Degree Requirements
At The Paul Merage School of Business, students must satisfy four groups of degree requirements in order to earn a baccalaureate degree from UCI.
The four groups are major requirements, general education (GE) requirements, university requirements and degree-specific requirements. When these are complete, you are ready to graduate.
Major Requirements
There are two majors at the undergraduate level, a Bachelors of Arts (BA) in Business Administration and a Bachelors of Science (BS) in Business Information Management.
BS in Business Information Management
For more information about the BS in Business Information Management, the degree requirements and program information, please contact the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Science (ICS) as the major is administered by their school.
Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences
Student Affairs Office
Irvine, CA 92697-3430
949.824.5156
Website: https://ics.uci.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/
BA in Business Administration
Students are required to complete 8 lower-division courses that provide a foundation for all future coursework, 7 upper-division courses focusing on core business competencies, followed by a minimum of 5 upper-division business electives selected from emphases. Students select a minimum of one of six emphases in Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, Marketing, Operations and Decision Technologies, and Organization and Management. Students also must fulfill an international business requirement through participation in the University’s Education Abroad Program (EAP) or by taking one of a number of designated courses at UCI that stress the international dimensions of a business area.
- MATH 2A: Single Variable Calculus
- MATH 2B: Single Variable Calculus
- MGMT 1: Introduction to Business and Management
- MGMT 4A: Basic Economics for Managers I or Economics 20A: Basic Economics I
- MGMT 4B: Basic Economics for Managers II or Economics 20B: Basic Economics II
- MGMT 7: Statistics for Business Decision Making
- MGMT 30A: Introduction to Financial Accounting
- MGMT 30B: Introduction to Managerial Accounting
Note: Students must complete lower-division major requirements by the end of their sixth quarter.
- MGMT 101: Management Science
- MGMT 102: Managing Organizational Behavior
- MGMT 105: Introduction to Marketing
- MGMT 107: Introduction to Management Information Science
- MGMT 109: Introduction to Managerial Finance
- MGMT 110: Strategic Management
- MGMT 191W: Business Communication (upper-division writing)
- 2 Business Electives from Management 111-196
- AND
- 3 Business Electives to complete an Emphasis.
The most up-to-date information regarding courses that count towards an emphasis can be found in the Tentative Schedule, as indicated by the “Area” column. Please visit our Forms, Tools & Resources page to view the Tentative Schedules for 2023-24 and previous academic years. For a detailed breakdown of each Emphasis, visit our Enrollment Page.
Additionally, a quarterly email is sent prior to enrollment for any additional information regarding emphases.
Note: Students can complete more than one emphasis, but only one emphasis can display on your DegreeWorks record. If you want to designate a different emphasis than the one currently visible, please use our DegreeWorks Update Form on our Forms, Tools & Resources page.
The International Business Requirement can be satisfied in one of the three following ways:
1. Complete one of the following courses offered at UCI. Taking one of these courses can also fulfill one course requirement for their respective emphasis.
- MGMT 128 (Organization & Management emphasis)
- MGMT 144 (Finance emphasis)
- MGMT 154 (Marketing emphasis)
2. MGMT 190: Undergraduate International Residential
The Undergraduate International Residential is a standard MGMT 190 course in which students attend class throughout the quarter and embark on a one-week abroad at the end of the quarter (country varies).
3. Study abroad through a UC Education Abroad Program (EAP)
Visit our Enrollment Page to learn more about International Residential and various study abroad programs!
General Education (GE) Requirements
General Education requirements are unique to UCI and are designed to ensure every student graduating from the university is graduating with a well-rounded liberal arts degree beyond the study of a specific major. The general education courses will introduce you to a range of ideas and intellectual activities that engage UCI scholars and cultivate the skills, knowledge and understanding that will make you effective contributors to society and the world.
Note: Transfer students with a full UC IGETC do not need to complete GE requirements except for the upper-division writing requirement.
Two lower-division courses (Ia)
- The two lower-division courses must be completed by the beginning of the seventh quarter with a grade of “C-” or better, or a “Pass” grade if taken Pass / Not Pass.
One upper-division course (Ib)
- Business Administration majors will take Management 191W – Business Communication to satisfy the one upper-division writing course. Must be taken for a letter grade only.
Learn more about GE Category I and how to satisfy the requirement.
Three courses
- Business Administration majors will take MGMT 4A (Microeconomics) and MGMT 4B (Macroeconomics), which will count as 2 of your 3 GE Category III courses.
Learn more about GE Category III and how to satisfy the requirement.
Three courses
- Business Administration majors will satisfy GE Category V by taking MATH 2A (Single Variable Calculus), MATH 2B (Single Variable Calculus) and MGMT 7 (Statistics for Business Decision Making).
Learn more about GE Category V and how to satisfy the requirement.
One course
- Complete 3 years of high school foreign language.
- Obtain exemption by passing an exam taken at UCI.
- Complete a level 1C language course taught at UCI or the equivalent at another college or university.
Learn more about GE Category VI and how to satisfy the requirement.
One course that may also satisfy another GE category.
Learn more about GE Category VII and how to satisfy the requirement.
One course that may also satisfy another GE category.
- Students may satisfy the requirement with 4 years of high school foreign language or participation in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP).
Learn more about GE Category VIII and how to satisfy the requirement.
University Requirements
The Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR) is a graduation requirement for the University of California. Every undergraduate must demonstrate proficiency in writing.
ELWR can be satisfied in a number of ways, both prior to admission / enrollment, as well as during your time at UCI. Please see the catalogue for the most up to date information.
If you have not satisfied the ELWR then you must complete the UCI Writing Assessment.
This requirement may be met by one of the following options:
- Completion in an accredited high school of a one-year course in United States history with a grade of C- or better, or a half-year course in United States history and a half-year course in American government with grades of C- or better; or
- Achieving a score of 3, 4, or 5 on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination in United States History; or
- Achieving a score of 550 or better on the SAT Subject Test United States History; or
- Achieving a score of 5, 6, or 7 on the IB History of the Americas examination; or
- Presentation of a certificate of completion of the requirement at another California institution; or
- Completion at UCI or another U.S. institution of one year of college-level United States history with grades of C- or better, or one course in United States history and one in United States government with grades of C- or better. Acceptable UCI courses: United States history — HISTORY 40A, HISTORY 40B, HISTORY 40C; United States government — AP U.S. Government and Politics exam with a score of 4 or 5 or POL SCI 21A.
Learn more about the American History and Institutions requirement.
