Navigating the UCF Business Administration Major: Requirements and Pathways to Success

The University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Business offers a variety of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) programs, designed to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary for success in today's rapidly evolving business world. However, gaining admission to a specific business major within the College of Business requires careful navigation of specific admission standards, course requirements, and academic policies. This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding the UCF Business Administration major requirements, ensuring a smooth and successful academic journey.

Admission to the College of Business

It's crucial to understand that admission to UCF does not automatically guarantee admission to the College of Business Administration (CBA). The College of Business is a restricted access college, meaning that specific criteria must be met to be accepted into a College of Business major. All students initially enter the University as a "pre-business major," regardless of their intended business specialization.

College of Business Admission Standards

The College of Business Admission Standards have been established by the faculty to increase the likelihood of a timely program completion and post-graduation success. A student’s academic catalog year guarantees their graduation requirements, but not their admission requirements. Admission standards are subject to change without notice and all pre-majors are held to the current admission standards.

Primary Business Core

A foundational component of the admission process is the completion of the Primary Business Core at UCF or an AACSB-accredited institution. This core consists of five essential courses covering key business disciplines: Accounting, Economics, Finance, Marketing and Management. A “C” or better is required for Accounting, Economics, Finance, Marketing and Management.

GPA Requirements

GPA requirements vary depending on the specific major a student wishes to pursue:

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Accounting, Finance, Management, and Marketing: These majors require a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the Primary Core, with no grade less than a “C” in each of the five Primary Core classes. Additionally, a grade of at least a “B” in the first course in their chosen major is mandatory.
Integrated Business and Real Estate: A minimum GPA of 2.0 in the Primary Core is required for these majors, with no grade less than a “D” in each of the five Primary Core classes. Real Estate majors must also earn a minimum grade of “C” in the first course in their chosen major.
Economics: Economics majors must earn a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the Primary Core courses, and no grade less than a “C” in each of the five Primary Core courses.

Repeating Courses

If any course in the Primary Core is repeated, either to earn the minimum required grade of “B” for a first course in the desired major, or to earn the minimum required grade of “C” for any other Primary Core course, both attempts will be counted in the calculation of the Primary Core GPA. However, the better attempt, not the average of both attempts, will be used to determine whether the student has met the minimum required grade sought through the repeated course.

Students are allowed a maximum of one repeat attempt to meet the 2.0 Primary Core GPA and a minimum grade of C in the first course in the major. It is the student’s responsibility to thoughtfully consider the admission standards prior to electing to repeat a Primary Core course.

GEB 3006: Career Development and Financial Planning

Successful completion of GEB 3006 Career Development and Financial Planning is also a prerequisite for admission into any College of Business BSBA program. This course provides personal reflection and decision making skills to help you successfully navigate educational and on-going career challenges. Students will finalize the implementation of their career plan and learn what to do after they get their entry-level job to manage their career.

Transitioning into the Major

As long as a student meets the above admission standards, and is in the correct “Pre-major,” the student will automatically move into their major. This process will occur after official grades have posted at the end of the term.

Coursework and Degree Requirements

Major Coursework

After selecting a specific business major and receiving college approval to enter the major, students will begin taking coursework in their selected major. All business majors require 27 credit hours of coursework in the major.

Secondary Business Core

In addition, all students will complete the Secondary Business Core. The Secondary Business Core courses are designed to ensure that students have a solid understanding of the various functions of business and the environment in which the enterprise operates.

Career Professionalism Series

In order to prepare students for their post college career, students will also complete the Career Professionalism Series that began with GEB 3006: Career Development and Financial Planning.

Important Academic Policies

The College of Business has several academic policies in place to ensure student success and maintain academic integrity.

Transfer Credits

Students entering UCF with business coursework previously taken at another institution may use the College of Business Course Evaluation system to request that a business course that was taken at another institution be reviewed for equivalency with a College of Business course. Submissions to the system are reviewed by faculty within the appropriate academic department to determine if the course taken at another institution is equivalent to the course taught at UCF by College of Business faculty. If the academic department determines that the course is equivalent, the transfer credit will meet degree requirements. If it is determined that the course is not equivalent, the transfer credit will not meet degree requirements and the course must be successfully completed at UCF. Submissions are carefully evaluated by discipline-specific experts within the academic departments; therefore, equivalency decisions are final and non-negotiable.

Degree Audit

All business students are expected to know how to find their degree audit (accessed through the MyUCF portal) and understand how to read the degree audit. It is the responsibility of each student to know the graduation requirements for their specific major and catalog year. If you have questions regarding your degree audit, you are encouraged to meet with an Advising Team member in the Office of Professional Development (BA2 101).

Student Code of Conduct

As a member of the UCF College of Business community, students commit themselves to act honestly, responsibly, and above all, with honor and integrity in all areas of campus life. Students are guests of the College of Business and their continued enrollment in the College is a privilege, not a right. This privilege may be revoked if it is determined by the College of Business that a student is in violation of this Student Code of Conduct. Students are accountable for all that they say and write. They will interact with faculty, staff and students in a polite and professional manner at all times. Students are responsible for the academic integrity of their work. They pledge that they will neither misrepresent their work nor give or receive unauthorized aid.

Transient Requests

Business majors are expected to complete their business coursework at UCF. Once a student has enrolled as a UCF College of Business major, the College does not approve transient requests for college of business courses, or any business major required course. Students must request consideration by the College of Business before taking a course at another institution or the course will not count towards degree progress. You may submit your request for consideration by applying online at: floridashines.org. Go to the drop down menu under ‘Succeed in College’ and select ‘Take a Course at Another School.’ Select the “Apply Now” button.

Adding Additional Academic Plans

Requests to add additional College of Business academic plan/s (majors, minors, certificates) will be reviewed in accordance with the requirements listed in the Undergraduate Catalog.

Intent to Graduate

Students are expected to submit their intent to graduate (ITG) in their graduating semester through their myUCF Student Portal once they have completed degree requirements and by the university deadline for the associated term.

Incomplete Grades

The student must provide the appropriate documentation. Note: University requires that incompletes be completed within one year at which time a “F” is assigned. The policy does not require that students be given a year to complete the course requirements.

Grade Forgiveness

If you are retaking a course for grade forgiveness keep in mind University and College of Business deadlines. Students apply for grade forgiveness in the term they are retaking the course. If you received a “C-” or lower in your initial attempt, you will apply for grade forgiveness through myUCF. You will need to complete the online application. If you received a “C” or better in your initial attempt, you will need college approval. Students will be contacted once their form has been signed and approved with instructions to submit this form to the Registrar’s Office by the university deadline. Students must adhere to the OPD and University deadlines outlined above.

Prerequisite Requirements

When registering for courses, it is the student’s responsibility to know prerequisite requirements. This includes both individual course prerequisites (e.g., Quantitative Business Tools I must be successfully completed prior to taking Quantitative Business Tools II) and program prerequisites (e.g., Primary Core classes must be successfully completed prior to enrolling in any upper-level courses in the major). College of Business prerequisites are updated annually by the faculty and are in place to increase the likelihood of student success. Students meeting the program prerequisites for a specific major may apply for admission to that major. Each business major has admission requirements unique to that particular major that have been established to increase the likelihood of a timely program completion and post-graduation success. Admission requirements must be met and an online ‘Change of Major Request’ must be submitted and approved in order to move from a ‘pre-business major’ status to ‘in the major’ status. When prerequisites are changed, they are enforced for all students.

Course Overlap and Credit Hour Limits

A maximum of 6 hours of coursework may be shared between programs in the College of Business. Registration for a course that has a time overlap with any portion of the dedicated class time of another course is NOT permitted. University policy allows students to enroll in a maximum of 17 credit hours per fall and spring term, and a maximum of 14 credit hours per summer term (14 credit hours for summer A, B, C, and D combined). The College of Business fully supports this policy. Exceptions to this University policy are rare. Please note that work-related time conflicts, personal schedule conflicts, financial constraints, etc.

Academic Standing

The minimum UCF GPA required to be considered a student “in good standing” is 2.0. If a student’s UCF grade point average falls below a 2.0, the student is placed on Academic Probation. Students on academic probation are required to earn a minimum 2.0 UCF GPA during the subsequent semester. If the semester UCF GPA is above a 2.0 and is high enough to raise the cumulative UCF GPA back to a 2.0 or higher, then the student is placed back in “good standing” and is removed from academic probation. If the semester UCF GPA is a 2.0 but is not high enough to raise the cumulative UCF GPA back to a 2.0, then the student is placed on “Continued Probation” the next semester. A student on Academic Probation is disqualified upon failure to achieve a minimum 2.0 UCF GPA during the subsequent term. Students who have been disqualified from UCF will have a hold on their account from the Registrar’s Office. A Disqualified student seeking readmission to the University may submit an application for readmission to the Registrar’s Office. Meeting the admission standards for chosen major. A student readmitted following Disqualification who fails to achieve a minimum 2.0 UCF GPA is permanently excluded from the University. Students are not eligible for readmission after Exclusion.

Lack of Progress

Students failing to maintain the minimum required major GPA, per their declared major and catalog year will be placed on “Lack of Progress” in the major. If a student on “Lack of Progress” in the major fails to achieve the minimum required major GPA in the subsequent term of enrollment, including summer semesters, that student will be dismissed from the major and required to change his or her major. Students dismissed from their major are not eligible to declare a minor in the major they were dismissed from. For example: A student dismissed from Accounting is unable to declare an Accounting minor after dismissal. Students who change their major while on Lack of Progress in the Major and take courses in a subsequent term of enrollment are not permitted to return to the major or minor for which they were placed on Lack of Progress. Students failing to maintain a minimum College of Business GPA of 2.0 will be placed on “Lack of Progress” in the College. If a student on “Lack of Progress” in the College fails to achieve a cumulative 2.0 College GPA in the subsequent term of enrollment, including summer semesters, that student will be dismissed from the College and required to change his or her major to a major outside of the College of Business.

Appeals

Academic policies have been approved by university and College of Business faculty. These policies will be strictly enforced. It is rare that an exception would be made. If a student has documented proof of a university error or extenuating circumstances, the College may consider an appeal. Medical-related appeals (death of an immediate family member, medical or health issues, etc.) should be submitted through the Registrar’s Office, not our College appeal process. There is a university deadline for these appeals. Appeals based on disagreement or general dissatisfaction with a policy will not be considered. The appeal includes a formal typed letter directly citing the specific policy that the student is appealing, and clearly states the exception that the student is requesting. The letter must also include the student’s PID, declared major, College of Business GPA, and UCF GPA. The appeal package contains all the above-required information and should be addressed to: College of Business Academic Policy Review Board. Appeals are submitted through an online platform. Please review the above criteria carefully and proofread your packet thoroughly. Failure to meet all of the above criteria will result in an automatic denial. Appeals will be accepted throughout the semester, until the Monday before the start of classes as indicated on the Academic Calendar. The Academic Policy Review Board will convene once a month to review appeals.

Resources and Opportunities at UCF

UCF is committed to providing students with the guidance and resources necessary to succeed.

Career Services

Access numerous resources and services from Career Services - from discovering your interests and UCF majors to exploring careers and industries to preparing for internship or job searches.

Undergraduate Research

At UCF, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research projects. No matter your major, there’s a wide range of opportunities within each discipline.

UCF Abroad

Broaden your views of the world around you through opportunities with UCF Abroad.

The Management, BSBA Program: A Closer Look

The Management, BSBA program combines theory and application, with a focus on problem solving, group projects and case analysis. If you possess strong quantitative skills, enjoy problem solving and embrace working with people, then this program is for you. Your courses will prepare you for leadership roles in a variety of organizations, including large and small, public and private, for-profit and nonprofit. The program also provides the required knowledge and skills needed to embark on your own entrepreneurial venture. Management majors also have the opportunity to earn either a Human Resources or Entrepreneurship Certificate as part of the bachelor’s degree (no additional credit hours required). Upon graduation, apply for management and leadership roles at different companies and organizations. Joining professional organizations and pursuing certifications in your respective area of interest will also keep you ahead of the competition.

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