Frequently Asked Questions

Registration

Can an advisor add me to a business course that is full? What if I have the permission of the instructor?

Enrollment caps are controlled by departments and are strictly adhered to once they have been established. An advisor will only add you to a full business class if you need the course in that term for progression or graduation. Faculty cannot add students to classes.

I’m trying to get into a non-business course and all the sections are filled. Can an advisor help me?

No. Heavener advisors do not have authorization to force you into a course that is taught by another college or department. If you are graduating and need a specific course to complete a minor or some other requirement, seek assistance from the department that offers the course (see “Course Listings” in the Schedule of Courses for departmental contact information). Other than that, we recommend that you keep trying to register for the course through the end of the drop/add period and also register for a back-up course in case you are not able to register for the course you want.

Why won’t ONE.UF allow me to sign up for a fall course? I just added the prerequisite to my summer schedule.

If you register during summer/fall advance registration for a summer course that is a prerequisite for a fall course, ONE.UF will need 24 hours to recognize your summer registration. You can return to ONE.UF the next day to add the fall course.

How many credit hours can I take per semester?

You can only register for 18 credits hours each semester. If you wish to take more than 18 credits, you must submit a petition to 333 Heavener Hall. Generally, your petition will be approved if you have 1) demonstrated an ability to handle heavy course loads in previous semesters, 2) an above average GPA, and 3) available drops.

Residence Requirements

What is the university residence requirement?

The UF residence requirement states that all students must complete their last 30 credit hours “in residence” at UF. In other words, you cannot take a course at another institution if you are in the process of completing the last 30 credit hours of your degree program (unless you are taking courses via a pre-approved study abroad program).

Summer Requirement

What is the nine hour summer requirement and how do I know if I’ve met it?

Students who enter a state university in Florida with fewer than 60 credits must earn at least nine credits before graduation during summer terms at State University System institutions. Credit earned through any of the study-abroad programs approved by UF during a summer term counts toward satisfaction of the summer term enrollment requirement.

You can determine whether you’ve met this requirement by looking at your degree audit. For students who began at the University of Florida prior to Fall 2011 you may have automatically met this requirement if you earned nine or more hours of AP, IB, Dual Enrollment, or AICE credit. For students beginning at UF beginning Fall 2011 or later, you will be required to complete the summer hour requirement.

If I take classes at a Florida community or state college will they count toward the nine hour summer requirement?

No, only credits earned at a state of Florida public university (four year institution) will count toward the nine hour summer requirement, not community college or state college credit.

I can’t be at UF during the summer. What other options do I have for meeting the nine hour summer requirement?

You have several options: If you study abroad for a full summer term, the Heavener School of Business will waive the requirement. Another option is to take online business courses while you’re at home or away doing an internship in the summer (assuming you reside in Florida). Another possibility is taking UF “flexible learning” courses to satisfy free elective or general education credit. As long as you don’t break the 30 hour residence requirement (see “Residence Requirement” FAQ above), you can also attend another state university in Florida and earn summer credit there, too.

Do transfer students automatically meet the nine hour summer requirement?

No. Generally, students who enter UF with 60 or more credits automatically meet the nine hour summer requirement; however, if you attended another state university (even for dual enrollment credit in high school) you may be held to taking nine summer hours at UF or another state university. You can check your degree audit on ONE.UF to verify whether you have met this requirement. If your audit indicates that you have not met the summer requirement, see an advisor in 333 Heavener Hall for clarification.

Professional Communication Requirement

What is the professional communication requirement? Does this requirement apply to me?

All business majors who started at UF Summer B 2008 or later are required to complete the School’s professional communication requirement. This degree requirement calls for the completion of one of the following courses with a grade of C or better: GEB 3213, Professional Writing in Business; GEB 3218, Professional Speaking in Business; SPC 2600, Introduction to Public Speaking; ENC 3312, Advanced Argumentative Writing; or a similar course with prior approval.

Can the course I take for the professional communication requirement count toward some other degree requirement?

Yes. In addition to counting toward the professional communication requirement, GEB 3213 – Professional Writing in Business and ENC 3312 – Advanced Argumentative Writing, count as General Education – Composition (C) courses and as 6,000 word Gordon Rule Writing courses. If a student takes two or more 3000-4000 level professional communication courses, one will count toward the professional communication requirement and the other(s) will count as a restricted elective; said another way, the course taken to fulfill the professional communication requirement will not double count as a restricted elective.

Writing Requirement

How do I determine if a course is taught for Gordon Rule Writing credit (i.e. for 6000 words)?

To determine if a course is taught for Gordon Rule Writing credit (i.e. for a certain number of words), refer to UF’s online Schedule of Courses on ONE.UF. Under the appropriate term, select a department to view their course offerings. If a 2 (2000 words), 4 (4000 words), or 6 (6000 words) appears in the column titled “WM,” then the course, and that specific section, will be taught for Gordon Rule Writing credit.

Do I have to earn a particular grade(s) to fulfill the writing requirement?

Yes, you must earn a C in a Gordon Rule writing course to earn words and fulfill the writing requirement. In addition, effective Summer A/C 2009, UF implemented an additional grade component to Gordon Rule Writing courses. Students will receive a standard grade for the course, PLUS an additional grade that reflects the satisfactory or unsatisfactory completion of the writing component of the course. It is possible not to meet the writing requirement, but to still pass the course. Be sure to review your degree audit after receiving your grades to verify receipt of credit for the writing component. Learn more about the Writing (formerly known as the Gordon Rule) on UF’s website.

Pre-Health or Pre-Law Students

What options are available to me as a business student if I am interested in preparing for a career in medicine or law?

Students interested in careers in medicine or law should consider our general studies major. This major offers areas of specialization in pre-health and pre-law. For more information, please visit our general studies webpage or schedule an appointment to meet with a Heavener School of Business advisor.

What kind of grades do I need and what courses should I take to prepare for a career in medicine or law?

Pre-health and pre-law students can find out how to prepare for their professional career on the Academic Advising Center’s (AAC) website.

• College of Liberal Arts and Sciences’ Pre-Health Advising
• College of Liberal Arts and Sciences’ Pre-Law Advising

Readmission

How do I apply for readmission?

If you have not attended UF for two semesters in a row (including a summer term), you are required to submit a readmission application to the University. [Note: If you attended school during a given semester but withdrew from that semester, you are considered to have attended that semester.] The application will be forwarded from the UF Office of Admissions to the Heavener School of Business, who will determine whether you qualify for readmission. Generally, students who are on track and who left the university in good standing are admissible. Applications must be received in the Office of Admissions by the published deadline.

Course Policies

Can I re-take a course I earned AP or IB credit for?

Yes, but you will not earn credit for the course. In essence, the UF course will replace the AP/IB course and you will earn a letter grade that will factor into your GPA(s).

If I take too many courses, will UF charge me for “excess hours”?

Yes. If you entered UF as an undergraduate between Fall 2009 and Summer 2011 you are subject to an excess surcharge upon reaching 120% of the total number of hours required for your degree. For example, a bachelor of science in business administration requires 120 credit hours, so upon reaching 144 credit hours you will be charged an excess surcharge. If you entered UF as an undergraduate in Fall 2011 or later, you are subject to an excess surcharge upon reaching 115% of the total number of hours required for your degree.

The amount of the surcharge will depend on the date you enrolled. If you enrolled between Fall 2009 and Summer 2011, the surcharge is 50% of the normal tuition. If you started in Fall 2011 or later, the surcharge is 100% of the normal tuition rate.

It is important that you understand that all credits you’ve taken in college count towards the threshold percentage, including: failed courses, withdrawals, drops/adds, repeats, and transfer credit earned at another institution. Credits that do not count toward the threshold include: AP, IB, Dual Enrollment, AICE, credits taken by active-duty military personnel, and credits taken to achieve a dual major while pursuing a baccalaureate degree.

What is the three-peat fee?

If you register for a course three times (which includes earning a failing grade, drops after the drop/add deadline, or withdrawals), UF will charge you three times the normal tuition fee.

Can I re-take a course to earn a better grade?

Business majors should not re-take a required course to improve their GPA once they earn a grade of C or higher in the course. If you re-take a course that you already earned credit for, you will not earn additional credit for the course and the original grade you earned in the course will not be removed from your transcript. If you re-take a course that you earned a C or better in and earn a higher grade, only the original grade will factor into your GPA. If you re-take a course that you earned a C- or lower in and earn a higher grade, both grades will factor into your GPA. If you re-take a course and earn a lower grade than your original grade, the lower grade will replace the higher grade. Review UF’s grade polices for complete information.

Can I take courses in another business major for elective credit? For example, if I'm a finance major, can I take management major courses?

You may take courses from other majors within the Heavener School of Business; however, major courses have registration restrictions. In the fall and spring, during the first three weeks of advance registration, only students in their respective majors may register for major courses. See the School’s registration page for specific dates.

Grades

Can I re-take a tracking, core, major, or area of specialization course to boost my GPA?

You cannot re-take a tracking, core, major, or area of specialization course to boost your GPA if you have already earned a C or better in the course. If you earned a C- or below, you can re-take the course. If you do re-take a course, your original grade AND your new grade will be calculated in to your GPA; the lowest grade does not disappear, as UF does not offer grade forgiveness.

If you received AP/IB credit you were awarded a grade of P, which doesn’t affect your GPA. You may retake a course for which you have AP/IB credit and have the grade earned replace the P and factor into your GPA. Additional credit hours are not awarded for repeated AP/IB courses.

As a business major, do I have to earn C’s in all of my required courses?

It depends. You must earn a C or higher in all general education courses. For tracking, core, and major (or area of specialization) courses, you can pass with a C-, D+, D, or D-; however, you are required to earn a 3.0 tracking GPA and must maintain a minimum 2.0 in your core, major, and UF GPA. Additionally, some majors or prerequisites require a specific grade be earned in certain courses. Check your degree audit or consult with an academic advisor for the most accurate requirements for your major.

Prerequisites

Can I take a course without meeting the prerequisite(s)?

No. Students are required to meet all course prerequisites. It is possible that the registration system will allow you to register for a course even though you have not met the course’s prerequisites. If you register for a course in which you do not meet the prerequisites, it is likely that you will be dropped from the course by the end of the drop/add period. Therefore, it is very important that you check all course prerequisites prior to registration.

I have met the prerequisite(s) for a course I am trying to register for, but ONE.UF will not allow me to add the course to my schedule.

If you register during summer/fall advance registration for a summer course that is a prerequisite for a fall course, ONE.UF will need 24 hours to recognize your summer registration. You can return to ONE.UF the next day to add the fall course. If you took the prerequisite course at another institution, it is possible that ONE.UF is not recognizing the course as an acceptable prerequisite. If that is the case, or if there seems to be some other problem, see an academic advisor in 333 Heavener Hall for assistance or send an email.