Please submit all paperwork to the Grad Office electronically via the Forms Submission Link.
Please refer to the Programs of Study page for individual program forms.
Any questions regarding forms should be directed to the Grad Office (gradoffice@bc.edu).
The following forms are to be used by graduate students in all Lynch School of Education and Human Development programs.
The pursuit of knowledge can proceed only when scholars take responsibility and receive credit for their work. Recognition of individual contributions to knowledge and of the intellectual property of others builds trust within the University and encourages the sharing of ideas that is essential to scholarship. Similarly, the educational process requires that individuals present their own ideas and insights for evaluation, critique, and eventual reformulation. Presentation of others' work as one's own is not only intellectual dishonesty, but it also undermines the educational process. The Lynch School abides by the University’s policy on Academic Integrity outlined in the University Catalog.
Lynch School students are encouraged to become familiar with these policies and procedures, as they are held responsible for this knowledge. Students with questions regarding what constitutes a violation of Boston College’s Academic Integrity Policy, especially with regard to specific courses and assignments, are invited and encouraged to ask these questions of their professors and the Associate Dean for Graduate Student Services.
Students are also expected to be familiar with the ethical standards of their profession. See the American Psychological Association's Ethical Principles of Psychologists and the Ethical Standards of the American Educational Research Association. Students are held to the professional standards outlined in these documents.
Faculty, students, and community members who would like to report an allegation of an academic integrity violation should refer to the GSEHD Academic Integrity Process and Reporting form. Individuals who would like to discuss potential violations involving Lynch School graduate students prior to reporting through the form should contact the Associate Dean of Graduate Student Services.
Academic progress and performance, satisfactory progress and performance in internships and practica, and progress and performance in other program specific degree requirements determine a student’s academic standing in his or her program and at the Lynch School of Education and Human Development. Students that are not meeting good standing in any manner may be placed under academic review and sanctioned appropriately for the concern. Sanctions may include, but not be limited to, academic warning, probation, suspension or dismissal from the program and/or LSEHD.
A student in one or more of the following situations is considered under academic review:
If a student is under academic review, the student will be notified in writing by the Graduate Office. The student will need to follow the instructions in their academic standing letter to demonstrate progress towards good academic standing.
If a student does not engage with the Graduate Office in order to improve their academic standing, the student may be dismissed from the University the student will be placed on a leave and required to meet with the Associate Dean before continuing in their respective program. If the student does not engage for a period of two semesters, they will be withdrawn until contact is made. For more information regarding these procedures, please refer to the Advising Website.
A student who has been dismissed may not register for further study unless reinstated by a majority vote of the faculty in her or his department. Under certain conditions, and with the recommendation of the student's Department Chair, a student may apply to the Associate Dean for reinstatement. Ordinarily, at least one semester or summer session must pass before reinstatement.
The program faculty will review a student's progress each academic year and will notify a student of any deficiencies that require correction. All required work in any course or component of the degree program must be completed by the date set for the course examination.
The Academic Standards Committee is comprised of faculty members and academic administrators in the Lynch School. This committee reviews all cases in which a student's academic record is poor and it recommends to the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies what action should be taken.
As a result of this review, the committee may recommend the student be placed on academic probation, dismissed from the program or some other appropriate sanction, depending on the severity of the academic problem. Students who have been placed on Academic Probation must complete the terms specified by the Committee before they can be considered for readmission to their program.
Students are responsible for being familiar with and following the attendance policy in the University Graduate Catalog. In addition, each instructor has the right to specify their own, more stringent attendance policy for a course, provided it is clearly defined in the syllabus.
The Lynch School follows the policy set forth in the University Graduate Catalog.
Lynch School graduate students must consult the Graduate Office before they can audit a course. An audited course cannot count toward the degree requirements. Not all courses are eligible for audit and students must receive permission from the course instructor as well as the Graduate Office in order to audit a course.
Once approved, students enrolled in Lynch School degree and certificate programs may request their course grading be changed to audit and will be charged half the per-credit tuition rate. Students will not receive financial aid/tuition remission for audited courses and audited courses will not count toward degree programs. Please note, requests to audit a course received after the drop/add deadline must also be approved by the Director of Operations and Bursar for Student Services.
Students not enrolled in Lynch School degree or certificate programs can apply through the Admissions Office to audit Lynch School courses for half of the credit rate per course as non-degree students.
All graduate students must complete a comprehensive exam or equivalent requirement to complete a Lynch School program. Specific requirements for the exam are set by the program, and students should make inquiries regarding format, length, and scheduling of the exam to the appropriate department. The following grading scale is used for all comprehensive examinations: pass with distinction (PwD), pass (P), and fail (F).
Master’s students who have completed most of their coursework or are in the final semester of coursework should sit for the master’s comprehensive examination. All students must have completed any “Incompletes” and have filed an approved copy of their Program of Study before registering for the comprehensive exam.
Students must formally register for the comprehensive exam through EagleApps by the drop/add deadline for the semester they plan to complete the exam. There is no credit associated with the exam but it does carry full-time status for students. The following programs fulfill the comprehensive exam through a course and must register for the comprehensive exam at the same time as the course listed below:
A candidate who fails the Master's Comprehensive Examination may take it only one more time.
Doctoral students must successfully pass the Doctoral Comprehensive Examination and complete all course requirements in order to gain admission to Doctoral Candidacy. Students not taking another Boston College course for credit in the semester in which they will be taking the comprehensive exam must register for Doctoral Comprehensives for that semester. Students who are registered for a Boston College course for credit in the semester in which they are taking the exam do not register for the 1 credit Doctoral Comprehensive course.
A student who fails the PhD Comprehensive examination may take it once again, no sooner than the following semester, and at a time designated by the Department. Ed.D. students should confirm with their Department Chair about the timing of a second administration of the Comprehensive Examination. In the case of a second failure, no further attempt is allowed.
Once the student has passed the comprehensive exams, the Department Office will send a letter officially recognizing his or her admission to candidacy.
The University awards degrees in May, August, and December of each year. Commencement ceremonies are held only in May. Students who have completed all requirements for the degree before a specific graduation date are eligible to receive the degree as of the university’s next official graduation date. A diploma will not be dated before all work is completed. Students who graduate in December or August may participate in commencement exercises the following May.
In order to ensure timely clearance, all students who plan to graduate should confirm their diploma names online at bc.edu/myservices according to the deadline listed on the diploma name/address link.
In accordance with federal regulations, graduate students in the Lynch School are considered part-time when enrolled in at least 6 credits (typically two courses) and are considered full-time when enrolled in at least 9 credits (typically three courses).
The credit amounts listed above are used to determine a student's enrollment status for loan deferments, immunizations, medical insurance requirements, and verifications requested by other organizations. However, individual programs may have different expectations for part-time or full-time status for degree completion purposes.
Official enrollment status is updated each semester based on a student’s registration. However, students may be granted “Full-time Enrollment Status” when registered for less than 9 credits if they fall into one of the following situations;
Graduate students may be eligible to take courses in BC-affiliated consortia if the same courses are not offered at Boston College at any time during the academic year under the following programs of Cross-Registration.
Lynch School graduate students may cross register for one course each fall and spring semester at Boston University, Brandeis University, or Tufts University. Students are not eligible to cross-register during summer terms. Please visit the Academic Forms page to access an editable version of the cross registration form.
Graduate students enrolled in degree programs during the academic year may apply to participate in the Consortium for Graduate Studies in Gender, Culture, Women, and Sexuality, an inter-institutional enterprise established to advance the field of women's studies and enlarge the scope of graduate education through new models of team teaching and interdisciplinary study. Faculty and students are drawn from six member schools—Boston College, Brandeis, Harvard, Northeastern, MIT, and Tufts. Graduate students enrolled in degree programs at Boston College may, with the permission of their department, apply to participate in this program. Registration forms will be mailed from the Consortium to accepted students.
For more information, visit the Consortium for Graduate Studies in Gender, Culture, Women, and Sexuality website.
The Lynch School adheres to the University policies on grading as outlined in the University Graduate Catalog. In each graduate course, in which a graduate or professional student is registered for graduate credit, the student will receive one of the following grades at the end of the semester: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C, F, W, J, U, P, S, or I.
At the Lynch School, graduate students must earn an average of “B” in all graduate courses and credit hours applicable to the degree except those that are listed as pass/fail, meaning students must maintain a 3.0 GPA.
A student who receives a grade of "C" or "I" in two courses (six semester hours) or a grade of "F" in an elective course (three semester hours) may be reviewed by the Academic Standards Committee and face academic disciplinary actions if necessary and as appropriate. A subsequent grade of "C" or "F" in an elective course may be grounds for dismissal from the Lynch School. A grade of "F" in a required course is grounds for review by the Academic Standards Committee and possible dismissal from the Lynch School. Please refer to the section on Academic Progress and Good Standing.
All required work in any course must be completed by the date set for the course examination. A student who has not completed the work for a course may request, with adequate reason and at the discretion of the instructor, to receive a temporary grade of Incomplete (I). Students requesting an incomplete must meet with their instructor and set up an academic plan with established deadlines for completion of all assignments. All "I" grades will automatically be changed to "F" based on Boston College’s schedule:
Students may take no more than two incompletes during each semester. Students in teacher licensure programs are not eligible to participate in pre-practicum or full practicum experiences with an incomplete on their record and must complete all outstanding work and earn a grade before the start of their practicum experience.
Instructors are encouraged to establish a completion date prior to the Boston College dates listed above. If established deadlines fall after the dates listed above, and/or deadlines need to be extended or readjusted, the instructor must notify the Graduate Student Services team of this change and the student should submit the approval form.
Instructors are encouraged to only grant incompletes if a student:
Please note if a student does not resolve their incomplete before the designated deadline set by the professor, they must meet with a staff member in the Graduate Student Support team.
If a student hasn't made any progress, their accounts will be put on hold, and they may be referred to academic review for lack of progress.
An academic review may result in one or more of the following:
Lynch School students may not opt to take courses as pass/fail unless the course is only offered as pass/fail.
Students who believe they have been evaluated or treated unfairly may file a grievance with any academic, supervisory, or administrative decision/outcome related to their graduate program.
To begin the grievance process, the student should discuss the matter with the faculty member, supervisor or committee involved as soon as possible after the evaluation has been received or the grievance arises. This discussion should provide an opportunity for further dialogue and clarification between faculty and student about how the matter was determined, what criteria were used, and any related issues. If such a discussion results in a mutually acceptable resolution, the matter will be considered closed. If either party wishes to have a written statement of the outcome, the parties will put the resolution in writing, sign it, and each retain a copy. This written statement must be completed no later than two weeks after the mutually acceptable resolution has been reached.
If, however, a mutually acceptable disposition cannot be achieved, the student may present the matter in writing to the Chairperson of the department in which the faculty member, supervisor, or committee is located administratively. The student's written statement to the Chair must be submitted no later than two weeks from the date of the final meeting with the faculty member, supervisor, committee or program staff and clearly specify the nature of the complaint and the remedy requested.
The Chairperson will review the matter by meeting individually with each individual involved and reviewing any written materials related to the grievance. The Chairperson will meet again with the individuals involved, either separately or jointly or both, in an attempt to resolve the matter. The Chairperson will provide a written response within two weeks of this meeting. If a settlement is reached, it is to be put in writing and signed by the Chairperson and each of the parties, with each to retain a copy. If no resolution is reached, the Chairperson will prepare a written summary of events relevant to the grievance and provide a copy of it to the student and the faculty member or other individuals involved.
In the event that the grievance concerns treatment or evaluation in the practicum, the student should follow this same procedure, discussing the matter first with his or her field supervisor. If this discussion does not lead to resolution, the matter should be brought to the appropriate Director of Field Placements who will follow the guidelines described above for Department Chairs. If a field site grievance involves an organization other than Boston College, the student should pursue the grievance through that organization's applicable procedures. In such a case, the student is advised to inform his or her Lynch School supervisor of the grievance.
If an undergraduate or graduate student is dissatisfied by the outcome of the discussions and process at the Chairperson level, the student may initiate a formal appeal. The student must initiate the appeal as early as possible, but not later than thirty (30) days after receiving the Chair’s resolution. A formal appeal consists of a written explanation of the grievance sent to the relevant Associate Dean of Graduate or Lynch Office of Undergraduate Programs, which should include the reasons the student believes the faculty member's, supervisor's, or committee’s evaluation was arbitrary, unethical, or based on extrinsic error, and the reasons why previous discussions were not satisfactory. The Associate Dean may request that the faculty member, the Chair and any other individual involved provide the Associate Dean with a written evaluation of the merit of the appeal and a summary of the attempts to resolve the grievance.
The Associate Dean will then convene an ad hoc committee composed of three members. Two members will be members of the Academics Standards Committee and will be appointed by the co-chairs of that committee. A third member will be appointed by the Associate Dean. If a student is appealing a decision of the Academic Standards Committee, no member of the Academic Standards Committee would be included in the ad hoc committee. The ad hoc committee will conduct an independent review of the grievance, which will include discussing the grievance with the Chair, the student, and other individuals involved. Within thirty (30) days of receiving the formal appeal, the ad hoc committee will provide a statement of the committee’s resolution of the matter to the student, the Department Chair involved in the earlier level of the process, the person(s) against whom the grievance was brought, and the Associate Dean.
If the student is dissatisfied with the conclusions of the ad hoc committee, the student may submit a written appeal to the Dean. The appeal must be submitted as soon as possible but no later than thirty (30) days after the student has received the conclusions of the ad hoc committee. A formal appeal to the Dean consists of a written explanation of the appeal which should include the reasons the student believes the faculty member's, supervisor's, or committee’s evaluation was arbitrary, unethical, or based on extrinsic error, and the reasons why previous discussions were not satisfactory. Copies of decisions made by the Department Chair and the ad hoc committee will be forwarded to the Dean for the Dean’s consideration in this review of the student’s appeal. Within thirty (30) days of receipt of the student’s appeal, the Dean will render a decision. The decision of the Dean is final, and will be communicated to the student in writing, with copies to the person(s) against whom the grievance was brought, and the relevant Department Chair and Associate Dean.
If a student’s grievance relates to the student’s legal rights under any law or regulation, the grievance will be addressed in accordance with the applicable legal requirements. In such cases, the faculty member or administrator responding to the grievance should consult with the Associate Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs who will facilitate communication with the Office of the General Counsel.
In some cases, a student’s grievance may be more appropriately addressed by another University grievance procedure. Students should pursue the matter through that procedure. For example, students who wish to grieve treatment or evaluation related to their second major outside the Lynch School should follow the policies of the relevant department. If the student believes that he or she has experienced discriminatory harassment, the student should follow the discriminatory harassment policies described in the University Policy against Discriminatory Harassment in the Boston College Policies and Procedure Manual.
The Lynch School adheres to the student separation policies set forth in the University Graduate Catalog.
Master's students who do not register for courses or Interim Study in any given semester must submit the GSEHD Leave of Absence Form. The Associate Dean of Graduate Student Services will review the leave request.
A leave of absence is granted for no more than two semesters. When taking a leave of absence after the withdrawal deadline of the current semester, students must remain on leave through the following semester. Students are not eligible for financial aid or funding while on leave.
Graduate students requesting readmission from a Leave of Absence must contact Graduate Student Services at least two weeks prior to the start of semester in which they expect to re-enroll. The Readmission Request Form should be submitted to the Graduate Student Services form submission link for approval.
A student seeking readmission must meet the following conditions in order to be considered for readmission:
Students who do not meet the conditions above should consult Graduate Student Services prior to submitting the Graduate Readmission Request.
Boston College recognizes the importance of family obligations to its graduate students. Any full-time graduate student in good academic standing who is the parent of a newborn child or an adoptive child under the age of 13 newly placed in the home is eligible for accommodation. This student accommodation is not an employee medical leave or an absence from the academic program.
Following the birth of a child, a graduate student who is the parent of the child is eligible for an accommodation extending for a period of up to twelve consecutive weeks. A graduate student who is the parent of an adoptive child under the age of 13 newly placed in the home is eligible for an accommodation extending for a period of up to twelve consecutive weeks immediately following the placement of the child in the home. The accommodation must be taken within the 12-month period following birth or placement of the child.
During the accommodation period, the graduate student will be relieved of the service requirements that accompany his or her funding. During the remainder of the semester (before and/or after the accommodation period), the student’s program will assign service duties consistent with the academic nature of a graduate assistantship.
During the accommodation period, the graduate student may attend classes and work on course assignments to the extent possible. The student and graduate program director should work with the professors in these courses to adjust attendance requirements, assignment deadlines, and exam dates during the accommodation period to the extent reasonably possible. Graduate program directors and professors should work with graduate students to establish appropriate timetables for completing coursework and exams during the semester in which the accommodation is taken.
Funding provided by the University, including funding for health insurance, will continue during theaccommodation period. In addition:
Students funded by government grants or other external sources must follow the policies of their funding agency. If external funding is suspended or reduced during the accommodation period, the university will assume funding responsibility for the accommodation period. Details of the arrangement should be worked out in writing between the student, graduate program director, and the Associate Dean for graduate Academic Affairs and reported to the Vice Provost for Faculties before the accommodation period begins.
Graduate students anticipating a childbirth or adoption accommodation must notify their advisor and submit a written request to their graduate program director and the Associate Dean. The Associate Dean will inform the Vice Provost for Faculties of all such requests. Requests for accommodation should be made as soon as practicable and ideally no less than three months before the expected start of the accommodation period in order to allow appropriate arrangements to be made to cover any teaching, teaching assistantship, or research responsibilities. Departments are encouraged to work out specific arrangements with students, on a case-by-case basis, within the broad framework of this policy.
The Program of Study (PoS) is the roadmap to completing a degree at the Lynch School. The forms can be found online and outline the courses required in each program. For more information about the Program of Study, please visit the Graduate Advising Site.
All students are required to submit a Program of Study by deadlines set by their program. Failure to submit a Program of Study by the appropriate deadline results in an academic hold placed on the student’s account and makes the student ineligible to graduate until a correct Program of Study is submitted.
Any time a student makes extensive changes to their Program of Study, such as a change in their electives, their graduation term, or their concentration, a new Program of Study must be submitted for approval.
Some changes to the Program of Study can be represented through a Course Substitution or Course Waiver form, without resubmission of the Program of Study. Students should confer with their advisor or the Graduate Office to determine which paperwork is needed.
Students who have completed similar graduate level work or who have previous work experience or who majored in a similar content area may be permitted to waive required coursework. Students must submit an official Course Waiver form, along with the appropriate supporting documentation, to the Graduate Office for review.
Course Waivers should be discussed with a student’s advisor, and approval of waivers is up to the discretion of the advisor and Associate Dean of Graduate Student Services. Students who waive courses will still be required to complete the minimum number of credits required for their degree program.
Students who are replacing a program requirement with a course approved by their Academic Advisor may submit a Course Substitution form. Approval of substitutions is up to the discretion of the advisor and Associate Dean of Graduate Student Services.
Students are eligible to take an Independent Study/ Readings and Research course as part of their coursework if an equivalent course is not offered. Permission must be secured from the supervising faculty member and the proposed course must be an approved part of the student’s program of study.
Students must complete the Readings and Research form, get it approved by the faculty supervisor and then return it to the Graduate Office in order to be officially registered through EagleApps.
The maximum number of Readings and Research courses that are permitted within any given degree is limited by University policy to the number of electives within a student’s degree program. The Department Chairs and/or Program Coordinator may choose to further limit the number of Readings and Research courses permitted in a particular program.
All requirements for Lynch School programs must be completed within the parameters listed below:
Any time away from the University counts towards the maximum duration of completion of a program. Students may petition for extension of time if they will exceed the maximum duration of their program. Students should meet with the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and submit the appropriate Petition for Extension of Time.
Requests to transfer credits from another university must be reviewed and approved by a student’s academic advisor and the Associate Dean of Graduate Student Services. Graduate students may request a transfer of no more than six graduate credits. Only courses in which a student has received a grade of B or better, and which have not been applied to a prior degree, will be considered eligible for transfer.
Credit received for courses completed more than ten years prior to a student's admission to their current degree program are not acceptable for transfer.
If approved, the transfer course and credit, but not the grade, will be recorded on the student's academic record.
Official requests for a Transfer of Credit should be submitted to the Graduate Office and must include the Graduate Transfer Request Form as well as an official copy of the transcript(s) listing the transfer courses.
Courses taken within the Boston-area Consortium during fall or spring semester are not considered transfer courses, since the student registers for these through Boston College. However, all summer courses taken outside of Boston College (including summer courses taken within the Consortium) are considered transfer credits and count towards the 6 credit limit for transfer credits.
Graduate students may choose to withdraw from the program if they are unable to complete their program of studies in a consistent and timely manner or do not wish to continue their studies.
Students who wish to withdraw must complete the Program Withdrawal Form. Completion of this form will result in permanent separation of the student from the University.
Doctoral students are not formally admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree until they have been notified by the Lynch School that they have successfully completed their coursework and passed their comprehensive examination. Students must be doctoral candidates to present a doctoral dissertation proposal. This proposal must be approved by the Dissertation Committee and the Institutional Research Board (Human Subjects Review Committee) before a student can collect data for their dissertation research.
Doctoral candidates who have completed all coursework and comprehensive exams must register and pay the fee for Doctoral Continuation (APSY/EDUC/ELHE/FORM/MESA9911) each academic term of their candidacy.
This registration entitles the candidate to use of University facilities (e.g., library and computers) and the privilege of informally (without record) auditing courses that may be helpful with research. Students will not usually be allowed to take leaves of absence once they have become candidates.
Timely completion is essential to the academic integrity of a degree program. Extensions beyond the eight-year time limit for the doctoral degree may be obtained only with advisor and departmental recommendation and the approval of the Associate Dean of Graduate Student Services.
Extensions are not granted routinely. They must be formally requested and the Doctoral Petition for Extension of Time form completed, after discussion with the student’s advisor and/or the Associate Dean of Graduate Student Services. If granted, the extension would be for a maximum of one year.
Most doctoral students in the Lynch School must spend one academic year "in residence." Doctoral students in Counseling Psychology are required to complete three years of full-time residency. Students in the Ed.D. programs fulfill their requirements by participating in all available academic and professional activities associated with the program during their three years of coursework. Residency is designed to provide each student with a combination of coursework (full-time for two consecutive semesters) and apprenticeship experience within their area of graduate studies.
It is assumed that students in residence will have more time to interact with peers and faculty in formal and informal educational experiences. This combination of experiences allows students to be immersed in the intellectual community of the University with the least possible distraction. Students should consult their individual program handbooks for more specific program guidelines for fulfilling the residency requirement.
Students and their advisors make all arrangements relative to the year(s) of residence. This is noted on the student’s Program of Study. Students cannot be cleared for graduation unless this requirement has been met.
Doctoral Candidates must complete the following steps to ensure they are completing all requirements of the final dissertation.
The defense is posted as a public hearing, and copies of the abstract will be given to interested parties upon request.
A final draft of the dissertation must be submitted to each of the committee members at least 14 days before the defense. This final draft must be complete in all respects and editorially acceptable for final approval at the time of the defense.
Failure to comply with this procedure will result in the defense being delayed. Please see below for the Dissertation Deadlines and Submission Guidelines for Final Defenses.
Management of dissertations at Boston College is online-only. The public dissemination of research fits with university social justice values supporting global access to scholarship. The University policy with regard to dissertations is as follows:
In accordance with this policy, please submit your Dissertation electronically via eTD@bc. For more information regarding this process, please see the eTD@bc website. All dissertations must included the following:
If you have any questions about the format of your dissertation, please contact the Office of Graduate Student Services at 617-552-4215 or visit us in Campion Hall 135.
Upon successful submission of your final dissertation, students must complete the following forms:
Doctoral students must adhere to the following deadlines in order to be eligible to graduate in a given semester.
The final dissertation, successfully incorporating the revisions of the committee members and Chair, and the signed ballots must be submitted to the Graduate Student Services Office by the given deadline. Only the Associate Dean of Graduate Student Service can approve a later deadline than the university deadline (updated: 1/1/2016). Note that requests to submit dissertation revisions beyond two weeks after the given deadline can not be approved.
Students not seeking a degree, but interested in pursuing course work at the graduate level, may apply for admission as a non degree student. Many individuals choose non degree student status either to explore the seriousness of their interest in studying for an advanced degree and/or to strengthen their credentials for possible later application for degree status. Others are interested in taking graduate course work for personal enrichment or professional development. Please note, non-degree students are not eligible for any form of financial aid. You must be enrolled in a degree program to apply or be considered for aid.
Please visit the Lynch School’s Admissions website for more information on applying for non degree student status. Non Degree Status is granted for one semester at a time. To extend your status please contact the Graduate Office (gradoffice@bc.edu).
Certain restrictions apply to courses available to non degree students. Professional course work associated with teacher licensure or counseling psychology licensure (including practicum course work) is reserved for matriculated degree students in these programs. Certain program requirements, including doctoral coursework, are only offered to students enrolled in the program. These restrictions are listed in the University Course Catalog. Departments may impose additional restrictions for non degree students up to their discretion.
Although there is no limit on the number of courses a non degree student may take outside of a degree program, no more than four courses (12 semester hours), if appropriate, may be applied toward a degree program in the Lynch School of Education and Human Development.
Courses taken as a non degree student may be applied to a degree program in the Lynch School only after official acceptance into a degree program and with the consent of the student's advisor.
Fifth-Year & Early Admission Programs offer academically outstanding Boston College juniors a unique opportunity to begin graduate study during their undergraduate senior year, allowing them to graduate with a bachelor’s and master's degree in a shortened amount of time.
Please visit the Admissions page for more information on how to apply and a full list of Fifth Year and Early Admit programs.
Upon acceptance into a Fifth Year or Early Admit program, students will be contacted by the Graduate Student Services Office to facilitate their graduate course registration.
Students may take up to two approved graduate courses (6 credits) during their senior year which will apply towards both their bachelor's degree (120 credits) and their master's degree (30 credits or more).
Students may not register themselves for their graduate courses and may not count more than 6 credits from their undergraduate degree towards their graduate degree. Students who take additional graduate classes, due to their undergraduate requirements, should consult with the Graduate Office to determine the impacts on their graduate Program of Study.
The Graduate Student Services team at the Lynch School is located in Campion 135. We serve as the support center for the educational, social, cultural, and community life of Lynch School of Education and Human Development graduate students.
Our staff provides a seamless experience from enrollment through graduation and assists students in every aspect of their graduate school experience while studying at Boston College.
We provide services for students including:
For more information on our team and the support we provide, please visit our Graduate Advising Site. You’ll find general information for support and resources in the dropdowns below.
All students that enroll into a graduate program at the Lynch School are assigned an academic advisor. Master’s students receive information regarding their advisor in their initial welcome letter and doctoral students receive information regarding their advisor from the doctoral program director.
Students should plan to meet with their advisor prior to registering for their first semester of classes unless otherwise instructed in their welcome letter. Students will meet with their advisor to discuss their Program of Study (link to Program of Study policy section) and their plans for completing their degree.
Students may request a change of advisor after consulting with their current advisor and clarifying the availability of a new advisor and obtaining the approval of the new advisor and the department chair.
Students should contact the Graduate Office (gradoffice@bc.edu) if they are unsure who their advisor is.
Each academic program has a student ambassador who serves as a resource for current students. Ambassadors provide information about deadlines, program requirements, and send students monthly emails about important dates and reminders specific to their programs.
The Boston College Career Center serves all Lynch School students by helping you reflect on your skills and interests, exploring career options and opportunities, preparing to apply to jobs or internships, or connecting with alumni and employers.
Connect with a Career Coach.
Course registration takes place through EagleApps, which can be accessed through the Agora Portal. Student Services provides EagleApps Resources for students as well as Faculty and Staff. Please note, users must authenticate using your Portal password and username in order to access the resources on the Student Services website.
Please note that registration conducted off campus requires the use of Eagle VPN and BC 2-Step Verification. For support with accessing EagleApps and the Eagle VPN, please contact the BC Help Desk at 617-552-HELP(4357).
Ahead of a registration period, students should consult the Registration Calendar, check for holds on their student account, and review courses offerings for the upcoming semester. The Course Information and Schedule is available through the Agora Portal. For individuals unable to access the schedule through the Agora Portal, please consult the Public View of Course Information and Schedule.
Questions or need assistance registering for courses? Please contact our Registration Team at lynchgradcourseregistration@bc.edu.
Eligible doctoral students must apply for the Dissertation Development Grants & Fellowships by March 1 (or the following Monday, if this falls on a weekend).
The Dissertation Development Grant is an award that provides a stipend to students who are working on completing their dissertation for the summer months.
There are six (6) Dissertation Development Grants that are awarded for each summer. Students are able to nominate themselves for these awards. Students must have passed comprehensive exams and submitted the Pre-Proposal paperwork to form the dissertation committee with an approval by May 31 of that academic year. They must also have completed all required coursework by May 31 of that academic year. Here are the items that need to be submitted through the Online Lynch School Dissertation Development Grant - Application by March 1 as part of your application materials:
The Dissertation Fellowship is a one-year award that provides a stipend equivalent to a full-time assistantship for the given academic year. This stipend is non-service and will be paid 50% in September and 50% in January. The fellowship includes 2 credits of tuition remission to cover doctoral continuation. Additionally, the Lynch School will provide 100% coverage for the cost of the health care premiums for the Boston College Student Medical Insurance Plan for the award year.
This Fellowship is intended to support two doctoral students for one academic year as they focus on completing their dissertation. Recipients are expected to work full-time on completing the dissertation and are expected to defend before the Fellowship year ends in May of that academic year if at all possible.
Recipients of the Dissertation Fellowship are not eligible to take on any other assistantship funding on campus or any externally-funded fellowships. If you have questions about this requirement, please contact the Associate Dean of Graduate Student Services (Steven Viveiros at viveirst@bc.edu).
If you have any additional questions please email If you have any additional questions please email the Associate Dean of Graduate Student Services (Steven Viveiros at viveirst@bc.edu).
Financial aid for Master’s students at the Lynch School of Education and Human Development is available through a variety of both internal and external sources.
Please consult the following resources for more information.
Students should verify their graduation date in Agora under “Courses and Grades”. If their graduation term is incorrect, students should complete the Graduation Date Change Form.
Students will not be cleared for graduation if their graduation date is incorrect.
The Office of Graduate Student Life aims to enhance the educational experience and quality of life for graduate students across Boston College. They offer a variety of programming and resources specifically for graduate students.
The Boston College Graduate Education Association (GEA) is a student-run organization that serves all graduate students in the Lynch School of Education and Human Development. We are located in the graduate student lounge in Campion 243 and is open to graduate students. Weekly newsletters are sent out via emails from gea@bc.edu.
Follow us on IG: @BC_GEA
Contact the GEA via email (gea@bc.edu).
All graduate students registered in courses are automatically enrolled in the student health insurance plan. Students who are covered by an appropriate medical insurance plan should complete a waiver through Student Services.
Students should consult University Health Services regarding immunization requirements based on their enrollment status and graduate program.
The Office of Field Placement oversees all of the field experiences for teacher education candidates in programs leading to endorsement from Boston College and licensure in Massachusetts. The team endeavors to provide teacher candidates with access to high-quality mentoring and support along the pathway to endorsement. The administrative team actively partners with the Office of Undergraduate Programs and Students, Office of Graduate Student Services, and the Department of Teaching, Curriculum and Society to ensure that candidates are well supported and advised throughout the educational experience.
The Office of Field Placement welcomes the opportunity to partner with candidates and is happy to schedule individual appointments via Zoom to discuss employment, field placements, concerns about current placements and future experiences.
Email the Office of Field Placement at prac@bc.edu.
The Office of International Students and Scholars offers support and resources specifically for international students. Their staff can provide support for questions about status, visas, and adjusting to life at BC.
Email the Office of International Students and Scholars at BCIS@bc.edu.
| Audience | Type of Request | Contact Information |
|---|---|---|
| Prospective Students | General Inquiries | gsoe@bc.edu |
| Current Students | General Inquiries | gradoffice@bc.edu |
| Current Students | Student Support | gsehdstudentsupport@bc.edu |
| Current Students | Course Registration | lynchgradcourseregistration@bc.edu |
| Current Students | Financial Aid | gsoe@bc.edu |
| Current Students | Practicum & Teacher Licensure/Endorsement | prac@bc.edu |
Through individual professional and peer mentoring, students can grow into reflective professionals—leaders who enjoy meaningful careers pursuing their passions and catalyzing the success of individuals and communities. Learn more about our whole person approach to advising and set up an appointment with a student ambassador or staff advisor.
