Entry into the graduate programs requires completion of pre-requisite foundation courses. The foundation coursework is designed to prepare students for advanced study in business. Foundation course requirements may be waived, on a course-by-course basis, for the applicant who has recently completed equivalent coursework at the graduate or undergraduate level or who demonstrates competency by examination. Foundation course credits and grades are not applicable to the MBA degree.
Pre-requisite Policy for 09-11 Graduate Catalog
Effective date: May 1, 2009
The policy below applies to ALL MBA students (enrolled and recently accepted). The only way the new policy will not affect you is if you have already taken and passed the 600 level courses the pre-req applies to.
Pre-requisite Courses that must be fulfilled for the MBA program:
Micro and Macro Economics
Financial and Managerial Accounting*
Statistics*
Business Law
Management Information Systems
Principles of Marketing
Principles of Finance*
Principles of Management
Operations Management
Pre-req policy for MBA students:
In order to be able to take the 600 level MBA course, students must have taken the appropriate pre-req(s) in the past 7 years with a C or better. If they have not, their pre-req can be fulfilled by either successfully completing (C or better) the appropriate 3 credit pre-req course, successfully taking a CLEP exam (score of 50/75% minimum) or, in some circumstances it can be waived if they have significant (2 + years) work experience in the specific area (must be approved by faculty member in discipline).
For the courses noted by a *, the following new policy applies:
In order to be able to take the Finance, Statistics, and/or Financial Accounting 600 level MBA course(s), students must have taken the respective pre-req(s) in the past 4 years and received a B or better. If they received less than a B, their pre-req can be fulfilled by successfully completing the 1 credit “review” course. This 1 credit review course will be a 500 level pre-req course, graded on a pass/fail scale, and not count toward their MBA degree credits and/or GPA.
Students who have taken the Finance, Statistics, and/or Financial Accounting pre-req in the past 5-8 years and received a C or better will be required to successfully complete the 1 credit “review” course. See course descriptions below.
If a student has never taken the Finance, Statistics, and/or Financial Accounting pre-req, or it has been more than 8 years, or they received less than a C when they took it, will be required to successfully complete the appropriate 3 credit pre-req course (B or better).
Notes on Finance, Statistics and Financial Accounting:
For the courses noted by a *, the following new policy applies:
In order to be able to take the Finance, Statistics, and/or Financial Accounting 600 level MBA course(s), students must have taken the respective pre-req(s) in the past 4 years and received a B or better. If they received less than a B, their pre-req can be fulfilled by successfully completing the 1 credit “review” course. This 1 credit review course will be a 500 level pre-req course, graded on a pass/fail scale, and not count toward their MBA degree credits and/or GPA.
Students who have taken the Finance, Statistics, and/or Financial Accounting pre-req in the past 5-8 years and received a C or better will be required to successfully complete the 1 credit “review” course. See course descriptions below.
If a student has never taken the Finance, Statistics, and/or Financial Accounting pre-req, or it has been more than 8 years, or they received less than a C when they took it, will be required to successfully complete the appropriate 3 credit pre-req course (B or better).
Notes on Finance, Statistics and Financial Accounting:
- The accounting department will allow students to have the Financial Accounting pre-req waived if they have taken intermediate accounting I and II in the past 8 years and received a B or better.
- The Finance, Statistics, and/or Financial Accounting pre-req’s are not allowed to be fulfilled by taking CLEP exams.
- If a student has significant work experience in the specific area, they will still be eligible to have the pre-req course waived if it is deemed appropriate. As stated above, this is to be approved by a faculty member in the specific discipline.
- If a student was waived out of the pre-req, but would like to take the 1 credit review course they can.
To help clarify the new policy, please refer to this summary for Finance, Statistics, and Financial Accounting pre-req's:
- Students waived out of pre-req if:
- Took in past 4 years with B or better, OR
- Have significant work experience in the specific area, approved by faculty in discipline
- Students must take 1 credit review course if:
- Took 5-8 years ago, OR
- Received a B-, C+ or C in past 4 years, OR
- Took it 8 + years ago and have some work experience in the specific area, approved by faculty in discipline
- Students must take 3 credit pre-req if:
- Took it more than 8 years ago and have not worked in the area, OR
- Have never taken the pre-req, OR
- Received less than a C when they originally took it.
NOTE: All accepted students MUST meet with their advisor to determine which foundation courses they still need to complete before registering for the individual core courses.
Click Here for the CLEP Information Sheet
Click on desired links to view specific concentration foundation requirements
MBA/Accounting Course Planning Sheet