Faculty members of the division participate in research related to their areas of academic interest. In addition, each of us is involved in professional development activities through active memberships in professional societies and associations and community agencies.

To further enhance your career preparation when you major or minor in accounting, business administration, economics, we encourage you to expand your classroom work through active participation in student and professional clubs, societies, associations, and volunteer work related to your area of study. We also encourage you to participate in internships for experience in actual business environments.

We in the Division of Business and Economics make every effort to notify current and prospective majors of new program standards. Depending on the nature of the program change, we may do so using email, Web pages, orientation sessions, the department advising office, faculty advisors, the catalog, and letters.

Admission to the Division of Business & Economics Majors
All our majors (accounting, business administration, economics-social science, and economics-business economics) are limited enrollment majors. Because we have limited space in our program, we cannot guarantee everyone admission.

We recommend you declare your intent to pursue your DBE major:

1. when you apply for admission to UWSP

2. when attending a freshman orientation meeting

3. when attending a transfer-student orientation meeting

4. or when you attend an “Introduction to the Major” session offered by the DBE Advising Office.

We do not require that you declare your intent to become  an accounting, business or economics major but highly recommend that you do so. As an intended major, you can receive specialized advising from the Division Advising Office and regular updates on events and deadlines.

You must apply for formal admission to your selected DBE major before completing 18 credits in the major. You are eligible to apply once you have completed at least 45 credits toward your UWSP degree. If you wish to request consideration of exceptional circumstances, do so in writing to the DBE Admissions Committee.

We have designed the admission policies for the Division of Business and Economics to support your success in your major. See the descriptions of specific majors for admissions requirements. See the Division of Business & Economics Advising Office and web site for application procedures, forms, and deadlines.

To switch majors or to pursue a second major within the division, apply for that major. See the descriptions of specific majors for admissions requirements. If you are switching majors within the DBE or adding a second DBE major, you may apply even if you already have over 18 credits in the new major, as long as you have met all other admission requirements.

Academic Standards for the Division of Business & Economics
The following academic standards apply to all division majors (accounting, business administration, economics-social science and economics-business economics).

1. In-major GPA: If you have a major in our division (accounting, business, economics-social science, or economics-business economics), your in-major GPA is calculated based on all courses counting towards your major; this includes courses from other departments as well as from the DBE.

If you switch from one DBE major or minor to another, only courses applicable to the new program are included in your new in-major GPA calculation.

If you are a transfer student, all your grades (including grades of D and F) earned at another campus for all classes required for a DBE major are included in the calculation of your in-major GPA.

2. Satisfactory Progress: As a student enrolled in a DBE major GPA standard (2.5 for Accounting or Business Administration and 2.25 for Economics) by the time you have completed 18 credits in your major.

Also maintain reasonable and satisfactory progress in completing the requirements of the major. Issues related to reasonable progress will be decided by the department chair.

If you have not attained the required in-major GPA by the time you have completed 18 credits in the major, you will be dropped from the major and will not be allowed to re-declare the major.

After you have completed 18 credits in your major, maintain your in-major GPA in good standing. If your in-major GPA drops below that major’s standard for two consecutive regular semesters, you will be dropped from the major and will not be allowed to re-declare that major.

If you are dropped from your DBE major, you may submit a written petition for reinstatement to the Admissions Committee.

If your are having trouble maintaining an adequate GPA we encourage you to seek additional assistance from the Tutoring-Learning Center (TLC).

3. Repeating courses: You may request up to three courses in your DBE major in which you earn a D+, D, or an F. To do so, obtain on-line authorization to repeat from your advisor and the chair of the department in which the courses are offered BEFORE registering for the courses. If you repeat a course at UWSP, only the last grade is used in GPA calculations. Permission to repeat a DBE course is only granted after the close of the regular registration period.

See the policy on repeating courses in the Academic Information section of this catalog. NOTE: You may repeat, at other institutions, courses in which you received a grade of F but NOT courses in which you received a grade of D. The repeated course taken at another institution will satisfy the requirement left unsatisfied by the F. The original F will remain on your transcript.

4. Pass/fail courses: Any courses you take as pass/fail do not count toward any DBE major or minor.

5. Degree and Major Requirements: In addition to the requirements of your selected major(s), satisfy the General Degree Requirements (GDRs) of your degree (either BA or BS). See the Bachelor of Arts General Degree Requirements and Bachelor of Science General Degree Requirements sections of this catalog for information on the requirements for each degree.

Regardless of the type of degree earned, the requirements for any DBE major are the same.

The Test-out and Credit-by-Exam Policy
You may earn credit-by-exam for Econ 210 and 211 through the appropriate CLEP examination. Register and pay fees for CLEP exams through the UWSP Testing Service. To receive credit, score in the 50th percentile or higher on the appropriate exam.

For all other courses in the Division of Business and Economics you may test-out, but not receive course credit. After you confer with the chair, a faculty member who teaches the course will prepare a comprehensive exam and inform you of the criteria for passing before you take the exam. A passing grade is at least five percent above the most recent class average. You may take a test-out exam only once. You are not eligible for test-out if you are currently enrolled in the course.

Admission to the Economics Major: Social Science and Business Economics Option
You must apply for admission to the Economics major before you complete 18 credits towards the major. You are eligible to apply once you have completed at least 45 credits toward your UWSP degree. You must be admitted to the economics major to register for some upper-level courses and to graduate with an economics major.

Once you are accepted as an economics major, you can receive specialized, one-on-one advising from division faculty or staff.

Minimum requirements: We encourage you to apply as soon as you  have completed all of the the following 9-10 credits with at least a 2.25 GPA:

1. One calculus course: Math 109, 111 or 120 (3-4 credits)

2. Econ 210 (3 credits)

3. Econ 211 (3 credits)

If you are a transfer student: Apply before you complete 18 credits in the economics major OR during  your first semester at UWSP.

Exceptions: If you wish to request consideration of exceptional circumstances, do so in writing to the DBE Admissions Committtee.

Academic Standards for the Economics Major and Minor
To graduate with a major or minor in economics, successfully complete all required courses in the major or minor and achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.25 or higher in all your major/minor courses. See Academic Standards for the Division of Business & Economics for more information on GPA requirements and for the Division of Business & Economics repeat policy.

Economics Major: Social Science Option
Successfully complete a minimum of 39-41credits in categories 1 through 3 below.

1. Foundation: Complete 15-17 credits BEFORE taking “core” courses.
   1.  Theoretical and institutional, 9 credits: Econ 210, 211, Acct 210.
   2.  Quantitative, 6-8 credits: Math 355 or other approved statistics course and Math 109, 111 or 120.
2. Core: 9 credits: Econ 350, 360, 361
3. Electives: 15 credits in additional economics courses, NOT including Econ 100. Bus 352 & 353 both count as economics electives.

If you plan to pursue graduate work in economics, we advise you to take Math 120 and 121 in place of 109.

Economics Major: Business Economics Option
Successfully complete a minimum of 51-53 credits in categories 1 through 3 below.

1. Foundation: Complete 21-23 credits BEFORE taking “core” courses.
   1.  Theoretical and institutional, 9 credits: Econ 210, 211; Acct 210.
   2.  Quantitative, 6-8 credits: Math 355 or other approved statistics course and Math 109, 111 or 120.
   3.  Business, 6 credits: Bus 320, 330.
2. Core: 15 credits.
   1.  Economics, 9 credits: Econ 350, 360, 361.
   2.  Business, 6 credits: Take 2 of the following 3 courses: Bus 350, 360, 370 or equivalent (e.g. Acct 370).
3. Electives: 15 credits. Take 5 of the following courses (up to 6 credits non-Economics courses): Econ 272, 311, 315, 330, 340, 345, 346, 365, 370, 374, 420, 493, 497, 498, 499; Bus 352, 353, 390 (or Acct 390).

If you plan to pursue graduate work in economics, we advise you to take Math 120 and 121 in place of 109.

Teacher Certification: If you are seeking teacher certification in economics, complete a minimum of 34 credits in courses designated "Economics." We recommend you take History 176 and 177as electives or in partial fulfillment of the general degree requirements. Also take Natural Resources 370.

Because enrollment caps are in effect for those seeking teacher certification, please contact the School of Education early for entrance requirements and application procedures. Also see information about the Professional Education Program and the secondary education curriculum for teacher certification in the Education section of this catalog.

Economics Minor
Successfully complete 21-22 credits:

1.  Foundation: 9-10 credits: Econ 210, 211, Math 355 or other approved statistics course.
2.  Electives: 12 credits of additional economics courses, NOT including Econ 100. Both BUS 352 and BUS 353 count as economics electives.
3.  Economics minor for teacher certification: Complete at least 24 credits in economics. Take 6 courses in addition to those in the Foundation above. We also recommend you take, History 176 and 177as electives or in partial fulfillment of the general degree requirements.