PULLMAN, Wash. — Students planning to major in business or hotel & restaurant administration can follow a clearer path to a degree with the new “pre-business” and “pre-HA” certification programs at Washington State University.
“The new ‘pre-‘ options will help our students strengthen their preparation for upper-level classwork so that students can get more value from their education,” says M. Chris Paxson, College of Business and Economics associate dean for undergraduate studies. “The ‘pre-‘ certification programs also ensures that our college stays among the ranks of the 340 AACSB-accredited business schools in the country.”
The move, supported by the WSU Faculty Senate, does not apply to economics majors in the college or to students who are already certified and have declared a business major.
The certification does apply to new students who will automatically become pre-business/HA majors by completing 24 hours of coursework and earning a minimum 2.0 overall g.p.a. and a 2.0 business foundation course g.p.a. Six hours must be business core course credits. Students must complete all 100- and 200-level business core courses, Math 201 and 202, and English 101 before they can certify in a major option and enroll in 300- or 400-level courses, Paxson says.
Students who have not certified but are currently taking business courses — or students who have certified but not declared a major within business — will have one year from fall 1998 to complete the college’s requirements for certification.
“This change in program offers a unique opportunity to identify what helps and hinders students’ progress toward degree certification,” says Paxson. “It will also guarantee that classmates in upper division courses share similar academic preparation to handle the tasks at hand.
“The new pre-business and pre-HA certification opportunity will be a very positive step for all business majors and the college.”
bm113-98
