Business Administration

All Foster School undergraduates receive a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (BABA). The structure of the program balances business classes with those from outside disciplines, resulting in an overall educational experience of depth and quality.

Students must complete a minimum of 180 credits to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (BABA). The degree is made up of several requirements within business and other areas of knowledge. Half of the degree, about 90 credits, must be fulfilled with non-business courses including general education requirements in visual, literary & performing arts, individuals & societies, natural world, English composition and writing. Find out more about the general education requirements.

The BABA is made up of Lower Division Business Core, Upper Division Business Core, and Upper Division Business Electives. With a general BABA degree, students can design their own area of study and choose from a variety of upper division business electives. Or if they would rather, they can select a predetermined course of study, known as a formal option. The Foster School of Business has seven formal options: Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Human Resources, Management, Information Systems, Marketing, and Operations & Supply Chain Management.

The following courses outline the business degree requirements. Students must complete a minimum of 72 credits of business coursework. However, depending on the option you choose, students may exceed this requirement.

Click on the headings below to learn more about the BABA degree requirements and areas of study at the Foster School. The information below is not intended to substitute formal academic advising. There may be additional requirements related to residency, writing, pre-requisites, etc. for you to include in your graduation plan. Schedule an appointment with a Foster School adviser.

Below is information about the credit requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (BABA) degree from the Foster School. You should meet with an academic adviser in the Undergraduate Program Office to clarify your educational and career goals and make long range plans to achieve them once you have been accepted to the Foster School.

International Students

When applying to the Foster School of Business, application requirements for an international student are the same as for any other student. When applying to the University of Washington, international students must follow the guidelines set out for international students.

Admission to the Foster School of Business is contingent upon admission to the University of Washington. International students may apply to the University for autumn quarter only but, once admitted to the University, an international student may apply to the Foster School of Business for winter or for autumn.

The UW application closing date for international freshmen, transfer and postbaccalaureates is February 15, for summer or autumn enrollment. This deadline applies to all international applicants, even those who are attending school in the United States.

Notes on Selected Required Courses

English Composition: For application, one 3-5 credit course must be completed in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or the United States, or taken at an international school where English is the language of instruction.

Introduction to Law (Management 200): This course covers the American legal system; it is not a business law course. An international student who is not able to take a comparable course in the U.S. may take it during his or her quarter of admission to the Foster School of Business.