Undergraduate policies for Olin Business School are listed in the sections below.

Additional policies related to academics are listed in the University Policies and Undergraduate Policies sections of this Bulletin. Students are expected to be familiar with policies listed throughout the Bulletin; this reminder is intended as a courtesy.

Academic Standing (Process)

Olin students are expected to maintain a high level of scholarship during their time at Washington University. Approximately three weeks after the end of a semester, the Academic Review Committee reviews the record of each enrolled student. Students must attain and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in their professional (business), semester, and cumulative GPAs to be in good academic standing. In addition, students must make progress toward completing their degree requirements within a reasonable period (typically 12 credit units per semester). Failure to achieve minimum standards may result in the student's academic records being reviewed for academic action.

To learn more about academic standing, please review the university's Undergraduate Policies. 

Academic Review Committee

The Academic Review Committee (ARC) is composed of the Vice Dean of Education, at least three additional full-time faculty members, and a representative from Olin's Undergraduate Programs Office (typically the Senior Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs). Based on academic performance and/or progress toward degree completion, the ARC may place a student on Academic Concern, Academic Notice, or Academic Time Away, or it may issue an Academic Dismissal. The Undergraduate Programs Office will communicate ARC decisions to the affected student's WashU email address.

Appeal Procedures

A student may appeal a decision regarding Academic Time Away or Academic Dismissal imposed by the ARC to the Dean or the Dean's designee. Decisions of the ARC that do not involve Academic Time Away or Academic Dismissal are not appealable. A student may appeal within seven calendar days after the decision is emailed to the student. To initiate an appeal, the student must email both the Undergraduate Programs Office and the Vice Dean of Education a formal appeal letter (the relevant Undergraduate Programs Office and Vice Dean email addresses will be included in the decision letter emailed to the student). The formal appeal letter must be included as a separate email attachment that contains the following information:

  • The name of the student filing the appeal and their student number
  • The ARC decision that is being appealed
  • The reasons why the original ARC decision should be reconsidered
  • All documentation and information needed to support the appeal

The Dean or the Dean's designee will typically issue a decision regarding the appeal within 14 days of the request. The Dean's decisions on appeals are final and communicated to the student via their WashU email address.

Academic Integrity and Conduct

The 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 learning and personal growth for everyone in the community. Becoming a member of the Olin and Washington University community is a privilege that brings certain responsibilities and expectations. It is imperative that all individuals associated with Olin and Washington University conduct themselves with the utmost integrity in all aspects of their lives, both on and off campus.

Appeal Processes

Course grade appeals must be made within 120 days following the official end of the term/semester in which the course occurred. The official end of each term/semester is available on the Academic Calendar page of the University Registrar website and should align with deadline date for course grades to be uploaded. Appeals after 120 days will only be allowed in extenuating circumstances and will require approval from Olin's Vice Dean of Education.

Attendance

Olin Business School allows each instructor of a course to decide how many absences the student may have and still pass the course. The Olin Business School expects faculty to give reasonable consideration to unavoidable absences and to the feasibility of making up work that has been missed. Students are expected to explain to their instructors the reasons for any absences and to discuss with them the possibility of making up missed assignments.

Credits and Grades

Credits (often called “units” at WashU) are assigned to courses based on measures of time in class and academic activities and engagement between instructors and students, as defined in the university's Undergraduate Policies. 

Audit

A student may take a maximum of one course per semester on a Pass/No Pass/Audit basis. Students may not audit a business course. However, a student may take non-business courses for audit with the approval of the professor. An audited course does not count toward the student's degree requirements. A grade of L indicates the satisfactory completion of an audit; unsatisfactory completion results in a grade of Z. Fees for auditing a course are assessed at the same rate as for all other courses.

Incomplete Grades

A student may be given an Incomplete (I) grade when extenuating circumstances preclude the satisfactory completion of coursework during the semester in which a particular course is taken. While an Incomplete grade is sometimes appropriate, a student should make every effort to avoid the accumulation of Incomplete grades. Incomplete grades are expected to be finished. Failure to finish an Incomplete grade within 120 days of the last day of the term/semester will result in a Failing (F) grade.

Pass/No Pass

A student may take a maximum of one course per semester on a Pass/No Pass/Audit basis. A grade of Pass indicates that credit has been awarded but the work was not subject to finer evaluation. The following policies are in effect starting Fall 2021. Courses taken previously will not retroactively be changed. 

  • All Olin professional, major, and minor courses must be taken for a letter grade. This includes any non-BU courses counting toward Olin's professional coursework (i.e., ECON 1502 Introduction to Macroeconomics as a substitute for MEC 2920 Global Economics). For second majors and minors outside of Olin, students should speak with their second major or non-Olin minor advisor.
  • Olin courses taken Pass/No Pass cannot count toward the 60 required business credits. However, they will count toward the 120 credits required for graduation.
  • A maximum of 6 Olin credits may be taken as Pass/No Pass only after a student has completed six full-time semesters of enrollment or if the student is in their senior year.
  • Pass/No Pass cannot be used for MATH 1510 Calculus I, MATH 1520 Calculus II, College Writing, or the Ethics and Values distribution requirement.
  • A maximum of 9 credits of distribution or advanced electives can be taken Pass/No Pass. The Pass/No Pass course may only count toward one requirement. In other words, a single Pass/No Pass course cannot be double counted toward a distribution and an advanced elective. 
  • Not all courses have the Pass/No Pass option.
  • If a course is offered only on a Pass/No Pass basis (e.g., Physical Education courses), enrollment in that course will not count toward the one-course maximum.

Quality Grades

Grade points per course are calculated by multiplying the number of units of a course by the grade points earned. The Undergraduate Policies page of this Bulletin details the grades and grade points in use.

Interschool Transfer

Students enrolled in other day division programs may apply to transfer to the Olin Business School. The minimum criteria may vary by academic and class year. To learn more, please visit the Internal Transfer Candidates page of the Olin Undergraduate Programs website. 

Pre-Matriculation Credit

Pre-matriculation credits are earned before the student's enrollment at Washington University as a first-year student. These credits would include Advanced Placement (AP) examinations, International Baccalaureate (IB) programs, British Advanced (A) Levels, and college credit earned after the student's sophomore year in high school. The maximum number of pre-matriculation credits awarded is 15. These pre-matriculation credits will transfer as general elective coursework and will not satisfy any distribution requirements. If a student takes a course in residence for which they have already received AP credit, the AP credit will be removed automatically. All BSBA students and second majors will be required to take DAT 1200 Managerial Statistics I, even when AP credit is earned for SDS 2020 Elementary Probability and Statistics.

Registration in Special Programs

Military Training

Army and Air Force ROTC programs are available at Washington University. ROTC units numbered 3000 or above will count toward the student's 120 units for graduation. These credits may count toward the Advanced Elective requirements provided the course is taken for a grade.

WashU Continuing & Professional Studies Courses

Students may request to take one WashU Continuing & Professional Studies (CAPS) course per semester. Additional fees may apply. Courses taken through CAPS will not count toward the 120 credits needed for the BSBA degree nor toward the student's cumulative GPA for the BSBA degree.

Transfer Credit

School Policy or Process

Olin Business School expects that all degree requirement courses will be taken at Washington University. However, students who are enrolled at Olin and who wish to receive transfer credit for coursework taken at another institution may request course approval, which must be received prior to the start of the transfer course. In addition to the Transfer Credit policies outlined in the Undergraduate Policies section of this Bulletin, the following apply to Olin Business School students: 

  • Olin Business School expects that all business courses will be taken at Washington University. Under certain circumstances, permission may be granted for a student to take a business course from another university with accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. For consideration to be given, a syllabus showing the text used must be submitted. 
  • All business major and minor coursework must be taken in residence. Although major and minor coursework can be taken through an approved study abroad program, only one course will be counted for each major and minor.
  • 54 of the 60 Olin professional credits must be taken in residence.
  • A maximum of 6 credits may be taken during a summer program from another university.
  • Credit will not be given for coursework taken at another institution during a student's last 30 credits.
  • No coursework may be taken at a two-year institution after a student has accumulated 60 credits of work.
  • No transfer credit will be accepted for courses taken while a student is on a leave of absence.

Online Courses

No credit will be granted for coursework taken online, hybrid, or hyflex through another university.

Olin Undergraduate Student Handbook

The Olin Undergraduate Student Handbook includes general academic policies and procedures for the undergraduate programs of the Olin Business School at Washington University. 

Contact Info