BSBA Business Professional Admissions

 

The Eller College of Management BSBA degree program requires professional admission to the individual majors.

This application process is separate from the admission application to the University of Arizona. You can apply for admission and access your online application in the application portal by clicking on the link below. 

ACCESS APPLICATION

 Spring 2023 Professional Admission Application Packet

Still Deciding on Your Top Major Choices? Review Our Guides: What Can I Do With My Major?

Follow a link below or scroll down to view details on the Eller College BSBA professional admission:


Timeline

Spring 2023 Dates and Times Professional Admission Activity
January 18
5 p.m.

Professional Admission Application Opens in eSMS Admissions Portal
Application must be completed online to schedule mandatory advising appointment. eSMS Admissions portal may require authentication for first-time users

January 18
4 p.m.

5-7 p.m.

Professional Admission Orientation (5 p.m.)
Session will be conducted virtually on Zoom.

Admission With Excellence Orientation (5 p.m.)
Session will be conducted virtually on Zoom.

**Casual attire is appropriate for the Professional Admission orientation meetings

January 19
4 p.m.

5-7 p.m.

Transfer Student Information Session (4 p.m.)
Session will be conducted virtually on Zoom.

Professional Admission Orientation (5 p.m.) 
Session will be conducted virtually on Zoom.

Admission With Excellence Orientation (5 p.m.) 
Session will be conducted virtually on Zoom.

**Casual attire is appropriate for the Professional Admission orientation meetings

January 23 - February 3

Mandatory Academic Advising Appointments
To schedule an appointment, applications must first be submitted online through eSMS Admissions portal
All appointments must be conducted In-person or via Zoom 

February 6 at Noon
(12 p.m.)

Deadline for Application 

Students must submit an application online before 12:00pm to start the application process and schedule the mandatory advising appointment. Students can complete online application through eSMS Admissions portal

February 7 at Noon
(12 p.m.)

Deadline for uploading Documents 

Deadline for uploading interview documents (resume and cover letter). Students must upload documents in original online application through eSMS Admissions portal

February 10
Afternoon

Professional Admission Interviews 
Interview times are scheduled during the mandatory academic advising appointment
Modality: Zoom

February 11
Morning

Professional Admission Interviews 
Interview times are scheduled during the mandatory academic advising appointment
Modality: In-person

February 24
around 5 p.m.

Admission Decision Notifications Sent by Email to applicants University of Arizona CatMail
Time and date are approximate and subject to change


Eligibility Requirements

A $55 fee will be applied to all students submitting a Professional Admission application. 

In order to be eligible to apply for Professional Admission in the Eller College of Management, applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • GPA Requirement: Have a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 on 12 or more completed graded UA units (this minimum is subject to change in future semesters). If fewer than 12 UA graded units have been completed, a Transfer GPA will be calculated using coursework from all transfer institutions attended.
    • Graded units is defined as courses in which a student has earned a grade of A, B, C, D, or E.  Courses taken as Pass/Fail do not calculate into a student's UA Cumulative GPA.  
  • Unit Requirement: Have completed a minimum of 36 units of work acceptable to The University of Arizona and be on track to complete 50 credits by the end of the semester in which applying.
  • Foundation Coursework Requirement: All applicants must be complete or in progress with the necessary Pre-Business/Foundational Business Management Foundation Coursework. When calculating the Foundation GPA, all graded attempts at courses will be considered. All Foundation Courses must be successfully completed by the end of the regular semester in which a student applies. Students who do not pass any foundation courses which are in progress during the semester in which they apply will have their Professional Admission revoked. Students applying for Business Economics must pass their Calculus and Economics courses with a grade of C or better. The following required courses must be complete or may be in progress as noted below:
    • Accounting Sequence:
      At least one complete and the other can be in progress. Acceptable courses include: 
      ACCT 200 and ACCT 210
    • Business Math and Statistics Sequence:
      At least two complete and the other can be in progress. Acceptable courses include:
      MATH 116, BNAD 276 and BNAD 277
      Note: Math 116 can be replaced with an approved Calculus course 
    • English Composition Sequence: 
      The final course in the sequence must be complete or in progress in order to be eligible to apply. Acceptable course sequences include: 
      ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 OR
      ENGL 101A and ENGL 102 OR
      ENGL 107 and ENGL 108 OR
      ENGL 106, ENGL 107 and ENGL 108 OR
      ENGL 109H
    • Economics Sequence:
      Course(s) can be complete or in progress. Acceptable course(s) include:
      ECON 200 OR
      ECON 201A and ECON 201B
    • Management Information Systems Course(s):
      Courses can be complete or in progress. Acceptable courses include:
      MIS 111 with MIS 111L OR MIS 111 with MIS 112 (if completing Fall 2018 or later)
      MIS 111L is required for students who entered the UA in Fall 2012 or later (MIS 112 for students who enter the UA Fall 2018 or later). 
      Arizona transfer students, please speak with an advisor for more information.
    • Business Communication Course:
      Course is typically in progress the semester in which applying for Professional Admissions.
      BCOM 214
      Students transferring directly into the upper division, who do not have a BCOM 214 equivalent completed, will be required to take BCOM 315 before graduation instead.
  • Academic Eligibility: Students must have an Academic Eligibility status (UA GPA of 2.0 or higher) at the UA in order to be eligible to start the cohort. Students may not start the upper-division cohort on Academic Warning or Academic Probation (UA GPA below 2.0).

Beginning in Fall 2023, the International/ESL Writing Assessment and International/ESL Interview will be discontinued. International/ESL students will still need to complete an interview, but it will take place alongside all traditional applicants instead of at a separate time and date. 

All students entering the Professional Program must possess a high level of language proficiency (speaking, writing, listening and reading) and a high level of interpersonal competency for success and satisfaction. To achieve this, the following language-proficiency policy is in place.

To demonstrate receptive language proficiency (reading and listening), all International applicants (those who were admitted to The University of Arizona as an International student) must submit at least one of the following official proofs of high-level of English proficiency. Students must have completed this requirement and the official scores must be displayed in UAccess at the time of application:

  • TOEFL score of at least 79 iBT (internet Based Test)
  • IELTS score of at least 6.5 
  • CESL endorsement from level 8 or 9 in CESL's University Track prior to UA matriculation
  • SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing at least 580 or ACT English at least 21 upon admission to the UA
  • CEPT Full Test score of at least 110 (See more information below regarding UA CEPT test)
  • Duolingo score of at least 105
     
  • International (ESL) students wishing to obtain elevated English Proficiency to qualify for Admission with Excellence have the option of taking the CEPT Full Test exam; currently available at UArizona.

​​​​

  • Transfer Students (who have earned less than 12 UA graded credits) may apply for Professional Admission during their last semester at their Community College even if they have not been officially accepted to The University of Arizona. The University of Arizona application must be in progress at the time of application.
    • Graded units is defined as courses in which a student has earned a grade of A, B, C, D, or E.  Courses taken as Pass/Fail do not calculate into a student's UA Cumulative GPA.  
  • All attempted transferable credits at all institutions of enrollment will be considered when calculating a Transfer GPA. To be eligible to apply, Transfer Applicants must have a minimum 2.75 Transfer GPA.
  • Please review the foundation courses offered through Arizona's Community Colleges under Admissions for Transfer Students
  • Attend the Transfer Student Professional Admission Orientation via Zoom.

The Admission with Excellence initiative was designed to recognize the academic efforts of all high-achieving Eller Pre-Business/Foundational Business Management students and support them in their Professional Development during their time at the University of Arizona as they prepare for future career opportunities.

Domestic students qualify for Admission with Excellence if they:

  • Maintain a minimum 3.75 Cumulative GPA at the time of application, based on a minimum of 12 graded credits at The University of Arizona
    • Graded units is defined as courses in which a student has earned a grade of A, B, C, D, or E.  Courses taken as Pass/Fail do not calculate into a student's UA Cumulative GPA.  
  • Maintain a minimum 3.5 Foundation GPA at the time of application

International (ESL) students qualify for Admission with Excellence if they:

  • Maintain a minimum 3.75 Cumulative GPA at the time of application, based on a minimum of 12 graded credits at The University of Arizona
    • Graded units is defined as courses in which a student has earned a grade of A, B, C, D, or E.  Courses taken as Pass/Fail do not calculate into a student's UA Cumulative GPA.  
  • Maintain a minimum 3.5 Foundation GPA at the time of application
  • At least one of the following official proofs of elevated high-level of English proficiency:
    • TOEFL score of at least 100 iBT (internet Based Test)
    • IELTS score of at least 7.5
    • CEPT Full Test score of at least 126 (at least 42 in all three sections)
  • International students (whose primary language is not English) who were admitted to the University of Arizona prior to Fall 2021 should speak with their advisor about alternative options. 

CEPT Exam through UA CESL Department 

  • Cost: $40; Sign up here
  • Required to earn minimum scores of 42 (out of 50) on each of the 3 sections (Speaking, Reading, and Writing). This aligns with a C1 Level proficiency 
  • Scores are required to be sent to Alexis Wright (alexiswright@arizona.edu) by:
    • August 15th for Fall applications
    • December 15th for Spring applications 
  • The speaking section is scheduled separately with a CESL member and takes place over Zoom for 15 minutes
  • Reading and Writing sections are scheduled through Examity and students have up to 2 hours 
  • No sequence requirement, can do Reading and Writing before Speaking & vice versa 
  • Scores take a week minimum after completion of all 3 sections, the overall score is listed in UAccess 
  • Students who wish to re-take the test must wait at least 14 days to do so from the date the test was completed. However, after the second attempt, students must wait a minimum of 60 days before taking the test for a third time.

CEPT Full Academic – Test Guide  provides a detailed description of the two sub-tests and includes sample questions. It also lists resources that you can use to prepare for the test.
 

Students who meet the above criteria for Admission with Excellence will be guaranteed:

  • Professional Admission to the Eller College
  • First choice of major
  • Professional Admission interview by someone in their field of interest

Students who believe that they meet the requirements for Admission with Excellence should attend the AWE/FDA Professional Admission Orientation, submit the online application through eSMS and then meet with an Academic Advisor. The Professional Admission timeline and process will look slightly different for students who meet the qualifications for Admission With Excellence. More information will be shared at the required advising appointment (following submission of the online application through eSMS). Although admission to the Eller College is guaranteed for Admission With Excellence applicants, each student is still expected to meet all stated deadlines and requirements throughout the Professional Admission process.


Application Process

The Professional Admission process for entry into the the majors within the Eller College of Management requires the following steps:

  1. Meet all eligibility requirements. 
  2. Attend the Professional Admission orientation.
  3. Submit the online application through eSMS. You must first submit the online application in order to schedule your advising appointment.
  4. Attend a mandatory academic advising appointment with an academic advisor. Advising appointments will be conducted via Zoom or in-person.  Your Interview will be scheduled during your advising appointment.
  5. Upload your interview documents online by the required deadline (late uploads will not be accepted):
    - Cover Letterexplains reason for pursuing chosen major, as well as personal accomplishments and career goals
    Resumehighlights your experiences and accomplishments.
    - Head shot: for identification purposes. 
  6. Participate in a professional interview with our Eller College Associates.

The admission process and timeline is slightly different for those students who qualify for Admission With Excellence or First Year Student Direct Admission. Students who believe they meet the qualifications for Admission With Excellence or First Year Student Direct Admission should attend the AWE/FDA Professional Admission Orientation Session and consult with their advisor

Important Notes

*The current restricted cohort process will be discontinued following the 2022-2023 academic year as all students are guaranteed a Business Management major starting Fall 2023 (with meeting minimum eligibility requirements). Majors other than Business Management would still be competitive and selective. All students would still complete application steps for professional development competencies.

Students have a maximum of two attempts at application to the Professional Program. This includes instances of students not being admitted, loss of admission due to not completing all eligibility requirements, declining admission prior to starting the cohort or dropping all classes during the first semester of the cohort. The process does not allow for deferment of admission. Students studying abroad the semester before starting the Professional Program will submit their application in absentia.

Students are conditionally admitted to both the College and the individual major. The Eller College is committed to admitting a talented class to our cohort every semester. As such, admission to the college is based on both demands for the college and individual majors. Students will not be permitted to apply to change the major to which they were admitted until the end of their first semester of the cohort. Students are encouraged to research their major choice carefully before submitting their completed application.

Students are conditionally admitted to the College based on the following areas:

  • All remaining Foundation courses must be successfully completed with a passing (or transferable) grade at the end of the regular semester in which you are applying.
  • A total of 54 units must be completed at the end of the semester in which you are applying.
  • Students must demonstrate professional competencies in the areas of a cover letter, resume, and interview.  Admitted students who score below a level determined to be satisfactory will be required to attend a Professional Development Competency Workshop and complete any supporting assignments. Students who do not meet the competency requirements will be revoked and the applicant must re-apply for Professional Admission in a future semester.
  • Students must be in Good Academic Standing with a 2.0 (or higher) GPA in order to start the professional program.

Whether you need help on your cover letter, resume and interview skills, you are encouraged to use the resources that the Professional Development Center offers.


Professional Admissions Orientation

Eller College Professional Admission orientation is mandatory for all Eller College students applying for Professional Admission.

Students are expected to be in attendance at one of the orientation sessions listed below. Please note that there are additional information sessions for special populations, as well. The RSVPs will open through eSMS on the first day of the semester.
Dates, times and location are subject to change.

Casual Attire is appropriate for all Professional Admission Orientation sessions.

  • Pre-Business/Foundational Business Management Students with Last Names A-K 
    General Session:  Wednesday, January 18, 5-7pm, Modality: Zoom
    Admission With Excellence (AWE)/First Year Student Direct Admission (FDA):  Wednesday, January 18, 5-7pm, Modality: Zoom
  • Pre-Business/Foundational Business Management Students with Last Names L-Z and Transfer Students
    Transfer Meeting:  Thursday, January 19, 4-4:40pm, Modality: Zoom
    General Session:  Thursday, January 19, 5-7pm, Modality: Zoom
    Admission With Excellence (AWE)/First Year Student Direct Admission (FDA):  Thursday, January 19, 5-7pm, Modality: Zoom
  • New and Incoming Transfer Students
    Thursday, January 19
    4-4:40 p.m. 
    Modality: Zoom
    New and incoming transfer students are strongly encouraged to attend this information session and preview for the general orientation session in order to better understand how the application process is slightly different for transfer students.

The RSVPs will open on the first day of the Spring 2023 semester.

RSVP for the general Orientation session through eSMS.

  • Navigate to the "Appointments" tab, click "Add RSVP", and select the department as "Eller Undergraduate Programs" and the type "Professional Admissions" to search

Transfer Information Session (No RSVP required)

  • If you are a new/incoming transfer student applying for Professional Admission based upon your transfer GPA
  • Transfer Information Session is Thursday, January 19 at 4 p.m. followed by the Professional Admission general Orientation beginning at 5 p.m.
  • Modality: Zoom
  • If you have questions, please contact Brand Diguardi, undergraduate academic advisor.

 


Cohort Options

There are three cohort options to which students can apply:

Students will complete their cohort in the regular fall/spring semesters. Courses are available during the day. Majors available in this cohort include Accounting, Business Economics, Business Management, Finance, Management Information Systems (MIS), Marketing and Operations & Supply Chain Management.

At the point of Professional Admission, students will be randomly assigned to either the "Sage Cohort" or the "Silver Cohort", which will determine the scheduling of their first semester cohort classes.  Students who have concerns about time conflicts should speak with an advisor during the application process.  Students will also need to submit appropriate documentation of their time conflict as part of the submission of their hard-copy materials (with full name and SID).  All requests will be considered, but we cannot guarantee that all students will be accommodated.  Some examples of proof of time conflicts include but are not limited to:

  • Letter from employer detailing work schedule 
  • Letter from childcare provider indicating hours of accommodation
  • Any other documentation that demonstrates your need 
  • Any students needing accommodations due to health concerns should contact Alexis Wright to determine appropriate next steps
     

The Global Cohort is no longer being offered for Summer 2023. Instead, Eller College of Management is offering the Summer iCourse/Hybrid Cohort for students interested in beginning their professional upper division experience during Summer 2023. Students will begin their cohort at the UArizona with iCourse, Hybrid, and Live Online class elements over Pre-Session and 5WK1 with 3 required courses: MKTG 361, MGMT 310A, and BCOM 314R. Remaining coursework will be completed under the Traditional Cohort model with Sage or Silver on Main Campus, beginning in Fall 2023 and continuing through the upper division experience.

Due to capacity, majors available in this cohort include Business Economics, Business Management, Management Information Systems (MIS), and Operations & Supply Chain Management. Accounting, Finance and Marketing are not available.

For more information, please watch the Summer iCourse/Hybrid Start Information Session.

To be considered for the Summer 2023 iCourse/Hybrid Start Cohort, applicants will need to complete this survey. The deadline to request consideration is Wednesday, March 22nd by 11:59 p.m. Arizona time.

Students will complete their upper-division courses fully online. Business Administration and Accounting are the only majors available in the online program, but several (optional) Eller certificates are also available. Students are eligible to start the Eller Online Undergraduate program in fall, spring or summer. The Online Cohort is designed to be completed in four semesters, with 12 credits per semester. Please watch the Arizona Online Information Session to determine if a Arizona Online degree is right for you.

Students will complete their upper-division courses through the Bachelors of Arts in Economics in the Eller College of Management. Students need to have a C or better in their introductory Economics course and Calculus. Students are also required to complete a minor, which can be through the Eller College or any other minor. Please watch the BA ECON Information Session to determine if the Bachelors of Arts in Economics degree is right for you.


Criteria Considered

*The current restricted cohort process will be discontinued following the 2022-2023 academic year as all students are guaranteed a Business Management major starting Fall 2023 (with meeting minimum eligibility requirements). Majors other than Business Management would still be competitive and selective. All students would still complete application steps for professional development competencies.

The Eller College Professional Program seeks students with intellectual and interpersonal abilities that will contribute to the Eller College's academic and co-curricular programs, as well as those students who demonstrate strong leadership potential and have a high potential for success in the professional management field. The admission process is competitive and selective. Candidates are evaluated in the following areas:

  • Cumulative UA GPA
    • Applicants must have a minimum 2.75 GPA in order to be eligible to apply. A Transfer GPA will be calculated for all transfer students who have earned less than 12 credits at UA.
  • Pre-Business/Foundational Business Management Foundation GPA
    • Performance in Pre-Business/Foundation Business Management Foundation courses is competitive and includes all previous attempts at coursework.
    • The calculation of the foundation course GPA does include grades from transferred coursework, although these grades do not affect the UA cumulative GPA.
  • Cover Letter, Resume, and Interview
    • Candidates are encouraged to demonstrate leadership, work experience, community service and involvement in co-curricular activities
    • Students are encouraged to utilize resources and Career Coaching offered through the Eller Professional Development Center. Be prepared for your Virtual Interview and use the optional Eller Zoom Background.

Students entering the Professional Program must possess a high level of language proficiency (speaking, writing, listening and reading) and a high level of interpersonal competency for success and satisfaction in not only the academic environment but also in today’s global business environments (see eligibility requirements for more information).

One of our goals is a diverse student body. Among equally qualified applicants, preference will be given to U.S. citizens and others who are otherwise qualified to hold permanent employment in the U.S.

Students must begin the professional program in the semester for which they apply. Professional admission status cannot be deferred to a future semester.

Applicants for the Eller Online Undergraduate cohort will go through a slightly different application process.


Differential Tuition Surcharge

A professional program fee is assessed every semester to students in Eller's undergraduate professional program. Fees are subject to annual review and may change. During summer and winter sessions, students will incur an additional $20 per unit fee for all courses offered by Eller departments (both lower-division and upper-division). See Differential Tuition Surcharge for more information.


Application Fee

A $55 fee will be applied to all eligible students submitting a Professional Admissions applicationThe fee will be charged to the Bursar Account of all UA students. Transfer students who do not have a UA Bursar Account must pay the fee with a credit card when they submit their application.

Applicants for the Eller Online Undergraduate Cohort will be assessed the $55 fee at the time of enrollment.