Standards for MA Degree Eligibility
Academic Standing
The Lauder Committee on Academic Programs (LCAP) uses two standards to determine satisfactory progress in the MA in International Studies: good academic standing and compliance with the Lauder Code of Conduct.
A student who does not remain in good academic standing or who violates the Lauder Code of Conduct will be informed in writing and may lose eligibility for Lauder fellowships and financial aid, extracurricular activities, student leadership positions, and other funding opportunities, and may be required to withdraw from the joint-degree program.
Good academic standing refers to fulfillment of degree requirements, with a minimum standard of a B average for all courses in each academic year, no grades of “F”, and compliance with thesis deadlines and protocols, including a grade of B or better in both the thesis seminar and the master’s thesis. A student whose record falls below a B average is considered “not in good academic standing”. The School of Arts and Sciences requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, which includes MBA or JD joint-credits, to forward candidates for degree.
A student who receives a grade of “F” in a Lauder Core Curriculum Course must re-take that course, and thus may be required to pay a tuition surcharge. The Lauder Core Curriculum includes INTS7100, INTS7200, INTS7210 INTS7410, SAS elective, thesis seminar, and master’s thesis in addition to required Program of Concentration courses.
A student who fails to comply with thesis policies and deadlines or fails to complete a course within the semester during which the course is taken and does not withdraw or change his/her status to auditor will receive, at the faculty member’s discretion, a grade of either I (incomplete) or F (failure).
Code of Academic Integrity. The University of Pennsylvania’s Code of Academic Integrity, which articulates the principles and spirit governing cases of cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, multiple submissions, misrepresentation of academic records, facilitating academic dishonesty, and unfair advantage applies to all Lauder students. The Code of Academic Integrity may be found at https://catalog.upenn.edu/pennbook/code-of-academic-integrity/
Failure to uphold the University code of academic integrity means that the student is automatically not in good academic standing.
The Lauder Committee on Academic Programs (LCAP) will review cases that are brought to the Committee and determine consequences and sanctions. The Managing Director will inform a student in writing if he or she is not meeting the standards of academic standing and/or Lauder Code of Conduct as well as any decisions of the Lauder Committee on Academic Programs (LCAP).
The Lauder Code of Conduct
All members of the Lauder community are expected to uphold the highest ethical standards and practices appropriate to their status as members of the Lauder community. The MBA student body has articulated specific related guidelines, approved by vote in the spring of 1989.
The full text of the MBA Code of Ethics can be found here. The Code of Student Conduct and Responsibilities at Penn Law similarly applies and can be found here. Students are responsible for reviewing the codes of conduct noted above. Failure to uphold the Lauder Code of Conduct and MBA Code of Ethics means that a student is officially not in compliance with this standard.
Above and beyond the Codes above and to ensure a positive and productive learning and teaching environment, the Lauder Institute will respond to disruptive behavior, which is considered behavior that interferes with or obstructs the functioning and flow of a work or educational environment and individual academic efforts. Examples of such disruptive behavior include, but are not limited to:
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- (a) frequent tardiness;
- (b) distractive talking, such as speaking out of turn or monopolizing classroom conversation;
- (c) verbal disputes, perhaps of such form, frequency, and range to indicate a student’s systemic inability to form peer bonds;
- (d) physical disputes or threats thereof;
- (e) substance abuse;
- (f) use of electronic devices that have been defined as not permitted during instructional periods;
- (g) malicious gossip meant to ostracize or bully others;
- (h) threats to harm self or others;
- (i) intellectual mocking that may intimidate or “silence” others from further active participation in learning activities;
- (j) frequent complaining, possibly aimed to be excused from and/or renegotiate responsibilities or commitments that are part of a standard Lauder curriculum;
- (k) the creation, distribution, or publication of any public-facing communication that falsely represents or implies that it reflects the views, positions, or endorsement of other individuals or groups without their express authorization or consent;
- and (l) failure to comply with or respond to communications from faculty and staff, after repeat attempts are made.
A response system is in effect if any of the codes in this section are violated at any point within the two year program. The response aims to treat students fairly and consistently and includes the following steps: (1) a verbal warning by the faculty member/Lauder representative in situ for any failure to meet academic requirements or adhere to the Lauder Code of Conduct and notification to respective Faculty Director; (2) a written warning/documentation by the relevant faculty and/or academic faculty head; (3) a formal meeting with the faculty member/ Lauder representative; and (4) a follow-up meeting/message about progress or continuing issues.
Students will be given the opportunity to respond and debrief with Faculty Directors. The opportunity to respond will occur upon return from off-campus activities. The Lauder Committee on Academic Programs (LCAP) will review cases that are brought to the Committee and determine consequences and sanctions. The Managing Director will inform a student in writing if he or she is not meeting the standards of academic standing and/or Lauder Code of Conduct as well as any decisions of the Lauder Committee on Academic Programs (LCAP).
During off-campus Lauder summer immersions, Lauder Intercultural Ventures (LIVs), and mini-immersions, the Lauder Institute reserves the right to dismiss a student from a Lauder activity due to severe disruption to program activities. In the case of Lauder Summer Immersion, dismissal will follow 3 written warnings from the Lauder Institute faculty/representative; however, the Institute may request that a student leave the program immediately in exceptional situations. In cases where a student is requested to leave the Summer Immersion program but is not requested to withdraw from the Lauder Institute, the student must submit make-up work in order to receive a course grade. The course grade will be no higher than a “C”. In the case of Lauder Intercultural Ventures (LIVs), mini-immersions, or officially-recognized Lauder academic activities, dismissal will follow 2 written warnings from the Lauder Institute faculty/representative; however, the Institute may ask a student to leave the program immediately for egregious behavior. The Managing Director will also communicate penalties as a consequence of the reported incidents; these may include, but are not limited to, required make-up work, cancellation of fellowship awards, denial of eligibility for Lauder honors or awards, and dismissal from the joint-degree program. Students will not receive refunds for summer immersion expenses or rescheduling fees in the event of dismissal from Institute activities. Please note that Lauder classes and Lauder academic travel are for students enrolled in the Lauder M.A. degree only.
If there are virtual activities/recordings for instructional purposes, all video, audio, and on-screen activity, including chat windows, are for the purposes of Lauder classroom instruction only, and must not be posted publicly or shared beyond your class members. Inviting others or circulating recordings is not allowed. University policies regarding online harassment and responsible conduct in the academic and social environment from the University Office of Audit, Compliance and Policy apply to Lauder student conduct.
The webpage was last updated May 18, 2026.
