback regarding individual student performance in their courses. Faculty use the Mid-semester Evaluation to call attention to a student who is having academic difficulty so that the student can take steps to improve. Faculty may also use the forms to encourage a student who has been working hard in a class, or to praise a student who has shown exceptional progress in a course. If a student receives a mid-semester evaluation, it is important that she or he contact the faculty and her/his advisor to establish a plan for the remainder of the semester.
What grade point average (GPA) does a student need to be in good academic standing?
In order to remain in good academic standing, students must earn a GPA of 2.0 or above. See the Academic Catalogue for specific details regarding Academic Alert and Academic Probation. Please note that some scholarships may require a minimum GPA in order to retain funding.
Class designation is determined by the number of credits a student has successfully completed – not the amount of time he/she has spent at the university. The guidelines are as follows:
- First Year: 0–29.5 credits
- Sophomore: 30–59.5 credits
- Junior: 60–89.5 credits
- Senior: 90+ credits
What is January mini-semester? Can any student take a course offered during the January term? Is the tuition covered in the academic year's tuition?
Courses taken during the January term are considered part of the Spring semester and are open to all College of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies students who have completed the appropriate prerequisites. The credits for these courses go towards the total maximum allotment of 18 credits per semester. If a student is enrolled full-time for the Spring semester and does not exceed a total of 18 credits for the Spring, then there is no additional charge to take a January term course. Students needing housing accommodations should contact Residence Life.
Does Lesley offer a Summer session? Is the tuition covered in the academic year's tuition?
Lesley University offers a select schedule of summer courses. Please visit LOIS (www.lesley.edu/lois) to view summer course offerings. Summer courses are not included in tuition for the academic year.
What should a student do if she/he would like to take a course at a university other than Lesley?
Students who plan to take courses at other institutions must come to the Academic Advising Center to fill out a Transfer of Credit Approval form before enrolling in the course. If the course is being taken to fulfill a requirement within the major, students should bring this form and a copy of the course description to the Division Director for approval. If the course is being taken to fulfill a general education requirement, the student should bring the course description to Joanne Dreher, Director of Academic Advising, for approval.
Courses must be taken at an accredited college or university, and the student must receive a grade of "C" or higher in order for the credits to transfer in to Lesley. Upon completion of the course, students must send or bring an official transcript from the institution where the course was taken to the Academic Advising Center.
What should a student do if she/he plans to transfer or withdraw from Lesley?
Students planning to withdraw from the University should make an appointment with the Director of Academic Advising, Joanne Dreher. They also will need to complete a Change of Status Form, which can be found in the Academic Advising Center. Students should be sure to check in with the Library, Residence Life, Student Accounts, and Financial Aid to avoid unnecessary charges.
What is a Leave of Absence?
Occasionally it is determined that a student needs to take a semester or two away from the university due to personal, family, or health issues. Students should only take a Leave of Absence if they intend to return to the University to complete an academic program. Please see the Academic Catalogue for more details regarding the circumstances of a Leave of Absence.
To request a Leave of Absence from the University, students should make an appointment with the Director of Academic Advising, Joanne Dreher. They also will need to complete a Change of Status Form, which can be found in the Academic Advising Center. Please note that students may not matriculate at another institution while on a Leave of Absence from Lesley University.
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