Foundation-Core Course Planning
Advanced Core & Major courses are not listed. You may also download this guide to print and fill out.
| Foundation Courses | Name | Prerequisites | Important Suggestions |
|---|---|---|---|
| MATH 157 | Business Calculus | Advanced Math Placement Test score, or C-or better in MATH 156, MATH 114, or MATH 118, or a final pre-calculus course with a C+ or better from an accredited college. Note: An AP Calculus Exam with a minimum score of 3 is an equivalent for this course. If you have college-level calculus credit, please contact CBE before registering for this course. | Start on MATH right away, especially if you have prerequisites to complete before you can register for MATH 157. ECON/MATH majors do not take MATH 157. |
| MIS 220 | Intro to Business Computer Systems | Must be declared as a CBE pre-major or major to register before 44 credit registration date(see Registrar’s Office Registration Schedule online) | This course is a prerequisite for many CBE core courses. Declare as soon as you qualify! |
| ECON 206 | Microeconomics | MATH 112 or equivalent | |
| ACCT 240 | Financial Accounting | No prerequisite | This course and ACCT 245 are prerequisites for MANY CBE core courses. |
| DSCI 205 | Business Statistics | MATH 156, or MATH 114, or MATH 115, or MATH 118, or equivalent or higher. Note:An AP Statistics Exam with a minimum score of 3 is an equivalent for this course. If you have college-level statistics credit, please contact CBE before registering for this course. | This course and ACCT 245 are prerequisites for MANY CBE core courses. |
| ACCT 245 | Managerial Accounting | ACCT 240 | This course is a prerequisite for many CBE core courses. |
| ECON 207 | Macroeconomics | MATH 112 or equivalent and ECON 206, or ECON 446, or ECON 101 or HNRS 209 | |
| MGMT 271 | Law and the Business Environment | No prerequisite. Note: Only one of MGMT 271, PLSC 311, or FAIR 311B may be taken for GUR credit. |
You must be declared as a CBE pre-major or major to register for any core course before 44 credit registration date (see Registrar’s Office Registration Schedule.)
| Core Courses | Name | Prerequisites | Important Suggestions |
|---|---|---|---|
| DSCI 305 | Applied Business Statistics | MATH 157, or MATH 124, or MATH 138 and DSCI 205 | Not required for ACCOUNTING or BUSINESS/SUSTAINABILITY majors. All Accounting majors should seek advising for how to proceed through foundation and core. |
| FIN 341 | Principles of Finance | ACCT 245, DSCI 205, MIS 220 | If you are pursing FINANCE, take this as soon as possible. This course can be challenging; balance your schedule the quarter you take it with easier classes. |
| MGMT 311 | Introduction to Management and Organizational Behavior | No prerequisite. Attendance during first week is mandatory | If you are pursuing MANAGEMENT, take this as soon as possible. |
| MIS 320 | Principles of Management Information Systems | MIS 220 | Not required for ACCOUNTING majors. If you are pursuing MIS, take this as soon as possible. |
| MKTG 380 | Principles of Marketing | ACCT 240 or ETEC 216 and ECON 206or HNRS 209 | If you are pursuing MARKETING, take this as soon as possible. |
| OPS 360 | Operations Management | DSCI 205 and ACCT 245 | If you are pursuing MSCM or OPS, take this as soon as possible. |
Tips & Answers to Common Questions
When can I start?
You can begin taking foundation courses immediately. GPA matters, so balance your schedule for success.
Be certain to seek advising as soon as possible. Email Teri Hall, CBE pre-major advisor, at teri.hall@wwu.edu to make an appointment.
When should I declare my pre-major?
You should declare your pre-major as soon as possible. Some foundation and all core courses are restricted to declared pre-majors during Phase I registration. In order to declare you need:
- Confirmed acceptance to Western Washington University
- 45 or more credits (transfer or Western) *See Business and Sustainability, Economics and MSCM for exceptions
- An all-college GPA of 2.50 or higher (calculated using all college-level grades)
- A Western GPA of 2.50 minimum if any Western courses have been completed
How do I become a full major?
For most CBE majors, once you have successfully completed your foundation courses with an all-college GPA of 2.50 or higher, a Western GPA of 2.50 or higher and good academic standing with Western, you will be administratively made a full major. You do
not have to apply for full major status if you have already applied for pre-major status. However, for MIS and OPS concentrations, you will be considered for full-major status the quarter you are in your final foundation course. MSCM has a 3.00 GPA foundation requirement. See the Decision Science Department (Parks Hall 343) for more information.
Tips for Success
Accounting
If you are pursuing Accounting do not take your core courses prior to beginning your Junior Block of accounting courses. You do not need to complete MIS 320 or DSCI 305 in the core.
Business Administration
Areas of concentration offered include:
- Management
- International Business
- Finance
- Marketing
- Operations - See department (Parks Hall 343) for additional full-major status requirements
- Management Information Systems - See department (Parks Hall 343) for additional full-major status requirements
*Business and Sustainability
You can declare Business and Sustainability as soon as you have confirmed acceptance to Western Washington
University and an all-college GPA of 2.50 or higher (calculated using all college-level grades). If you are pursuing Business and Sustainability you
need to plan ahead; there are additional foundation courses required and some courses are not offered every quarter. You do not need to complete
DSCI 305 in the core.
*Economics
You can declare an Economics major as soon as you have confirmed acceptance to Western Washington University and an all-college
GPA of 2.50 or higher (calculated using all college-level grades). Economics has different course requirements than other business areas. Seek
advising with the Economics Department as soon as possible. Take MATH, ECON 206 and ECON 207 as soon as possible. ECON/MATH students
do not take MATH 157 in the foundation; they need to complete MATH 124 & 125 or MATH 134 & MATH 135 or MATH 138 (permission required).
*Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management
You must have a 2.80 minimum GPA in any completed foundation courses in order to declare an
MSCM pre-major. To become a full major you must have a 3.00 foundation GPA. Two additional foundation course are required (CHEM161 and
PHYS 114). Take OPS 360 as soon as possible in order to prepare for your first internship. Two internships are required in MSCM.