Texas BFP offers two distinct tracks toward certification so that students are able to tailor their individual studies for their desired overall university experience. The General Track provides the basic business understanding suitable for most Texas BFP participants. The Global Track expands upon the core courses by including elements of international business for those interested in business worldwide.

NOTE: All courses must be taken for a grade in order to qualify for the Certificate, but may be taken pass-fail if a student is not seeking certification.

The Core

Regardless of which track they choose, all students must complete four lower division courses.  These lower division courses are applicable to both tracks and mandatory to receive a certificate of completion.  These courses may be taken in residence, transferred from other colleges and universities, or satisfied with advancement placement credit.

Lower-Division Courses

• Three hours of Economics
    -  Introduction to Economics (ECO 301), Microeconomics (ECO 304K), or Macroeconomics (ECO 304L)
• Three hours of Statistics or Equivalent
    - For a list of approved courses, see the Course Schedule and keyword search ‘Statistics’
    - A number of courses throughout the University may be substituted for the Statistics prerequisite. For a complete list see the Stats Equivalency Guide.
• MIS 302F – Foundations of Information Systems or Equivalent
    - A number of courses throughout the University may be substituted for the MIS prerequisite. For a complete list see the MIS Equivalency Guide.
• ACC 310F – Foundations of Accounting OR both ACC 311 & 312 OR Equivalent

Remaining Upper-Division Courses

The remaining classes are all upper-division courses and specific to the student’s chosen track. However, ALL upper-division Texas BFP courses must be taken either in residence, through University Extension, or through an approved study abroad program.  These course may NOT be transferred from other colleges and universities or satisfied with advancement placement credit.

General Track Requirements

• FIN 320F – Foundations of Finance
    - Prerequisites – ACC 310F and upper-division standing

Any three of the following five courses which all require upper-division standing:

• BA 320F – Foundations of Entrepreneurship
    - Currently only offered through University Extension
• IB 320F – Foundations of International Business
    - Offered in approved study abroad programs and on campus most semesters.
    - See the Course Schedule for availability.
• LEB 320F – Foundations of Business Law
    - May NOT be taken abroad
• MAN 320F – Foundations of Management
• MKT 320F – Foundations of Marketing

Global Track Requirements

• FIN 320F – Foundations of Finance
    - Prerequisites: ACC 310F and upper-division standing
• IB 320F – Foundations of International Business
    - Offered in approved study abroad programs and on campus most semesters.
    - See the Course Schedule for availability.
• Study Abroad
• Foreign Language
    - 4th semester proficiency in a modern language

Any two of the following four courses which all require upper-division standing:

• BA 320F – Foundations of Entrepreneurship
    - Currently only offered through University Extension
• LEB 320F – Foundations of Business Law
    - May NOT be taken abroad
• MAN 320F – Foundations of Management
• MKT 320F – Foundations of Marketing

Additionally, the student must complete at least two long-session semesters in residence or participate in the summer institute.

Honors Designation

With the counsel and consent of the University-wide Faculty Advisory Committee, the Business Foundations Program provides special recognition of those students whose academic performance in the eight foundations courses is especially commendable. Designed to be consistent with and complementary to The University’s policy for determining "Honors" citations in undergraduate degree programs, students in the Foundations Program can earn designations of distinction based on their grades in Foundations courses. These designations are as follows:

• "With Highest Distinction" for students earnings A’s in all eight BFP courses
• "With High Distinction" for students earnings seven  A’s and one B
• "With Distinction" for students earnings six  A’s and two B’s
• A grade of C in any BFP course will disqualify any student for "Distinction" designation, even if the other seven grades are A's.