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Online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
General Business Online

Frequently Asked Questions

Admissions

Q: If I have an Associate of Arts (AA) degree from a Florida public community/state college or university, am I automatically admissible?

A: No. You must also complete a set of seven prerequisite courses with a minimum 2.5 GPA. There are many factors that determine whether you are admissible. Please visit the Online Business Program admissions page, and UF's transfer admissions page. Contact us if you have further questions.

Q: Can I transfer without a Florida Associate of Arts (ASA) degree?

A: Yes. However, the AA degree makes for a much smoother transition to UF's Online Business Program. An AA degree from a Florida public community college ensures that you meet state requirements like General Education, Writing and Math, and CLAS. If you are admitted to our program without an AA degree, you will have to meet those requirements with coursework outside of the Online Business Program as you progress towards graduation.

Q: I will have an AA degree, but over 60 hours of credit. Will I be able to transfer more than 60 credits?

A: All of your academic credits will appear on your UF transcript, but students are still expected to complete 60 additional credit hours in the Online Business Program. All 15 of our four-credit courses are required to earn the Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

Q: Why do I need a foreign language for admission?

A: Having two years of a foreign language in high school, 8-10 semester hours in college, or comparable credit through AP, IB or CLEP exams is a university-wide admission requirement. We do not have authority to waive this requirement in the Warrington College of Business Administration. The Office of Admissions monitors all UF applicants for the foreign language requirement. If you do not meet this requirement, your application will be denied.

Q: I repeated a course at my former college. Are you going to count the first grade I earned when calculating my prerequisite GPA for admission?

A: Yes. We count all attempts of the prerequisite courses required for admission. Unlike some Florida community colleges, we do not use "grade forgiveness" when calculating your prerequisite GPA. Similarly, every grade you earn at UF will count in your UF GPA.

Program Information

Q: How quickly can I complete the Online Business Program?

A: You can complete the Online Business Program at your own pace. Generally, the minimum amount of time needed to take all 15 courses is two years, but you can take three or more years to finish if you so desire.

Q: I don't live in Florida - can I arrange for a proctor in my hometown?

A: No. We currently offer test sites only within Florida and the Online Business Program is limited to Florida residents. Review our list of testing sites.

Q: How will I access academic advisement?

A: Online students can contact their assigned academic advisors by phone, email, and Skype. Email is often easier, quicker, and is generally answered the same day it is received. Many academic and career resources are also made available through the program's Online Student Center, which all admitted students have access to.

Q: Will employers be able to tell that I earned my degree online? Does my diploma say "online?"

A: The degree that students earn through UF's Online Business Program is a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, the same degree that campus-based business majors at UF earn. There is no mention of the online nature of the program on the diploma or transcript. However, you may be asked questions in a professional interview setting regarding your undergraduate experience. Many employers are impressed by the time management skills and drive exhibited by students who successfully balance the demands of college with full-time jobs and family responsibilities.

Q: What majors are available through the Online Business Program?

A: There is only one major in the Online Business Program: General Business. The curriculum covers a broad spectrum of business topics, including finance, marketing, management, entrepreneurship, law, real estate, IT, supply chains, and professional communication.

Q: What is the difference between a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (BABA)?

A: The BSBA and the BABA are both fully accredited Bachelor's degrees. The BABA degree is only available on campus in Gainesville and is comprised of a business "core" with an outside concentration of study. The BSBA degree is offered through the Online Business Program with a major of General Business and on-campus in Gainesville with majors in Finance, Marketing, Management, Economics, and Information Systems and Operations Management.

Do not confuse the difference between an AA and an AS degree with the BABA/BSBA distinction. Students can choose to move on to graduate programs or enter the workforce with either a BABA or a BSBA degree.

Q: Can I move on to a business related Master's degree after completing the Online Business Program?

A: The Warrington College of Business Administration offers several one-year Master's degree programs, some in an online format. There is also an Internet-based MBA, but this degree generally requires two years of work experience after a Bachelors degree is earned. Please visit the degree programs section of the Warrington College of Business Administration website for more information.

Courses and Registration

Q: Do I have to log on to view course lectures at specific times?

A: You can watch online lectures whenever you want to. We tape the live lectures of each course and then upload them with streaming video to course web sites shortly afterwards. Once posted, lectures remain available to students for the rest of the semester, allowing students maximum lecture viewing flexibility.

Q: How do I get required textbooks?

A: Textbook requirements for online courses are posted on course websites in the Online Student Center and our campus bookstore in advance of each upcoming term. Some of them may be available at your local bookstore, but ordering them online is also an option (and sometimes cheaper). Shipping from online book suppliers can take as little as two to three days. Check with individual companies for shipping guidelines. Visit the UF Bookstore website for more information.

Q: Do I need to take the courses in any specific order?

A: Because of prerequisites, a few courses need to be taken before others in the program. Students should take MAN3025 and MAR3023 during their first year in the program, as these courses must be completed before taking higher level management and marketing courses. Operations & Supply Chain Management (MAN4504) will come towards the end of the program. Academic advisors provide assistance to students in tailoring course schedules to their individual needs.

Q: Can I take other distance education courses at UF?

A: Yes, but they may not substitute for any of the 15 courses offered in the Online Business Program. They can, however, satisfy various general education requirements. Learn more about UF's distance education opportunities outside of the Online Business Program.

Student Success

Q: How long does it take students to graduate from the Online Business Program?

A: Students can control the pacing of their curriculum to suit their needs, but on average they graduate within two and a half years. This compares to two years among transfer students to business majors on campus. Most online students work full-time, which usually requires them to take a reduced course load each semester.

Q: How are students performing in the Online Business Program?

A: The average UF GPA among students in the Online Business Program is 3.0. Course persistence rates regularly exceed 90 percent, meaning that nine out of ten students who register for our online courses are still enrolled in them after each semester's withdrawal deadline. National data typically place average persistence rates for distance education courses in the low 70 percent range. Each semester, UF's School of Business also measures learning by administering the ETS Business Field Test, a nationally standardized exam which tests students on all business core areas. Online Business Program students regularly score within the top 5-10% among the nation's business students on this test.

Q: Will I be able to move on to a graduate degree after completing the Online Business Program?

A: Absolutely! Dozens of our students have been accepted to a wide range of graduate degree programs, including MBAs and other business-related Master's degrees, information technology, education, and law school. Many of them report that their UF Bachelor's degree was highly regarded by the graduate admissions committees reviewing their applications. For graduates not planning to pursue advanced degrees, their UF undergraduate degree often opened doors to promotions and raises within their companies or new job opportunities.