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NSBT

Academics

Academic Calendar

The academic year at NSBT consists of five sessions that are approximately eight weeks in length. Sessions typically run for the following periods:

  • Session 1: The first Monday of June through the first Sunday of August
  • Session 2: The second Monday of August through the first Sunday of October
  • Session 3: The third Monday of October through the first Sunday of December
  • Session 4: The second Monday of January through the first Sunday of March
  • Session 5: The fourth Monday of March through the second Sunday of May

These are approximate dates and can change according to specific calendar dates. There is one annual graduation service that usually takes place on the second Sunday of June.

Registration and orientation

NSBT has a rolling application process that allows students to start in the next available session after they are accepted. Students may register for classes for sessions up to one year in advance, with the option of changing your registration at a later date, if necessary, using these “Add,” “Drop,” and “Withdraw” options.

Registration for classes opens online two weeks prior to each session and continues until the beginning of the second week (second Monday) of the session.

To help accommodate your needs, required courses are offered at least twice a year, allowing for flexibility in scheduling.

Classes generally open online two weeks before the start of a session. Online orientation is required for all newly enrolled candidates and opens up two weeks prior to the beginning of each session to help get you started on the journey.

All registration for classes in the NSBT degree programs is handled through Populi, the NSBT Learning Management System. Students normally register for one class each session, but may with the permission of their advisor and depending upon their financial capabilities register for a second course (not including Field Education and Capstone).

Students must register for all classes that they intend to take each session. Students who are unsure about a particular class are permitted to register for it for one week to explore it. It is the responsibility of the student, however, to inform the Office of Student Services if they intend to Drop the class in order not to be charged for it.

Add, drop, and withdraw

During the first week of any session, students can Add and / or Drop a class without penalty through Populi online registration. Their decision will be recorded, and a notice will be sent to the Office of Student Services. Students who simply want to Drop a course may do so. If it is within the first week of the course, the student will receive a full refund of tuition for that course. The class will not show up on the student’s transcript. Students who wish to enroll in another class during the first week after a session has begun can do so through Populi online. Students in this case will be charged the additional tuition. To change a course, students can drop one and add another in Populi during the first week of the session. If the course credits are the same, there will not be any changes in tuition.

After the first week of a class (beginning on the second Monday), students can no longer Add or Drop a class. Students can Withdraw from a class at any time up until the end of the eight-week session. After the first week of a session, students must Withdraw by contacting the Office of Student Services directly by email. Withdrawals after the first week cannot go through Populi.

The difference between Drop and Withdraw is that any class a student Drops will not show up on the student’s transcript, while the Withdraw will show up, without affecting the student’s grade point average (see section below on grade point average or GPA). After a session has completed, students can generally not Withdraw from a class unless there are extenuating circumstances that prevented them from contacting the Office of Student Services. The decision to allow a Withdrawal at this point is made only by the Academic Dean. Students who fail to complete a course and do not formally Withdraw will have the course appear on their transcript as “No Credit,” and will count as 0 (zero) points toward their GPA.

Continuous enrollment

Graduate degree students are expected, once they begin program enrollment, to continue to enroll in subsequent eight-week sessions until completing their program and earning their degree. Students may opt to take one or two sessions off each academic year without negatively impacting continuous enrollment requirements. Students must consult with their Academic Advisor in planning how to make up for these missed sessions.

Students who must take more than two sessions off in any given academic year are asked to complete a Leave of Absence form with the Office of Student Services, allowing them to return in good standing at a later date.

Time frame for completion of degrees

The Master of Arts degree requires 36 credit hours and must be completed within five years of initial enrollment. A Leave of Absence suspends this maximum for up to three additional years, after which a student who has not completed the program must reapply for admission. Exceptions to this time frame can be made only by the Academic Dean, upon petition in writing.