Frequently Asked Questions

 

·         How do I apply to be admitted to the Online General Business Degree Program?

To begin the process, please submit an admission application as soon as possible.  You may visit the Academic Outreach website to complete the application online as well as to view financial aid opportunities (Tuition/Financial Aid).  For questions regarding the general admission process, please contact Nina Smith at (800) 467-0227 or nsmith@ccs.ua.edu.   

 If you are a returning UA student, then please complete a Re-Admissions Application.  To do so, log onto www.bamabydistance.ua.edu.  Click the “Prospective Student” tab, Click “Forms” and then click on the “Application for Readmission”.  Please note that the application for readmission must be printed and mailed in with the $15 readmit fee along with a Lapse Letter. The Lapse Letter should contain the following specific information: date, full name, SSN, other names in which transcripts may be listed, last term of enrollment and institution attended, dates and activities while not enrolled, and term you wish to re-enroll at UA. 

Once your admission status is clear, email online@cba.ua.edu to notify us of your intended major in General Business.  Remember to include your Campus Wide Identification Number so that we may process a transfer evaluation.

·         How do I apply for Financial Aid to pay for the Tuition/Fees of this program?

To apply for financial aid, please complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as posted on www.fafsa.ed.gov.  Be sure to add the UA School code to your application to ensure that the application will be sent to our financial aid office.  For additional questions, you must contact the UA Student Financial Aid office by email at financialaid@ua.edu .  You may also visit their website at www.financialaid.ua.edu. 

You may view additional financial aid information, including tuition/fees and scholarship opportunities at http://academicoutreach.ua.edu/page.cfm?page=degreeWeb&wpid=57&wmid=289.

·         How many hours of coursework are required to graduate with a major in General Business?

 

In order to qualify for a bachelor’s degree in the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration, a student must earn a minimum of 120 semester hours of credit as specified in the Catalog.  Please view the complete list of course requirements by viewing the Academic Advising Checklist.  (post link here)

 

·         Since I have completed coursework at several other institutions, how can I determine how the transfer credit will apply to the program?

Once you are officially admitted, your file will be reviewed by our Records Assistant.  If you have previously completed coursework at another institution, then she will complete a transfer evaluation to determine how your work will apply to the program. We must receive an official transcript from each transfer institution to complete the evaluation.  Once all transcripts have been received, it will generally take two to four weeks to complete the evaluation process. 

·         I only have a couple of general education courses left to complete before I can take upper-level classes. Can I complete the lower-level courses along with 300 level courses?

No. You must complete all general education courses (EC 110, EC 111, EN 101, EN 102, MATH 112, MATH 121, CS 102, ST 260) and lower division functional field courses (AC 210 and LGS 200) before you will be allowed to take a 300-400 level business course.  All above mentioned courses must be completed with a grade of C- or better. 

 

·         How do I apply to the Upper Division of C&BA and officially declare my major?

 

Business students are required to apply for admissions to the upper division of the College and to a major program by submitting the Application to Upper Division (link here).  The entire program requirements may be reviewed in our Academic Catalog or by visiting the following link (Admission to College’s Upper Division) http://catalogs.ua.edu/catalog08/518300.html#104620.

 

·         How many hours of coursework taken at a community college may apply to program?

 

A maximum of 60 semester hours from community colleges may be applied toward your degree.  However, all attempted coursework will be transferred and calculated into the transfer GPA.  This includes all course repeats.

 

·         How many hours of coursework may be transferred from other institutions, excluding community colleges?

 

Courses transferred from institutions accredited by the AACSB will be accepted within the broad limits of the graduation requirements of the College and the University.  Provisional credit may be validated by completing 24 semester hours in residence with a “C” average or better.  A maximum of six (6) semester hours of professional courses taken at another institution may be applied toward a student’s major program requirements.  A minimum of 30 hours, including at least 9 of the last 18 hours required for a degree, must be earned in residence at the University of Alabama and in the College.  Please view the 2008 Catalog for a complete statement of the policy for Admission as a Transfer Student at http://catalogs.ua.edu/catalog08/518300.html#104610.

 

·         What type of Math courses are required for this major?

As part of the curriculum, students are required to complete at least MATH 112, Precalculus Algebra and MATH 121, Business Calculus.  Math courses are required prerequisites for several other courses in our major.  If you choose to take a math course through our on-line program, then you must first contact the test services office and set up a time to take the math placement test.  Their number is 205-348-6760.  Depending on the math placement score, the math sequence is as follows:

Ø  MATH 005, MATH 100, MATH 112, MATH 121

Ø  MATH 100, MATH 112, MATH 121

Ø  MATH 112, MATH 113 or MATH 115, MATH 121 or MATH 125

Ø  MATH 121 or MATH 125

If you cannot physically come to our campus to take the math placement exam, then you may also choose to take the math courses at a local community college or university and have the coursework transferred to our institution. 

·         Can life experience and/or previous certifications be applied as course credit to apply toward my major program requirements? 

We cannot award previous life experiences, including certifications, jobs, community involvement, etc. to apply as course credit to our program.  However, you do have the option of seeking an internship opportunity once you reach Junior/Senior student status.  In your internship, you will be expected to apprentice with supervision, as would an entry-level trainee, to develop a working knowledge of the organization's overall business operations, specifically as they relate to your major of study.  You will work directly with our Internship Coordinator for approval and completion of the internship for course credit. 

·         I am a returning UA student, but have been out of school for over three years now.  Is there any type of forgiveness policy available?

A student who has been separated from The University of Alabama for at least three academic years may apply for readmission under "Academic Second Opportunity (ASO)." As such, the student will be readmitted regardless of previous scholastic performance, unless separation from the University resulted from academic misconduct. In cases of academic misconduct, readmission will be reviewed by the academic dean (or his or her designee) for the school or college in which readmission is sought.  If the application for academic second opportunity is accepted, then all previous academic work remains on the student's permanent record, but the grades for previous work are not used in computing the grade point average. Grades of "C-" or higher earned during previous college attendance are computed as "passing hours" ("P") and may be applied to major program, distribution, and graduation requirements. Grades of "D" earned during previous college attendance may not be applied to major program or graduation requirements.

A student who has a degree from another institution but was previously a student at UA or who has a degree from UA is not eligible for consideration. The deadline dates to apply and have all credentials submitted are August 1st for fall term, December 1st for spring term, and May 1st for any summer term. Academic Second Opportunity may be awarded only once and may not be awarded retroactively.

To apply for this special status, once you are re-admitted, then please submit a letter explaining why you performed poorly when you were here, and how you plan to succeed this time.  You should email the letter to Dr. David Heggem, Associate Dean for Student Services at dheggem@cba.ua.edu  .  Please include your Campus Wide Identification Number in the body of the email.

 

·         Can I start the Online General Business Degree as a new freshman student with zero transfer hours?

Yes!  All required coursework is now offered via distance learning.  You have the ability to begin and complete all courses without ever taking a class on our campus.  Please be aware that you will need to come on campus to complete the math placement test if you choose to complete the course through UA. 

·         How will I be advised each semester in order to know which courses to register for each semester?

Several weeks before the Advance Registration period, you will receive an Academic Advisement from the email account online@cba.ua.edu.  This email will include an updated Advising Checklist along with course recommendations for the upcoming semester.  After the email is sent, our office will clear an academic advising hold each semester to allow you to register.  You should always receive the email and have ample time to review the recommendations before the registration period begins each term. 

Students who have the Distance Learner (DL) campus code are awarded an Advance Registration date.  DL students are allowed to register on the very first day of Advance Registration each semester.  Furthermore, most online classes are restricted to DL students only until weeks before the semester begins.  This restriction was placed to ensure that distance students are given first priority for online courses.  Nevertheless, you have to take advantage of this great opportunity by registering as early as possible during the Advance Registration period. 

·         As a distance student, do I have to come to campus to complete Bama Bound Orientation?

No.  If you are admitted as a distance learner, then you will not be required to attend Bama Bound Orientation.  However, all new students are required to register for GBA 145-901 during the first academic year in the program.  GBA 145: Orientation to C&BA will fulfill the orientation requirement as it introduces the program curriculum, available resources, study skills, time management tips, and other helpful information. 

·         Is it necessary for me to come to campus and obtain a student ACTION Card?

Distance learners are only required to possess a student ACTION Card if they plan to come to campus to complete scheduled proctored exams.  Nevertheless, if you happen to visit campus and are interested in having an ACTION Card made, then you may visit the ACTION Card Office which is located in 104 Student Services Center. They are open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:45 p.m.  All University holidays are observed.  You may contact them at (205) 348-2288 or action.card@ua.edu.

·         How do I contact my Academic Advisor with questions regarding transferred courses, advising, and registration?

Jennifer F. Humber, is the assigned Academic Advisor to all distance students.  Due to scheduled appointments and processing deadlines, it is best that you first email your questions and concerns to online@cba.ua.edu.   This email account is checked hourly by both your Academic Advisor and Records Assistant.  Please remember to always include your Campus Wide Identification Number in the body of your email.   Due to the large volume of appointments and emails received daily, a response will be made within 2 business days.   For circumstances that are best resolved by direct conversation, please contact our Records Assistant, Anne Margaret Vincent, at (205) 348-0470 to schedule an in-office visit for telephone appointment. 

·         While trying to register for classes, I am receiving errors that indicate holds on my file.  How do I resolve this issue?

First contact your Academic Advisor, Jennifer Humber, by emailing her at online@cba.ua.edu.  Upon receipt of email, our office will research the issue and resolve the problem as quickly as possible.  It is very important that you include the following information in your email:

Your full name and Campus Wide Identification Number

Name, section number, and CRN of class you are trying to register

Semester of enrollment

Exact error message you are receiving