Frequently Asked Questions
Completion of Degree Questions
- How long does it take to finish the various programs?
- What is the Formal Plan of Study, what classes can I include in it, when do I need to fill it out and why is this important?
- How many 400-level courses can I take that will be counted towards my Formal Plan of Study?
- Do the graduate classes fill quickly? If so, are graduate students given preference?
- Can I take any of my classes for Credit/Non-Credit?
- How can credit/no credit courses affect my GPA?
- May I opt out/waive out of required courses in a program if I already possess a strong background (academic or work-experience) in the subject?
- Can independent study and/or internship courses count toward my MBA?
- What is the maximum number of units I may take in a given quarter?
- What GPA must I have to graduate and if it's below that requirement what can I do?
- How many units am I allowed to repeat as a graduate student?
- What is the checklist I need to have satisfied in order to graduate?
- My program requires that I complete a Thesis/Project, how long do I have to finish it?
1. How long does it take to finish the various programs?
The MBA program has two options for completion. For a full-time student, Track One (accelerated track) can be completed in less than 12 months if you follow the exact program outlined. Track Two is also available for those not following Track One and by following that track you can complete the program in four, five or six regular academic quarters depending on how a student structures and schedules his/her coursework.
The EMP program or any dual degree program that couples the MBA program with another Master's program on campus, usually can be completed in two years - total.
The MS BT Applied Research option is completed in 11 months by following the exact program outlined which includes two (2) short summer sessions and an international study tour. The MS BT Working Professional option is completed part-time and takes two years to complete.
2. What is the Formal Plan of Study, what classes can I include in it, when do I need to fill it out and why is this important?
A Formal Plan of Study is an agreement between the student and the college on the specific coursework to be completed in order to fulfill the requirements for the master's degree. Each student in an OCOB Graduate Program at Cal Poly must, within one quarter of starting their program, develop and receive approval for their individual plan.
The courses that may be included vary depending on the program of study being pursued and therefore students must meet with the advisor to individually develop their plan. In general, a Formal Plan of Study should be comprised of all required courses in the degree program along with all selected and approved elective courses that are included to complete the program.
The Formal Plan of Study is very important for graduate students as it is the roadmap by which the Evaluations office determines if you have satisfied all degree requirements. Unlike undergraduate students who satisfy a category of courses by electing to take any one of a number of courses designated to satisfy that category, the graduate students must list each and every specific course that will be taken and gain approval by the Director for the complete course of study. Students that fail to develop a Formal Plan of Study will not graduate since they have not satisfied an developed course of study. Likewise, students that fail to follow their developed Formal Plan of Study also will not graduate unless an approved amendment is permitted.
3. How many 400-level courses can I take that will be counted towards my Formal Plan of Study?
In the vast majority of cases the answer is none. The graduate programs offered by the Orfalea College of Business requires that a student's program consist of the intense graduate level coursework designed specifically for their program. Inclusion of a 400-level course in a Formal Plan of Study is not encouraged; however it may be permitted under certain rare and very limited circumstances.
4. Do the graduate classes fill quickly? If so, are graduate students given preference?
The Orfalea College of Business graduate business programs are selective programs and therefore the number of students admitted is small. Classes are small for the benefit of the students and students rarely have a problem getting into classes.
5. Can I take any of my classes for Credit/Non-Credit?
Only those letter-graded courses in which an A, B, or C is earned count towards satisfying the total unit requirement for the degree. For a letter grade course anything below a C does not/would not count. Further, courses which are offered only on a credit/no credit basis will also satisfy the unit requirement if a credit grade is earned (the equivalent of an A or a B is required to earn credit in such courses).
Graduate students may elect to take courses which are not part of their Formal Plan of Study on a credit/no credit basis, but said courses will not count toward satisfying the total unit requirement for the degree.
6. How can credit/no credit courses affect my GPA?
Only those units earned in courses for which the grade was "CR" will count toward satisfying the degree requirements. However, graduate students do not have the option of choosing to take a course CR/No CR. Only courses offered only as CR/No CR can be included in a Formal Plan of Study (which also must be approved in advance by the Orfalea College of Business Graduate Programs Office).
7. May I opt out/waive out of required courses in a program if I already possess a strong background (academic or work-experience) in the subject?
No. Given the intense coursework design and overall structure of the program, students are not permitted to waive any of the required courses.
8. Can independent study and/or internship courses count toward my MBA?
Internships and independent study courses can be, and often are, valuable supplements to enhance the learning experience. However, given the intense coursework design of the program such experiences, although encouraged, will not be counted toward the coursework requirement unless required by the specialization/program or through special agreement with the OCOB Graduate Programs Director.
9. What is the maximum number of units I may take in a given quarter?
Students in the MBA and EMP programs are limited to a maximum of 16 units per academic quarter. Students in the MS-BT program are limited to a maximum of 12 units per academic quarter. Students that attempt more units that the maximum, without specific approval to do so by the OCOB Graduate Programs Director, will be precluded from including or counting the additional course(s) in their program of study.
10. What GPA must I have to graduate and if it's below that requirement what can I do?
Satisfaction of the GPA requirement for the conferring of the master's degree requires a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (that's a B average) or more in the courses taken in the Formal Plan of Study. If you don't have a cumulative 3.0 GPA, you cannot graduate. Repeating a failed course does not remove a lower letter grade from the overall GPA calculation - rather, the two grades are averaged. For students who's GPA is below 3.0 an immediate meeting with an advisor is suggested. If addressed early, a solution may be possible that allows for the satisfactory completion of your program.
11. How many units am I allowed to repeat as a graduate student?
A student can repeat as many courses as necessary. However, repeating a (failed) course does not remove a lower letter grade from the overall GPA calculation - rather, the two grades are averaged. In addition, students who fail to progress toward an educational objective may be academic disqualified without regard to overall GPA.
12. What is the checklist I need to have satisfied in order to graduate?
You must have satisfied the following items to have your diploma posted onto your record:
- Satisfied all program requirements and units
- Have an accurate and approved Formal Plan of Study on record
- Possess a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better on courses included in the Formal Plan of Study
- Have a Request for Evaluation submitted
- Notify the Director of your desire to be Advanced to Candidacy
- Satisfy the Graduation Writing Requirement
13. My program requires that I complete a Thesis/Project, how long do I have to finish it?
When students enroll in a graduate program, the student has seven years to complete the program. If a course, thesis or project course is incomplete and the student doesn't not fulfill the requirements of the courses the student will receive an incomplete (I) temporarily as the grade. The student has one year to complete the requirements for the course, thesis or project or the incomplete will automatically convert to a grade of F.