BBA Admission FAQs:

Courses, Degree Structure, and Special Programs

Q:  Could I finish the Ross BBA in fewer than three years?

The BBA core courses are sequenced to build skills, and most are offered only once a year; as a result, it takes three years to complete the program. (Exception: Currently, there are no core courses during the final semester of the program, and students who have completed all the degree requirements may graduate in December instead of April. However, this is subject to change.) View the core curriculum and the general degree structure.

Q:  Could I study abroad while in the program?

Yes. The Ross School offers several international BBA summer programs. Also, you may participate in summer programs offered by the U-M Office of International Programs or other colleges and universities. Finally, leaves of absence during the regular academic year may be approved for truly unique educational opportunities; students are usually required to have at least a 3.0 GPA and to step out of the BBA Program for an entire year. Leaves of absence are not permitted for general, one-term study-abroad programs.

Q:  Will my AP, IB, A-level, or transfer credits count toward the Ross BBA degree?

The Ross BBA requires a total of 120 credits, 75 of which must be earned after you formally begin the BBA Program. This means that the most you can count toward your BBA degree from all sources prior to beginning the BBA program is 45 credits, including the minimum of 27 college credits required for admission. (Exception: If you pursue a dual degree, you can count any and all test or transferrable college credits toward the additional credit requirements necessary to complete the dual degree.)

Q:  Could I use AP, IB, A-level, or transfer credits to meet any specific BBA degree requirements?

AP credits count toward the 120 required for graduation but not any specific degree requirements. IB, A-level, and transfer credits count toward the liberal-arts distribution requirements, as appropriate, and the 120 required for graduation. Once your first semester in the program begins, you may transfer only a total of 9 credits from other institutions. Business courses at other institutions do not transfer to the Ross School. Review the degree requirements.

Q:  What courses will I take in the BBA program?

Most semesters, you will take several credits of required BBA core courses, as well as additional credits in the liberal arts or business electives. View the core curriculum and the general degree structure.

Q:  What are the courses like?

Ross BBA courses are challenging, frequently involve numbers and data, and typically include team-based, action-oriented projects.  The median grade in all BBA core courses is a B. Our pre-business peer counselors can offer first-hand perspectives on the program and courses.

Q:  Are internships a part of the program?

Most of our students take an internship the summer after their junior year, and the Ross Office of Career Development offers support to students in all three years of the program. Internships are not required, however, and students do not receive academic credit for them.

Q:  Why don't you offer majors?

We want you to be grounded in every functional area of business -- and so do our corporate recruiters. However, you can still create an emphasis through your elective business courses.

Q:  Will earning a BBA make me more competitive for admission to an MBA program?

Not in and of itself. Better MBA programs typically recruit students who have acquired several years of work experience, regardless of whether those students hold a BBA. Also, the Ross BBA allows students to compete for top-tier jobs right out of college. Many graduates do not find it necessary to earn an MBA.
 

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