Undergraduate | Academic Policies

The B-School consists of five departments: Accounting, Information Systems & Supply Chain Management, Finance & International Business, Management, and Marketing. Full-time department faculty academically advise juniors and seniors.

There are seven undergraduate Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree programs, i.e. majors: Accounting, Computer Information Systems, Finance, International Business, Management, Marketing, and Supply Chain Management. Business students may select a concentration (within the major) or certificate (outside the major) recognized only by the B-School. Students outside of the B-School may participate in the Business Administration Minor program.

The Office of Student Affairs facilitates university resources to students and provides academic advisement to Freshman and Sophomores.

The Office of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs communicates with all stakeholders of the B- School and University to facilitate continuous improvement in academics and instruction, guided by AACSB accreditation.

Degree requirements and major curriculum schemes are determined by the academic year of admittance to Howard. In order to be eligible for graduation clearance and all related prospective graduation activities, students accepted to the B-School must meet the following academic guidelines:

1.      Overall Minimum 2.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)

• No grade of “F,” Pass, Fail or Audit in any course counting towards graduation
• No courses in the Center for Academic Reinforcement or placement test credits counting towards graduation
• Maximum 21 total credit hours with a grade of “D”
• Maximum 6 credit hours with a grade of “D” in the “Business Core” courses

2.      Minimum 2.5 Cumulative GPA and minimum grade of “C” in all major required courses

3.      Minimum grade of “C” in all required MATH courses and Principles of Accounting I (ACCT 201)*

4.      Minimum grade of “C” in the Business Core course aligned with the respective major program:

• Accounting – ACCT 202
• Computer Information Systems – INFO 204
• Finance – FINA 312 or FINA 311
• International Business – n/a
• Management – MGMT 301
• Marketing – MKTG 301
• Supply Chain Management – INFO 335*

5.      All academic, financial and other required University clearances

*Note: Students accepted to Howard prior to Fall 2022 may earn lower than a “C” in ACCT 201 and INFO 335, but the average grade of ACCT 201 and ACCT 202 must be a “C” or higher.

B-School students are required to earn a minimum grade of “C” in the following MATH courses over two semesters:

1.      College Algebra II (MATH 010) or Pre-Calculus (MATH 007) – 4 credit hours*

2.      Applied Calculus (MATH 026) or Calculus I (MATH 156) – 4 credit hours

*If placed into MATH 156 first, then these 4 credit hours must be achieved through alternative elective(s).

WR College Algebra I (MATH 005) and College Algebra I (MATH 006) do not count towards graduation requirements.

No course may fulfill more than one type of major degree requirement and students must reach the minimum required total credits per the program of study. 

View the approved electives list below based on semester of admittance:

Fall 2022 and Later

Fall 2015 - Spring 2022

Prerequisites for a course must be satisfied prior to registering for the course and apply to all students. Some prerequisites require a “C” or higher. Overrides will not be granted for prerequisites not met, and students who do not meet prerequisites will be administratively withdrawn from the course. Courses may also have restrictions for enrollment based on major or classification. Classification restrictions are only based on credits earned and any credits in progress are not accepted. Contact the appropriate department chairperson for any course requiring special approval.

1.      A student is in “good academic standing” with an overall cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.

2.     “Full-time” status is granted to students enrolled in 12 or more credit hours each Fall and Spring.

3.     Graduating with Honors requires “full-time” status each Fall and Spring (except the last semester in residence) and no repeated courses.

4.     Students on academic probation and/or returning from academic suspension are restricted to a maximum enrollment of 13 credit hours until they earn a minimum 2.0 overall cumulative GPA.

5.     In exceptional emergency situations or extenuating circumstances beyond control, students may petition for a special grade of "Incomplete" from their course instructor. Supporting documentation may be requested, and it is entirely up to the instructor's discretion to grant the Incomplete. If granted, the instructor will initiate the University's Incomplete Grade Contract with the student and submit it, signed and agreed upon, to the Department's chairperson. All Incomplete grades (other than grades for Thesis & Research) must be completed by the student no later than the last day of classes of the semester in which the student is next in residence. Instructors must also submit Special Grade Reports with the University for replacing Incomplete grades by the last day of this semester.

All students at Howard University participate in an advising session to receive their PIN and register for courses. Business students with 60 or more credits at the time of advisement (juniors and seniors) are advised by a faculty advisor within the major Department. Business students with less than 60 credits (freshmen and sophomores) are advised through the Office of Student Affairs. It is the student’s responsibility to contact their advisor and schedule an appointment. Only the assigned advisor has access to the student’s PIN.

The School of Business has a zero-tolerance policy for student academic misconduct, following the University’s Code of Conduct. Faculty report academic misconduct or potential infractions to Office of Dean. If merited, a hearing before the School of Business Judiciary Committee is scheduled. Students must attend the hearing.

A student whose cumulative GPA is less than 2.0 at the end of any semester will incur “academic probation” and must follow the restrictions below:

1.      Maximum enrollment of 13 credit hours with full-time status

2.      Maximum enrollment of 7 credit hours with part-time status

3.      Mandatory, bi-weekly meetings with designated academic advisor during the semester

4.      Minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA

If any of the above requirements are not met within one semester (excluding Summer), the student then receives a one-semester academic suspension.

Suspended students wishing to return to the University must achieve the following at least 60 days prior to the start of the intended semester of return:

1.      Formally apply for readmission through the University’s Admissions Office

2.      Submit a 2-3 page letter appealing for readmission to the appropriate Business dean’s office:

Academic Suspension - Office of the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Judiciary Suspension - Office of the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs

Students returning from academic suspension are restricted to a maximum enrollment of 13 credit hours until they earn a minimum 2.0 overall cumulative GPA.

The Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area is a cooperative arrangement through which qualified, currently enrolled Howard University students can enroll in courses at nearby universities at the same time they are registered for classes at Howard. Follow the policies and procedures as documented on the Howard website: https://www2.howard.edu/academics/exchange/cuwma

For the transfer of non-business courses, refer to the Office of the Registrar’s website for a “Transfer Course Petition” form to follow the University’s process and transfer credit articulation agreements. The University only accepts transfer credits with a grade of “C” or higher.

Students who need 30 credit hours or less to graduate may not obtain transfer credits for courses taken at any institution other than Howard University. Students will not receive credit for any course taken at another institution that is a repeat of a course that they had previously completed at Howard University.

Students actively registered at Howard in “good academic standing” with greater than 30 credits remaining until graduation may request a transfer of business courses, at least 30 days prior to enrolling in the desired course, following the steps below:

1.      Contact the Office of Student Affairs and academic advisor

2.      Submit completed transfer form to Office of Registrar

Newly admitted transfer students may petition to have business courses (taken prior to Howard University) transferred with the documented support of the Department Chairperson and at the discretion of the Office of the Associate Dean.

Courses required in the major core or major electives are not eligible to transfer (including Study Abroad).

Business Core and Business Elective courses 300-level and below may only be transferred if obtained from an AACSB-International accredited four-year college or university. However, ACCT 201 and ACCT 202 must be taken at Howard.

Students will not receive credit for any course taken at another institution that is a repeat of a course that they had previously completed at Howard University.

Any student seeking to change a major within HUSB (business major to business major) should first meet with their academic advisor, then contact the Office of Student Affairs and review the University’s process on the Registrar’s website. The DocuSign must be approved by the major's department chairperson.

Effective July 20, 2024, listed below are the requirements to transfer: 

• 3.2 cumulative gpa earned
• a minimum of 30 credit hours earned
• a "C" or better in MATH 010/ College Algebra II or MATH 007 and MATH 026/ Applied Calculus or MATH 156 
• a "C" or better in ACCT 201/ Accounting Principles I. Effective Fall 2024, once a student enrolls at Howard University, those majoring or minoring in School of Business degree programs must take Accounting I and Accounting II courses at Howard.
• Students who initially transferred from an outside university into another college in Howard University are eligible to apply to transfer into the School of Business after earning a minimum of 30 credit hours in which 15 credit hours were completed at Howard University and a cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.2 These earned credit hours must include a grade of “C” or better or transfer of credits in either MATH 026/ Applied Calculus or MATH 156/ Calculus I (effective 2017) and ACCT 201/ Accounting Principles I.

Once you have completed the requirements and your semester grades have been posted, please submit your application (https://www2.howard.edu/academics/registrar/forms) for consideration to the attention of Dean Kanika Jones at kanika.jones@howard.edu. Application deadlines are listed in the University calendar. Admission to the School of Business is highly competitive; therefore, prospective students may be required to submit other documentation and credentials, such as a personal statement.

Upon your admittance, an advisor will review your transcript and adjust your schedule accordingly with your business scheme.

Students who believe they have been aggrieved must first contact the instructor to share their concern and seek resolution. If unsuccessful, students should then contact the Chairperson of the Department which hosts the course. Refer to the University’s policy on “Student Academic Grievance Procedures” for more information and further steps.