Course Information

Add/Drop Policy

Add/Drop Policy

All course changes must be processed through the Office of the University Registrar (or via Self-Service during the registration periods); students must adhere to the published deadlines referenced in the Academic Calendars found on the University's website (www.lesley.edu). Students wishing to add or drop a course or change course sections must do so during the add/drop periods as outlined below:

• For all standard semester-long courses (15-week courses): Add/drop period ends at 11:59 p.m. on the seventh calendar day from the first day of the semester.
• For all term-based courses (8-week courses): Add/drop period ends at 11:59 p.m. on the seventh calendar day from the first day of the term.

Weekend Intensive, Short Courses, Conferences, Workshops & Travel Study Courses
Weekend intensive courses must adhere to either an 8-week or 15-week schedule and abide by the timelines and policies for add/drop, withdrawals, and refunds for that term or semester length. Students who officially drop a course and submit all appropriate forms should reference the refund policy outlined under the Financial Aid, Bills, & Payments section of the website at https://lesley.edu/students/financial-aid-bills-payments/refund-policies-processes

Refund of Charges Due to Dropped Courses

If a student drops a course before the end of the add/drop period for any given semester or term, course-associated charges such as tuition and fees for that course will be refunded in full and there will be no impact on the student’s transcript.

If a student drops the course after the end of the add/drop period, the student is financially responsible for the entire semester/term of tuition and fee charges for the course. This applies to all courses including residencies, weekend intensives, short courses, conferences, and travel study. The course will remain on the student’s transcript and the student will receive a grade of “W”.

Non-attendance does not satisfy the requirement for withdrawal and students who do not attend courses and do not withdraw/drop will be charged in full for course tuition and fees.

University policy does not allow retroactive withdrawals or refunds.

Auditing a Course

Auditing Classes

Students wishing to audit a course should indicate “audit” on the course registration form or select the audit option during registration in Self-Service. The cost to audit a course is equivalent to the cost of one credit in the program for which you are enrolled. See Cost of Attending Lesley for details. Audited courses cannot later be changed to gain credit or a letter grade. Courses taken for credit cannot be changed to audit. Credit or audit enrollment must be declared at the time of registration. Audited courses appear on the transcript as such and carry no credit value. Faculty members or the university will not furnish evaluations or letters attesting to the student’s presence or quality of class participation.

Students may observe a class session if permission is given by the faculty member teaching the course. Program offices should be contacted if permission is requested. Students may only be given permission to sit in on one class session.

Most graduate courses offered for credit may be audited with the approval of the faculty member. The same is true for undergraduate courses that are designed to allow the option to audit.

Course Load

A course load for a student is dependent on their program of study and their goals for program completion. Students should consult their academic advisor to check program-specific academic guidelines regarding course load. It is the student's responsibility to monitor the number of credits completed each year as they relate to progress toward graduation.

For undergraduate students to meet the minimum academic graduation requirement of 120 credits, a student completing their degree in four years must average 30 credits each year, which is 15 credits per semester.

The Art and Design double major IBFA.8403 Animation/IBFA.8400 Illustration program requires 153 credits. Students complete this degree in five years. The credit load averages 30 credits in the first, third, and fifth years, and 33 credits in the second and fourth years. To fulfill 33 credits, students take 18 credits for one semester in the second and fourth years.

Students may elect to take the minimum number of credits per semester (12) with the understanding it will take longer than four years to earn a bachelor’s degree.

For adult learners, students often find that part-time study is the best fit. Depending therefore on the number of credits transferred, the number of credits needed to complete, and the number of credits taken each semester, completion times for part-time adult learners vary significantly and depend on each student’s unique situation. For additional information, students should contact the Academic Advising Office (advising@lesley.edu)

For students earning their graduate degree, a standard academic guideline for determining course load is one credit per week. Therefore, the maximum credit load per semester is as follows:

Students should consult their program to check program-specific academic guidelines.

Course Sequences

All degree, certificate, and certification candidates should confer with the appropriate academic advisor in determining their course of study. In planning a program with the student, the academic advisor carefully considers an individual’s special interests and circumstances. There are, however, certain courses designed to be taken in sequence or in pairs. In addition, an individual may be counseled to take specific courses as prerequisites in addition to the required program of study or to supplement previous educational training. It is the student’s responsibility to comply with advisement and published sequencing and prerequisites.

Course Waiver/Substitution

When it can be determined that a student has successfully completed a course at Lesley or at another accredited institution which is substantially the same as a required course in one of the degree programs offered at the University, a waiver or substitution may be granted. CAGS, Master’s, and Bachelor’s waiver requests from non-accredited colleges and universities (including international schools) are not accepted. Graduate-level coursework must not be more than seven (7) years old at the time of graduation.

In some graduate programs, professional experience may be applicable for course waiver approval. Students should discuss the implication of waivers with their academic advisor.

Application forms for course waiver must be initiated, approved, and signed by the student’s advisor, as well as the Department Chair or designee, and the registrar designee. Course waivers/substitutions for General Education requirements must be approved by a Liberal Arts & Business Associate Provost. Approval of the course waiver/substitution does not reduce the total number of credits required for the awarding of the degree, but allows the student, in consultation with an advisor, to select another approved course for the same number of credits, which may then be taken in lieu of the waived or substituted course.

However, courses waived within non-degree licensure programs may reduce the total number of credits required for completion of the licensure requirements.

Students should work with their advisor on waiver requests as soon as possible once accepted into a degree or licensure program. Waiver requests must be completed, and posted to a student’s academic record, prior to the beginning of the student’s final semester before their anticipated graduation.

The link to the Waiver Form is available on the Registrar’s Office Forms webpage and is initiated by a faculty member or advisor.

Course Withdrawal Policy

The University has a window of time allowing students to add or drop a course. After that deadline, students who drop a course will receive a “W” grade on their official transcripts and will not receive a refund for the course. Students who discontinue studies in any course after the last day to drop with a “W” grade will receive an “F” grade on their official transcripts. The last day to drop with a “W” grade is before the end of the twelfth week of the semester for semester-based (15-week) courses or before the end of the sixth week for term-based (8-week) courses.

No credit will be given for the course in either case. An “F” grade will be counted in computing the cumulative grade point average, but a “W” grade will not.

Lesley University does not allow courses to be retroactively dropped or refunded, which means late or retroactive add/drop registration forms will not be accepted.

Non-attendance does not constitute an official drop from a course; students will still be held responsible for all related tuition and fees.

It is important to note that exceptions to these deadlines may be granted for students with documented medical circumstances.

Students who drop courses during the add/drop window will receive a full refund. If students take a leave of absence from the university, following all protocols mentioned in the Leave of Absence/Withdrawal section, they will be granted refunds according to the refund policy. Please see the refund policy outlined under the Financial Aid, Bills, & Payments section of the website at lesley.edu/students/financial-aid-bills-payments/refund-policies-processes

Refer to the Academic Calendar for exact dates for add/drop deadlines(lesley.edu/students/academic-resources/academic-calendars).  

Course/Studio Assistantships

Course Assistantships

Students may be asked to serve as a Course Assistant in a particular course that they have taken previously (or otherwise demonstrated competency). In this role, they study the process of planning, implementing, and evaluating the course, while assisting with the preparation and teaching of the course. Students who decide to serve in this role register for CCAST 4089 and choose the number of credits (from 1-4).  A Course Assistant Approval form, signed by the faculty and approved by the department chair, is required for registration.

• A student may serve as a Course Assistant for a given course once. 
• A student may serve as a Course Assistant for three courses, for up to 8 credits total.
• The number of credits assigned to CCAST 4089 cannot exceed the number of credits attached to the course for which the student serves as the Course Assistant. 

Studio Assistantships

A student may be asked to serve as a Studio Assistant in a particular course that the student has taken previously (or otherwise demonstrated competency). In this role, the student studies the process of planning, implementing, and evaluating the course, while assisting with the preparation and teaching of the course. Interested students must file a Studio Assistant Approval form, signed by the faculty, and approved by the department chair in order to register by using course code ISTUD 4089.

• A student may serve as a Studio Assistant for a given course only once.
• A student may serve as a Studio Assistant for two courses, for up to 3 credits total.

Double Counting

Liberal Arts & Business, Education, and Mental Health & Well-Being: Students are allowed to double count up to nine credits of coursework to satisfy program requirements across multiple majors, minors or certificates. This policy does not reduce the number of credits a student must take to complete the baccalaureate program. Rather, it provides additional elective credit opportunities within the present curriculum offerings. Exceptions to this policy are so noted in the academic program section of this catalog. Students are advised to discuss their options with their faculty advisors.

Art and Design: Due to the large number of required courses within the BFA programs, the College of Art and Design will allow students to double count up to twelve credits of coursework to satisfy minor and/or elective credit opportunities in more than one area. This policy does not reduce the number of credits a student must take to complete the baccalaureate program. Exceptions to this policy are so noted in the academic program section of this catalog. Students are advised to discuss their options with their faculty advisors.

Graduate courses taken towards the baccalaureate degree cannot be counted again for graduate credit should the student wish to pursue an advanced degree.

Independent Study Courses for Undergraduate Students

The University offers students the opportunity to engage in independent study with a faculty mentor to pursue interests in topics not available in the regular curriculum. An independent study may be undertaken for 1 to 6 credits. A student may take no more than three Independent Study courses for up to 9 credits in total, which may be applied to their cumulative course credits. These credits are available to any student who has earned 60 credits (or, with permission of the Chair, 30 credits), has a 3.0 cumulative GPA, and has demonstrated significant ability to work independently. The deadline to register for an independent study is the last day of the add/drop period.

Students wishing to register for an Independent Study must first obtain a faculty sponsor. Once a sponsor is acquired, an Independent Study Course Contract is completed by the sponsoring faculty member in consultation with the student. The request is reviewed by the relevant Associate Provost and Vice Provost. After approval the request is then forwarded to the Office of the University Registrar by the student for final registration processing.

In certain, limited circumstances, an independent study for an individual or a group of students replicates a course needed for graduation; such an independent study allows students to complete program requirements even if the course is not available to the students in question as part of the regularly scheduled offerings.

Faculty or staff (only) may initiate the Independent Study Course Contract found on the Registrar Office Forms webpage.

Independent Study Courses for Graduate Students

The option to design and complete a suitable independent project that does not duplicate a course offering is available in most degree programs. When appropriate, a course offering may be completed as an independent study under the individual guidance of a faculty member.

If an independent study course is desired, the student is responsible for planning the project, obtaining approval of the appropriate school vice provost or designee, and arranging for supervision by a particular faculty member. Faculty members have the right to decline the request for an independent study; however, every effort is made to accommodate a student’s independent study request.

Students wishing to register for an Independent Study must first obtain a faculty sponsor. Once a sponsor is acquired, an Independent Study Course Contract is completed by the sponsoring faculty member in consultation with the student. The request is reviewed by the relevant Associate Provost and Vice Provost. After approval the request is then forwarded to the Office of the University Registrar by the student for final registration processing.

Please note the registration deadlines for filing an Independent Study Course Contract are published in the academic calendars. The project title for an independent study will appear on a student’s transcript once official grades have been recorded. For tuition rates contact the Student Accounts Office by submitting a case to the Support Hub at support.lesley.edu.

Students in the doctoral program should refer to the Ph.D. program student handbook for independent study information pertaining specifically to doctoral students.

Faculty or staff (only) may initiate the Independent Study Course Contract found on the Registrar Office Forms webpage.

Online Courses

LA+D students may take online courses on a case-by-case basis with approval of academic advising and faculty mentor. CLAS students may take online courses on a case-by-case basis with the approval of their academic advisor.

Transferring Undergraduate Credit-Matriculated Students

This section applies to currently matriculated Lesley undergraduate students.  Transfer of credit information for incoming students may be found in the "Admissions" section of this catalog.

A matriculated Lesley student in good standing may enroll in a course at another regionally-accredited college during the academic year, or summer. The following conditions govern the transfer of credit earned at another institution, to Lesley.

• Up to 90 transfer credits may be applied toward Lesley’s 120-credit BA, BAL, BS, or BSW programs and up to 66 credits may be applied to BFA programs
• A grade of C- (C minus) or better is necessary for transfer of credit; letter grades for transfer are not recorded on the student's permanent record. Grades of "P" (Pass) will be accepted for transfer.

• Students must meet with their advisor to determine the appropriate courses for their program of study prior to submission of the transfer approval form to the Office of Academic Advising.

• Upon completion of courses, students must request in writing an official transcript from the college/university where courses were completed to be sent to the Lesley University Office of the Registrar.
• Students may not complete degree requirements using transfer credits during their final semester. All transfer credits must be received and officially posted to the student’s academic record prior to the semester in which they intend to graduate. To be eligible for degree conferral, students must also be registered at Lesley University for institutional credit during their final semester, and that credit must apply toward their degree requirements. For more information, please refer to the Graduation Eligibility section.