Current Students
Registration FAQ about Courses
I'd like to take more than 18 credits (the maximum covered by my full-time tuition). How would I find out if this is allowed and how much would I pay for the extra credit(s) overload?
The Registration Administrator (Room 117B) has a form for this. After you fill out the form return it to the Registration Administrator with your rationale. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will decide if the extra credits are approved and if extra charges are assessed or waived (currently $655 per extra credit).
How can we get a new course to be offered?
Students can petition the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to request that a new course be offered. The petition should state the rationale for offering the new course and include the signatures of at least 15 students who have expressed serious interest in taking this course. The Associate Dean will review the request and consult with the appropriate Department Chairperson (e.g., Clinical Practice, Policy, etc.) to determine whether the new course will be mounted.
Can I audit a course?
At Boston University you can audit a course by registering for it as you do other courses. Then you will need to apply to audit by getting permission from the instructor on the Course Adjustment form (available from the Registration Administrator, Room 117B). Normal tuition charges apply and the course will appear on your transcript with an "AU" grade. You do not receive credit nor will the course count towards your GPA.
How can I find out about taking courses from other grad schools (transfer courses)?
Up to nine credits may be received for courses taken on a non-matriculating basis at another accredited graduate school of social work. Up to six credits may be received for courses taken on a matriculating or non-matriculating basis in another accredited graduate program other than social work. Credits which have been applied to a prior degree cannot be transferred. In all cases, a course grade of B or higher must have been received and the course must have been taken within the past five years to be eligible for consideration for transfer credit.
You will need to take a SSW Admissions Transfer Course Application and a course description or a course outline to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. A copy of your approval letter must be filed with the SSW Registration Administrator.
After taking the course the student must submit an official transcript to the SSW Registration Administrator in order to receive transfer credit. The grade for a transfer course will not be factored in to determine a student's grade point average.
How can I find out about taking courses from other grad schools at BU and from other campuses at SSW (cross registration)?
Although the number of credits per course varies from school to school, the student will receive credit for one SSW course, usually an elective, for each course taken elsewhere at Boston University. Once the course has been approved (follow the procedure in the "taking courses in other schools", above), you should use the BU Course Adjustment Form to register.
Students may register for classes at the various BUSSW locations [Charles River, NEMA/Tyngsboro, SEMA Cape Cod, or SEMA/Fall River], on a space available basis. Charles River students should contact the SSW Registration Administrator to check availability and must have written permission from the Assistant Dean of Off-Campus Programs.
Off-Campus students must also have written permission from the Assistant Dean of Off-Campus Programs to cross register on the Charles River Campus. There is no limit on the number of credits that may be taken when registering within the BUSSW programs.
How can I find out about consortium courses?
The cross registration privilege applies at the following Consortium members: Boston College, Hebrew College, Tufts University, and Brandeis University. Students will be charged tuition at BUSSW. Forms for registration at Consortium Schools are available at the SSW Registration Administrator's Office.
After completion of an approved course taken at a Consortium School, grades will be submitted by the Consortium School.
What about summer courses taken at other schools?
Students may not use the Consortium Schools program in the summer. Also, Boston University students may not satisfy program requirements through the transfer of credit earned in the summer at other institutions located within the Greater Boston Area, unless: the credit involved is for a required course, not offered through Boston University's Summer Term, or prior approval has been obtained from both the responsible department chair and Assoc. Dean for Academic Affairs
For the purposes of this policy, "Greater Boston Area" is defined as that region inside of the Route 128 arc.
What is meant by Advanced Clinical Methods course?
Clinical students are required to take at least one advanced clinical methods course. Choose from the following:
CP 762 Advanced Group Work
CP 764 Group Dynamics
CP 785 Intro to Family Therapy
CP 787 Couples Therapy
CP 791 Seminar: Family Therapy
CP 794 CP with Children & Adolescent
CP 795 Cognitive & Behavioral Therapy
CP 798 Advanced CP with Adults
CP 799 Brief Treatment
CP 801 Adolescents in Social Context
CP 802 Crisis Intervention
CP 803 Clin Prac & Trauma
CP 807 CP with Elderly
CP 809 Alcohol & Drug Abuse
Please note that some electives are not offered every year. Be sure to consult the registration packet and the course listings at http://www.bu.edu/studentlink before you register to assure that the elective(s) you are interested in are being offered.
What is a Directed Study?
It is a course of guided learning in which a faculty member provides an opportunity for learning, jointly structured by the faculty member and student. The student acquires knowledge and skills by studying and working relatively autonomously. The student should plan to invest approximately the same amount of time in a Directed Study course as he/she would in a standard course. A Directed Study Agreement form must be obtained from the Registration Administrator and completed by both the student and the faculty member. The Registration Administrator uses this form to assign a unique course number. Students may do no more than one Directed Study at one time and no more than two during their Master's program.
The class or section I want is full. What are my options?
Check the website bu.edu/reg (choose "Registration and Classes") regularly to see if anyone drops out of the class or section you want. Alternately you can request of the Department Chair of the class you are interested in to be "Added" to the class. To do this, present to the Department Chair a completed "Course Adjustment Form". Do not make this request to the instructor of the class. The Department Chair will make the decision and will let you know.
