Academic Policies and Procedures

Demonstrated Academic Achievement Requirement to Earn the Certificate:

This certificate program offers courses that are graded in keeping with University standards and practices for graduate education. To earn the certificate, a student must complete all six courses in the program with an overall GPA of 3.0 (B) and earn at least a C (2.0) in each course.

To be admitted in the to MBA program, GCBA students must complete the first five courses the program and earn a minimum of a B (3.0) in each course. GCBA students who are applying to the MBA will not be required to take the GMAT as long as the minimum GPA requirement has been met.

Any course with a grade of C- or below in the program can be repeated once after an approved course repeat form has been filed with the certificate program’s academic director. If a student does not earn a C or better on the second attempt, the student will be disqualified from the program. A maximum of six units in the formal program may be repeated. The repeat grade will appear on the transcript.

Completion of the Graduate Certificate in Business Administration (GCBA) requires a grade of C or better in each of the six classes and a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0. Students who earn a course grade of B or better in each of the first five courses in the GCBA program qualify for admission to the MBA program (separate application required). Upon completion of the six classes in the cohort, students who do not satisfy these requirements may be approved by the COBAE and Tseng program directors to repeat a course. Only students who complete the six classes in the cohort will be eligible for course repeat approval.

Academic Honesty and Integrity Required to Earn the Certificate:

Each participant in the GCBA program is expected to complete all assignments in keeping with the CSUN, COBAE, and Tseng College standards for academic and professional honesty and integrity. Any GCBA participant found to be in violation of these standards of academic honesty and integrity may receive a failing grade in the course in question and/or may be disqualified from the GCBA program.

Time Limitations for Earning the Certificate:

It is expected that participants enrolling in this cohort program will complete all course work within the scheduled time. If, however, extraordinary circumstances require a student to drop out of the program in good standing, that student may be allowed to join a later cohort with the approval of the academic program director and the Tseng College program director. In all cases, University policy requires that all course work for a certificate program be completed within seven years of the start date of the first course taken in the program.

Temporary Disruption of Attendance:

If, for compelling reasons, a participant finds it necessary to miss either a significant number of class meetings or a complete course, the student must consult with the program’s academic director as soon as s/he is aware that class meetings or courses will be missed. Based on the academic director’s recommendations, every reasonable effort will be made to assist students in making up missed classes and assignments. Please note, however, that those who cannot keep up with their cohort may not be able to continue with the program.

To reach Deborah Cours, GCBA academic director, call (818) 677-2467 or email dcours@csun.edu

Withdrawal Policy:

It is the responsibility of the student who is no longer attending classes to withdraw formally from courses and the certificate program in keeping with CSUN and Tseng College policies. To formally withdraw from the program, students must notify the program director in writing. If the written withdrawal request is received before the term begins (before day one of classes), students will not be billed for the following term or terms.

Note: Simply not attending class, notifying the instructor of intent to drop the class, or calling a University office to express intent to withdraw does not constitute formal withdrawal.

To reach Jennifer Kalfsbeek, GCBA program director, call (818) 677-5943 or email jennifer.kalfsbeek@csun.edu

Refund Policy for the GCBA:

Refunds are not provided to cohort students after the start of the first class of each term even if other classes in that term have not yet begun. Exceptions may be made for medical or other emergency situations. Contact the program director for further information.

Refund Policy for International students in the Intensive English Program, prior to entry into the GCBA:

New Applicants:

100% Refundable under the following conditions for new applicants for IEP and Semester at CSUN students for all terms:

1. IEP Form I-20 was not used to enter the U.S., to transfer to CSUN-IEP from another school or to file a change of status to F-1 visa with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and;
2. Written notification of cancellation is received by fax, email or mail courier by the IEP office by 4:00 p.m. PST on the Friday before the first week of class.

65% Refundable under the following conditions for new applicants for IEP Spring and Fall Terms and Semester at CSUN students:

1. IEP Form I-20 was not used to enter the U.S. and;
2. Written notification of cancellation is received by fax, email, or mail courier by IEP office by 4:00 p.m. PST on the Friday of the second week of classes.

65% Refundable under the following conditions for new applicants for IEP Summer Term students:

1. IEP Form I-20 was not used to enter the U.S. and;
2. Written notification of cancellation is received by fax, email or mail courier by the IEP office by 4:00 p.m. PST on Friday of the first week of classes.

Continuing Students:

100% Refundable under the following conditions for continuing students for IEP and Semester at CSUN students for all terms:

1. Written notification of cancellation is received by fax, email or mail courier by the IEP office by 4:00 p.m. PST on the Friday before the first week of class.
2. Student has not been expelled from the program.

65% Refundable under the following conditions for IEP Spring and Fall Terms and Semester at CSUN new applicants:

1. Written notification of cancellation is received by fax, email or mail courier by the IEP office by 4:00 p.m. PST on the Friday of the second week of classes.
2. Student has not been expelled from the program.

65% Refundable under the following conditions for new applicants for IEP Summer Term:

1. Written notification of cancellation is received by fax, email or mail courier by the IEP office by 4:00 p.m. PST on Friday of the first week of classes.
2. Student has not been expelled from the program.

IEP Housing:

100% Refundable under the following conditions for the new applicants and continuing students:

1. Notification of cancellation is received by fax, email or mail courier by the IEP housing office by 4:00 p.m. PST five business days before the start of the housing contract.

IEP Meal Plan:

100% Refundable under the following conditions for new applicants and continuing students:

1. Notification of cancellation is received by fax, email or mail courier by the IEP housing office by 4:00 p.m. PST five business days before the start of the housing contract.