Is this the program for me:
 

What business degrees are available in Gainesville?

The Mike Cottrell School of Business offers junior and senior level coursework leading to a B.B.A. degree (Bachelor of Business Administration).

What majors are available?

Accounting, Finance, Management, and Marketing

Will I be able to get all of the courses that I need for the degree in Gainesville?

If you have already completed all freshman and sophomore requirements for the B.B.A. degree, NGCSU does teach all of the additional courses on the Gainesville campus.  These courses are taught in the evening.  The frequency of offerings and the number of time periods available in the evening limit the number of courses that a student can take in a given semester.  The program is designed for students who want to take one to three courses per semester.

Do you offer distance or on-line courses?

Although some of the courses do include an on-line component, all NGCSU business courses are taught using a more traditional approach--a faculty member meeting students face-to-face.

Are any day or Saturday classes offered in Gainesville?

No.  NGCSU faculty teach weekdays on the main campus in Dahlonega and Monday-Thursday evenings in Gainesville. 

How do I know if the courses that I took at some other school will transfer to NGCSU?
 

After all application materials are received by the university, transcripts from previous schools are sent to the Office of the Registrar for evaluation.  Each course is reviewed to determine if it is transferable and, if so, if it is equivalent to a course taught by NGCSU.  Once the evaluation is complete, a copy of the evaluation is mailed to the student showing the corresponding NGCSU course numbers.  Credit accepted from other universities can be applied toward graduation if the courses meet the course requirements set by NGCSU; otherwise, the credit is considered as elective credit.

In addition, the Registrar website, accessible through Quick Links at the top of this page, provides an unofficial list of transfer equivalencies.  This list does not include information for every school that a student may have attended, but is helpful for the most common schools that have transfers to NGCSU.  In general, transfer credit from technical colleges and Associate of Applied Science/Arts programs is limited.

How do I know if I have complete all of the freshman and sophomore level courses required by NGCSU?

Most of the required freshman and sophomore level courses are part of the "Core Curriculum."  For information about courses in the Core Curriculum is available through the Current Students option at the top of this page. 

Transfer credit from other University System of Georgia (USG) schools is applied to the Core Curriculum according to a "transfer articulation agreement;" transfer credit from other universities is on a course-by-course basis.  If a student already has a degree (Associates of Arts, Associate of Science, or Bachelors), some general statements can be made about which requirements are met (see Office of Registrar Advisement Notes - February 2002).

How will my previous coursework "fit" in the B.B.A. program?

See the answer to the previous question for freshman and sophomore level courses.  For junior and senior level courses that are transferred to NGCSU, your advisor in consultation with the department head will determine how to apply transfer credit toward requirements for business majors.

I want to take the courses I need to become a CPA.  Can I do this at Gainesville?

Complete requirements for taking the CPA exam and for becoming licensed as a CPA in Georgia are available through the Georgia State Board of Accountancy.  NGCSU offers 21 semester  hours of upper division accounting courses as part of the B.B.A. with a major in Accounting.  In addition, over a two year period, NGCSU offers at least six additional semester hours of accounting courses in Gainesville.  Additional accounting electives are available in Dahlonega.

I already have a degree in ____, can I earn a second degree in Gainesville?

That depends on what the major was for the first degree and where the degree was earned.  The university requires completion of at least 30 hours from NGCSU.  In addition, the Mike Cottrell School of Business requires that more than half of the major specific hours and more than half of the combined Common Professional Component and major specific courses be completed at NGCSU.  If the first degree was too closely aligned with the proposed second degree, meeting residency requirements will not be possible.

Do you offer an MBA?

NGCSU does not offer graduate level business courses leading to the MBA degree on the Gainesville Campus.  The Mike Cottrell School of Business will begin offering an MBA program in Forsyth County in Fall 2008.

OK, I've decided this is where I want to be, now what:
 

When should I apply to NGCSU?

The deadline for applications is posted on the NGCSU academic calendar (accessible through Quick Links at the top of this page).  Applications should actually be submitted well before the deadline.  Note that the deadline applies to the receipt of all necessary materials including official transcripts from all previous schools.  Although you cannot control how quickly a school responds to your request for transcripts, you should allowed at least three weeks.

How can I apply?

On-line applications are preferred.  Applications are available at the Admissions Office site, accessible through Quick Links at the top of this page.

Is there a special application for the B.B.A. program?

Any student admitted to NGCSU who meets the prerequisites for courses can take courses taught through the Mike Cottrell School of Business.  In addition to specific courses, most upper division business courses require the completion of ACCT 2101, ACCT 2102, ECON 2105, and ECON 2106 with grades of C or better. 

Each student should declare a major (either at the time of admission or through his/her Banner account).  Advisors are assigned based on the declared major.

Is there a special application to take classes in Gainesville?

No, but students who plan to take all of their courses on the Gainesville campus should make an appointment with the Gainesville Coordinator near the beginning of their first semester.  The Gainesville Coordinator advises all B.B.A. students on the Gainesville campus.