The Academic Achievement Center (AAC) provides free academic support services through a wide range of programs available to all students seeking a successful academic experience.

The AAC offers tutoring services on a walk-in basis or by appointment. Professional Tutors, Peer Tutors, and Learning Specialists work with students individually or in small groups and facilitate targeted study groups and workshops in a variety of subjects. Students work with tutors to integrate and apply effective study skills, learning strategies, time management and organizational skills to their specific coursework to advance and optimize their learning. Online tutoring is also offered free of charge to all Lasell College students through the Academic Achievement Center. Students can work with an e-tutor in various content areas and access a virtual writing lab for feedback on online submissions. The AAC maintains online resources that provide practical strategies for note and test taking, active reading, and writing research papers, among other areas. Students can schedule tutoring sessions via the online scheduling system available through a link on the college website. The Academic Achievement Center is located in the East Wing on the Main Level of the Brennan Library, and is open Monday - Friday.

Learn more about the Academic Achievement Center.    

All students at Lasell University are assigned an academic advisor who assists with academic issues, guides them through their transition to college life at Lasell, and helps them prepare for the world after Lasell. Academic advising is a teaching and learning process that engages advisor and student in an ongoing relationship focused on helping the student connect higher education with educational, career, and life goals. Advising promotes active student participation and supports intellectual and personal development toward academic success. Advisors often identify additional resources available to students to help solve problems or meet specific needs. These resources may include the Academic Achievement Center, Registrar's Office, Financial Aid, Career Services, Residential Life, the Health and Counseling Center.  An advantage of attending a small institution is the personalized approach provided, with a network of faculty and staff ready to work with students to help them meet their full potential.

Upon arrival, new students are assigned to a professional advisor according to their major. In the second year, if students have a declared major, they will be assigned a faculty advisor from that major's academic advising team in the summer prior to their second year. If students are enrolled as undeclared majors, they will be assigned a new advisor in the summer prior to their second year if they are declared at that time. If they are not declared by the end of the first year, they will remain with the same professional advisor and be reassigned during their second year once the major is declared. Students meet with their advisors regularly during scheduled advising appointments and during open office hours throughout the semester.

Learn more about academic advising here.

Internships across the curriculum are a critical part of the University's connected learning philosophy. Internships (also known as practica, clinicals, and student teaching) serve several purposes. They help students:

• Apply theoretical knowledge gained through coursework to a non-academic setting
• Learn/strengthen technical, professional, interpersonal, and professional work performance skills
• Demonstrate a strong work ethic in a professional setting
• Explore and refine career choices and next steps toward a professional path to engage in meaningful work
• Network with professionals in the field
• Enhance marketability for employment
• Prepare for future graduate school education
• Work effectively with diverse populations
• Develop strong team-work and collaborative skills
• Develop a sense of civic engagement

Each academic major's internship practices are designed to meet licensure, certification, and professional requirements and expectations, and, thus, internships differ across departments. In every major, internships are an integral component of a comprehensive program, which includes course preparation, the internship work experience, mentoring, guided supervision, reflection, and typically a presentation of learning outcomes. Internship fieldwork hour requirements can range anywhere from 120 to 400 hours in a semester, and some majors require more than one internship.

Learn more about Internship Programs at Lasell.

Lasell’s curriculum offers the flexibility to enable students in most majors to reduce the time it takes to complete a bachelor’s degree to 3 or 3½ years. By planning early, in consultation with an academic advisor, students can explore several possibilities for accelerating their progress towards the degree. These options may include taking up to 18 credits in several semesters with no extra charges (although, occasionally, it may be necessary to take and pay for more than 18 credits in a semester), earning additional credits during online summer and January sessions with substantially reduced tuition charges, and/or earning credit for previously acquired knowledge by taking the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exam. In addition, some students may apply college credits earned from Advanced Placement high school courses or from high school dual enrollment programs.

Lasell University is Accredited by:

• The New England Commission on Higher Education
• The Commission of Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
• The Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
• Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 
• Massachusetts Board of Higher Education (Criminal Justice program)
• The Commission on Sport Management Accreditation  (Undergraduate Program)
• The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs

View more information on Lasell University Accreditations  

Every student at Lasell completes her or his undergraduate education with an intellectually rigorous academic experience that brings together knowledge and skills learned in the major and the Core Curriculum, while providing a bridge to the profession. The capstone is usually completed during the senior year and combines internship experience, research project, seminar, and independent study as appropriate to the major.  Through a variety of connected-learning projects and activities, students have the opportunity to demonstrate proficiency in the fourteen Core Student Learning Outcomes, as well as departmental learning outcomes. The capstone experience emphasizes skills in writing, speaking, research, information literacy, as well as technology, appropriate to individual majors and professions. Above all else, student work in the capstone experience demonstrates preparedness for the demands and requirements for success in his or her chosen profession.

The Center for Academic Advising and First Year Programs provides a centralized location for all first-year students' academic advising services. Located on the main level of the Brennan Library, the Center for Academic Advising is open from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM every weekday. In addition, the Center oversees all academic advising for undergraduate students, and serves as an additional resource for students and faculty. The Center for Academic Advising and First Year Programs provides additional services for first-year students including First Year Seminar Peer Mentoring and Peer Advising. The Center aims to help students succeed as productive members of the Lasell University community.

Learn more about the Center for Academic Advising and First Year Programs here.

The Lasell University Center for Community-Based Learning provides support and opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and community organizations to engage in mutually beneficial projects to help drive the University's mission of civic engagement and democratic practice. Community involvement deepens academic learning; promotes values of citizenship; provides practical, project-focused experience; and develops initiatives that make a direct and lasting contribution to local communities and society. The Center works with students, faculty and community partners to design and implement community service-learning projects as an integral component of the connected learning philosophy at Lasell University, and the Center provides service leadership training across campus to help students increase their communication effectiveness, understanding of diversity, self-awareness, accountability, and ability to meet challenges creatively and with resourcefulness.

Service-learning takes many forms: tutoring/mentoring elementary and middle school students, supporting agencies serving victims of domestic violence; building and/or renovating low-income homes in the United States; becoming stewards of the environment both locally and in Ecuador; mentoring underserved youth; providing service through fashion; visiting with the elderly; promoting voter registration; and raising awareness and resources for pressing local and global issues such as health pandemics, poverty, and natural disasters. Important on-going programs include: literacy and math tutoring, Alternative Spring Breaks  focused on addressing community needs in a selected state, early college awareness mentoring.

The Center works with individual students to help them find community experiences, develop internships in non-profit agencies and create service-learning linked credit courses.

Learn more about the Center for Community-Based Learning.

Lasell students showcase their connected learning each semester through a Connected Learning Symposium. Launched in the Spring of 2002, the Symposium has grown to include presentations, displays, exhibitions, and performances, as well as the School of Fashion's Project Runway. These events celebrate the collaborative accomplishments of students and faculty, helping to further establish the relevance of teaching and learning across the entire Lasell community and beyond. 

The numbering system used to identify the course offerings described in this catalog is based on a division into the following levels:

100   Introductory courses, survey courses; only courses numbered 101 or higher are counted toward the student's degree, either as requirements or electives
200   Secondary level courses focusing on specific genres or periods; application of theory courses
300   Advanced level courses emphasizing synthesis of information based on broader foundations and applications of knowledge
400   Advanced seminars and baccalaureate degree internships

190   Independent or Directed Study at the 100 level
290   Independent or Directed Study at the 200 level
390   Independent or Directed Study at the 300 level
490   Independent or Directed Study at the 400 level
Students who wish to apply for Independent or Directed Study should consult with the appropriate department chair before April 1 for the following fall semester or December 1 for the following spring semester.

700   Graduate Course level

Each course description identifies the prerequisite work a student should have completed before enrolling in the course. In cases of special interest, students may request the permission of the instructor or department chair to enroll in courses for which they have not completed the designated prerequisite.

Lasell University undergraduate students can enroll in additional courses at Regis College in Weston at no additional cost, earning credits and grades towards their degrees just as they do for Lasell courses. Students are able to register for selected Regis courses in business, fine and performing arts, foreign languages, and the sciences, among others, through the Lasell Registrar's Office. The additional Regis courses add to the more than 450 courses already available to students at Lasell.

Any Lasell student classified as a sophomore, junior, or senior during the semester in which the course is taken may complete one course a semester at Regis. To be eligible, students must be in Good Academic Standing (2.0 minimum GPA) and enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits at Lasell for that semester.

Students are responsible for transportation to Regis. However, the Regis shuttle makes a stop at the Riverside T station, so students are able to coordinate travel between the two campuses. Information about the Regis shuttle schedule is available at the start of each semester.

Additional information about specific courses available to Lasell students and the cross-registration process is available each semester through the Registrar's Office.

At Lasell University, students earn 42 credits for courses taken within the Core Curriculum.  The Core Curriculum guides learning across all majors within Lasell's unique connected learning environment. With its emphasis the overarching goal of Synthesis & Application, the Core provides students with intellectual experiences and skills necessary for success in the working world.  Designed around multidisciplinary thinking, active learning, and problem-solving, the Core prepares students for meeting challenges in not only their chosen fields but also in our wider world.   

CORE CURRICULUM REQUIRED COURSES   

Foundational Requirements: 

• FYS 103     First Year Seminar              (3)
• ENG 101    Writing I                               (3)                                               
• ENG 102    Writing II                             (3)                                              
• MATH 106 Algebraic Operations            (3)                            

Knowledge Perspectives                                                                

• Aesthetics & Creativity                            (3)                                             
• Global & Historical                                   (3)                                                    
• Individuals & Society                               (3)                                              
• Scientific Reasoning & Problem-Solving (3)                  

Quantitative Reasoning Requirement            (3)                                 

Multidisciplinary Experience  (MDSC203)   (3)                     

Ethical Reasoning  (PHIL302)                            (3)                                              

Writing-Intensive courses                                    (6)                                                    

Speaking-Intensive course                                   (3)                                                 

Total minimum Core Curriculum Credits     (42)                      

The Core Curriculum is made up of inquiry-based courses and internship and capstone experiences, creating a common core learning experience for students each year. As the courses increase in depth and complexity, students develop knowledge, skills, and ownership of their education, and create the habits of lifelong intellectual exploration and social responsibility. 

The theme-based First Year Seminar emphasizes the core intellectual skills, while providing an introduction to the knowledge perspectives; connected learning projects and challenging class assignments incorporate synthesis and application.

In the first year, students also complete a self-paced, technology-enhanced mathematics course and take two courses focused on writing skills. Students build on the skills in writing and quantitative literacy established in these foundational courses in two writing-intensive courses within the major and an additional mathematics course, often also within the major. In addition, one speaking-intensive course within the major focuses on oral presentation and speaking skills.

Four courses taken during the first two years engage students in understanding and solving problems they will encounter in their professional and personal lives from four different Knowledge Perspectives: Aesthetics and Creativity, Scientific Inquiry and Problem Solving, Global and Historical Perspectives, and Individuals and Society. 

A Multidisciplinary Experience course, usually taken in the sophomore year, introduces a social or intellectual problem (such as sustainable cities) that cannot be addressed from a single knowledge perspective. Faculty guide students through a critical thinking process that crosses traditional disciplinary lines. 

The Ethical Reasoning course, usually taken in the junior year, challenges students to analyze and grapple with real, current moral dilemmas, and their complex ethical solutions, by connecting cultural and historical ways of understanding ethical thinking with professional standards.   In their last two years, students practice high-level Synthesis and Application by further integrating the skills, perspectives, and multidisciplinary approaches in many of their major-specific courses. In particular, the Internship and Capstone Experiences serve as the culmination of the Core Curriculum where students experience the highest level of connection between Core and Department outcomes, skills, and knowledge.  

The Nancy Lawson Donahue '49 Institute for Ethics, Diversity, and Inclusion focuses on fostering awareness about social identities and inequalities, enhancing sensitivity to the moral dimensions of choices individuals make, and collaborating to promote a welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of the Lasell Community. To this end, the Institute sponsors forums that not only augment, but also transcend classroom experience. In addition, the Institute collaborates in coordinating and integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in all divisions at Lasell University. 

Each semester, the Donahue Institute sponsors presentations, panels, workshops, and films on various local and global issues such as intercultural competence, institutional and interpersonal oppression, food insecurity, and mass incarceration. Other regular programs such as the "Student Voices" series involve students in panel discussions and community conversations around issues like socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, and other social themes. The Donahue Institute also works with students to encourage civic engagement, including voting and student activism. The Institute collaborates with faculty and staff to provide programming that connects classroom learning to the wider community. Students are actively involved in initiating and planning Donahue-sponsored events.

See more at:
http://www.lasell.edu/academics/academic-centers/donahue-institute-for-ethics-diversity-and-inclusion.html

International and other students admitted to Lasell University who require English as a Second Language (ESL) support will be assessed for appropriate placement based on TOEFL scores (or an equivalent) and, if needed, individual conferences. Students will be placed into Level 1 or Level 2 accordingly. Each level provides the students with a supportive structure with special attention to the individual student's level of language acquisition (see Course Descriptions), structured ESL tutoring, and support for transitioning to the American culture and American system of higher education. Students will be assigned to the Academic Achievement Center (AAC) during specific times when an ESL specialist, Communication tutors and/or other tutors are available to provide individualized attention to language acquisition needs. Students can elect to use the AAC more than the structured two-hour time block.



  Support for Students' Transition to American Culture and Lasell University:
In order to ensure that all students in the program have easy access to an academic advisor, follow the appropriate course sequences, and make best use of available services, students will be assigned to an academic advisor in the Academic Advising Center for the first year. The advisor will monitor students' progress and address needs as they arise while helping new students learn to navigate resources at Lasell University.

The Fifth Year Option at Lasell University allows undergraduate students with high academic standing to earn both their undergraduate and graduate degrees in as little as five years.

Students may qualify to pursue a Master of Education in Elementary Education (M.Ed Elementary), a Master of Education in Moderate Disabilities (M.Ed. Moderate Disabilities), a Master of Science in Communication (MSC), a Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ), a Master of Science in Nutrition for Health and Human Performance (MSNHH), a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Science, a Master of Science in Management (MSM), or a Master of Science in Sport Management (MSSM) with approximately one additional year of study.

Students who wish to pursue the 5th Year Option must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or greater and inform their advisor during their freshman or sophomore year by completing the Fifth Year Option Declaration of Interest form.

Planning is essential to success in this program. In addition to the opportunity to complete one or two blended semesters, students may be eligible to waive two courses (6 credits) required in the core curriculum of the MSC, MSNH, MSRS, MSM, MSSM, or M.Ed. Students should select courses in close consultation with both their advisor and Chair of the relevant academic department. Program choice and course load may affect time to master's degree completion. NOTE:  Students who wish to pursue an MSCJ (Master of Science in Criminal Justice) are not eligible to waive two courses.  They can participate in the blended semester, however, and take 1-2 graduate courses in their senior year in close consultation with both their advisor and Chair of the relevant academic department. During each blended semester, students complete their undergraduate degree requirements and simultaneously enroll in one graduate course (3 credits) that will count toward their master's degree. Students must earn a grade of B (3.0 GPA) in their graduate classes. (Note: Graduate course credits cannot be applied toward the fulfillment of the student's 120 undergraduate degree credit requirement.) In a blended semester, students are required to take a minimum of 12 undergraduate credits and one graduate course. In each blended semester, students are not permitted to enroll in more than 18 credits. Senior students registering for their blended semester(s) need to complete a Graduate Course Eligibility form during pre-registration for their first semester senior year. This form is necessary for the Registrar's Office to determine student eligibility. In the final semester of the senior year, Fifth Year Option students will submit an Application for Graduate Admission along with one letter of recommendation and a one page personal statement. The application fee is waived. Students seeking further information regarding the Fifth Year Option should contact:

Lasell University, Office of Graduate Enrollment
1844 Commonwealth Avenue
Newton, MA 02466
617-243-2400 gradinfo@lasell.edu

Master of Education
As described below, through completion of either set majors, minors, or various course combinations, and participation in the blended semester, students can earn as many as 12 credits towards the required 36 credits to earn the M.Ed. Many of the undergraduate courses listed have prerequisites. For complete information on master's degrees, please refer to the graduate section of this catalog.

Education Majors:
Students who complete these undergraduate majors and their bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) can request a waiver of six (6) credits from the Graduate Admission Office. (Note, students must complete these courses with a grade of B or higher.)

Other Undergraduate Majors:
Any Lasell student who successfully completes (with a grade of B or higher) the course combinations listed below can request a waiver of six (6) credits from the Graduate Admission Office. Students must also carry a minimum 3.00 GPA.

Master of Science in Communication
As described below, through completion of either set majors, minors, or various course combinations, and participation in the blended semester, students can earn as many as 12 credits towards the required 36 credits to earn the M.S.C. Many of the undergraduate courses listed have prerequisites. For complete information on master's degrees, please refer to the graduate section of this catalog.

Communication Majors: 
Students who complete these majors and their bachelor's with a 3.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) can request a waiver of six (6) credits from the Graduate Admission Office. (Note: students must earn a B or higher in the course combinations listed below.)

Communication Minors: 
Students who complete the undergraduate communication minor and their bachelor's degree with a 3.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) can request a waiver of six (6) credits from the Graduate Admission Office. (Note:  students must earn a B or higher in the course combinations listed below.)

Other Undergraduate Majors: 
Any Lasell student who successfully completes (with a grade of B or higher) the course combinations listed below can request a waiver of six (6) credits from the Graduate Admission Office. Students must also carry a minimum cumulative 3.00 GPA.

Master of Science in Management
As described below, through completion of either set majors, minors, or various course combinations, and participation in the blended semester, students can earn as many as 12 credits towards the required 36 credits to earn the M.S.M. Many of the undergraduate courses listed have prerequisites. For complete information on master's degrees, please refer to the graduate section of this catalog.

Business, Sport Management, and Fashion/Retail Merchandising Majors: 
Students who complete these undergraduate majors and their bachelor's with a 3.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) can request a waiver of six (6) credits from the Graduate Admission Office. (Note: students must earn a B or higher in the course combinations listed below.)

Business Minors: 
Students who complete the undergraduate business minor and their bachelor's degree with a 3.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) can request a waiver of six (6) credits from the Graduate Admission Office. (Note: students must earn a B or higher in the course combinations listed below.)

Other Undergraduate Majors: 
Any Lasell student who successfully completes (with a grade of B or higher) the course combinations listed below can request a waiver of six (6) credits from the Graduate Admission Office. Students must also carry a minimum 3.00 GPA.

Master of Science in Nutrition for Human Performance
As described below, through completion of either set majors, minors, or various course combinations, and participation in the blended semester, students can earn as many as 12 credits towards the required 36 credits to earn the M.S.N.H.H.P. Some of the undergraduate courses listed may have prerequisites. For complete information on master's degrees, please refer to the graduate catalog.

Athletic Training/Exercise Science Majors:
Students who complete these majors and their bachelor's with a 3.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) can request a waiver of six (6) credits from the Graduate Admission Office. (Note: students must earn a B or higher in the course combinations listed below.)

Athletic Training/Exercise Science Minors:
Students who complete the undergraduate minor and their bachelor's degree with a 3.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) can request a waiver of six (6) credits from the Graduate Admission Office. (Note:  students must earn a B or higher in the course combinations listed below.)

Other Undergraduate Majors: 
Any Lasell student who successfully completes (with a grade of B or higher) the course combinations listed below can request a waiver of six (6) credits from the Graduate Admission Office.  Students must also carry a minimum cumulative 3.00 GPA.

Master of Science in Rehabilitation Science
As described below, through completion of either set majors, minors, or various course combinations, and participation in the blended semester, students can earn as many as 12 credits towards the required 36 credits to earn the M.S.R.S. Some of the undergraduate courses listed may have prerequisites. For complete information on master's degrees, please refer to the graduate catalog.

Athletic Training/Exercise Science Majors:
Students who complete these majors and their bachelor's with a 3.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) can request a waiver of six (6) credits from the Graduate Admission Office. (Note: students must earn a B or higher in the course combinations listed below.)

Athletic Training/Exercise Science Minors:
Students who complete the undergraduate minor and their bachelor's degree with a 3.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) can request a waiver of six (6) credits from the Graduate Admission Office. (Note:  students must earn a B or higher in the course combinations listed below.)

Other Undergraduate Majors: 
Any Lasell student who successfully completes (with a grade of B or higher) the course combinations listed below can request a waiver of six (6) credits from the Graduate Admission Office.  Students must also carry a minimum cumulative 3.00 GPA.

Master of Science in Sport Management
As described below, through completion of either set majors, minors, or various course combinations, and participation in the blended semester, students can earn as many as 12 credits towards the required 36 credits to earn the M.S.S.M. Many of the undergraduate courses listed have prerequisites. For complete information on master's degrees, please refer to the graduate section of this catalog.

Sport Management:
Students who complete these majors and their bachelor's with a 3.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) can request a waiver of six (6) credits from the Graduate Admission Office. (Note: students must earn a B or higher in the course combinations listed below.)

Sport Management Minors:
Students who complete the undergraduate sport management minor and their bachelor's degree with a 3.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) can request a waiver of six (6) credits from the Graduate Admission Office. (Note:  students must earn a B or higher in the course combinations listed below.)

Other Undergraduate Majors: 
Any Lasell student who successfully completes (with a grade of B or higher) the course combinations listed below can request a waiver of six (6) credits from the Graduate Admission Office.  Students must also carry a minimum cumulative 3.00 GPA.

The First Year Seminar (FYS) is part of the Core Curriculum and a requirement for all incoming first year students and transfer students with fewer than 15 credits. The First Year Seminar is a theme-based inquiry course that engages students in a specific area of interest while providing support for a smooth transition into the Lasell University community and the Connected Learning philosophy. Through studying an academic topic, students develop and apply core intellectual skills and receive an introduction to the core knowledge perspectives. At the same time, students connect to the experiences and people that make up the Lasell University Community. Course outcomes are accomplished through engaging activities including reading, writing, class discussions, presentations, team projects, field trips, and exploration of campus resources. Civic engagement and service-learning activities are often part of this course as is participation in the Connected Learning Symposium. Through the seminar, students develop close ties with faculty and peer mentors who serve as advocates for first year students' academic success. Past course titles have included: Challenging Hollywood: Thinking Critically about Movies, Exploring Activism-Changing Our World, Let Us Rock, Pets: Our Perfect Companion, The Meaning of Dress, The “Reality” of Relationships, The Spark of Creativity, The Witch in History and Pop Culture, Women and Sports, and Zombies, Vampires and Revolutionaries. This requirement may be fulfilled by taking either FYS103 or HON101 (for students enrolled in the Honors Program).

A Lasell University education is grounded in the opportunities to learn in professional settings that best prepare students for their careers. The Holway Child Study Centers at Lasell-- the Rockwell Preschool  and the Barn -- serve as laboratory schools on campus where students apply the skills and knowledge of many of the different majors offered at the University.

Lasell University Honors Program
Honors adds polish and distinction to the student's major, transcript, resumé and commencement ceremony in a way employers understand at a glance.  More importantly, Honors provides a community within a community, a social and intellectual arena for personal development, challenge, and collaborative work with dynamic and interesting peers and faculty from every program.  

The Honors Program focuses on collaboration not competition.   

Honors Courses, Honors Components, and a number of unique activities and opportunities on and off-campus aim to produce multidimensional thinkers and problem-solvers.  Honors courses are not Advanced Placement-style courses that ramp up ordinary courses in the general curriculum.  Instead, they are specially designed for Honors students to ensure different dimensions of experience that will enable students to reach beyond the bounds of their profession, that offer social and intellectual practice, debate, and dialogue to ensure they have the ingenuity to advance in that career, and, even better, that develop the confidence and mental flexibility to tackle life problems and questions as they arise.   

Lasell University Honors Program graduates stand out.  

Honors graduates demonstrate the drive, cross-cultural experience and global perspective that employers seek.  They gain the flexibility, depth and innovation in thought that equips graduates to advance in their careers, build their own investigation or enterprise, or change the world. Honors students excel in the endeavors they choose because they gain the skill and confidence to research problems from a number of angles.  Program participants develop the team and leadership strategies necessary to organize action and implement solutions. Close working relationships with faculty foster independent thinking, social responsibility and enthusiasm for the power of ideas.

Lasell University Customized Honors Curriculum = 4+4   
Four (4) Honors Courses + Four (4) Honors Components

This sequence is designed to blend with any student's major, minor and set of interests, including students who participate in Lasell Works, athletics, double majors, study abroad, three-year degrees, and more.

Four Custom Courses: These are specially designed for Honors students and offer opportunities and activities distinct from the regular curriculum. Pacing is up to the student, but typically, each year (fall or spring) students take one course specially designed for Honors students. It works to a student's advantage to take HON101 in the fall.

Four Custom Components: These are investigations into things that interest the student.  Each year students select a regular course they would like to tweak or customize by substituting a project they themselves design (with the professor) by modifying or replacing a project the other students may be doing. These are worth 20-25% of the course grade and get factored into it as part of the normal end of term grade.  Components are different work, designed by students, pursuing personal passions.  They need not be more work unless one designs the Component that way. These students pace themselves.  Some may decide to do two or zero in one a given year.

Other special group Component options will be offered on occasion such as reading and film groups, marketing projects, social media teams, etc.  Honors students are notified of options through the Honors director. Guidelines and sample Components are available.

HON299 "Honors Component Workshop" is an optional 1-2 credit course that enables the student to work on independent Components in a team-based, workshop atmosphere. It is designed for those unsure of their project idea as well as those eager to go it alone.

Continuing Eligibility Requirements
Students are invited in during the admissions and first-year orientation process prior to the first year, or they must nominate themselves or be nominated during the fall semester. Transfer students, non-traditional students and advanced students should speak directly to the director about entry to the Program.  Students must pass all Honors courses and components with a grade of C or better. Students must maintain a 3.5 overall cumulative average to continue in the Honors Program. If they are unable to do this for a semester, they may be placed on "Honors Probation" for the next semester and then return to GPA eligibility at the end of that semester.  Students can appeal Program decisions.  

Our approach to technology is based on the University's philosophy of connected learning, infusing the classroom environment with the most current systems, websites, and social media. Lasell integrates technology and multimedia systems throughout the curriculum and community to support students' academic and co-curricular endeavors. All campus classrooms are equipped with technology to support an engaging, interactive learning environment. Industry specific software and systems are available in the computer labs, and students utilize these systems in their course projects. The Technology Help Desk is located in the Science and Technology Center and Help Desk staff provide 24/7 support services for students, faculty and staff. Our high-speed wireless network covers all residence halls and classrooms as well as most public areas throughout the campus.  

Read more about Technology for Students at Lasell University.

International Service-Learning (Shoulder-To-Shoulder)

Lasell offers short-term study abroad options in the form of international service-learning at Lasell, also referred to as Shoulder to Shoulder Programs. This collection of cultural immersion and service-learning programs provides Lasell students with the opportunity to learn about various social justice issues within a global context by engaging in academic coursework taught at Lasell in addition to spending time in their chosen destination for 7-14 days. Students live in the style of their host community while learning and working "shoulder to shoulder" with local partners. The Shoulder-to-Shoulder programs include a variety of service-learning projects including environmental studies, ESL instruction and curriculum development, and social justice. Each project shares the ultimate goal of connecting the local with the global and vice versa.

Lasell currently offers Shoulder-to-Shoulder programs in Antigua, Vietnam, Ecuador, and Mexico. 
Learn more about Lasell's International Service-Learning Programs.

Students must submit an online application by the posted deadline. Participants must be in good academic and disciplinary standing. Please note that Shoulder-to-Shoulder programs are designed for participation prior to degree completion. Participation by seniors in spring semester programs will be approved on an exceptional basis. For more information, students should visit the Office of International Education on the 2nd floor of the Arnow Campus Center, make a Study Abroad appointment using Starfish, or contact the office to set up an appointment by email at studyabroad@lasell.edu or phone at (617)-243-2398.

The Jessie S. Brennan Library staff offer a variety of services, in-person and virtual, and a number of resources, both in physical and electronic formats, that support research, teaching, and learning. The research staff, in support of the teaching mission of the University, offers a variety of programs and services to help Lasell students to become good researchers and critical thinkers. Students receive assistance and training in classes and with the help of a librarian at the research desk.

The library contains a collection of more than 40,000 items in-house, and through the library webpage, provides access to over 85 databases that include over 45,000 online journals, 60,000 e-books and over 55,000 streaming and digital video and audio titles. The library provides 24/7 access to online resources from both on and off campus.

As a member of the Minuteman Library Network, the library shares resources with 41 libraries, including five academic libraries. This allows us to provide easy access to over six million items, all searchable through a shared online catalog.

There are PC and Mac computer stations, along with printers and scanners located throughout the library, which also houses the Winslow Archives, the Academic Achievement Center, the Center for Academic Advising, the Kyo Yamawaki Education Library, and several group study rooms. The library is open seven days a week during the regular academic year.

  Visit the Brennan Library website.

Lasell University is contracted with the patented Starfish® Enterprise Student Success Platform^TM to strengthen Lasell's commitment to facilitating students' academic achievement. The Starfish early alert component facilitates communication of early concerns and warnings by providing an online vehicle for enhancing communication among students, classroom faculty, and advisors, strengthening connections to campus resources, and simplifying case management. 

 

The Lasell curriculum builds upon the concept of "connected learning," which combines breadth in the arts and sciences, professional/technical coursework, and educational projects that tackle real issues. Connected learning refers to explorations of issues, problems, and events through in- and out-of-classroom activities and projects. Lasell University strives for students to be so engaged with academic subject matter that learning itself matters to them in ways that go beyond meeting course requirements and earning grades. We thereby emphasize the idea of Lasell students being productive versus consumptive learners as they become committed simultaneously to a successful and rewarding career, an ongoing life of intellectual exploration, and active citizenship. Through course-based projects, internships, clinical experiences, and on- site training, all of Lasell's degree-granting programs center on students' understanding of the value of their academic work as they prepare to become imaginative and ethical practitioners in their chosen professions.

In support of its commitment to connected learning, Lasell has created several on-campus opportunities for linking classroom and professional experience. For instance, students across the curriculum work with experienced teachers and children at our on-site Child Study Centers. The Athletic Training students work with Lasell athletes in a state-of-the-art training facility. The Fashion program brings experts from a wide variety of companies and organizations to campus to interact with our Fashion majors. Students plan, organize and produce an annual departmental fashion show during the spring semester that highlights student- designed garments; additionally students are active throughout the year working on industry related events with various organizations in the greater Boston area.  Lasell University Radio engages Communication majors as well as students across the curriculum in hands- on media production, as does The 1851Chronicle, the University's student newspaper, and Polished, which is becoming one of Boston's premier fashion, culture, and trends magazines. Criminal Justice and Legal Studies students learn about the court system through participation in Mock Trials. Our Exercise Science Lab allows students to practice and master assessment and rehabilitative techniques as they learn them in class. At the University's annual Fall and Spring Connected Learning Symposia, students showcase their academic accomplishments in a professional conference-like setting.

The University experience aids students in forming a view of life, and this includes understanding not only the requirements of a successful professional career but also the positive contribution one can make as an active community member and global citizen. Lasell's Center for Community-Based Learning provides opportunities for volunteer work as well as course-based community service-learning projects, including a variety of domestic and international service learning trips. Lasell's Donahue Institute for Ethics, Diversity, and Inclusion fosters awareness of the importance of a civil society and sensitivity to the moral dimensions of choices individuals make. The Institute sponsors various events and programs in support of its mission.

Lasell University is known nationally for its living-learning retirement community, Lasell Village. Although Lasell Village is among a growing number of University-affiliated retirement communities in the country, it is the first to feature a formal, individualized, required continuing education program for its residents. The Village provides a host of intergenerational learning opportunities. Lasell University students can work and learn at Lasell Village in a variety of program related internships, as well as interact with Lasell Village residents on campus in classes, at University events, and by working collaboratively on a variety of on or off-campus projects.

Lasell University academics are designed to provide a supportive and empowering environment for every student. A low student to faculty ratio ensures close attention to varying learning styles. The academic advising system focuses upon and fosters the development of personal initiative and decision-making; the advisor serves as a facilitator and a guide, helping the student to make choices rather than making choices for the student. There are many additional support services offered at the University to facilitate student learning, as well as ensure the quality of co-curricular life, and academic and professional planning. These include the Academic Achievement Center (AAC), Registrar's Office, Financial Aid, Career Services, Residential Life, and the Health and Counseling Center. Connected learning beyond the curriculum also includes a wealth of opportunities for leadership development and participation in organizations and University activities.

The goal of the Lasell Plan of Education is to provide educationally sound and engaging opportunities for each student to realize his or her fullest potential. Lasell University students graduate with an enriched sense of the contribution they can make in their profession and their community, enhanced confidence in their ability to learn and grow, and an eagerness to meet the challenges they will face throughout their personal and professional lives.

Lasell Works

Lasell Works is an immersive four-year experience that provides students with a heightened level of career preparation, while also reducing the cost of tuition by $22,000 over four years. When combined with other potential cost reductions, a student's total savings over four years can be as much as $38,000.  In addition to standard coursework, Lasell Works students take a series of five credit-bearing seminars.  These seminars emphasize leadership, financial literacy, and other aspects of professional development. In their sophomore year, Lasell Works students live off campus and complete their coursework online, while maintaining part-time employment. With the exception of the aforementioned seminars, the freshman, junior and senior years for Lasell Works students do not diverge from those of students not in the program. 

Learn more about Lasell Works here. 

Linked-Credits are one credit experiences linked to a host course, involving work in an area that is tied to the classroom experience. Linked-Credits provide connected learning opportunities in areas that support the mission of the University and that often tie into the work of various Centers at the University.

There are four possible Linked Credit options:

Service-Learning (SVL)
For this credit, students do 15 to 20 hours of service learning with an agency off campus, coupled with reflection on the social justice issues related to the service agency. Students wishing to enroll in the SVL linked credit meet with the Director of the Center for Community Based Learning, and the professor of their host course before enrolling.  

Social Justice Activism (SJA)
For this credit, students participate in activities aimed at promoting opportunities for all people and addressing inequities by raising awareness or advocating for change. Working towards social justice requires that the root causes of injustice be investigated - the structural/social conditions that bring about group disparities and exclusion. Students wishing to enroll in the SJA linked credit meet with the Director of the Donahue Institute for Ethics, Diversity, & Inclusion and the professor of their host course before enrolling.   

Research Across the Curriculum (RAC)
For this credit, students conduct a research project that extends an area of study in the host course. Students wishing to enroll in the RAC linked credit meet with the Director of the Fuss Center for Research on Aging and Intergenerational Studies and the professor of their host course before enrolling.   

Intergenerational Studies (IGS)
For this credit, students design and complete a project that compares some aspect of thought or behavior across individuals of different ages. Students wishing to enroll in the IGS linked credit meet with the Director of the Fuss Center for Research on Aging and Intergenerational Studies and the professor of their host course before enrolling.   

As part of the academic advising process, course instructors issue progress reports at approximately the mid-point of each semester, by a deadline determined by the Registrar. Students receive a "GD" ("Good") when they are evaluated at the time to be doing work at a grade level of B or above; they receive an "S" ("Satisfactory") when they are evaluated at the time to be doing work between a grade of C and B-; and they receive a "WA" (Warning) when they are evaluated at the time to be doing work at a grade level of C- or below. Students who are freshman-standing or sophomore-standing will receive progress reports in-person from their advisor. Students who are junior-standing or senior-standing may access their progress reports through Self-Service. In an effort to support Lasell's "green" initiative, the Registrar distributes the progress reports and warning notices electronically to academic advisors in the form of a PDF. After meeting with freshman and sophomore students, advisors may either forward the PDF to the student, or may print a hard copy for the student's record. Mid-term progress reports are indications of progress at points-in-time. They are to be understood as prompts for working constructively to do the best work possible in a course; they are not, in any way, indications of what a student will earn for a final course grade.

The RoseMary B. Fuss Teaching and Learning Center provides leadership and support for faculty in their active, engaged, and connected learning, teaching, and assessment in face-to-face, web enhanced, and online environments, as well as promoting faculty scholarship and professional development.  Through on-campus workshops and consultations, active participation in professional organizations, and presentations by faculty and staff on pedagogy and scholarship, the Center disseminates effective practices found in Lasell classrooms and throughout the higher education community.

Learn more about the RoseMary B. Fuss Teaching and Learning Center.

Established in 2001, the RoseMary B. Fuss Center for Research on Aging and Intergenerational Studies promotes intergenerational connections through research, education, partnerships, and programming. Located at Lasell Village, the Center hosts conferences, lectures, and other events that address issues related to aging and intergenerational relations. The Center also facilitates research studies initiated by members of the Lasell University community and provides research support to scholars and groups from outside the University community who wish to explore aging and intergenerational issues.

The Center sponsors the Talk of Ages website, a web resource for integrating intergenerational activities and content about aging into university classes, and oversees the University's Age-Friendly University (AFU) efforts.



Learn more about the RoseMary B. Fuss Center for Research on Aging and Intergenerational Studies.

Service-learning, a form of connected learning, is both an action-oriented teaching method and an educational philosophy. Through public service projects, students apply classroom material to address real life challenges and social justice issues in and beyond the Lasell campus. Typically, service-learning projects are developed in response to a community need and are undertaken with a non-profit organization. Assignments include students' preparation for and engagement in service, as well as reflection on the service experience, particularly as that experience relates to larger social structures, US culture, and global relationships. In addition to service-learning course projects and service-learning internships, students may also elect the Linked Credit Service-Learning Option (SVL 115, 215, 315, or 415) that is offered in selected courses. Students register early in the semester after the instructor presents this option. To earn a linked credit, which receives a separate grade, students conduct public service projects combined with an academic assignment, which could take the form of essays, reports, journals, oral presentations, portfolios, or other creative products as determined by the instructor. A linked credit service-learning selection is an attractive feature on a student's academic transcript. A student who completes three linked credit options receives credit for a three-credit arts and sciences or unrestricted elective. See the course description section of the catalog for further information and restrictions.

Lasell University is an institution committed to fostering a learning environment where students strive for excellence.  Lasell University provides appropriate and reasonable accommodations to ensure that no student is discriminated against on the basis of his/her disability. Students with disabilities are very capable individuals who experience some kind of challenge that may call for accommodations to foster success in the classroom. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the University provides accommodations for eligible students with documented disabilities to afford equal access to educational programs and services.

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), "disability" is "having a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities." Lasell University also accepts the definition of "learning disability," defined in Public Law 94-142, as a "disorder in one or more of the basic processes involved in understanding and using language, spoken or written, which may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell or do mathematical calculations."

All disability accommodations are determined on an individual basis, making use of submitted comprehensive disability documentation as well as confidential consultation with the student. The determined accommodations may differ from those previously provided to a student, as the accommodations must appropriately address the current impact of the disability on the student's performance and the anticipated functional impact within a collegiate setting.  Disability Services helps all students fully access the academic, residential and social aspects of student life at Lasell University. For information about the process of requesting and accessing appropriate academic accommodations, contact the Director of the Academic Achievement Center & Learning Disabilities Services. To request residential accommodations, contact the Director of Disabilities Services and Coordinator of Student Conduct.

Lasell University ensures FERPA compliance, and therefore all documentation submitted will remain confidential. It is the student's responsibility to disclose a disability, and it is up to the student to continue the accommodation process by communicating his/her needs to the faculty and/or other appropriate university personnel. Lasell University recognizes the right of the student to determine who receives disability-related information, as well as the right to confidentiality.

For more information, click here.

Speaking Across the Curriculum is a campus-wide initiative that gives students the opportunity to hone their speaking and listening skills by engaging in various forms of presentation throughout their major course of study. 

The goal of the Speaking-Intensive Course is to provide students with an opportunity to develop their speaking skills in formats important to their programs of study. The Speaking-Intensive Courses build on the speaking skills introduced in First Year Seminar, and a series of communication workshops, by including instruction on how to speak in a particular discipline. In each major, students will take at least one Speaking-Intensive Course at the lower (100/200) level and one at the upper (300/400) level. While the types of assignments in Speaking-Intensive Courses will vary by major, all assignments will provide students with practice in using listening and speaking skills to express ideas and information clearly and confidently in a variety of settings.

Students enrolled in Speaking-Intensive courses are also offered free professional and peer- tutoring support through The Academic Achievement Center (AAC). Further, students may also choose to take a 1-credit Seminar for Speech and Writing Tutors course to become a peer speech tutor in the Academic Achievement Center (ACC).

Lasell Works

Lasell Works is an immersive four-year experience that provides students with a heightened level of career preparation, while also reducing the cost of tuition by $22,000 over four years. When combined with other potential cost reductions, a student's total savings over four years can be as much as $38,000.  In addition to standard coursework, Lasell Works students take a series of five credit-bearing seminars.  These seminars emphasize leadership, financial literacy, and other aspects of professional development. In their sophomore year, Lasell Works students live off campus and complete their coursework online, while maintaining part-time employment. With the exception of the aforementioned seminars, the freshman, junior and senior years for Lasell Works students do not diverge from those of students not in the program. 

Learn more about Lasell Works here. 

International Education- Study Abroad

Lasell encourages students to explore international opportunities including a semester spent studying abroad at a foreign university, short-term faculty-led service learning programs, and international internships.  International exposure and cross-cultural learning enriches the educational experience through knowledge of another country and culture. By studying abroad, students build confidence and gain a new perspective on the world and their place within it.

Lasell has more than 75 semester study abroad programs in over 40 countries that may include international internships, four short-term international service-learning programs called Shoulder-to-Shoulder programs, and three domestic study away programs in Boston, Washington D.C. and Orlando, Florida 

In order to make studying abroad accessible to all students, Lasell uses a home-school tuition model for semester abroad programs. Lasell students studying abroad for a semester pay tuition, fees, room and board to Lasell, and Lasell pays the study abroad program directly. Financial aid is awarded as if the student is on campus full-time and living in residence. Institutional (Lasell) financial aid as well as state and federal aid is available on the same basis. Students are encouraged to discuss study abroad with their academic advisors, in addition to meeting with an advisor at the Office of International Education to find the best fit academically and personally for their study abroad experience. The staff in the Office of International Education will provide guidance on the study abroad process, information about additional scholarship opportunities, and can connect students with returned study abroad students called Global Ambassadors to receive peer-to-peer advice. Once a student has made the decision to go abroad, a specific application process must be followed. Students must first indicate the approved program they are applying for and submit an online application to Lasell's Office of International Education. If accepted, the student will then apply directly to the study abroad program. The typical timing for semester-long study abroad is during the fall semester of the junior year. The spring semester is also permitted if there are compelling reasons why a student cannot go in the fall semester (such as fall athletics). Study abroad is not allowed during the first year or during a student's final semester at the University. Under certain circumstances, students with an exceptional academic record may be allowed to study abroad during their sophomore year, if this better fits the needs of their academic program, and if their academic advisor approves their application. Only students with an overall GPA of 2.5 are allowed to study abroad; several programs abroad require a higher GPA than 2.5. Falling out of good academic standing after applying to a study abroad program renders students ineligible to study abroad, and students must then assume responsibility for any non-refundable costs that may have been incurred in setting up the experience. For more information, students should visit the Office of International Education on the 2nd floor of the Arnow Campus Center, schedule a Study Abroad appointment using Starfish, or contact the office by email at studyabroad@lasell.edu or phone at (617)-243-2398.

Lasell University offers two intensive on-line sessions in the summer and one in the winter.  Summer and winter sessions provide undergraduates with an opportunity to accelerate their degree program by earning credits during the summer and winter term, or to earn credits so that they can stay on track for their intended graduation date if they have, for some reason, fallen behind in credits. Some courses will fulfill Core Curriculum requirements; some may fulfill major requirements; and some may be taken as unrestricted electives.

Students may also complete the academic internship requirement during the summer, in most majors, earning credits for a professional internship and an online course; please see individual program internship requirements.

Enrolled students can find specific course offerings on MyLasell.

First Year Writing
The mission of First-Year Writing is to provide students with a foundation in composition by fostering the development of strategies, which will empower them to be successful in future writing situations they encounter in academic and professional environments and in their communities as active, engaged citizens. First-year students take a two-semester writing sequence comprised of WRT 101 Writing I and WRT 102 Writing II. Writing I focuses on writing as a process and introduces students to a variety of strategies and techniques to use as writers. Writing II builds on what students learn in Writing I and focuses on research and public writing.

Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC)
The mission of Writing Across the Curriculum is to infuse writing within and across disciplines by supporting faculty as they integrate "writing to learn" and "learning to write" pedagogies into their courses. To this end, two courses in each major are designated as "Writing Intensive," one at the 200-level and one at the 300 or 400-level. The Writing Intensive courses (WI) are designed to help students practice the genres of writing that are central to each specific discipline. The types of assignments in Writing Intensive courses vary by major, and all assignments provide students with practice in writing clear, well-organized persuasive prose. Additionally, faculty in many courses incorporate multiple writing opportunities into their classes as a way to help students learn and engage with course material.