Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When do I declare a concentration?
Q: When do I apply to graduate?
Q: How do I declare a minor?
Q: Can I take a MET course?
Q: Can I take more than 4 courses per semester?
Q: How do I find out what core requirements I have to take?
Q: How can I earn a dual degree?
Q. How do I change Schools?
Q: How many credits are required for an SMG degree?
Q: What are the UPO’s office hours?
Q: Is there a way for me to contact the UPO by email?
Q: Can I audit courses?
Q: What is the procedure for dropping or adding a course?
Q: Where can I get information about studying abroad?
Q: Who is my faculty advisor and how can he/she help me?
Q: When do I declare a concentration?
A: Students generally decide on a concentration between the end of their sophomore year and the middle of their junior year. All SMG students must declare their concentration by March 1st of their junior year in order to register for courses for the following fall semester. This is done by filling out a Plan of Study form. Students may decide to pursue a General Management concentration, which allows them to take a wide variety of SMG electives, rather than choosing a specific functional area of management.
Q: When do I apply to graduate?
A: Students must apply to graduate in October of their senior year or one year prior to their date of graduation, if not graduating in May. This is done by filling out a Graduation Application and submitting it to the UPO.
Q: How do I declare a minor?
A: Students submit a Declaration of Minor Form to the UPO at least one semester prior to graduation.
Q: Can I take a MET course?
A: Students must submit a School Requirement Petition to receive approval to enroll in a Metropolitan College (MET) course. This is limited to the junior and senior years and to no more than one MET course per semester, for a total of four courses. SMG students will not receive degree credit for MET courses that are business or management-related.
Q: Can I take more than 4 courses per semester?
A: Please click here
Q: How do I find out what core requirements I have to take?
A: Please click here
Q: How can I earn a dual degree?
A: Please click here
Q. How do I change Schools?
A: Students may complete an intra-university transfer to most of the schools/colleges at Boston University. Many have a gateway course and GPA requirement. Contact the school/college in which you are interested to learn of their requirements.
Q: How many credits are required for an SMG degree?
A: The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree program consists of 33 courses in both the liberal arts and management.
Q: What are the UPO’s office hours?
A: Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Q: Is there a way for me to contact the UPO by email?
A: upoforum@management.bu.edu
Q: Can I audit courses?
A: Please click here
Q: What is the procedure for dropping or adding a course?
A: Please click here
Q: What should I do when I am having trouble in a class?
A: Students should first make an appointment with the faculty member during office hours to get a sense of what areas are problematic. Students can also see the Teaching Assistant for their course, make an appointment with an academic advisor in the UPO, find out LOCK’s open tutoring hours and/or request a tutor from the Educational Resource Center. Tutors are available free of charge for most courses through the ERC. The ERC is located at on the 4th floor of the George Sherman Union. Please call them at 617-353-7077. Writing tutors are available for WR courses at the Writing Center, located at 730 Commonwealth Avenue.
Q: Where can I get information about studying abroad?
A: Please click here
Q: Who is my faculty advisor and how can he/she help me?
A: Your faculty advisor can be any member of the SMG undergraduate faculty. Over the course of your studies at SMG, your goal should be to get to know and be known by at least 2-3 faculty members. In order to help you with this process, the following guidelines and designated faculty members are recommended:
Freshmen: your SM121 discussion professor or any other faculty member you connect with.
New External Transfer students: your SM299 discussion professor or any other faculty member you connect with
Sophomores: your SM121 or SM299 discussion professor from last year OR if your discussion professor is not available, any professor fromyour teaching team the previous year OR any of the professorsyou encounter in your sophomore year courses (AC221, AC222, LA245, OB221, SM221, SM222).
Juniors: first semester – any previous SMG faculty advisor or any professor on your SM323 teaching team; second semester -- your concentration liaison or any combination of the previous semesters' faculty advisors.
Seniors: Any faculty advisor or concentration liaison from previous years.
Faculty advisors are most helpful for questions regarding concentrations, SMG elective choices, research interests, letters of recommendation, and similar questions and topics. Academic advisors can assist with course and program planning, for all questions regarding curriculum requirements, and can provide information about other useful University resources.
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