- Academics
- Quick Links
Matriculation in the University is a declaration of acceptance of all University rules and regulations. (Please see the University’s catalog for a complete listing.) Additional information regarding rules and regulations of the University may be found in this catalog.
The Cox School of Business seeks candidates who show a strong potential for success in today’s global business environment. Candidates who demonstrate analytical capabilities, leadership experience, interpersonal and communication skills and personal commitment and motivation are invited to apply. The Admissions Committee seeks candidates who possess outstanding academic achievement and potential, leadership qualities and management potential. To assess these characteristics, the Committee will look to the following elements to help identify a candidate’s potential to succeed in our program: test scores, previous academic records, recommendations that speak to a candidate’s professional performance and self-evaluation essays.
For complete details and an application packet, please visit our Web site at mba.cox.smu.edu or contact the SMU Cox Admissions Office: telephone 214-768-1214 or 1-800-472-3622; fax 214-768-3956; mbainfo@cox.smu.edu.
An accepted graduate business applicant must enter within the specific term of acceptance. If extenuating circumstances prevent the student from matriculating at the specified time, he or she must petition the graduate admissions committee for deferral prior to the first day of instruction of that specific term. This petition should state the reason for deferral and the desired date of deferred matriculation. If the graduate admissions committee accepts the petition, the applicant must secure his or her seat with an additional deposit. If the applicant fails to matriculate on the deferred date, he or she must reapply for acceptance to the Cox School of Business.
The University Registrar maintains the official permanent academic records for all students. This record includes all SMU courses attempted, grades assigned, degrees received and a summary of transfer hours accepted. Official transcripts and certifications of students’ academic records are issued by the Office of the Registrar for all students of the University.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (also known as FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records and affords students attending postsecondary institutions certain rights with respect to their education records. SMU has issued guidelines that are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Student Life. Additionally, FERPA information and guidelines can be found on the University Registrar’s Web site at: http://smu.edu/registrar/. Students are responsible for acquainting themselves with the guidelines.
In general, no personally identifiable information from a student’s education record is disclosed to a third party without written consent from the student. Exception is made regarding information defined by SMU as Directory Information that may be released unless the student requests in writing that it be withheld. SMU defines the following student information as Directory Information under FERPA: personal data (name, address, telephone and campus email); enrollment data (academic program, degree objectives, attendance dates, degree and awards received and previous education); and participation data (university recognized activities and sports).
A student’s SMU identification number is an eight-digit number assigned by the University. Students are also asked to provide their Social Security numbers. The SMU ID number or Social Security number should be furnished on all forms when requested, as they are the primary means for identifying the student’s academic records and transactions related to the records.
A student who has a change in name after his/her last enrollment at SMU or a change from the name submitted on his or her application for admission, must provide his or her revised Social Security card (not a copy) or the form issued by the Social Security Administration to change his or her name on all SMU records. No enrollment or records services can be accomplished for a student under a name different from the last enrollment without the above documentation. All grade reports, transcripts and diplomas are issued only under the person’s legal name as recorded by the University Registrar.
Students are required to provide the University a current permanent home address, a current local mailing address and local telephone number; a billing address can be provided if it differs from the home address. In addition, a residence address (not a Post Office Box Number) is required for international students. At the time of matriculation, an e-mail address is issued to each student. This is the only e-mail address maintained by the University.
Students should use Access.SMU to verify and update as appropriate their address and telephone information.
Emergency Contact. University policy requires all students to provide the name, address and telephone number of a Primary Emergency Contact (student maintains on Access.SMU). Students enrolling at SMU authorize the University to contact their Emergency Contact in the event of a situation affecting the student’s health, safety or physical or mental well being and to provide that contact with information related to the situation.
Official correspondence from the University may be sent to any of the student’s mailing addresses or SMU e-mail address. It is the student’s responsibility to provide updates to their mailing addresses to the University and to regularly check both their mail and SMU e-mail address for correspondence from the University. Use Access.SMU (access.smu.edu) to view and update current address information or report the change in writing to the University Registrar.
Official transcripts are issued by the University Registrar’s Office and bear the University seal and Registrar signature. Official Transcripts are not processed if the student has an outstanding obligation, financial or otherwise. Enrolled students can obtain an unofficial transcript through Access.SMU.
SMU has authorized the National Student Clearinghouse to provide transcript ordering via the Internet. Walk-in requests for transcripts can be made at the Student Service Counter of the Laura Lee Blanton Student Services Building located at 6185 Airline. Telephone and e-mail requests are not accepted. No partial or incomplete transcripts including only certain courses or grades are issued. Complete details are found at smu.edu/registrar/transcripts.asp.
Students with disabilities who need special accommodations, such as extended time to take exams or other reasonable academic accommodations, should contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities immediately after accepting admission to a Cox program or as soon as possible after arriving at Cox. Since Cox graduate courses are taught in 8-week modules, students may have projects due by the second class meeting or midterm exams three or four weeks after classes begin, so it is necessary that students requesting reasonable accommodations do so as early as possible.
The documentation review process for establishing eligibility for receiving reasonable accommodation can take as long as two weeks and is required before reasonable accommodations may be arranged. In order to determine their eligibility for reasonable accommodations, students with disabilities, who would like to be considered for services, must request services themselves, by phone or letter and submit appropriate, current documentation of their disability directly to the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities. In their requests, students should indicate what assistance is being sought and provide information on how to be contacted after the documentation is reviewed. Documentation will not be reviewed unless students make such a request.
In addition, because of the short duration of Cox modules and once per week class sessions, faculty must have a full week (seven calendar days) to arrange reasonable accommodations once students have been certified as eligible for reasonable accommodations and have notified their instructor.
For additional information and documentation guidelines, please see smu.edu/studentlife/ossd_facts.asp. The Office of Services for Students with Disabilities is located at 220 Memorial Health Center; 214-768-4557.
The coordinator is Rebecca Marin; rmarin@smu.edu.
By becoming members of the Cox School of Business, students are bound to hold intellectual integrity to the highest standard and commit to uphold the Cox School of Business Honor Code. Any actions committed by a member of the student body in violation of the Honor Code degrades the principles underlying the mission of the University and profoundly affects the integrity and reputation of the degrees to be earned, as well as the reputation of the institution. At the core of the Cox School Honor Code is the student who will not lie, cheat, steal or tolerate those who do. Not reporting an honor violation is an honor violation.
New graduate students receive a copy of the Honor Code at Orientation and review all standards and policies. For additional information, contact the Director of Graduate Student Services or see the Honor Code on the Web site at the current Graduate Student home page: cox.smu.edu.
The maximum length of time for degree completion in any and all graduate business degree programs is six (6) calendar years. All course and degree requirements must be completed in this time period, which begins at the time of initial enrollment, with no absence greater than three (3) consecutive calender years.
The unit of measure for the valuation of courses is the credit hour; for example, two (2) credit hours are earned by 24 classroom contact hours in an eight-week module. There are two (2) eight-week modules in each term (semester). Each class-room contact hour generally requires a minimum of two to three hours of advance preparation time on the part of the student.
Full-time M.B.A. students complete 32 credit hours in the first year (16 credit hours per term), one credit hour internship in the summer (third term) and 28 credit hours in the second year (14 credit hours per term) plus one noncredit bearing requirement (First Year Foundations) for a total of 61 credit hours for the two-year program. A student must be enrolled in at least ten (10) credit hours in a term to have full-time status.
Professional M.B.A. students complete six terms of eight credit hours each term, including summer terms, for a total of 48 credit hours for the program.
M.S. in Accounting students complete 16 credit hours each term for a total of 32 credit hours for the one-year program.
M.S. in Management students complete 12 credit hours for two terms plus 6 credit hours in Module A of the third term for a total of 30 credit hours for the program.
M.S. in Entrepreneurship students complete four consecutive terms of 8 credit hours each term for a total of 32 credit hours for the program.
The credit hour load requirements may be different in regards to student financial accounts and loans. Please refer to the Financial Information bulletin for additional information.
A Full-Time M.B.A. student with a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.5 or higher may elect to take up to 20 hours in any given term after the first term. The total number of overload hours can be no more than 8 hours during the two-year program. (For additional information, please see the section on Academic Performance Standards and Probation.) Each 16-week term is divided into two 8-week modules, A and B, with four (4) courses each module earning two (2) credit hours per course. Exceptions to the stated curriculum schedule must be approved in advance by the Graduate Student Services Office. Full-Time M.B.A. students may overload at no additional cost.
(Please note: Full-Time M.B.A. students are charged a flat-rate tuition per term. For the current rate, please see currently published tuition rates. Full-Time M.B.A. students electing to enroll in any given term must pay the full flat-rate tuition for that term, regardless of the number of hours in which the student is enrolled.)
A student can submit a written request to take up to three (3) courses or six (6) credit hours in a module to the Graduate Student Services Office for review. To be eligible for consideration the student must be in good standing with a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.20 or better and have successfully completed all 20 credit hours of required core required courses. Professional M.B.A. students currently enrolled in their last term of the required core courses may be eligible to take a course overload. Professional M.B.A. students who take additional credit hours will continue to pay the current published tuition rates.
Acceleration of the M.B.A. degree is defined as a Professional M.B.A. student with enough additional credit hours to advance their anticipated graduation date by at least one term. Professional M.B.A. students are not permitted to transfer into the Full-Time M.B.A. program. However, with approval from the Graduate Student Services Office, an unemployed student may be granted permission to carry a full-time academic course load.
A student who wishes to withdraw from a Cox program must notify the Graduate Student Services Office, in writing, by completing the Cox Withdrawal Form.
A student who wishes to withdraw for a specific term from a Cox program before the end of the term must notify the Graduate Student Services Office in writing by completing the Student Petition for Withdrawal/Cancellation Form by the officially published date for that term. The Graduate Student Services Office will advise the student concerning withdrawal procedures applicable to his/her situation. The effective date of the term withdrawal is the date on which the Student Petition for Withdrawal/Cancellation is processed in the University Registrar’s Office. To stop attending class or notifying an instructor does not constitute an official withdrawal. When the term withdrawal is complete a grade of W (withdraw) is recorded for every course in which the student was enrolled for that term.
Reduction of tuition and fees is based on the schedule listed in the publication Financial Information: Southern Methodist University and is determined by the effective date of the withdrawal. Students receiving financial aid should refer to the “Financial Information” section of the catalog.
Students who withdraw on or before the sixth day of regular classes as listed in the Graduate Business Academic Calendar will have their enrollments canceled but this will NOT cancel financial obligations. Courses and grades are not recorded for canceled enrollments.
Medical withdrawals provide a daily pro rata refund of tuition and fees and have conditions that must be met prior to re-enrollment at SMU. Medical withdrawals must be authorized by the Medical Director, Psychiatric Director, Counseling and Testing Director or Vice President for Student Affairs.
For additional information, see the section “Withdrawal from a Course,” below.
Students in good standing may take a Leave of Absence for up to 12 months by sending a written notice to Graduate Student Services. To be in good standing a student must have a cumulative G.P.A of 3.00 or better, must have earned eight or more hours and must have a clear student financial record. Students seeking to re-enroll after a Leave of Absence must notify Graduate Student Services in writing. A Leave of Absence does not affect the statute of limitations established by the initial enrollment.
Any former student with less than the criteria outlined herein for good standing must reapply to the program.
Students who have not enrolled for over 12 months must follow the guidelines for Readmission, below.
Students in good standing who have not enrolled in more than 12 months must complete a Readmission Request Form. To be in good standing a student must have a cumulative G.P.A of 3.00 or better, must have earned eight or more hours and must have a clear student financial record. After receiving the Readmission Request Form, Graduate Student Services will review the student’s request and academic record to determine the student’s eligibility to be readmitted to the same program. If approval to return to a Cox graduate program has been granted, the student will receive information detailing her or his new degree plan including any updates to the curriculum that must be followed. Readmitted students will be charged a rematriculation fee of $75. Readmission does not affect the statute of limitations established by the initial enrollment.
Any former student with less than the criteria outlined herein for good standing must reapply to the program. Please note, for coursework to count toward a degree it must be completed within six years of matriculation with no absence greater than three consecutive calendar years. Coursework completed more than three years prior to readmittance to a graduate program, may need to be repeated or replaced with current coursework, at the discretion of the Associate Dean for Masters Programs.
Students seeking readmission to the same Cox program within 12 months of the last term of attendance should follow the guidelines for Leave of Absence.
Graduates of the Cox Master of Science (M.S.) programs who want to pursue a Cox M.B.A. degree may apply to the Professional M.B.A. program. Students must complete the application and satisfy all application criteria to be considered for admission. The Full-Time M.B.A. and the Executive M.B.A. programs are excluded from this option.
When a graduate of one of the M.S. programs is accepted into the Professional M.B.A. program the student will be required to complete a minimum of 34 additional credit hours, 17 courses, in order to earn the M.B.A. degree. These hours will consist of M.B.A. core academic courses not taken as part of the M.S. degree plus elective courses not previously taken. All degree requirements of the M.B.A. program will need to be met for successful completion of the M.B.A. degree program.
Students will not need to retake successfully completed core required courses if the M.S. and the M.B.A. degrees are completed within six (6) years from the original matriculation date of the M.S. program with no absence greater than three consecutive calendar years. Coursework completed more than three years prior to admittance into the M.B.A. program may need to be repeated or replaced with current courses at the discretion of the Associate Dean for Masters Programs.
The M.S. graduate admitted to the Professional M.B.A. will pay the current Professional M.B.A. tuition rate at the time of matriculation
Graduates of the Cox Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) programs who want to pursue a Cox Master of Science (M.S.) degree may apply to the specific M.S. program, M.S. in Accounting or M.S. in Entrepreneurship. Students must complete the application and satisfy all application criteria to be considered for admission.*
When a graduate of one of the M.B.A. programs is accepted into an M.S. program, the student will be required to complete a minimum of 18 additional credit hours, nine (9) courses, in order to earn the M.S. degree. These hours will consist of courses not previously taken as part of the M.B.A. degree. All degree requirements of the specific M.S. program will need to be met for successful completion of the M.S. degree program.
Students will not need to retake successfully completed core required courses if the M.S. and the M.B.A. degrees are completed within six (6) years from the original matriculation date of the M.B.A. program with no absence greater than three consecutive calendar years. Coursework completed more than three years prior to admittance into the M.S. program may need to be repeated or replaced with current courses at the discretion of the Associate Dean for Masters Programs.
The M.B.A. graduate admitted to an M.S. degree program will pay the current M.S. program tuition rate at the time of matriculation.
*Note: There are situations that may preclude a Cox M.B.A. graduate’s ability to complete an M.S. degree. For example, a student may have taken most of the Entrepreneurial courses which will disqualify that student from earning the M.S. in Entrepreneurship degree. Students who apply to an M.S. degree program with a potential conflict can request an evaluation of their academic record. The M.S. in Management program is not an option for graduates of a Cox M.B.A. program.
While the Cox School is not obligated to grant any waiver credit, in certain cases core required courses may be waived, at entrance only, thereby eliminating the need to take a specific required course. This does not reduce the total number of credit hours required for the degree; it only allows for another course(s) to be substituted for the required course(s) as determined in the waiver process. Requests for waived credit will be considered and processed only after the student’s enrollment deposit has been received in the Admissions Office. For complete details and a Course Waiver Petition Request Form, please contact the Graduate Student Services Office.
Although the Cox School of Business is not obligated to accept any transfer credit, in certain cases course work may be transferred at entrance only thereby reducing the number of credit hours required to be taken at Cox for the degree. Transferable hours will be limited to graduate courses taken at institutions accredited by AACSB. Exams may be required in some subject areas in order to qualify for transfer credit. Any course accepted for transfer credit must have been completed with a grade of B or better within three years of matriculation at Cox and must not have been credited toward a previous degree. Requests for transfer credit will be considered and processed only after the student’s enrollment deposit has been received in the Admissions Office. For complete details and a Transfer Credit Petition Request Form, please contact the Graduate Student Services Office.
For candidates admitted to the Full-Time M.B.A. or Professional M.B.A. programs, SMU’s Cox School of Business grants six (6) graduate credit hours (equivalent to three graduate elective module courses) on a Pass/Fail basis for successful graduates of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking (SWGSB). This credit is awarded only to SWGSB graduates from the two graduating classes prior to the student’s admission to the Cox School. The credits will be treated as general graduate elective credits and will not count toward any specific area of concentration. The credit may not be applied to the Executive M.B.A. program.
Full-Time M.B.A. and M.S. in Accounting students have core required courses and some elective courses scheduled for weekdays. Additional elective courses will be offered in the evenings and on Saturday mornings. Examinations, special class meetings and required special events may be scheduled for evenings, Fridays and Saturdays. Students must plan to be available for scheduled events seven days a week — mornings, afternoons and evenings.
Professional M.B.A. students have core required curriculum courses scheduled for Monday and Wednesday evenings on the Legacy Campus in Plano and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings on the Dallas Campus. Most elective courses are offered Monday through Thursday evenings on the Dallas Campus with limited course offerings on Saturday morning and limited offerings on the Legacy Campus. Students must plan to allow time for additional formally and informally scheduled events during the evening and weekend hours.
Students enrolled in an international Professional M.B.A. course taught at a partner school cannot be concurrently enrolled in a course at Cox.
M.S. in Management students are in a lock-step program with courses scheduled for Thursday evenings and Saturdays in the morning and afternoon. Students must plan to allow time for additional formally and informally scheduled events during the evening and weekend hours.
M.S. in Entrepreneurship students are in a structured program taking courses that are scheduled Monday through Thursday evenings and on Saturday. Students must plan to allow time for additional formally and informally scheduled events during the evening and weekend hours.
For all graduate students:
Prompt and regular class attendance is considered necessary for satisfactory work. All absences should be explained to the instructor in advance if at all possible. The satisfactory explanation of absence may release students from disciplinary action but does not relieve the student from responsibility for the course work during their absence.
A student who misses an announced test or examination with the instructor’s prior permission may be given an opportunity to make up the work at the instructor’s convenience. The instructor determines in all instances the extent to which absences and tardiness affect each student’s grade.
Students may be dropped at any time by a course instructor or academic dean for nonattendance or tardiness, which automatically assigns a grade of W (Withdrew) for that course with no refund.
Absences due to observance of religious holy days are addressed by the State of Texas in 1985 legislation. Allowance is made for completion of an assignment or examination within a reasonable period of time after the absence for this reason. Notification of intended absence is the responsibility of the student and must be given in writing to the instructor of each class the student is to miss no later than the 15th day after the first day of the term.
The examination schedule is published at the start of each term; note that an exam may be held at a day and time different than the class time.
Although faculty members generally discourage the use of directed studies to replace regularly scheduled elective courses, some students may benefit from a highly focused, specialized research-based project designed in conjunction with a full-time faculty member in a specific academic department of the Cox School. These projects may involve further study of a specific topic from a previous course or may deal with an area of business or management research not covered in regularly scheduled business courses. No more than four credit hours may be earned through directed study. In general, directed studies do not count toward concentrations unless approved by the respective department chair. Students must be in good standing academically and also must have completed the required core course sequence prior to enrolling for a directed study.
The Directed Study Request Form is available in the Graduate Student Services Office or on the Current Student page at cox.smu.edu. The student must meet with the instructor to establish the course criteria, and the instructor must sign the Directed Study Request Form acknowledging approval of the request. The documented and signed Directed Studies Request Form is returned to the Graduate Student Services Office for processing.
Students process their own enrollment transactions including add, drop and swap on the Web-based Access.SMU (access.smu.edu). Prior to each term there is a period during which the formal process of course enrollment is completed. The Graduate Student Services Office distributes by e-mail and posts on the Current Student page at cox.smu.edu enrollment information and dates for that term’s enrollment transactions. Students are responsible for complying with enrollment procedures and for the accuracy and completeness of their enrollment.
The enrollment information is distributed in October for the November enrollment period for the following Spring term. In March, the information is distributed for the April enrollment period for the following Fall term. Professional M.B.A. and M.S. students enroll for the Summer term prior to the Fall enrollment process in April. A student may drop a course with a grade of W (Withdraw) through the deadline listed in the Graduate Business Academic Calendar. After the deadline date, the student may not drop a class.
M.B.A. students may petition to take a course offered in another SMU graduate or professional program that is specifically relevant to the student’s academic business goals. Each petition will be reviewed on an individual basis. For additional information please see the Cox Current Student page at cox.smu.edu or contact the Graduate Student Services Office at gradcox@cox.smu.edu.
Students currently matriculated at an AACSB accredited school, not located in the greater metropolitan area of Dallas-Fort Worth, may apply to take a limited number of courses at the Cox School of Business to transfer back to the student’s home school. For details on this limited program, contact the Graduate Programs Registrar at gradcox@cox.smu.edu or 214-768-2609.
Matriculated graduate students in other SMU programs may request permission to enroll in elective courses that have seats available on the first day of class for the term or module based on the graduate Cox academic calendar. For more information contact the Graduate Student Services Office at gradcox@cox.smu.edu.
Cox School of Business students who are currently enrolled in one of the graduate programs and want to audit a course (i.e., take a course without credit) must complete and submit a Class Auditor Form for Current Cox Students form obtaining permission through the Graduate Programs Registrar, who coordinates the availability of the course for auditing with the instructor. Audit enrollment will be permitted only upon a space-available basis. Audit enrollment processing starts on the first class day of the term and there is no enrollment or tuition charge for a currently enrolled student. The regulations for non-student auditors are in the next paragraph.
Individuals who are not currently matriculated graduate students in a Cox School of Business program and desire to audit a course are required to process a Class Auditor Form For Non-Cox Students form obtaining permission through the Graduate Programs Registrar who coordinates with the instructor of the course the availability of the course for auditing. Audit enrollment processing starts on the first class day of the term and will be permitted on a space-available basis. If the course is approved for audit, the individual must pay the current published audit fee to the Cox School of Business.
Regulations for Course Auditors
To be in good standing, a student must have a cumulative G.P.A of 3.00 or better, must have earned eight or more credit hours and must have a clear student financial record.
Only the course instructor determines a student’s grade in the course. The following grades are authorized for recording on Cox School of Business graduate students’ transcripts maintained in the Office of the University Registrar.
| GRADES | DESCRIPTION | GRADE-POINT PER TERM HOUR |
| A, A- | Excellent Scholarship | 4.00, 3.70 |
| B+, B, B- | Good Scholarship | 3.30, 3.00, 2.70 |
| C+, C, C- | Fair Scholarship | 2.30, 2.00, 1.70 |
| D+, D, D- | Poor Scholarship | 1.30, 1.00, 0.70 |
| F | Failure | 0.00 |
| P | Pass | * |
| I | Incomplete | * |
| W | Withdraw | * |
* Grades not included in grade-point average.
All graduate courses in the Cox School of Business, except those noted in this paragraph, are assigned a letter grade with grade point value and cannot be taken as Pass/Fail. There are six (6) courses that are specifically established with the Pass/Fail grading basis: MNGT 6001, MNGT 6003, MNGT 6020, MNGT 6101, MNGT 6103 and MNGT 6150.
The student’s grades are available to the student through the Web-based Access.SMU.
A student’s grade-point average (G.P.A.) is computed by multiplying the term hours of each graded course taken by the grade points earned in the course and then dividing the total number of grade points by the total number of graded hours, excluding those hours for which grades are shown with an asterisk in the chart above.
After earning D+, D, D- or F in a core required course, the student must retake the same course the next time it is taught and earn a C- grade or above.
After earning D+, D, D- or F in an elective course, a student must replace the credit hours for the course by taking an additional elective course. The student has the option of taking either the same course or a different one, but must earn a C- grade or above.
In both situations the original course and grade is listed on the student’s transcript. The grade is included in the student’s cumulative grade point average, while the original course credit hours are not counted in the total credit hours necessary for the Cox graduate degree meaning students must replace the credit hours. Students are permitted to take no more than the “Maximum Hours Allowed” (reference chart at end of policy) toward their degree for grade-point average purposes.
Students in the M.B.A. programs may repeat up to two courses for which grades of D+ or lower were received for a core required course, provided these courses were completed during a student’s first three terms of enrollment.
Students in the M.S. programs may repeat one course for which a grade of D+ or lower was received for any course completed during a student’s first two terms of enrollment.
The grade from the repeated course, even if lower, will be the grade used to calculate the student’s grade-point average.
A course may be repeated only once under this policy and it must be repeated within the next two terms following the term in which the course was initially taken. Exceptions to the two-term restriction may be requested from the Program Registrar if the course is not taught again within that period. The student must declare which course(s) he or she will repeat under this policy with the Program Registrar by the 7th day of classes in the module/term of the repeated course enrollment.
Under this policy option, only the repeated course hours and grade count toward the degree. However, the initial course and grade are shown on the student’s permanent academic record with an explanatory note. Both courses are included in the count of “Maximum Hours Allowed.”
Cox Hours Needed |
Maximum | |
| Program | To Complete Degree* | Hours Allowed |
Full-Time M.B.A. |
61 credit hours | 69 credit hours |
| Full-Time J.D./M.B.A. | 48 credit hours | 56 credit hours |
| M.A./M.B.A. | 48 credit hours | 56 credit hours |
| Professional M.B.A. | 48 credit hours | 56 credit hours |
| Part-Time J.D./M.B.A. | 48 credit hours | 56 credit hours |
| M.S. in Accounting | 32 credit hours | 36 credit hours |
| M.S. in Entrepreneurship | 32 credit hours | 36 credit hours |
| M.S. in Management | 30 credit hours | 34 credit hours |
* Cox Hours Needed to Complete Degree could include transfer credit hours approved by the Cox Graduate Policy Committee prior to enrollment in a Cox program.
A student may receive a grade of Incomplete (I) if the majority (e.g., 90 percent) of the course requirements have been completed with passing grades but for some justifiable reason, acceptable to the instructor, the student has been unable to complete the full requirements of the course. The grade of Incomplete (I) can only be requested and given at the end of the module. At the time an I is given, the instructor must stipulate on an Incomplete Grade Assignment Report Form the requirements and completion date that must be met and the grade that will be given if the requirements are not met by the stated completion date. The instructor and the student sign the form with a copy of the form given to the student and to the Graduate Student Services Office with the instructor retaining the original form.
The maximum period of time allowed to clear the Incomplete is until the end of the next term. If the Incomplete grade is not cleared by the date set by the instructor or by at the end of the next term, the I will be changed to the grade provided by the instructor at the time the Incomplete was assigned or to an F if no alternate grade was provided. The grade of I should be used only for incomplete course work as set forth in the previous paragraph, not as a substitute for a grade of F (Failure) or W (Withdrew). If the student’s work is incomplete and the quality has not been passing, an F will be given. The grade of I does not authorize a student to attend the course during a later term.
Graduation candidates must clear all Incompletes prior to the deadline in the Official University Calendar, which may allow less time than one additional term. Failure to do so can result in removal from the degree candidacy list and/or conversion of the I to the grade indicated by the instructor at the time the I was given.
If a student is unable to complete the work in a course and is ineligible to receive an Incomplete (I), he/she may withdraw from the course. The official withdrawal process must be completed by the published deadline for the term. (Please see the Academic Calendar for more information on specific dates.) The grade of Withdrew (W) may not be revoked or changed to another grade, as the act of officially withdrawing is irrevocable.
In addition to a student processing an official withdrawal from a course, professors may administratively withdraw a student if he/she fails to attend class.
The course instructor can initiate a grade change for legitimate reasons, including a change for a grade of Incomplete. A Change of Grade Form is filed in the Graduate Student Services Office for processing under the authorization of the Dean of the Cox School. No grade will be changed after 12 months or after a student’s graduation.
A student who feels that an assigned grade is other than the grade earned must first discuss the matter with the course instructor to determine if the discrepancy is caused by error or misunderstanding.
If the complaint is not satisfactorily answered by the instructor, and the student feels that an error has not been corrected or that the assigned grade was capriciously or unfairly determined, the student may appeal the decision to the chair of the department in which the course is offered (or, in cases pertaining to non-departmental courses, to a faculty agent designated by the academic dean). After discussing the matter with the student, the chair (or faculty agent) will consult with the instructor, and the instructor will report a decision to the student.
A student who still is convinced that a complaint has not received a fair determination may appeal the decision to the Associate Dean of Master’s Programs. The Associate Dean will proceed as deemed appropriate, but the final authority in the determination of a grade must rest with the course instructor.
To graduate from a Cox School of Business graduate program, students must earn a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.00 or better (without rounding) with no grade less than a C– (1.70) applying toward the degree. The academic performance of all graduate students is reviewed at the end of each term. All calculations for academic performance evaluations are based on grades earned in Cox programs. Grades earned in accepted transfer courses are not counted in Cox School of Business cumulative G.P.A. calculations.
A student in a graduate Cox program with a cumulative G.P.A. below 3.00 upon completion of the credit hours required for the degree may petition the Cox Graduate Policy Committee to take up to eight additional credit hours at Cox in order to raise his/her cumulative G.P.A. to 3.00, the required level. Students who receive approval to take additional hours will not be permitted to earn more than the “Maximum Hours Allowed” (see below) toward their degree for grade-point average purposes:
Cox Hours Needed |
Maximum | |
| Program | To Complete Degree* | Hours Allowed |
Full-Time M.B.A. |
61 credit hours | 69 credit hours |
| Full-Time J.D./M.B.A. | 48 credit hours | 56 credit hours |
| M.A./M.B.A. | 48 credit hours | 56 credit hours |
| Professional M.B.A. | 48 credit hours | 56 credit hours |
| Part-Time J.D./M.B.A. | 48 credit hours | 56 credit hours |
| M.S. in Accounting | 32 credit hours | 36 credit hours |
| M.S. in Entrepreneurship | 32 credit hours | 36 credit hours |
| M.S. in Management | 30 credit hours | 34 credit hours |
* Cox Hours Needed to Complete Degree could include up to eight (8) hours of transfer credit if approved by the M.B.A. Policy Committee to enrollment in a Cox program.
A Cox graduate student who fails to maintain a cumulative 3.00 G.P.A. is placed on academic probation and is not considered in good standing. No entry of academic probation is made on the student’s transcript.
In addition, any student awarded a scholarship who goes on academic probation will immediately lose the scholarship but may be given an opportunity to regain his/her scholarship when his/her cumulative G.P.A is raised to 3.00 or above.
Cox graduate students on academic probation are not permitted to serve in any student leadership position of any organization representing either Cox or SMU. A student on academic probation is not permitted to enroll in a directed study nor enroll for an internship during an active term. Full-Time M.B.A. students are required to enroll in the internship course as part of the Full-Time curriculum in the summer term between the first and second year of the program.
The following criteria outline when graduate students will be dismissed from the Cox School of Business but does not limit dismissal to these criteria:
Full-time M.B.A. students will be dismissed who achieve:
With an approved petition to take up to eight (8) additional hours beyond the 58 G.P.A. hours required for the degree, Full-Time M.B.A. students will be dismissed who achieve:
Full-time M.B.A. students MUST have a cumulative 3.00 G.P.A. at the end of 66 G.P.A. hours.
M.A./M.B.A. and J.D./M.B.A. students will be dismissed who achieve:
With an approved petition to take up to eight (8) additional hours beyond the 46 G.P.A. hours required for the degree, M.A./ M.B.A. and J.D./M.B.A. students will be dismissed who achieve:
M.A./M.B.A. and J.D./M.B.A. students MUST have a cumulative 3.00 G.P.A. at the end of 54 G.P.A. hours
With an approved petition to take up to eight (8) additional hours beyond the 48 G.P.A. hours required for the degree, Professional M.B.A. students will be dismissed who achieve:
Professional M.B.A. students MUST have a cumulative 3.00 G.P.A. at the end of 56 G.P.A. hours.
Part-Time J.D./Professional M.B.A. students will be dismissed who achieve:
With an approved petition to take up to eight (8) additional hours beyond the 48 G.P.A. hours required for the degree, Part-Time J.D./Professional M.B.A. students will be dismissed who achieve:
Part-Time J.D./Professional M.B.A. students MUST have a cumulative 3.00 G.P.A. at the end of 56 G.P.A. hours.
M.S. in Accounting students will be dismissed who achieve:
With an approved petition to take up to four (4) additional hours beyond the 32 G.P.A. hours required for the degree, M.S. in Accounting students will be dismissed who achieve:.
M.S. in Accounting students MUST have a cumulative 3.00 G.P.A. at the end of 36 G.P.A. hours.
M.S. in Entrepreneurship students will be dismissed who achieve:
With an approved petition to take up to four (4) additional credit hours beyond the 32 G.P.A. hours required for the degree, M.S. in Entrepreneurship students will be dismissed who achieve:
M.S. in Entrepreneurship students MUST have a cumulative 3.00 G.P.A. at the end of 36 G.P.A. hours.
M.S. in Management students will be dismissed who achieve:
With an approved petition to take up to four (4) additional credit hours beyond the 30 G.P.A. hours required for the degree, M.S. in Management students will be dismissed who achieve:
M.S. in Management students MUST have a cumulative 3.00 G.P.A. at the end of 36 G.P.A. hours.
Failure to meet established minimum acceptable standards of academic or disciplinary performance will result in dismissal from the Cox School of Business. Dismissal is a permanent and involuntary separation of the student from the Cox School of Business. The student is not eligible for readmission to the Cox School of Business and is not in good standing in the Cox School of Business. “Academic Dismissal” is permanently recorded on the student’s transcript.
Before approving a graduate business student for degree conferral, the Cox faculty will consider any documented judicial or disciplinary complaints on record and audit the student’s academic standing, including satisfactory completion of the required, but non-credit-bearing aspects of the Cox program.
Students must file an Application of Candidacy to Graduate Form with the Graduate Student Services Office at the beginning of the term in which the student expects to complete all degree requirements. Applications must be filed by the posted deadline date for applicants to be considered graduates at the end of that term.
The Cox School of Business holds a diploma ceremony each year in May. This diploma ceremony usually follows the University-wide commencement program. In December there is a University-wide graduation ceremony for all SMU graduates completing their degree requirements in August or December.
Students in good academic standing and within eight (8) credit hours of graduating may petition to participate in the graduation ceremonies and activities but do not receive a diploma. For additional information, contact the Graduate Student Services Office at gradcox@cox.smu.edu or 214-768-2609.
All graduate. students are expected to have access to a laptop computer for use in the classroom. The rules regarding use of laptops in class sessions will be set by the course instructor and may include (but are not restricted to) the following alternatives:
It is expected that student laptop use during class sessions (including sessions with guest lecturers) will be only for purposes relevant to the course.
The Cox School does not prescribe any specific brand or configuration of laptop hardware for student laptops. Rather, it is expected that student laptops will be able to reasonably execute all application programs that are site licensed by SMU for student use in business-related programs. Information about relevant application programs as well as suggested minimum functionality for laptop systems will be made available to incoming students prior to the beginning of their program and can be obtained from the Cox Computer Support staff.
Scholarships are awarded by the Cox School to entering Full-Time M.B.A. and M.S. in Accounting students on the basis of demonstrated academic achievement and capability as well as significant career experience and leadership achievement at the time of acceptance into the Cox program. Scholarships must be used in the term awarded.
Any student awarded a scholarship who goes on academic probation will immediately lose the scholarship but may be given an opportunity to regain his/her scholarship when his/her cumulative G.P.A is raised to 3.00 or above.
In addition to the merit-based scholarships described above, grants, private and federal loans and employment programs may be available to Cox students. The Cox School of Business encourages all graduate students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid Form (FAFSA). The FAFSA may be completed online at fafsa.ed.gov. You can obtain a PIN number at pin.ed.gov, which may be used to electronically sign your application. SMU’s code number is 003613.
Students who excel during the course of their graduate work in the Cox School may be honored with awards available through the various subject areas.
At graduation, students who reach high academic achievement are recognized through an invitation to join Beta Gamma Sigma, the business honor fraternity.
© Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas | Legal Disclosures | A-Z Site Index | Contact SMU
Share