Introduction
The faculty has designed a prerequisite and core curriculum that ensures each student has the basic concepts and skills necessary to successfully complete the graduate program. Once accepted into the graduate program waivers can be granted from undergraduate course(s).
A Waiver Sheet will be mailed to you from the Admissions office and it will have all your pre-approved waivers outlined with a "W" meaning waived course. Additional waivers may be awarded from the three prerequisite courses and all core courses, except Business Policy, either through prior coursework or waiver examination. PLEASE NOTE: Waivers must be decided within the first trimester of enrollment.
Waivers by Prior Coursework
Coursework taken and completed at an AACSB-accredited school with a grade of "B" or better can qualify students for a course waiver. Coursework must be from a graduate program or two undergraduate courses covering similar content within the past six years.
Again, these prior coursework waivers must be approved during the first term of enrollment. Students applying for a prior coursework waiver(s) should not register for those courses. The student may check with the Office of Program Management, if he or she is uncertain what courses to select.
To qualify, please carefully read the summary of waiver requirements. Identify any course(s) that you wish to have waived. An official undergraduate and/or graduate transcript should already be in your Fordham student file. If there is no official transcript in your student file, you must provide one before an assessment can take place. All waivers by prior coursework are assessed by Admissions. That decision is binding.
Complete the Request for Waiver Review Form accompanying this policy. Provide course descriptions or syllabi for all courses listed on your waiver request form. If you do not complete the form accurately, the Office of Admissions will return it to you without an evaluation.
For example, if a student begins the MBA program in September 2004, he/she can apply only those courses taken from September 1998 to the present (within the six-year time limit) toward a waiver. Therefore, if this student has completed two accounting courses between September 1998 and September 2004 each with a grade of "B" or better, he would receive a waiver from the "Fundamentals of Accounting" class.
Waiver by Examination
Students who have taken appropriate courses in the past, but outside the 6-year time limit, and believe they have competency in a prerequisite or core courses may take a waiver examination. If the student passes the waiver examination, the student will not have to take the waived course as part of their study. Students are limited to one attempt per exam topic and must take the exam during his or her first term of enrollment. There are no exceptions. Students who have received an early acceptance into the program can take the waiver exam prior to their first term when there is a scheduled exam.
Waiver exams can be taken for the three (3) prerequisites courses and the seven (7) core courses, with the exception of Business Policy. The prerequisites and the core waiver exams are two (2) hours long, except for Business Law which is a four (4) hour exam. Students can take up to two (2) exams per day unless you are taking the Business Law exam. In that case, it is suggested that students only take Business Law and reschedule the other waiver exams. To take the waiver exam, newly admitted students must complete the online waiver exam application, choose the waiver date and write in the waiver exam course number for the exams. The cost of each waiver exam is a $100.00 non-refundable fee. Check or Money Orders are made payable to Fordham Business School. Without the check, you are unable to take the exam. The Program Management Office administers the waiver exam. If you have questions about the waiver exam, please contact fbwaiver@fordham.edu.
Calculators are allowed for ONLY Mathematical Methods for Business, Statistics, Financial Environment and Fundamentals of Accounting.
Exceptions
Exceptions are granted in two areas:
1.) Certified Public Accountants receive an automatic waiver from "Fundamentals of Accounting" and "Business Law." A copy of your CPA license is required.
2.) JD/MBA students and lawyers receive a waiver from "Business Law I."
