Pre-Business Program

Any entering or transfer student planning to a pursue business administration degree must apply to the pre-business program and will work with a business advisor in the development of a planned program of study.

The Minimum Pre-Business Requirements Are:

Additional Hours

Additional hours will be taken in the following areas to complete minimum pre-business administration requirements:

1. General Education Distribution Program Areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8
2. Non-Business Electives

Admission

After completion of the pre-business program requirements listed above, students will be accepted into the B.B.A. program. A formal application is required for acceptance.

Students must visit the Haworth College of Business Office of Advising and Admissions located in 2130 Schneider Hall and meet with an advisor to submit an application. Applications should be submitted in September or January, depending on when the P.B.A. requirements will be completed.

Admission decisions are made as the grades of the P.B.A. courses become available. Students will be notified of the status of their application via their WMU email account.

Admission of transfer students from accredited two- and four-year institutions will be made on a similar basis. The same criteria for admission listed above will apply.

Students not meeting admission requirements will be informed of steps they may take to earn future admission.

The Haworth College of Business Advising Office will provide advising services for business students throughout their academic careers. Students must inform the advising office once they have made a choice of major. An advisor will provide a curriculum guide to be taken to a faculty advisor in the academic department. The faculty advisor will provide expertise in the area of the chosen major, while the advising office will continue to provide advising to meet all graduation requirements of the professional B.B.A. curriculum.

Professional B.B.A. Curriculum

In order to graduate from the professional B.B.A. program, a student must complete a minimum of 122 non-repeated semester hours. In addition to the University requirements of general education and the specific requirements noted above, students must complete the following:

Baccalaureate-Level Writing Requirement

Students who have chosen to major in any area of business will satisfy the Baccalaureate-Level Writing Requirement through successful completion of the following course:

• BUS 3700 - Integrated Communication in Business Credits: 3 hours

Advising

For questions regarding B.B.A. curriculum requirements and transfer credit equivalencies, contact the Haworth College of Business Office of Academic Advising and Admissions (269) 387-5075.

Special Notes

1. All students who complete the B.B.A. requirements will automatically graduate with a minor in General Business.
2. A minimum of 50 percent of all B.B.A. course work must be completed in areas other than business. Nine hours of economics and six hours of statistics may be included in this percentage.
3. With departmental approval, transfer courses from four-year schools (and appropriate lower division courses from junior or community colleges) may be included in majors and minors. However, 50 percent of all required HCOB courses must be completed through Western Michigan University, including at least 50 percent of any business major and 50 percent of any business minor completed at Western Michigan University. Note that courses taken through approved WMU study abroad partners count as courses completed at Western Michigan University for the International Business minor. Transfer work towards Business Administration Core Requirements must meet the following criteria:
   
   • Approval by the Haworth College of Business Office of Academic Advising and Admissions and the department 
   • Minimum grade of “C”
   • Minimum grade of “C” in ACTY 2100 and ACTY 2110 or equivalents before enrolling in ACTY 3100, 3220, or 3240.
4. To declare a minor in any business area, except Marketing (see below), the student must meet with an advisor in Haworth College of Business Office of Academic Advising and Admissions (2130 Schneider Hall). The requirements and restrictions for declaration of a minor are:
   
   • Completion of a minimum of 56 credit hours
   • A 2.5 overall grade point average
   • The student must then meet with a departmental advisor for specific prerequisite and course requirements of the minor
   • Non-business majors are limited to a maximum of 30 credit hours of business courses at the time of graduation
5. To be eligible to apply for a minor either in Advertising and Promotion or in Marketing, a student must have completed a minimum of 56 credit hours with an overall WMU grade point average of at least 2.50. However, meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee admission into either minor, as the Department of Marketing receives far more minor applications than it has the capacity to accept. Admission into either minor will be based on space availability.
6. To declare a minor in Advertising and Promotion or Marketing, a student must meet with an advisor at the Office of Academic Advising and Admissions in the Haworth College of Business. After declaring a minor, the student must then meet with a Marketing Department advisor to discuss specific requirements and complete a minor slip for the minor before registering for any marketing courses. Non-business majors are limited to a maximum of 30 credit hours of business courses at the time of graduation.
7. Enrollment in Haworth College of Business courses requires that students meet the following program status: