Specialized Master's Program (SMP) Policies

Please review the sections below for more information about this program's policies.

Degree Completion

Each of the Specialized Masters Programs follows a unique curriculum that spans two or three semesters and that requires 30 to 39 credits to complete. Once a student has met all requirements to complete their degree program, they may not extend their enrollment to future semesters in that academic program.

Students should review the curriculum sheet for their specific program, which outlines the degree pathway to completion. Questions about degree requirements and degree pathways should be brought to the student's academic advisor. All degree pathway exceptions must be formally requested through the academic advisor using the appropriate form(s), and students must receive written approval from the SMP Academic Director for their program.

Academic Policies

Academic Performance Standards

The cumulative academic performance of a student is evaluated at the end of each semester to determine continuation eligibility. All attempted and completed coursework will be reviewed. If a student's cumulative or program GPA falls below 3.0, their record will be brought to the Academic Review Committee for review. If the student remains enrolled, their record will be reviewed at the end of each term.

Students are expected to maintain a cumulative and program GPA of 3.0 in all coursework to remain in good standing and to remain eligible for degree completion.

Students in the Specialized Masters Programs must achieve at least a 1.0 by the end of the semester to avoid suspension.

Attendance Expectation

Olin's Specialized Masters Programs require in-person attendance as a mandatory component of their educational experience. Students must attend courses in person for the duration of each semester of enrollment. Exceptions for short-term extenuating circumstances should be directed to the faculty for each course. 

Degree Completion Time Limit

Students in Specialized Masters Programs must complete the degree within seven years of beginning the program.

Disengagement

A student is considered disengaged when they fail to attend class, do not respond to communications from faculty and/or staff, or have not completed the registration process for the next academic term. Advisors will attempt to contact the student by utilizing both the phone and email addresses on record with the school. If the student fails to respond to communication, does not register in their required academic course load, or is not in good financial standing by the add/drop date of the semester, the leave of absence will be initiated as soon as the Graduate Programs Office becomes aware.

If a student is placed on an administrative Leave of Absence in the middle of a semester, they remain responsible for the tuition charges according to the refund schedule. If the student fails to respond at the end of the leave term, the leave will be extended for one additional semester (excluding summer terms). At the end of two semesters on a leave of absence, if the student has not developed a plan to complete their curriculum with their academic advisor, the student will be administratively withdrawn from their graduate business program at Washington University. Summer terms are excluded for Full-Time MBA and SMP students but included for Executive MBA, Flex MBA, and online programs. If the student wishes to return to the program at a future date following their withdrawal, they will follow the application process for the program in the term they wish to start and be required to meet all admission requirements for the program.

Dual and Second Degrees

Concurrent Dual SMP Degrees 

Students can apply for a second SMP program during the first two semesters of their first SMP degree program. Students should speak with their academic advisor before applying for a second degree. Taking two dual SMP degrees (completing the degrees at the same time) allows students to share up to 9 credits. Adding a three-semester degree would add at least two additional semesters to degree completion. If the second degree only requires two semesters to complete, students can potentially meet degree completion requirements in one additional semester. 

Second SMP Degree After First SMP Degree Completion

Students can apply for a second degree, which they would begin after finishing their first SMP degree. These students can share up to 6 credits between the two degrees. It may be possible to shorten the second degree by one semester. Students interested in pursuing a second SMP degree should first meet with their academic advisor.

Dual MBA + SMP Degrees

Students admitted to the Full-Time MBA and one of the full-time Specialized Master’s Programs (SMPs) at Olin Business School can pursue a dual degree format.

Full-Time MBA students are encouraged to apply to and enroll in the chosen SMP during their first year. SMP students who wish to add an MBA degree need to apply in their first or second semester. Dual-degree students can share up to 15 credits between the two programs. This can shorten the time needed to complete both programs. The total number of credits required will vary depending on the selected SMP degree program. Students should consult with their academic advisors for clarification of degree requirements.

Dual Undergraduate Degree + SMP Degree

Students interested in starting their SMP degree while still completing their undergraduate degree should speak with both their undergraduate advisor and a graduate advisor first. Although the completion of undergraduate coursework could result in requirement waivers, credits cannot be shared between undergraduate and graduate degrees. 

Grade Changes

A non-disciplinary grade may be changed only by the professor in whose course the grade was initially given. A faculty member may change a grade from an N or I to a letter grade provided that the work is made up within 60 days of the completion of the course. Exceptions to the 60-day limit must be discussed with the Assistant Dean and Director of Graduate Programs Student Affairs.

Students who fail a required course must retake the course. Students may choose to retake failed elective courses but are not required to do so. Students will not earn the course credit required for program completion for failed courses.

Upon passing completion of a retaken course as a result of failure due to a lack of academic proficiency, a student’s transcript will show an R next to the grade earned for the initial course, indicating that it has been retaken, and a letter grade for the second attempt of the course. Only the grade earned during the retaken attempt of the course, whether better or worse, will affect the student’s cumulative GPA.

Upon passing completion of a retaken course as a result of failure due to an academic integrity violation, a student’s transcript will show the grade for each taking of the course. The grades earned during both the initial and the retaken attempts of the course will affect the student’s cumulative GPA.

Students are not allowed to retake courses in which they have not earned a failing grade. However, if a student is in their final semester of coursework and has a GPA below a 3.0, they will be granted an exception to retake courses in which they received a grade of C or lower.

A student with a personal or medical emergency may submit a graduate programs petition to their academic advisor.

If a student would like to dispute a grade, they should first speak with their academic advisor regarding the process. Course grade appeals must be made within 120 days following the official end of the semester in which the course occurred. (The official end of each semester is available on the university website and should align with the deadline date for course grades to be uploaded.) Appeals after 120 days will only be allowed in extenuating circumstances and will require approval from the Vice Dean of Education.

Grading System

  • Please refer to the instructor or syllabus for each course to determine how letter grades will be assigned.
  • The following grades are used in calculating the grade point average:
    • Grade Points per Unit
      A or A+ 4.0
      A- 3.7
      B+ 3.3
      B 3.0
      B- 2.7
      C+ 2.3
      C 2.0
      C- 1.7
      D+ 1.3
      D 1.0
      D- 0.7
      F 0.0
  • The following grades and notations are ignored in calculating the grade point average:
    • Grade/Notation Value
      P Pass
      F Fail
      I Coursework incomplete; final grade pending
      W Withdrawal
      R Retaken course
      L Successful audit
      Z Unsuccessful audit
      N No grade submitted; final grade pending
  • An I (for incomplete work) may be given if extenuating circumstances preclude the satisfactory completion of coursework during the semester in which a particular course is taken. With permission of the instructor, students have up to 60 days after the final exam period to make up for incomplete work. After 60 days, the grade is automatically changed to an F.
  • A grade of N indicates that the professor has not yet turned in a grade.
  • In most cases, required courses must be taken for a letter grade to count toward the degree requirements. Each program/track may have exceptions. Students should speak with their academic advisors before taking any courses with the Pass/No Pass or audit grading method.

If the student believes a grade was submitted in error, they should first contact the professor for the course. If the professor is unable to explain the unreported grade, the student should contact their academic advisor.

Leave of Absence (LOA)

Students who need to take an LOA should discuss the process and implications with their academic advisor and Olin Financial Services.

Voluntary LOA: A student may request an LOA for academic or personal reasons by filling out the form linked on Time Away page of the Office of the University Registrar website. Requests for LOAs must be approved by the Assistant Dean for Academic Advising. 

LOA Impact on Financial Aid: Students who are receiving financial assistance should consult with the Olin Financial Aid Office to determine the implications of an LOA for their financial aid.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Federal aid recipients' academic progress will be evaluated on an annual basis by Washington University Student Financial Services. Failure to meet the necessary criteria can result in the suspension of future aid eligibility, although students will be granted an opportunity to appeal. Graduate students are expected to maintain good academic standing for their specific programs in addition to meeting federal standards for cumulative pace and completion of their degree program within a prescribed number of attempted hours (grades of W, I, and F will place a student in jeopardy of not meeting these standards). Please direct any questions about Satisfactory Academic Progress standards or the appeal process to olinfinancialservices@wustl.edu. 

SMP Program/Concentration Changes

Current students may apply to transfer from one SMP to another. Each SMP requires a unique transfer application: admission and enrollment in one SMP does not guarantee transfer into another SMP. Transfer into a new SMP results in the discontinuation of enrollment in the previous SMP. Credits previously taken may or may not transfer and contribute toward the completion of the new SMP. Program transfer may result in changes to the total time enrolled and cost to complete the degree.

Transfer applications must be received before the end of fall mini-A of the student's first semester. After this date, students are required to reapply through the Graduate Admissions Office. Students may be admitted to their new program for the following academic year.

Transfer Credit

As many as 6 units of transfer credit may be accepted toward Washington University SMP degree requirements, provided that the prior coursework meets the following criteria:

  • The credits were taken at the graduate level.
  • It can be demonstrated (e.g., by course syllabi) that the coursework taken is comparable in content (for required courses) or acceptable in quality (for elective courses) to Washington University courses.
  • A grade of B or better was achieved in the coursework for which transfer credit is requested.
  • The credits were completed within seven years of the student's anticipated graduation date.

Students seeking the acceptance of transfer credit should complete the Credit Transfer Request Form, which requires a transcript and course syllabi. Forms are reviewed by Academic Directors and processed by the Graduate Programs Office. 

Professional Code of Conduct/Academic Integrity

Olin Business School is a community of individuals with diverse backgrounds and interests who share certain fundamental goals. Primary among these goals is the creation and maintenance of an atmosphere conducive to the learning and personal growth of everyone in the community.

Becoming a member of the Olin community is a privilege that brings certain responsibilities and expectations. The success of Olin in attaining its goals and maintaining its reputation of academic excellence depends on the willingness of its members, both collectively and individually, to meet their responsibilities. All individuals associated with Olin must conduct themselves with the utmost integrity in all aspects of their lives, both on and off campus.

Plagiarism and other forms of cheating will not be tolerated. Where a student has violated the integrity of the academic community, an instructor may recommend that the student be brought before the Academic Review Committee. Please review Olin's Academic Integrity website for more information.

Courses and Registration

The Graduate Programs Office works with the Olin Registrar’s Office to register students for their foundations courses and the first semester of coursework. Each semester thereafter, students perform their own registration via Workday. Students are required to meet with their academic advisor to obtain authorization for registration.

Adding a Course

Students may add a course to their registration during specified periods at the beginning of each term; please refer to the Olin Graduate Programs Academic Calendar. A faculty member's signature is not required to add a class, but students may need the approval of an academic advisor if they are in their first semester.

Short courses or weekend courses may be added to the student’s registration until 24 hours before the course begins, unless otherwise specified by the course instructor.

Auditing a Course

Students wishing to audit a course must first speak with the professor of the course to determine if auditing is an option and, if so, to learn the specific requirements for a successful audit. If approval is granted, the student should send the email approval to their academic advisor, who will work with the Olin Registrar's Office to change the grading option of the course to A.

  • Audited courses do not apply to the credits required to graduate, but they do apply to the maximum credits allowed each semester without paying additional tuition.
  • Audited courses are listed on student transcripts. A grade of L is given for a successful audit, and a grade of Z is given for an unsuccessful audit.
  • Audited courses do not meet prerequisite requirements. If a student has audited a particular prerequisite for a course, the student will need the instructor's permission to enroll in that course.

Course Waivers

Course waivers are intended to allow students to avoid the redundant study of subjects already mastered. They do not reduce the number of credits required to earn the degree. Waiver request forms can be obtained from the student's academic advisor.

Coursework in Other Divisions

Olin Business School recognizes that students may wish to take coursework in other divisions in order to achieve an individualized education. Students who wish to do so should meet with their academic advisor and follow the guidance outlined below:

  • For non-Olin graduate courses that are not included in the program curriculum but that will count toward degree credits, approval by the program's Academic Director and the course instructor are required.
  • For non-Olin graduate courses that will not count toward degree credits, approval by the course instructor is required.
  • SMP students are generally not permitted to take Olin doctoral courses. Exceptions can only be made with approval by the program's Academic Director and the course instructor.
  • Students must be in good academic standing.

Dropping or Withdrawing From a Course

Students may drop or withdraw from courses during specified periods during the registration period and term as listed in the Olin Graduate Programs Academic Calendar. Graduate Programs Office approval is not needed for students who are dropping or withdrawing from a course during the period specified by the academic calendar, unless the student is in their first semester. It is recommended that students speak with their advisors before dropping a course.

Before the first day of a short course or weekend course, students may drop the course unless the instructor indicates otherwise.

Dropping a course will leave no record of the enrollment on the student's transcript. Withdrawing from a course will keep the enrollment on the transcript with a W grade. The student's GPA will not be impacted.

Independent Study

Independent study under the direction of a faculty member is available on a selective basis. The purpose of independent study is to provide an opportunity for students to pursue subject matter beyond the specific course offerings found in the school. Independent study is not viewed as a vehicle for getting credit for something in which the student may already be involved (e.g., a job, a project in another course). It is an opportunity for the student to obtain more in-depth exposure to an area of interest under the supervision and direction of a faculty member.

Typically, a student will discuss with a particular faculty member the possibility of receiving supervision on an independent study research project. Projects may receive anywhere from 1.5 to 6 academic credits, but normally no more than 3 credits may be granted in any one semester. Students may apply a maximum of 6 units of independent study credit toward their degree requirements.

Once a project is agreed upon between the student and the professor, the student must submit an Independent Study form to the academic advisor for evaluation and approval. The petition should outline the topics to be covered, the texts or other research material to be used, and the research methodology to be employed. Students must be in good academic standing to be approved for independent study.

Semester Credit Cap

Each semester, SMP students can enroll in a maximum of 18 credits. If a semester credit cap is exceeded, the student will be charged additional tuition based on their program's calculated credit rate. This rate is calculated by dividing the total program tuition cost (assuming no annual tuition increases) by the total number of credits required for degree completion. For intra-Olin dual degree candidates, the rate used is the lesser of the two program rate calculations. A student with extenuating circumstances may petition the Graduate Programs Office to exceed the stated semester credit cap without incurring additional tuition charges.

Tuition and Financial Information

For helpful information about Olin Financial Services, including the Tuition Refund Schedule, please visit the Financial Information page of this Bulletin.

Note: This schedule may not apply if a student is dropping all courses or withdrawing from their program. Questions should be directed to the student's academic advisor.

Withdrawal and Federal Loans

Regulations governing the return of Title IV funds (unsub and Graduate PLUS loans) require the school to determine the earned and unearned portions of disbursed loans as of the date the student ceased attendance. Students who are considering a withdrawal from any or all coursework should contact the Olin Financial Services team to understand the implications for their current student loan amount and the impacts on their grace period.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

CPT is work that is a part of a structured program offered in the SMP curriculum. Examples of CPT at Olin include summer internships and internships during the final semesters of the program. 

  • Students must get approval from Olin, enroll in the CPT-approved course, and then obtain approval from the Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS).
  • Typically, students must complete one academic year (both fall and spring semesters) before becoming eligible for CPT.
  • There are a few exceptions in which a student may be allowed to use CPT in their second semester. Potential candidates for CPT consideration in the second semester are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, subject to minimum academic requirements (3.5 GPA), a credit maximum of 15 credits (apart from the CPT course), and prior approval of the student’s academic advisor and career coach.

Enrolling in CPT

After a student has accepted an offer of paid or unpaid employment, they must follow these instructions:

  1. Report the offer to the Career Center.
  2. Request that the company mail or email an offer letter on company letterhead to the student.
    1. Status: Part-time work is considered up to 20 hours/week. Full-time work is considered 21 or more hours/week. Students are permitted to work part-time during the academic year (fall and spring semesters), but they can work part-time or full-time during the summer semester or the final semester if enrolled in fewer than 10 credits.
    2. Length of internship: Minimum one month for full-time internships, or six weeks for part-time internships.
    3. Term dates: Consult the Washington University Academic Calendar.
  3. Complete the internship registration survey, including the CPT application form and offer letter, which can be accessed in the Graduate Programs Office or by contacting their academic advisor.
  4. The student will be enrolled in MGT 5515 Internship, Business and Application for the appropriate term.
    1. Credit units = 1.5; grading method = Pass/No Pass
    2. Note: Students will not be charged tuition by the credit unit for this 1.5-credit course during the summer term.
    3. If students complete MGT 5515 in a spring or fall semester, the 1.5 credits will count toward their semester total.
    4. This course is tied to semester dates. Therefore, if employment extends beyond one semester, this entire process must be repeated before the new semester begins. Semester term dates can be found in the Washington University Academic Calendar.
    5. Deliverables for MGT 5515 must be completed for the student to successfully pass the course.
  5. OISS will issue the student a new I-20 based on the offer letter's dates of employment. These must fall within the semester dates listed above.
  6. Receive the new I-20 from OISS before starting the internship. The new I-20s will be ready three to five business days after the completed CPT application form has been received by OISS. The entire process, after the submission of the offer letter, will take three to seven business days. Students will need to present the I-20 to their employer on their first day of work and should not begin work until the process is complete.

Other Olin Policies

Group Study Room Policies and Reservations

The primary purpose of the Olin Business School group study rooms is to provide a space for Olin students and clients to engage in collaborative and cooperative study in small groups. The following policies exist to ensure that Olin students and clients have priority use of the rooms, the rooms are appropriately maintained, and clear expectations are in place.

  • Group study rooms in Bauer Hall and Knight Hall may be reserved only by Olin Business School degree candidates and only via the online reservation system. Students not enrolled in Olin Business School degree programs may not reserve these rooms.
  • Group study rooms in Simon Hall may not be reserved. They are subject to the policies below, as applicable.
  • Group study rooms in the Kopolow Business Library, located in Simon Hall, may be reserved by any WashU student. Students should visit the library’s front desk for information.
  • Charles F. Knight Executive Education & Conference Center group study rooms (located on the second floor of the Knight Center) are strictly for the use of Olin Executive Education students and clients. Olin undergraduate and non-Executive Education graduate students may not use Knight Executive Education & Conference Center group study rooms under any circumstances. Knight Center group study rooms located on the first floor are available as noted below.
  • Rooms are primarily intended for group use. A group is defined as two or more users engaged in collaborative study. Individuals engaged in simultaneous individual study are not considered a group.

Bauer Hall/Knight Hall

  • Group rooms may not be reserved for individual student use.
  • An individual may use an unoccupied or unreserved room. However, should a group need the room, the individual must vacate it. One group member must reserve the room using the online system at that time and before informing the individual that they must vacate it.
  • If no more than one individual representing a group reservation is present 15 minutes or more after the reservation start time, the reservation is considered forfeited, and the room may be used by another group during the time that the forfeited group had reserved it.

Simon Hall and the First Floor of the Knight Center

  • An online reservation system is not currently in place for the group study rooms in Simon Hall and on the first floor of Knight Center. An individual may use an unoccupied room. However, should a group wish to use the room, the individual must vacate it.

Reservation Instructions

  • Rooms in Bauer Hall, Knight Hall, and Knight Center (first floor only) are reserved through the Graduate Programs Office.
  • Reservations for the current day are displayed on the monitor outside each Knight Hall/Bauer Hall group study room. Reservations will also display on the GO WUSTL calendar of the student who has made the reservation on behalf of the group. First-floor Knight Center study rooms are not equipped with a monitor outside of the room, but reservations will appear on the GO WUSTL calendar of the student who made the reservation.
  • Reservations may be made up to two weeks in advance. Any reservations made in advance of two weeks will be charged a fee.
  • Reservations are limited to a period of two hours in length.
  • Maximum occupancy should be noted before making a reservation. The group size should not exceed the maximum.

Room Usage Policies

  • Room users are responsible for their personal property and should not leave items unattended. Olin Business School is not liable for loss or damage to personal property. Rooms cannot be reserved or held by placing personal belongings in them. Unattended items (e.g., backpacks, coats, laptops, binders) may be removed and taken to lost and found for safekeeping. Lost and found is located in the Undergraduate Office (Simon Hall) or in the Graduate Programs Office (Knight Hall and Bauer Hall).
  • Rooms must be left clean and in good condition for the next users. Whiteboards must be erased and trash thrown away. “Do not erase” requests on the whiteboards will not be honored.
  • Do not remove items from the group study rooms (e.g., chairs, markers, erasers, remotes).
  • Should a room need to be cleaned or should an accident occur (e.g., a spilled beverage), students should email General Services immediately.
  • Should audiovisual assistance be required, students should email General Services.
  • Violation of these policies may result in suspension from room reservation and usage. Students should report all violations to their program office.

Graduation

Apply for Program Completion

Every candidate for a degree must apply for program completion via Workday. Deadlines vary depending on the anticipated graduation date, and students should reach out to their academic advisor if they do not know the deadline.

If the student is completing more than one degree program at Washington University, they must file a separate form for each degree program and provide all of the requested information.

Awards and Honors

Olin Business School awards are given to honor outstanding achievement. Recipients of the awards listed below are selected based on a variety of factors, and the selection process may include one or more of the following criteria: faculty vote, overall academic record, and course performance.

  • The Charles F. Knight Scholar Awards are presented to the top 7.5% of SMP graduates in each program. This distinction is based on cumulative GPA.
  • The top 20% of SMP graduates in each program are invited to join the Beta Gamma Sigma business honor society. This distinction is based on cumulative GPA.

In addition, each cohort will select one faculty member to receive the Reid Teaching Award, and the faculty of each program will select one outstanding student of the year for that program.

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