Mar 29, 2024  
USC Catalogue 2022-2023 
    
USC Catalogue 2022-2023 [ARCHIVED CATALOGUE]

Marshall Master’s Programs Academic Policies


Return to: USC Marshall School of Business  

Academic Policies — Master’s Programs

Waivers

Subject waiver of required courses may be granted to students based on prior academic work subject to university policy limitations, program structure, and in some cases by examination. In most cases waived courses must be replaced with electives of equal unit value.

Further information regarding the waiver policy in the Marshall School of Business may be obtained from the program adviser for the applicable degree program following admission.

Change of Degree Program

Students who are currently enrolled in one degree program who wish to change their degree status to another program must formally apply for admission to that program through USC Admissions. Details concerning individual student requirements in other degree programs may be obtained by contacting the applicable program office.

Continuous Enrollment/Leave of Absence/Withdrawal/Reinstatement

Once admitted to a graduate degree program, the student must enroll at USC each fall and spring semester each year until the student has satisfactorily completed all degree requirements. MBA.PM students must enroll at USC each fall, spring and summer term until they have satisfactorily completed all degree requirements.

If for military, medical, religious or job-related reasons a student must skip a semester, the student must petition for a leave of absence. The petition should be submitted to the student’s program adviser no later than the first day of class for the semester of the leave.

If granted, the period of leave is not counted in the time allowed for the completion of degree requirements, and the student is allowed to complete the degree requirements in effect when he or she was originally admitted.

Once a leave is approved, it is the student’s responsibility to withdraw from any classes for which the student has already enrolled. An approved leave may not exceed one academic year. If one academic year is insufficient, the student may petition for up to two more semesters (a second year) of leave. A student whose leave exceeds two academic years or who fails to maintain continuous enrollment without obtaining an approved leave must, when ready to return to school, apply for readmission to the program. Contact the program adviser for the applicable program.

Students who must completely withdraw from a program must notify their program office of their withdrawal from the program. Students should contact their program office for more information or assistance.

Marshall School of Business Second Master’s Degree Policy

A “second master’s degree” is any master’s degree pursued after a first master’s degree is earned at USC. The maximum number of units that may be applied from a master’s degree previously completed at USC toward a subsequent Marshall master’s degree is 3 units. This policy also applies when two master’s degrees are being completed simultaneously. No more than 3 business-related units can be applied from the other master’s degree. (This Marshall unit maximum supersedes any USC unit calculations related to second master’s degrees.) Second master’s degrees are not allowed in the same program of study for students who earned their first master’s degree at USC.

For students who earned their first master’s degree at another institution, no course work may be repeated from the first program of study and no unit credit from the first program of study may be counted toward the second master’s degree. No individual exceptions are allowed.

Course Work at Another Institution

Once matriculated into a Marshall School of Business program, a student must receive prior permission by petition from the appropriate Marshall program office to take course work (a maximum of 6 units) at another institution. Only course work from an AACSB accredited business school can be accepted, and the units approved to be taken at another institution must be the last remaining units needed to complete Marshall’s degree requirements. A grade of B or better must be earned. Permission is granted only in exceptional circumstances.

Limited Status

The Marshall School of Business does not allow students to take graduate (500-level) electives on any conditional or special status basis prior to application and an official admission decision except under the following condition: students completing a Master of Business Administration program at another accredited university outside of the Los Angeles area may take up to 12 units in the Marshall School of Business to complete their degrees, provided that a letter from the associate dean or program director at the student’s university verifies that the student is in good academic standing and identifies the courses that will be accepted for credit by the university granting the degree.

Marshall master’s degree alumni are welcome to return as Limited Status students subject to satisfaction of prerequisites and space available.

Auditing

Auditing of Marshall graduate courses (ACCT, BAEP, BUCO, DSO, FBE, GSBA, MKT, MOR courses numbered 500 and above) is not allowed.

Grade Point Average Requirements

Master’s students must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 (A = 4.0) or better to stay in good academic standing. Students who are not in good academic standing are subject to dismissal.

Grades

Grades below C (2.0) in all master’s degree courses are not acceptable. If a lower grade is earned in a required course, the course must be repeated at USC and a grade of C or above must be earned. Degree credit will not be given for courses with grades of C- and below, but the grades are computed into the grade point average. Such courses should be repeated in the next semester in which the course in question is offered and must be repeated within one calendar year. Satisfactory completion of all required courses must occur prior to or concurrently with the beginning of advanced course work.

Academic Warning

Master’s students who, in a term, do not earn or maintain a 3.0 (A = 4.0) grade point average are placed on academic probation. Continued enrollment in the program requires the permission of the academic director of the program. Students who fail to achieve a 3.0 upon completion of the required number of units for any degree may, with the prior endorsement from the academic director of the program and approval by the Marshall Vice Dean for Graduate Programs, be allowed to take a maximum of 12 additional units at USC to obtain the required GPA. Petitions to take additional units should be submitted to the student’s program adviser well in advance of the term in which additional units will be attempted.

Dismissal

A student may be dismissed from a master’s program whenever, in the judgment of the program’s academic director; it is unlikely that the student will successfully complete his or her program.

 

Return to: USC Marshall School of Business