Academic Policies
The Messina College curriculum has a foundation in the liberal arts that helps students learn to think critically, communicate effectively, and prepare for the world of work and/or continue into a BA/BS program. Students complete a program of Core Curriculum courses, a concentration in one of four areas, and an internship. These policies and procedures are most applicable to advising students in Messina College in both class years.
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Boston College transfer credit policies are established by the deans and faculty of each undergraduate division. Course evaluations are completed by the Office of Transfer Admission. Any questions regarding the evaluation of courses, either before or after enrollment, should be directed to the Office of Transfer Admission. At Boston College, transfer credit is established on a course-by-course basis.听
Students enrolled in courses designated as 鈥渃ollege courses鈥� that are taken at the high school with a high school teacher may only earn advanced placement units if corresponding College Board AP exams are taken, and qualifying scores are earned. A college transcript alone cannot be used to earn advanced placement units for these courses.
In general, a student scoring four or five on the exams will be awarded advanced placement. In some instances, a score of three will make a student eligible for advanced placement. In most cases, students do not earn actual credit. Rather, they fulfill corresponding requirements in the University Core Curriculum. You will still be required to take the full 60 credits necessary for graduation.
College coursework taken on a college campus with a college professor and with other college students either during the academic year or over the summer may be evaluated for advanced placement units. Only courses that are deemed equal in depth and breadth to coursework taught at Boston College and are being used to supplement high school coursework (and not to fulfill high school requirements) will be considered.
For more information about advanced placement or early college courses, please visit the Boston College Admissions Website.
Students may not audit a course in any semester of study.
Students who are requesting to miss more than two consecutive days in the summer and four consecutive days in the fall and spring terms must have their absence approved through the Associate Dean鈥檚 office. If approved, students will work with faculty directly to create a plan for any extensions or missed work.
To graduate from Messina College, students must take at least 60 credits over four semesters and two summer sessions. Included in the program are 36 credits in the Core Curriculum, usually 18 credits in a major department/concentration, and an internship, public speaking course, and a first-year seminar. Students that complete all requirements with at least a cumulative 3.4 grade point average will be eligible for an internal transfer to one of the four-year undergraduate schools or colleges at Boston College.
Ordinarily, students should average 12 credits per semester in fall and spring and 6 credits each summer with a target of completing 30 credits each academic year. In a student鈥檚 first year, the fall semester is based on 9 or 10 credit hours, depending on the program of study.
Given Messina College鈥檚 cohort-based model, students are not permitted to overload.
Students who fail to complete the intended credits per semester will incur credit deficiencies and may be required to make up credits before being allowed to continue at Messina College. To make up for a credit deficiency, students may take summer courses offered at Boston College.
In order to remain in good standing in Messina College, you must maintain a cumulative GPA of 1.667 or higher. Students who receive below a 2.0 GPA in a semester will be required to meet with the Associate Dean and make a plan for satisfactory academic progress.
If you fall below the 1.667 GPA requirement, you will be academically withdrawn from the College beginning the semester immediately following the one in which you failed to meet the requirement.听
A student鈥檚 cumulative grade point average includes all courses taken at Messina College and those courses specifically selected in the Undergraduate Day schools and colleges for the respective programs. If a student fails a course and then repeats it with a passing grade, both the F and the passing grade are computed into the grade point average. 听
Grade changes are normally only made in the case of a clerical error. If a student wishes to file a formal appeal of a course grade, the request should be made no later than the sixth week of the following semester. In making a formal appeal,