Transferability of Phase II Coursework

Starting elsewhere —

Transferring Coursework to NIU, Earning Degree from NIU:

In the MBA Program, NIU’s College of Business will accept a maximum of nine semester hours in transfer credit in Phase Two from an AACSB-accredited program. Please refer to the sections, “Phase Two Time Limitation” and “Quarter-to-Semester-Hour Conversion,” for additional clarification. Visit aacsb.edu for a list of AACSB accredited schools across the nation.

The program attended must be AACSB-accredited. AACSB accreditation requires adherence to the policies and procedures mandated by that accrediting body in order for Phase Two coursework to be transferable. Law courses from ABA-accredited programs only (which includes NIU’s College of Law) may be used for Phase Two transfer credit.

The course(s) you plan to use in transfer must be reviewed and approved by your MBA Program advisor. NIU reserves the right to determine which coursework, if any, meets the transferability criteria.

You must have received a grade of B or better in each graduate-credit course accepted in transfer toward meeting Phase Two requirements, and the overall GPA for all graduate transfer work accepted must be at least 3.00 (4.00 system). Grades in transfer courses are not included in the computation of your NIU graduate GPA.

The Phase Two time-limit begins as of entry into the first course accepted in Phase Two, whether that is an NIU course or a transfer course from an AACSB-accredited program.

Your degree progress report should be updated during your first term of enrollment so that you can receive timely notification of graduation requirements and deficiencies.

Starting at NIU —

Transferring Coursework From Elsewhere, Earning Degree from NIU:

Current NIU MBA students are able to transfer coursework from another AACSB-accredited institution if they relocate to an area not serviced by one of the NIU campuses and if they obtain written documentation from their employer that they have in fact relocated out of the NIU service area.

If, for some reason, you are unable to complete your MBA at NIU but wish to earn your degree from NIU, you may have a maximum of nine semester hours accepted in transfer toward meeting your Phase Two requirements at NIU. Please refer to the “Phase Two Time Limitation” and “Quarter-to-Semester-Hour Conversion” sections for additional clarification.

The program you plan to attend must be AACSB-accredited. Visit aacsb.edu for a list of AACSB accredited schools across the nation.

The course(s) you plan to take must be reviewed and approved in advance of any course enrollment by your MBA program advisor in your major. NIU reserves the right to determine which coursework, if any, meets the transferability criteria. You will need to provide NIU with information about the courses you plan to take at the transfer institution so that your advisor can assure course equivalency, particularly in the case of required courses.

After your NIU advisor has reviewed the transfer information and if the coursework is approved, your advisor will forward a letter to the transfer institution verifying your good academic standing at NIU, major, and course(s) needed. Although allowing visiting students (or students-at-large) to enroll in their course(s) to complete graduate business degrees elsewhere is a courtesy many AACSB-accredited institutions extend to one another, there is no requirement to do so and enrollment is always subject to the availability of space. (Like NIU, other institutions give priority to their own students.) Thus, it is important to plan ahead and be flexible.

You must receive a grade of B or better in each graduate course accepted in transfer toward meeting

Phase Two requirements, and the overall GPA for all graduate transfer work accepted must be at least 3.00 (4.00 system). Transfer coursework is not included in your NIU graduate GPA and cannot be used toward resolving NIU academic probation. In order to graduate from NIU, you must have at least a B average overall in graduate work and a B average or better in Phase Two coursework completed at NIU

If you wish to have your NIU degree posted within the same term you are completing transfer coursework, then the transfer institution’s term must end on or before the planned NIU term of graduation and your transcript must be received by NIU’s Graduate School within a reasonable period of time following that term. Note: NIU’s Graduate School is the sole authority on defining “reasonable.” It is vital, therefore, that you get verification of this deadline from the Graduate School Enrolled Student Staff as early as possible in the planned NIU term of graduation.

This is especially important if you are approaching your Phase Two six-year time limitation. (See section “Phase Two Time Limitation).

Starting at NIU —

Transferring Coursework To Elsewhere, Earning Degree From Elsewhere:

If you move away from the area while in Phase Two and want NIU Phase Two coursework to transfer to another graduate program, you will need to check with the program to which you plan to transfer. Since NIU’s program is AACSB-accredited, it may provide greater flexibility in transferring courses to another program; however, all accredited programs limit the amount of transfer credit accepted.

Deferring Admission (What to do if you’re unable to attend the term you were admitted for.)

If you plan to defer your admission, you may do so for up to one year beyond your initial term of acceptance. For example, if you are admitted for the fall 2019 term, you can start as late as fall 2020 without reapplying. However, you must request deferral prior to the end of the academic term for which admission has been granted. To defer your admission, go to the Graduate School website, select Student Resources, look for Student Forms and complete the Deferral of Admission form.

Graduation

When you are close to completing your MBA degree, you need to apply for graduation and submit the graduation fee. Students are able to apply for graduation and pay the graduation application fee through their MyNIU account.

The MBA Program will make many announcements about graduation application deadlines through Blackboard. Students may view graduation application deadlines at the Graduate School website at grad.niu .edu, select Student Resources for Graduation Information: niu.edu/grad/resources/graduation.shtml

MBA candidates should apply for the term of graduation in which they will complete all of their coursework. If a student has not completed their coursework and would like to participate in the May or December graduation ceremonies, the candidate must email the Graduate School at gradsch@niu.edu to request permission to participate in the May or December graduation ceremonies.

The graduation application does not roll over to the next term. The MBA candidate must submit a graduation deferral form which is located at niu.edu/its/asp2/OnBaseForms/gradschool/RcGrGradDefer