About the Program

The Texas Business Foundations Program (Texas BFP) at UT’s top-rated McCombs School of Business is a certificate program meant to give undergraduate students of any discipline a fundamental background in business. The program allows students to supplement their current course of study and equip themselves with the business knowledge to turn passions into successful careers.

The Texas BFP offers seven business courses (two lower-division and five upper-division) for non-business majors, which may be taken in a number of combinations to satisfy individual undergraduate degree electives or minors. Students may take as many or as few classes as they please in order to meet these non-business requirements. However in order to gain certification, a student must complete all of the requirements for either the General or Global Track. For more information, see the "Coursework" tab.

All non-business students who are in good academic standing at the university and have a 2.0 overall UT grade point average may enroll in Texas BFP courses. THERE IS NO FORMAL APPLICATION PROCESS REQUIRED TO BEGIN THE PROGRAM. Students may simply register and take classes on their own when ready. However, course prerequisites are strictly enforced, and it is up to the student to account for them.

Texas BFP academic advising services are available throughout the academic year. Walk-ins are welcome Monday-Thursday in CBA 2.400. For special requests, please email texasbfp@mccombs.utexas.edu, and a staff member will respond promptly. 

PLEASE NOTE: It is always a good idea to check with your individual college advisors to ensure that the Texas BFP will satisfy your degree requirements.

Still have questions? Please email texasbfp@mccombs.utexas.edu.

Coursework

Texas BFP offers two distinct tracks towards 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

• 3 hours of Economics
    -  Introduction to Economics (ECO 301), Microeconomics (ECO 304K), or Macroeconomics (ECO 304L)
• 3 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 Course 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 Course Equivalency Guide.
• ACC 310F – Foundations of Accounting OR both ACC 311 & 312 OR Equivalent

NOTE: The Statistics prerequisite has replaced the Math requirement previously listed for the Texas BFP. However, previously accepted Math courses taken BEFORE Fall 2008 will satisfy the new Statistics prerequisite for certification purposes.

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.

Halliburton Business Foundations Summer Institute

May 30 – July 27, 2012

In addition to the regular single course format, students may complete the Texas BFP by taking courses in the McCombs exclusive HBFSI. The Institute allows students to complete 5 BFP courses in one 8-week summer session. Applications are available October 1, 2011.  Apply early to guarantee availability. 

Courses Offered

• ACC 310F – Foundations of Accounting
• FIN 320F – Foundations of Finance
• I B 320F – Foundations of International Business
• MAN 320F – Foundations of Management
• MKT 320F – Foundations of Marketing

Due to the scheduling of the Institute, students enrolled in the summer program MUST take ALL 5 courses listed above. The classes are integrated, and admission to the program requires attendance in all of the courses.

Additional Benefits

Institute participants also benefit from a number of other learning opportunities that are not offered during the normal school year.  These include:

• Team building opportunities through Marketplace and Stock Market simulations
• Resume and business communications workshops
• Mock Interviews
• Etiquette Luncheons

Students must apply for this competitive and selective program by filling out the HBFSI 2012 Student Application.

Scholarship opportunities are available, and the program is financial aid eligible.

Certification Requirements

• At least a 2.0 overall UT GPA
• At least a 2.0 overall GPA in the Texas BFP courses, including Economics and Statistics
• 3 hours of Economics
• 3 hours of Statistics
• All required courses completed in either the General or Global Track
• All courses completed for a letter grade
• No more than 2 courses completed through University Extensions (unless through the Texas BFP Summer Institute)

Benefits of Certification

• Rounds out undergraduate education in any field of study
• Demonstrates business knowledge to prospective employers
• Meets prerequisites for most graduate business programs

Verification on UT Transcripts

As of Fall 2010, students who have completed the Texas BFP will have their Certification denoted on official transcripts. However, the designation will NOT appear on a transcript until the student graduates from the University. The student will still receive a Texas BFP certificate in the mail once he or she complete the program.

Request for Certification is available on-line. Students do not need to request certification until their final semester of study but can submit the form at any time.

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 8 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.

Student Videos About the Texas BFP

The following video provides a quick overview of the Business Foundations Program and features some of the HBFSI’s past students.

VIDEO