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 can also 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 University students through the Academic Achievement Center and Canvas. Students can work with an e-tutor in various content areas and access a virtual writing lab for feedback on online submissions.     Flexible options are available for academic support at a distance, including scheduled phone consultations and video-conferencing sessions.  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 Starfish Student Success Portal, 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 weekdays (Monday-Thursday 8:30am-9pm, Fridays 8:30am-4:30pm) during the academic year.

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 university life, 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, Center for Career Readiness, Residential Life, Health Services, or the 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

All undergraduate students are required to complete an internship before graduation. Internships are a critical part of the University's connected learning philosophy. Internship experiences are designed to meet the relevant licensure, certification, or professional requirements and expectations of each academic program of study. In every academic program, students are supported through all stages of the internship experience, such as pre-internship planning and career counseling, finding a personally-relevant internship, and making the most of the actual internship work experience. All internship experiences are paired with a seminar and/or individualized guided supervision. Internship fieldwork hour requirements range from 120 to 400 hours in a semester. 

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 qualify to apply college credits earned from Advanced Placement high school courses or from high school dual enrollment programs.

Lasell University is Accredited by:

Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (Undergraduate program)
The New England Commission of 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)

View more information on Lasell University Accreditations  

Every student at Lasell completes her, his or their 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 programmatic 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, in the capstone experience, students demonstrates that they are prepared and ready for the demands and requirements for success in their chosen professions.

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 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday-Friday during the academic year. 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.

The Center for Community-Based Learning (CCBL) is a community of students, faculty, staff, and community members that work collaboratively to build on community strengths and address various social issues. Our work is driven by the principle of reciprocity as we work to build knowledge and take culturally-informed action to address problems in our society. The CCBL supports students, faculty, and community partners as they explore, plan, and implement strategic projects. These campus-community relationships and projects results in transformative learning experiences for students and deepens the capacity of faculty and community partners to make a positive impact in our communities. The specific nature of our work on any initiative or project - whether short-term or long-term - is driven by the creative capacities and active contribution of students, faculty, and community partners.

Learn more about The Center for Community Based Learning

Lasell University's Connected Learning Symposium is a campus-wide event showcasing the academic creativity of our students.  Launched in the Spring of 2002, we are proud to showcase the rise of new knowledge generated by our students.  At Lasell and at Symposium, we hold scholarly work in tandem with the personal evolution students undergo during this phase of life.  Symposium will continue as a hybrid event, combining the best of face-to-face and virtual formats creating a permanent portfolio of connected learning.

The fall symposium has been reimagined as the “Career Readiness Symposium” where we include voices from alumni, faculty and Lasell Village which are of interest to students and their future careers.  The spring symposium will continue as a celebration of student knowledge, discovery and invention.

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 program chair.

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 on the overarching goal of Lifelong Learning, the Core provides students with intellectual experiences and skills necessary for synthesizing and applying their newfound abilities and knowledge to both their own self-development and their chosen career path.  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)
• WRT101     Writing I                             (3)                                               
• WRT102     Writing II                            (3)                                              
• MATH Course by placement                  (3)                            

Knowledge Perspectives                                                                

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

Quantitative Reasoning Requirement                             (3)                                 

Sophomore Multidisciplinary Experience  (MDSC203)   (3)                     

Junior Ethics Experience  (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 connected learning core 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 mathematics course based on placement 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, 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, taken in the junior year as a hallmark experience, 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 Equity & Social Justice focuses on fostering awareness about social identities and inequities, 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: https://www.lasell.edu/academics/academic-centers/donahue-institute-for-equity-and-social-justice.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 Double Laser program at Lasell University allows undergraduate students with high academic standing to earn both their undergraduate and graduate degrees at an accelerated rate with substantial tuition savings.

The following programs are eligible for the Double Laser program:

Master of Business Administration (all concentrations)

Master of Education in Elementary Education

Master of Education in Moderate Disabilities

Master of Science in Communication

Master of Science in Criminal Justice

Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications

Master of Science in Nutrition for Health and Human Performance

Master of Science in Human Resources

Master of Science in Marketing

Master of Science in Organizational Leadership

Master of Science in Project Management

Master of Science in Rehabilitation Science

Master of Science in Management

Master of Science in Sport Management

Students who wish to participate in the Double Laser program must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0

During each blended semester of Senior year, 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. There is no additional cost for graduate courses completed if the student abides by all above stipulations. Students may be eligible to waive two courses (6 credits) through undergraduate course waivers. A list of undergraduate course waivers can be found by clicking here. All Lasell University alumni receive a 10% tuition discount.

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: Exploring Cultures and Languages, Video Games and Culture, The Hero in Myth and Culture, The Meaning of Dress, The Spark of Creativity, The Witch in History 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 Early Childhood 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 international projects in the form of global service-learning, also referred to as the Shoulder to Shoulder Program. Shoulder to Shoulder is a program consisting of credit-bearing, short-term global learning projects that maintain and build long-standing, community-engaged partnerships and focus on collaborative service-learning work both domestically and internationally. The community-engaged learning must be preceded by a rigorous course that explores critically reflective practice, the characteristics of the host culture, clear disciplinary project goals, and the multi-faceted ways structural and systemic power and privilege differentials play themselves out within the host culture in relation to the U.S. The primary goals of the partnership must be the authentic and ethical collaboration (working shoulder-to-shoulder) with partners on mutually beneficial projects that combine community-engaged work and reflective experiences. This is in contrast to faculty-led programs or service-learning programs which include a travel component but do not engage in long-standing community engaged partnerships paired with rigorous coursework and deep ongoing reflection.  

Recent Shoulder-to-Shoulder projects have focused on service work in Antigua, Ecuador, Mexico, Tanzania, and Vietnam. Learn more about Lasell's International Service-Learning Program.

Students must submit an online application by the posted deadline the semester before the course runs. Participants must be in good academic and disciplinary standing. Please note that Shoulder-to-Shoulder projects 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.

International Service-Learning is suspended for the 2021-2022 academic year.

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. 

Students can access their Success Network online with any device to find information about and schedule appointments with instructors, advisors, and other resources, and view course feedback, early alert messages, kudos, success plans, and upcoming appointments/tasks. 

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 Career Readiness through Connected Learning Symposium, students engage in activities and presentations designed to further their career development. The annual Spring Connected Learning Symposium serves as a showcase of their academic accomplishments, also in a professional conference 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 offering a significant reduction in tuition over the course of four years. 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 or contact the Chair of Academic Research (Professor Zane Zheng), 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.   

Lasell Undergraduate Research Excellence (LURE) Grant is designed to support academic research and creative work outside of classroom. The goal of this grant mechanism is to allow Lasell undergrads to create new knowledge and explore new territories in their fields as a lead investigator. 

All Lasell undergrads are eligible to apply and request funding support for pursuing a research project of their own choice that is relevant to their professional areas. To enrich the research experience and maximize the possible impact, each applicant is strongly encouraged to find a faculty mentor at Lasell to discuss the proposed project first and to seek guidance and support through the research process.  

There are two application cycles each year (Fall and Spring). For further information and inquiries, please contact Professor Zane Zheng (zzheng AT lasell.edu).

As part of the academic advising process, course instructors issue progress reports in the fifth week of each semester based on three-four weeks of student work.  Students receive feedback related to the nature of their coursework, engagement and participation, grasp of content, and overall progress;  students receive a "warning” flag when they are evaluated at the time to be doing work at a grade level of C- or below. Students who have first-year or sophomore-standing will receive progress reports individually from their advisor. Students who have junior or senior-standing may access their progress reports through the Starfish Student Success Platform.  Early progress reports are indications of progress at a certain point-in-time, and 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 sponsors student internships, facilitates research initiated by Lasell faculty, and provides support to researchers 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. Students, faculty, and staff at community-based organizations work together to develop projects that draw on course content (e.g., discipline specific theories and best practices) to address social issues or specific needs of the organization.

There are several ways for students to incorporate service-learning into their educational experience at Lasell. One opportunity involves registering for a Service-learning Linked-Credit, which is a 1-credit mini-course/project that is connected to an existing 3-or 4-credit course. The Service-learning Linked-Credit affords students opportunities to extend or deepen their learning experiences via academic service-learning. Some faculty incorporate service learning components into their course as a course requirement. Other opportunities involve the Alternative Spring Break Program. This program involves immersive service-learning experience working directly with people and organizations, typically in other regions during Lasell’s spring break in March each year.

To learn more about service-learning opportunities, talk to your course professor and/or contact staff at the Center for Community-Based Learning: Professor Nickki Dawes, ndawes@lasell.edu; Byrd Hughes, bhughes@lasell.edu.

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 (AAC).

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 projects, and international internships. International exposure and cross-cultural learning enrich 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, short-term international service-learning projects called the Shoulder-to-Shoulder program, 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 in 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. However, for most majors this is not the only semester students can study abroad. It is important students identify with their academic advisor which semester works best for their academic plan. 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 main summer term (14 weeks), 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.