Undergraduate Programs

Prerequisite Skills


Computer Requirement


Students are not required to have their own personal computers on campus; computer labs are available in the College and at other campus locations. However, entering freshmen should be familiar with computers and have a working knowledge of word-processing and e-mail applications. These skills should be acquired before entering the College of Communication. The Information Technology office offers various free computer training courses on campus and the Personal Computing Support Center can assist students. The College offers a brief computer and e-mail/news groups training program during summer and fall on-campus freshman orientation sessions. All students are required to have a free University computer network account. The first-year course, COM CO 101 The World of Communication, exchanges class assignments and other course information via e-mail and a class website. If students bring computers to campus, they should be either Windows or Apple OS compatible; both are used in the College. The majority of Boston University residence halls are wired to the Internet, allowing students direct access to the campus network. To learn more about what type of computer is required to access the network, visit ResNet.


Residency Requirement


Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Communication, BUCOP students, IUT students, or students continuing from the College of General Studies must meet a minimum of 48 semester hours (three semesters) in residence at the College of Communication and Boston University. Transfer students are not exempt from this residency requirement. It should be noted that Physical Education, Recreation & Dance; the Officers Training Program; and certain other 1- and 2-credit courses will not count towards the 48-credit-hour requirement.


Language Requirement


Students are required to have at least a year of proficiency in a foreign language. Students who score 560 or above on the College Entrance Examination Board SAT subject test in a foreign language, score a 3 on a foreign language or literature Advanced Placement exam, or who place into the third semester or higher in the Boston University placement exam, are exempt from the College of Communication language requirement and may replace it with electives. These students are encouraged, however, to continue in advanced courses. All other students should contact the College of Communication Student Services office regarding their language requirement status.


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Scholastic and Graduation Information


It is the responsibility of all students in the College of Communication to be aware of the graduation and academic requirements listed in the College of Communication Bulletin. Copies are available at COM Student Services. Graduation requirements are detailed further in curriculum planning guides available at each COM department. Students are responsible for knowing the graduation requirements for their programs and their own status regarding fulfillment of these requirements.


Degree Requirements


In reckoning requirements for the degree, the unit is the semester course. A total of 32 courses and 128 semester credit hours (excluding physical education) are required for the degree. No more than 16 credits completed with the grade of D may be accepted for the degree. Students who have met the major course requirements are still required to complete 128 credits. Degrees must be completed within seven years after a student first matriculates. Credits received 7 or more years before a student’s expected date of graduation are not transferable.


Academic Load


A normal academic load in the College of Communication is four courses (16 credits) per semester, although a student may take up to 18 credits. There are a number of 1- and 2-credit elective courses at Boston University that are available to COM students. These courses usually cannot be counted toward fulfillment of COM degree requirements and should be approved by the student’s advisor in advance. A student must have achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 to carry five courses (20 credits). Sophomore and junior students with a cumulative average of above a 3.3 may carry 20 credits at no extra charge. Seniors may carry 20 credits at no extra charge. Freshmen may not carry more than 18 credits.


Academic Probation


An overall grade point average of 2.0 and 2.3 for communication courses is necessary for graduation. A student whose grade point index falls below 2.3 for the semester will be placed on academic probation. To be removed from probation, the student must attain a grade point index of 2.3 or higher in the following semester, while carrying at least a full-time course load (12 credits). The student who fails to achieve this grade point index or any other requirements set forth in the Academic Probation contract may be notified that he or she cannot continue at COM and/or Boston University.


Academic Suspension/Expulsion


If a student falls below a 2.3 GPI for consecutive semesters in academic courses or does not meet the probation contract requirements, that student will be suspended for one academic year. 


The student may appeal to the Assistant Dean to be reinstated two months prior to the end of their suspension after showing proof of academic progress.


Students may take courses at another university during an academic suspension period, but these courses must be pre-approved by COM Student Services, room 123.


If a student is reinstated, the student will be reinstated on probation. The student must be registered for a full-time course load and receive a 2.3 GPI or higher and meet all of the probation contract requirements. If the student does not, they will be expelled from Boston University and the College of Communication.


Incomplete Coursework


If, after instructor and student have conferred, the student has presented a sufficient reason why coursework cannot be completed on schedule and the instructor has assigned a date within the succeeding twelve months by which time all course requirements must be completed, 
the student receives an I grade. In the event that coursework remains incomplete on the assigned date or twelve months after the I grade has been awarded, whichever comes first, the I grade will be changed automatically and permanently to an F grade. A contract for completion must be completed and signed by both the professor and the student.


Dean’s List


Students must achieve a 3.5 or higher for two consecutive semesters of an academic year. Dean’s List is only awarded in the Spring for an academic year, not on a semester by semester basis.


• 
Students must have 4, four-credit, graded courses and no incompletes for each semester.

• Grade changes do not apply toward Dean’s List.
• 
The Dean’s List is for undergraduate students only.


Honors


Among graduating seniors in each school and college, five percent will be awarded summa cum laude, ten percent magna cum laude, and fifteen percent cum laude. “Break points,” which are the grade point averages (GPA) corresponding to each of these categories, will be determined for each graduating class in each school and college at the end of the seventh (penultimate) semester by applying these percentile ranges to the list of eligible graduates arranged in order of GPA. Students falling in the designated percentile ranges on the basis of their GPA after seven semesters will be certified for degrees with the corresponding Latin honors. Students who, by virtue of a strong academic performance during their final semester, advance their GPAs beyond a break point will be awarded degrees with the correspondingly higher Latin honor. Students whose academic performance during the final semester causes their GPAs to fall below a break point will retain the Latin honors as originally determined after seven semesters. In no case will students be awarded Latin honors for grade point averages below 3.0.


Application for Degree


An Application for Graduation must be filed one year before the expected date of graduation. The form is available at the Student Services office in COM Room 123.


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Boston University Collaborative Degree Program (BUCOP)


Students wishing to pursue dual bachelor’s degrees may enroll simultaneously in the College of Communication and another undergraduate school or college of Boston University through the Boston University Collaborative Degree Program (BUCOP). Applications for admission may be made no later than the beginning of the first semester of the junior year. Students must have the required 3.0 GPA when applying. A grade of “B” or better is required in COM CO 201 prior to application. COM CO 201 may only be taken once if a student is attempting to enroll in the BUCOP program. Applications are not accepted during the freshman year. If admitted, students must satisfy all requirements for both degrees, be enrolled for at least three semesters, and complete no fewer than 144 credits. Further information about opportunities in BUCOP is available at the Student Services office, Room 123. 


Study Abroad/Washington Internship /Los Angeles Internship


Students are taking increasing advantage of Boston University’s study abroad, Washington and Los Angeles Internship programs, as well as other similar domestic programs. To participate in any of these programs, a student must obtain approval from an advisor in the Student Services office, meet the required grade point average of 3.0 in COM classes, and have attained junior standing and have met certain course requirements.For the Washington program a student must have completed a professional internship or have equivalent experience.


Students must obtain approval to participate from COM Student Services, Room 123. COM Student Services will only approve eligible students. Please see the study abroad fact sheet for more details. However, transfer students to the College of Communication may not participate in any study abroad programs (including Washington, D.C., or Los Angeles, CA) during their first semester in COM. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Student Services office at 617-353-3471.

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Published by Trustees of Boston University
One Silber Way
Boston, MA 02215

1 October 2008
Boston University
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