COX INTRANET

Frequently Asked Questions by Pre-Business Students

Q1. What do I need to declare a major in the Cox School?

Q2. What if I do not make a 3.300 on the seven subset courses?

Q3. Can I transfer in a subset course?

Q4. Is there a minor in business?

Q5. Is a specific math course required for admission to the Cox School?

Q6. Can I take ACCT 2301, ITOM 2305 or STAT 2301 during my first year at SMU?

Q7. Which courses have honors sections? In which semesters are they offered?

Q8. If I have not completed my subset, can I take upper-level business courses?

Q9. When I register, the courses are always closed or restricted. What can I do?

Q10. Can I talk with a Cox advisor before I am admitted to the business school?

Q11. Can I participate in one of the SMU's study abroad programs and still graduate on time?

Q12. Does the Cox School offer a major in International Business?

Q 1. What do I need to declare a major in the Cox School?

A1. To declare a major in the Cox School, students must have satisfactorily completed 42 credit hours and have a grade point average of 3.300 on the seven-course subset. The subset consists of ENGL 1301, 1302; ECO 1311, 1312; ACCT 2301; ITOM 2305 or STAT 2301; and MATH 1309 or MATH 1337.

Q 2. What if I do not make a 3.300 on the seven subset courses?

A2. If you do not earn a 3.30 GPA on the seven-course subset, you may take ACCT2302 and have that calculated into an 8-course subset GPA. If you earn a 3.30 GPA on the eight-course extended subset, you will be admitted to the business school. Please note: If you entered SMU prior to Fall 2007, you may be under different Cox admission requirements. See your academic advisor to determine what the Cox admission requirements are for you.

Q 3. Can I transfer in a subset course?

A3. Once a student has enrolled at SMU, all subset courses must be taken at SMU.

Q 4. Is there a minor in business?

A4. Yes, we offer a Minor in Business Administration. The same admission requirements apply to minors and majors. The minor includes ACCT 2301, 2302; ITOM 2308; ITOM 3306; FINA 3320; MKTG 3340; and MNO 3370. Students must have a 2.0 GPA in all business courses attempted to earn the minor. Once a student has enrolled at SMU, all courses for the minor must be completed at SMU. Transfer students who have completed some of the courses toward the minor prior to enrolling at SMU must still complete 18 hours in business at SMU to earn the minor in business and should work with their advisor to select additional business courses to fulfill the residency requirement.

Q 5. Is a specific math course required for admission to the Cox School?

A5. Yes. We require students to successfully complete MATH 1309, Business Calculus (or 1337) prior to admission to the Cox School. This is one of the seven subset courses. Calculus helps prepare students for the more quantitative business school courses.

Q 6. Can I take ACCT 2301, ITOM 2305, or STAT 2301 during my first year at SMU?

A6. Due to the prerequisites for these courses, it is unlikely that students will enroll in them during their first year. While it seems appealing to get ahead by taking these classes early, you should be aware that the honors versions of these courses are not offered until the fall of the sophomore year. Dedman College offers STAT 2301 and the Statistics Department should be consulted for any prerequisites for STAT 2301.

Q 7. Which courses have honors sections? In which semesters are they offered?

A7. Sophomores with a 3.6 cumulative SMU GPA may enroll in the honors sections of ACCT 2301 and ITOM 2305 in the fall semester. In the spring semester, an honors section is available in ACCT 2302. Junior- and senior-level honors courses are available to Cox School majors upon application and acceptance to the BBA Honors Program. Only declared business majors are eligible to apply to the Cox Honors Program. Application to the Honors Program is in the spring of the sophomore year.

Q 8. If I have not completed my subset, can I take upper-level business courses?

A8. No. Only students who are officially in Cox can take upper-division business courses.

 Q 9. When I register, the courses are always closed or restricted. What can I do?

A9. Due to the great demand for Cox courses, seats in Cox courses fill up quickly. If the course you want to take is full, you should work with your academic advisor to explore other options that are available to you.

Q10. Can I talk with a Cox School advisor before I am admitted to the business school?

A10. Yes! We would be happy to discuss the requirements for Cox School majors or minors anytime except during the eight weeks prior to and the first two weeks of registration while we are working with current Cox students. Call the BBA Advising Office at 214-768-3195 to make an appointment. Please bring a current Degree Progress Report to your meeting with an advisor.

Q11. Can I participate in one of SMU's study abroad programs and still graduate on time?

A11. Yes! You should consult with a BBA advisor a semester or two in advance of when you plan to study abroad. There are prerequisites for business courses abroad, but with careful planning many BBA students go abroad for a summer, semester, or even full year!

Q 12. Does the Cox School offer a major in International Business?

A12. No. However, students who are interested in international business may declare a general business major and take the international business courses offered by the Cox School. We encourage those students to declare a minor (or double major) in a foreign language, international studies, or specific regional area such as Latin American or Asian studies. Participation in one of SMU's study-abroad programs would be extremely beneficial to a student interested in pursuing a career in international business.

This page was last updated on July 06, 2009.

Email: bbainfo@cox.smu.edu