Electives
Most undergraduate majors include several hours of required electives (the exceptions are International Business and Engineering Route to Business, which have more specific required courses). These hours are the difference between the number of required hours included in the major, and the total hours needed for the degree (at least 120). As the precise number of required and elective hours varies by major, students are encouraged to use the Interactive Degree Audits, which will calculate and reflect the correct elective hours for each major.
These are the general definitions for the different type of electives:
Upper-Division Non-Business Electives
Business students must complete at least 6 hours of upper-division coursework outside the McCombs School of Business. Some majors include specific upper-division non-business courses as requirements (i.e., Accounting and PPA students must take ECO 420K). In other cases, any upper-division courses (courses numbered 320 or above) offered through any other college at UT Austin may be used. Students should check the Course Schedule to ensure they are eligible and meet the prerequisites for a course before registering for it. If a course is listed as "Restricted," check with the department offering the course to see if you will be eligible to add it.
For students working toward a second major or minor in a non-business field, these electives will most likely be taken up by those courses, otherwise students may take any courses that interest them.
Non-Business Electives
Business students must complete a total of at least 60 hours of coursework outside the McCombs School of Business for their degree. Most of these hours will be completed through other degree requirements (English, History, Government, etc.), but usually those requirements do not add up to 60 hours. For any remaining non-business hours, any courses, lower- or upper-division, offered through any other college at UT Austin may be used. The only exceptions are Physical activity (PED) courses, which may not be counted toward the Bachelor of Business Administration degree.
As above, if you are working toward a second major or minor in a non-business field, these electives will most likely be taken up by those courses.
Free Electives
The total number of semester hours required to graduate varies by business major, but most business majors include some free elective hours. Any courses, lower- or upper-division, offered within the McCombs School of Business, or through any other college at UT Austin may be used, again with the exception of Physical activity (PED) courses.
Many students may meet the minimum number of elective hours required with credit-by-exam, dual credit, or other transfer coursework. The elective hours listed for each major represent the minimum number of hours needed, but students are encouraged to complete additional courses that interest them if they have time in their degree plan.
Electives are a chance to learn something new. There are dozens of departments and hundreds of courses available at the university every semester, so talk with other students and your academic advisor, and then take some time to explore.
