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Cox School of Business

COX SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
ADMISSION

For detailed information regarding Southern Methodist University's admission requirements, regulations, and procedures, see the Admission section of this catalog.

The Cox School of Business offers three undergraduate programs. All Cox classes, unless otherwise noted in the course descriptions, are open only to students in the BBA or Minor in Business Administration programs. Students in the Minor in Business program may enroll only in the classes listed in this minor’s curriculum.

• The BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration) offers seven academic majors within business. Admission is available to entering SMU students through the BBA Scholars Program, or to continuing and transfer students through the process described in “Admission of SMU Students to a Business Major” or “Admission of External Transfer Students to a Business Major” below.
• The Minor in Business Administration provides a comprehensive introduction to business for SMU students who have majors outside the Cox School. Courses for this minor are a subset of the BBA core courses, and are generally offered throughout the academic year. Admission to this program follows the same requirements outlined in “Admission of SMU Students to a Business Major” or “Admission of External Transfer Students to a Business Major” below.
• The Minor in Business offers non-Cox students a foundation in business concepts to complement their primary areas of academic interest. Courses in this program are taught only during the summer and are open to all non-Cox SMU students.
• All B.B.A. students are required to have a laptop computer for use in the classroom.

Admission of SMU Students
to a Business Major/B.B.A. Degree Program

Regular admission to any BBA major requires:

1. Good standing (2.00 minimum SMU G.P.A.), and
2. Completion of a minimum of 42 hours, and
3. A minimum G.P.A. of 3.30 in the business subset:

ENGL 1301 (or ENGL 2305) or ENGL 1305
ENGL 1302 (or ENGL 2306)
ECO 1311
ECO 1312
MATH 1309 (or MATH 1337)
ACCT 2301
ITOM 2305 or STAT 2301 (or STAT 2331, EMIS 4340, or EMIS 5370)

Please note that:

• Once a student enters SMU, all remaining subset courses must be completed in residence at SMU.
• With the exception of courses completed under the SMU first-year grade-repeat policy (page 45), the subset G.P.A. is calculated using the first graded attempt of these courses, even if the course was later repeated.
• The subset G.P.A. for students who have AP or IB credit is based on the remaining graded subset courses.
• Students must have passing grades in all subset courses before entering the Cox School.

Admission via the Extended Subset

Students who do not achieve a 3.30 G.P.A. in the business subset may add the first graded attempt of ACCT 2302 to the original subset. Students who achieve a minimum 3.30 G.P.A. on this extended subset will be admitted to the Cox BBA degree program. Once a student enters SMU, ACCT 2302 must be completed in residence at SMU.

Applying for Admission as a First-Year Applicant

First-year applicants submit an application for admission to the SMU Office of Enrollment Services and follow the University requirements for admission. Applicants who are admitted to SMU and who indicate business as their primary academic interest on the application for admission are automatically reviewed for admission to Cox as a Business Scholar.

Admission to the Business Scholars Program is by invitation only. First year students invited to join the program must accept their invitation no later than May 1 prior to SMU matriculation in the following fall. Students who accept admission to the Business Scholars Program are pre-selected for admission to the academic programs in the Cox School of Business and may enter Cox during their first year at SMU.

Declaring a Business Major as a Current SMU Student

Students who meet the Cox admission requirements should complete a Change of Academic Program form at the records office of their current school. This form will be forwarded with the student’s academic record to the Cox School. Students normally enter Cox in January of their sophomore year; students who enter later may need additional time to complete degree requirements.

Admission of External Transfer Students
to a Business Major/B.B.A. Program

Admission of external transfer students to a BBA major requires:
1. Admission to SMU, and
2. Completion of a minimum of 42 hours of transferable college credit, and
3. Minimum cumulative academic G.P.A. of 2.50, and
4. A minimum G.P.A. of 3.30 in the business subset:

ENGL 1301 Introduction to College Writing
ENGL 1302 First Year Seminar in Rhetoric: Contemporary Issues
ECO 1311 Micro-Economics
ECO 1312 Macro-Economics
MATH 1309 Business Calculus (or MATH 1337)
ACCT 2301 Fundamentals of Financial Accounting
ITOM 2305 or STAT 2301 Business Statistics (or STAT 2331, EMIS 4340 or EMIS 5370)

Please note that:

• The subset G.P.A. is calculated using the first graded attempt of the subset courses, even if a course was later repeated.
• Current University grading policy, as summarized under “Academic Forgiveness” (page 24) permits forgiveness of academic work taken 10 or more  years prior to the term of admission. Academic work forgiven under this policy will not be included in the subset G.P.A.
• The subset G.P.A. for students who have AP or IB credit is based on the other (graded) subset courses.
• Students must have passing grades in all subset courses before entering the Cox School.

Transfer students who have not completed the business subset courses may be eligible for admission to SMU as pre-business majors, and will then follow the admission requirements outlined above for current SMU students. Those who have completed the subset, but who do not meet Cox admission requirements may be eligible for admission to SMU to pursue a non-business major.

Transfer Admission via the Extended Subset

Students who do not achieve a 3.30 G.P.A. in the business subset may add the first graded attempt of ACCT 2302 to the original subset. Students who achieve a minimum 3.30 G.P.A. on this extended subset will be admitted to the Cox BBA degree program. Once a student enters SMU, ACCT 2302 must be completed in residence at SMU.

Admission to Minors

SMU students who are NOT seeking a major in the Cox School may select from two different business minors. The Minor in Business Administration provides a comprehensive introduction to business for SMU students who have majors outside the Cox School. Students in this minor take specified BBA core courses, which are generally offered throughout the academic year. The Minor in Business offers non-Cox students a foundation in business concepts to complement their primary areas of academic interest. Courses in this program are taught only during the summer and are open to all non-Cox SMU students.

Minor in Business Administration

The Minor in Business Administration operates concurrently with the BBA degree program, and includes six courses that can apply toward either the BBA degree or the Minor in Business Administration (see curriculum on page 282). Students in this minor must meet the same admission requirements as students in the Cox BBA program outlined above, and will be enrolled in the same sections of business courses as business majors.

Minor in Business (Summer Program)

The Minor in Business is offered only in the summer and is open to all SMU students who are NOT pursuing a BBA major or the Minor in Business Administration. The Minor in Business does not have G.P.A.-based admission requirements, and offers courses that are designed to provide a general overview of business topics to complement a variety of academic interests. Current SMU students may pursue this minor by enrolling in the appropriate courses and completing a minor declaration form with their current academic adviser.

Current University grading policy, as summarized under “Academic Forgiveness” in the University Registration and Academic Records Standards section of this catalog, permits forgiveness of academic work taken 10 or more years prior to the term of admission. Academic work forgiven under this policy will not be included in the G.P.A.

Statute of Limitations

If a student is readmitted to SMU after an absence of three years or longer, the student will be readmitted under the university catalog in effect at the time of readmission, and will be subject to degree and admissions requirements in that current catalog.

Acceptance of Transfer Credit Prior to Enrollment

A prospective transfer student must present to the Office of Enrollment Services official transcripts containing a full record of all previous college work attempted. Failure to provide full records of all work is grounds for dismissal from the Cox School. To avoid delay, a student should forward transcripts to the SMU Office of Enrollment Services no later than July 1 for the fall term and December 1 for the spring term.

In general, transfer credit will be accepted for degree credit only if the courses completed are equivalent in content to those offered at SMU and if the university’s school of business at which the courses were completed is accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International). In the case of transfer credit completed at a junior/community college, only those courses with equivalents at the first-year and sophomore level at SMU (1000- and 2000-level courses) will be accepted for degree credit. The Cox School will grant a maximum of three or six credit hours for transferred Introductory Accounting.

Prior to matriculation, the Cox School will accept transfer business credit toward the B.B.A. degree from schools accredited by AACSB International regardless of the student’s classification if there are equivalent/appropriate courses at SMU.

Courses completed with a grade of D+ or less or those completed without letter grades (Pass/Fail or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) will not be transferred for any degree credit. Grades earned elsewhere will be considered for admission purposes and in determining graduation with honors.

Transfer Credit for Current SMU Students

Students enrolled in the Cox School who are seeking to fulfill any portion of their degree requirements through transfer credit must file a petition for approval of their intentions with the Undergraduate Office in 252 Maguire Building prior to enrollment for such courses. With the approval of the appropriate SMU departmental chair, SMU students may complete a maximum of 15 transfer hours for degree credit. Students are cautioned to check the current SMU catalog before enrolling in courses at other institutions and to verify transferability with the appropriate offices. Matriculated students must complete all required business courses in residence. Exceptions to this policy require concurrent approval of the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, the appropriate Department Chair, and the BBA Director of Advising and Student Records.
 Regardless of the number of acceptable transfer hours, at least 60 hours of the total 122 baccalaureate hours must be completed in residence at SMU. Of the 48 required business hours, a minimum of 30 must be completed in residence in the Cox School.
Detailed information regarding enrollment procedures, orientation, student file number, name changes, address changes, transcript service, classification of students, changes of school, policies for adding and dropping courses and for auditing classes, enrollment for no credit, class attendance, withdrawal from the University, final examinations, term-hour loads, grading policies and grade reports is included in the University Enrollment and Academic Records section of this catalog.

Business Scholars Program

The Business Scholars Program offers numerous special opportunities including networking with Cox faculty and the Dallas business community, invitations to special events and tailored student services. Participation in this program enhances students’ educational experiences and helps them develop the skills and connections necessary for professional success.

Business Scholars are encouraged to participate in honors-level business courses, but should be aware that admission to the Business Scholars Program does not guarantee enrollment in business honors courses. Admission to the Business Scholars Program is based on achievement prior to SMU admission; enrollment in business honors courses is based on achievement at SMU.