Getting Started (Majors Guide)

School: Isenberg

 (Revised Spring 2018)  

How to Explore/Get Started in the Major

Suggested General Education and Other Courses

Under the new guidelines students are still required to take two courses, one in U.S. Diversity and one in Global Diversity. Students entering in Fall 2018 are expected to take one of these diversity courses, either U.S. or Global, in their first year on campus.  For Fall 2018 Registration, look for courses with DU (formerly U) and DG (formerly G) to help students stay on track.  Any course labled DU will satisfy the requirement for a U.S. diversity course and any course labeled DG will satisfy the the requirement for Global diversity course. Course planning guidelines, including guidelines for students, are available at www.umass.edu/gened.

Any general education course that would fit the student's schedule is ideal.  The BBA Program includes a 21 credit Breadth Requirement of Non-Business Electives.  One breadth requirement per semester may be taken with pass/fail grading.  Only one Economics or one Resource Economics course may be used to satisfy credits for this requirement.  Since admission to the BBA Program is highly competitive, it is especially important to explore alternative majors many of which may require a foreign language.

Suggested Major and Pre-requisite courses

Required prerequisites, including recommended sequence:

  • Three predictor courses, one of which MUST be MATH 127 or higher level calculus (i.e., Math 131), are required by the end of freshman year.  The two remaining predictor courses are typically ECON 103 (or RES-ECON 102), and ECON 104.    
  • RES-ECON 212 or STATISTC 240 and ACCOUNTG 221** during the sophomore year.
    NOTE: Although current Isenberg majors usually complete ACCOUNTG 222 by the end of the sophomore year, prospective students may take Accounting 222 in the junior year.

    * RES-ECON 212 (or STATISTC 240) is the prerequisite for OIM 301.
    ** Non-Isenberg students can submit an online override to enroll in Accounting 221 or 222 or any other BBA Isenberg predictor course(s). The override form is available until the start of the semester: https://www.isenberg.umass.edu/programs/undergraduate/on-campus/advising/bba-course-override.  Once the semester begins, students can contact the Isenberg Undergraduate Programs Office.  ACCOUNTG 221 may be easier to enroll in during the Spring semester.

Minimum GPA or grades in prerequisite courses (if any):
Although a minimum GPA requirement has not been set, students should strive to achieve a 3.5 GPA or above; complete MATH 127, ECON 103 (or RES-ECON 102) and ECON 104; and then apply to the BBA Program as soon as possible, in order to stand the best chance of being accepted. This GPA may go up or down in any given semester, depending on the competition.

How to Declare the Major

Two information sessions are held each semester. Check the Isenberg website for dates, times and locations. These sessions are conducted by Isenberg advisors who will be available to answer questions regarding the on-campus transfer application process. Students may apply to the BBA program during the semester in which they complete the required number of predictor courses which depends on their term count; one of these predictors must be calculus. See www.isenberg.umass.edu/programs/undergraduate/on-campus/admissions/internal-transfers.

Prospective students must submit an online application. Applications are available in early November and early April. Application deadlines are December 1 and May 1. Admission decisions will be made after grades appear on SPIRE by mid-January and mid-June.  First year, first semester students can only apply at the end of their second semester. 

By the end of the semester in which they apply

  • First semester sophomores should have completed ECON 103 (or RES-ECON 102), ECON 104, MATH 127 (or higher level calculus) and RES-ECON 212 (or STATS 240) at the time of application.
  • Second semester sophomores should have completed ACCTG 221 in addition to all of the previously listed courses for first semester sophomores.
  • Juniors should have completed at least six of the predictor courses. Only one course, the sixth predictor, may be chosen from the following list: OIM 301, FINANCE 301, MANAGMNT 301, MARKETNG 301.

Students who apply as juniors generally should have completed at least six of the predictor courses. ACCTG 221 must be the fifth predictor. Only one course, the sixth predictor, may be chosen from among the following list: OIM 301, FINANCE 301, MANAGMNT 301, MARKETNG 301.  Completing these courses does not guarantee admission. Realistically, students entering their junior year without having gained admission should be considering other majors.

Summary of Requirements for the Major

Range of credits required: 60-72 depending on major

The Isenberg School of Management offers a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) Degree with five majors: Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing, and Operations & Information Management.  Students can select a major during the major declaration timeframe each semester after meeting with an academic advisor about the specific requirements for each major. 

Is there a minor?  If so, what are the requirements?  No.

For further information, contact:
Isenberg Undergraduate Programs Office
206 Isenberg
(413) 545-5610
undergrad@isenberg.umass.edu