WSU Vancouver Business Programs

Frequently Asked Questions for Business Undergraduates

  1. When should I apply to WSU Vancouver for acceptance into the Business Programs?
  2. How can I check my residency status?
  3. What requirements must be met in order to be accepted as a student in the Business Programs?
  4. What does it mean to certify my Business major?
  5. How do I certify my Business major?
  6. What if my cumulative grade point average is below a 2.50?
  7. Can I take upper-division Business courses at WSU Vancouver if I am not a Business major?
  8. What if I want to fulfill the requirements for a Business minor?
  9. What if I need to take additional lower-division courses?
  10. Can I be exempted from taking finite math? I have already taken a higher-level math class than the finite math requirement.
  11. Can I test out of classes or use work experience to substitute for credits?
  12. What if my transfer course is accepted only as an elective course instead of a specific, required course?
  13. How do I know if the courses that I have already taken at another educational institution will transfer to WSU Vancouver?
  14. How many courses are equivalent to full-time undergraduate student status at WSU Vancouver?
  15. What are the requirements for WSU graduation?
  16. What are the additional requirements for College of Business and Economics graduation?
  17. When should I apply for WSU graduation?
  18. What is a Degree Audit Report and where can I obtain one?
  19. I am interested in sitting for the CPA, CFM or CMA exam. Where can I find information about these exams?
  20. I am a transfer student. What if I have not completed all of my required courses by the certification deadline?
  21. Do I need to have a WSU e-mail address?
Question 1.
Q. When should I apply to WSU Vancouver for acceptance into the Business Program?
A. Once you have completed the certification requirements, you should apply to WSU Vancouver no later than October 1 for the spring semester and March 1 for the summer or fall semester.
Question 2.
Q. How can I check my residency status?
A. Click here to check residency status.
Question 3.
Q. What requirements must be met in order to be accepted as a student in the Business Programs?
A. Certification requirements are as follows:

To certify a Business major, students must have a cumulative WSU or transfer GPA of 2.5 or better, 60 semester (or 90 quarter) credit hours, and have completed all lower-division core courses including: Engl 101, finite math, calculus, statistics, macro- and micro-economics, business law, financial and managerial accounting.

Students applying to certify at WSU Vancouver fall 2005 through fall 2008 semester must have a "C"or better grade in all certification courses.

Students applying to certify at WSU Vancouver spring 2009 or later will no longer be required to have a "C" or better grade in all certification courses but must have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA in these courses instead.
Question 4.
Q. What does it mean to certify my Business major?
A. Certifying your Business major means to satisfactorily demonstrate that you have met all of the performance requirements, and completed the necessary coursework, to be accepted into the Business Program. You must certify as a major in the College of Business before you are eligible for acceptance to the Business Program and before you may enroll in upper-division Business courses at WSU Vancouver. <
Question 5.
Q. How do I certify my Business major?
A.Fill out the certification application online at https://van-ezproxy.vancouver.wsu.edu/bussiness_map/apply.cfm.
Question 6.
Q. What if my cumulative grade point average is below a 2.50?
A. Applicants with a cumulative grade point average below 2.50 will not be admitted to the Business Program. You will have to pursue a different degree plan at WSU Vancouver in a discipline that has a lower grade point average (GPA) requirement for entrance. Once your WSU cumulative GPA reaches 2.50 or above, you can petition for acceptance to the Business Program.
Question 7.
Q. Can I take upper-division Business courses at WSU Vancouver if I am not a Business major?
A. If you are a major in another program at WSU Vancouver, then you can take upper-division Business courses. However, you must have successfully completed the prerequisites for these courses. Prerequisites can be found in the WSU Vancouver catalog.
Question 8.
Q. What if I want to fulfill the requirements for a Business minor?
A. Many non-business majors take Business courses to fulfill a Business minor. You may take upper-division Business courses if you are a CERTIFIED major in another program at WSU Vancouver; however, Business minors must be registered with the Business Program. If you are interested in a Business minor, please contact Mary Stender or Erin Madarang, Business Programs Academic Coordinators.
Question 9.
Q. What if I need to take additional lower-division courses?
A. All lower-division Business courses are now offered on the WSU Vancouver campus. Students can also successfully complete these requirements at a community college or through a distance learning program.

You may apply and register for the appropriate Business course at a local community college. If you plan to take these courses at Clark College please contact Diane Binder, in Student Services at WSU Vancouver. Diane will help facilitate your registration at Clark College.

Visit local community colleges online at:
Clackamas Community College
Clark College
Mt. Hood Community College
Lower Columbia College
Portland Community College

Question 10.
Q. Can I be exempted from taking finite math? I have already taken a higher-level math class than the finite math requirement.
A. No, both the finite math and calculus course material are required by the College of Business for all business students.
The only exception is the substitution of an equivalent Calculus II course for finite math.
Question 11.
Q. Can I test out of classes or use work experience to substitute for credits?
A. No, WSU does not allow you to test out of courses. The high standards of quality at Washington State University prohibit granting academic credit for work or life experience.
Question 12.
Q. What if my transfer course is accepted only as an elective course instead of a specific, required course?
A. If a course is listed on your WSU Transfer Credit Report as an elective transfer course, but you believe that it is equivalent to a specific WSU course, then a course description and/or syllabus is required to petition for the consideration of any transfer change.
Please contact Mary Stender or Erin Madarang, WSU Vancouver Business Programs Academic Coordinators, for additional information.
Question 13.
Q. How do I know if the courses that I have already taken at another educational institution will transfer to WSU Vancouver?
A. Check the Transfer Equivalency Guide. You may also use our Quarter Hour to Semester Conversion Table.
Question 14.
Q. How many courses are equivalent to full-time undergraduate student status at WSU Vancouver?
A.Full-time enrollment for academic purposes (including financial aid, private health insurance, etc.) is 12 graded credit hours per semester. Students enrolled in more than 18 credit hours pay an additional per credit hour fee.
Question 15.
Q. What are the requirements for WSU graduation?
A.You must have successfully completed:
  • a minimum of 120 semester credit hours with a WSU grade point average of 2.0 or better.
  • a minimum of 40 semester hours of upper-division (300- & 400- level) work .
  • your University Writing Portfolio.
  • two courses identified as Writing in the Major [M].
  • all of the minimum requirements of WSU's General Education Program regardless of major.
Remember - the awarding of a degree is conditional upon the student's good standing in the university.
Question 16.
Q. What are the additional requirements for College of Business and Economics graduation?
A. Remember,
  • At least 50% of Business core and major specialization course requirements must be taken at a WSU campus.
  • A minimum of 2.5 GPA in WSU Business courses.
  • At least 9 upper-division Business courses must be taken at a WSU campus.
  • The last 30 credit hours must be taken at a WSU campus.
Question 17.
Q. When should I apply for WSU graduation?
A. You should apply for graduation when you have between 75 and 90 semester credit hours. Your application for graduation can be obtained in the Business Programs office. This application will prompt a graduation to-do list from Pullman. This will list all remaining graduation requirements that you still need to complete. It is important to apply for graduation at least six months prior to your proposed graduation date. This will ensure that all requirements can be met on time and not delay your graduation date.
Question 18.
Q. What is a Degree Audit Report and where can I obtain one?
A. The Degree Audit Report (DARS) is an unofficial graduation to-do-list for WSU students. It will list, among other things, how many credits you currently have (both transfer and WSU), which graduation requirements you have completed, and which requirements and courses you still need to fulfill. It is an important tool for you in following your academic progress towards graduation. You can find it listed on the menu of the MyWSU under Academics "Degree Audits." After reviewing your Degree Audit Report, please contact Mary Stender or Erin Madarang, Business Programs Academic Coordinators, if you have any questions.
Question 19.
Q. I am interested in sitting for the CPA, CFM or CMA exam. Where can I find information about these exams?
A. Information can be found in the following websites:

     Washington State Board of Accountancy
     American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
     Rutgers Accounting Research Center
     Institute of Management Accountants
     National Association of State Boards of Accountancy
     Certified Management Accountant Organization
Question 20.
Q. I am a transfer student. What if I have not completed all of my required courses by the certification deadline?
A. You must complete your certification requirements by the first day of the semester in order for certification in a Business major and enrollment in upper-division Business classes. You will be responsible to submit all transcripts to WSU. We will accept unofficial documentation from your school if up-to-date transcripts are not available in time, but official transcripts need to be received by the 10th day of the semester.
Question 21.
Q. Do I need to have a WSU e-mail address?
A. Yes. Your WSU e-mail address must be linked on myWSU (under My Profile) for you to receive course materials from your Business faculty.


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