Academic Policies

Bachelor's Degree Requirements

Students are responsible for assuring that all of their degree requirements are fulfilled.

Students must satisfy these requirements before they can become eligible for candidacy for the bachelor's degree:

• University Degree Requirements; applies to all students 
• College/School Degree Requirements; applies to students housed in the Graduate School of Management
• Major Requirements; applies to students in the business major

Dean's Honors List and Graduation with Honors

Dean's Honors List

According to UC Davis campus regulations, the quarterly Dean's Honors List includes names of students who have completed, for a letter grade, a minimum of 12 units in a specific quarter with a grade point average equal to or higher than the minimum grade point average attained by the upper 16% of those registered in the same class level and college during that quarter. The grade point average required is calculated at the end of every quarter.

Graduation with Honors

Graduation with honors requires that a student meet the appropriate grade point requirement based on the number of UC units completed upon graduation. Grade point averages from the winter quarter prior to graduation are used to determine the averages that will earn an honors designation. An honors notation is made on a student's diplomas and on their permanent records in the Office of the University Registrar.

To see the grade point averages for the Graduate School of Management, please visit the Office of the University Registrar website.

Declaring a Second Major

Students may pursue a second major to add to their business major as long as the following criteria are met:

1. Students must be in good academic standing and with a minimum GPA of 2.000 in the upper division courses taken toward the major. Declaration of multiple majors is subject to the approval of the departments in charge of the majors involved and the dean of the school. The dean’s approval depends on the following:
   • Unique coursework: 80% of the upper-division units for each major must be unique and may not satisfy the requirements of any of the majors involved.
   • Unit calculation: If the majors require different numbers of upper-division units, the smaller program sets the minimum number of unique units.
2. Students must complete at least two upper division courses for each major before submitting a petition.
3. All degree requirements for both majors must be finished within the 225-unit cap.

English Composition Requirement

Each student must complete, with at least C- grades, at least 8 units including at least 4 upper division units in English composition (UWP 104A). Alternatively, the upper division requirement may be fulfilled by passing the UC Davis Upper Division Composition Exam.

Unit Limit/Cap

Students in the Graduate School of Management may not exceed 225 units in their undergraduate degree (does not include AP/IB credits). Registration for enrollment when the limit has been reached may only be approved by the Business Advising Office. 

Upper Division Requirement

In addition to 180 units needed to earn a bachelor's degree, 54 upper division units must also be completed.

Late Drop Policy

Requests to drop a course after the standard 10 or 20-day deadline require approval by advisors in the Business Advising Office (BAO). These petitions are considered only under specific unexpected circumstances beyond the student’s control, and must include thorough supporting documentation. Examples include:

• Death in the immediate family or a significant increase in family care responsibilities.
• A substantial and necessary increase in work hours.
• Medical issues, verified by the Student Health and Counseling Services or a licensed physician.
• Serious personal issues, documented by a qualified professional.
• Other situations deemed to be of equal gravity.

If you believe your situation aligns with one of the approved categories, please consult with your BAO advisor before submitting a petition.

Please note: Late drops will not be approved for reasons such as poor academic performance, difficulty understanding course material, a change in interest, or lack of midterm feedback.

Pass/No Pass Policy

Students must complete all required courses for the major on a letter-graded basis, unless courses are only offered on a P/NP basis. The Academic Senate limits the total number of courses graded P, including units earned in courses graded “P/NP only” to one third of the units completed on the UC Davis campus.

Simultaneous Enrollment Policy

Students may not receive transfer credit for courses taken at another accredited institution during regular quarters (fall, winter or spring) while enrolled full time at UC Davis.

Exceptions may be granted in special cases, including:

• Commuting to UC Davis creates a hardship that limits participation in required course activities
• A schedule conflict prevents enrollment in a required course needed to graduate
• Completing a related course sequence begun at a community college

Minimum eligibility for approval:

• Be in good academic standing
• Be enrolled in at least 12 UC Davis units
• Completed at least one quarter at UC Davis

Submit the Simultaneous Enrollment Petition to the Business Advising Office before enrolling in the non-UC Davis course. Include documentation supporting your request.

When approval is granted, units earned are counted toward minimum progress for the term in which the dual registration occurs.

Course Substitution Policy

Students may request substitutions for specialization courses and other non-core major requirements, subject to the following:

• Core courses* in the business major are not eligible for substitution.
• Upper-division substitutions are not allowed for online courses offered outside the University of California system.

Students must speak with their advisor and submit a course substitution request with the course syllabus for review.

*core courses are: ARE 100A (or ECN 100A), ARE 100B (or ECN 100B), ARE 106, ECN 101, MGT 101, MGT 120, MGT 140, MGT 150, MGT 160 (or ARE 171), and MGT 180