General FAQ:
Waitlists | Class Sections | Conflicting Courses | Prerequisites | Dropping a Class | AP/IB Scores | Back Credit | Accessing Olin Subscriptions
BSBA Students:
Pass/Fail – Distribution | Pass/Fail – BU Course | Major Double Counting | Second Major Requirements | Double Counting outside of Olin | Major Declaration
Second Major/Minor Students:
Second Major vs. Transfer | Primary Division | Declaration | BSBA Degree | Minor | Double Counting | Second Major vs. Dual Degree
Internal Transfer Students:
How to Transfer | Minimum Requirements | Course Recommendations | Transfer into WashU
Global Programs:
Study Abroad | Global Mindset Requirement | Fulfilling Global Mindset
Business & Computer Science (BUCS):
Program Information | Transfer into BUCS | Joint vs. Dual Degree | Study Abroad | Prime Division
General FAQ
Q: How can I get off a waitlist for one of my business classes?
A: Though some courses have priority enrollment*, most waitlists are processed in order. Students can only be enrolled naturally in the order in which they join the waitlist if a space becomes available when other students drop the course. Neither professors nor advisors can bypass the waitlist. Enrollment caps are typically not increased for classes. If you are a graduating senior and are unable to get into a course required to graduate, please speak with your advisor.
*Fall Priority Courses: DAT 121, DAT 220, MGT 201
*Spring Priority Courses: DAT 120, DAT 220, MEC 290, MGT 201
Q: Can I enroll in one section of a class and attend the other?
A: No. Students must attend the section they are enrolled in.
Q: Can I enroll in two courses that meet at the same time?
A: No, students may not enroll in courses that overlap in any way. Those who do will be notified and eventually dropped from both courses, should the overlap remain. In the event of extraordinary circumstances, exceptions can be requested here.
Q: Do I have to fulfill all prerequisites to enroll in a course?
A: Yes. Olin strictly enforces prerequisites. Please review the course descriptions before enrolling. It is a student’s responsibility to be aware of prerequisites, and they apply regardless of the grade option (credit, p/f, audit). Neither professors nor advisors can waive prerequisites for courses.
Q: I want to drop a course, but I missed the deadline. What do I do?
A: Dropping a course (“d”) after the add/drop deadline results in a withdrawal (“w”), which appears on your transcript. Exceptions to drop a course with a “d” late will not be allowed. Olin posts important dates for students to be aware of throughout the semester.
Q: What can my AP/IB scores count towards?
A: Pre-matriculation units are earned before the student’s enrollment at Washington University as a first-year student. These units would include Advanced Placement (AP) examinations, International Baccalaureate (IB) programs, British Advanced (A) Levels, and college credit earned after the student’s sophomore year in high school.
These units will be noted on the student’s transcript. The maximum number of pre-matriculation units awarded is 15. These pre-matriculation credits will transfer as general elective course work and will not satisfy any distribution requirements.
If a student takes a course in residence for which they have already received AP credit, the AP credit will be removed automatically.
All BSBA students and second majors will be required to take DAT 120 Managerial Statistics I, even when AP credit is earned for Math 2200 Elementary Probability and Statistics.
Credit for Math 131 and Math 132 are the only scores that can fulfil a BSBA requirement. Other scores may allow students to bypass introductory level courses but will not award automatic credit.
All AP procedures can be found here. All IB procedures can be found here.
Q: What is Back Credit or Contingency Credit and how can I earn it?
A: Students who place into and satisfactorily complete higher-level courses at Washington University may be eligible to earn units of Back Credit or Contingency Credit for preceding courses per the department’s review and approval. Credit is not awarded twice if a student has already earned the Back Credit units from transfer credit or AP scores.
A full list of courses that award back credit can be found here.
Q: Will I get access to Grammarly premium, priority enrollment, or Olin room reservations as a second major?
A: Only BSBA students have access to these services.
BSBA Students
Q: Can I take a distribution class pass/fail?
A: Yes, a maximum of 9 credits of distribution and advanced electives can be taken pass fail. However, there are some restrictions. Click here to learn more about Olin’s pass/fail policy.
The following courses cannot be taken as pass/fail: College Writing, Calculus, Ethics and Values Distribution course. Classes taken pass/fail cannot double count as distribution AND advanced elective.
Q: Can I take a business course pass/fail?
A: Students can only take business courses pass/fail after their 6th semester. The business class can only be above and beyond the requirements for the business degree, excluding both course requirements and credit limit (60 units). Students who meet these requirements may take up to 6 units of business courses pass/fail. Click here to learn more about Olin’s pass/fail policy.
Q: Can I double count classes between my Olin majors?
A: Only one course can double count between your Olin majors. You cannot double count a course towards a major and a minor.
Olin minors require 12 unique credits.
Q: Can courses for a major or minor outside of Olin count towards my distribution or advanced elective requirements?
A: Yes, Olin allows such courses to double count. However, it is always important to check with your non BSBA second major/minor advisor to ensure they allow double counting.
Q: Can a course for my Olin major/minor also count for a major/minor outside of Olin?
A: It depends. Olin will not restrict the double counting, but students are advised to consult with their major/minor advisor outside of Olin to discuss their policies.
Olin minors require 12 unique credits.
Q: When should I declare my major?
A: BSBA students should declare their intended major(s)/minor(s) by February of their sophomore year. However, a declaration can be made at any time on WebSTAC.
Second Major/Minor
Q: What’s the difference between a second major and transferring to Olin?
A: Transferring to Olin changes your degree requirements, whereas a second major allows you to retain your primary degree while earning a major in a different area. For example, if an A&S student studying Political Science adds a second major in finance, they will still earn a Bachelor of Arts, but will also have a major in finance declared. If this student were to transfer, however, they would now be earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in finance.
Q: Do I need to transfer to Olin to get a second major?
A: No, students remain primary in their home school when earning a second major.
Q: How do I get a second major in Olin?
A: Students can declare a second major via WebSTAC. Once the declaration is made, you will be prompted to schedule a meeting with the appropriate advisor to discuss policies and course requirements.
To have the request formally approved, students will need to complete Math 132 Calculus II plus two business courses before their declaration will be approved.
A list of major and minor advisors can be found here.
Q: Will I get a BSBA degree if I am a second major in Olin?
A: No. Students must be admitted into or transfer to Olin to receive a BSBA degree. Otherwise, your primary division will award your degree and you will receive a second major in an Olin major. The second major will be indicated on your WashU transcript.
Q: How do I get a minor in Olin?
A: Students can declare a minor via WebSTAC. Once the declaration is made, you will be prompted to schedule a meeting with the appropriate advisor to discuss policies and course requirements. There is no minimum coursework required to be approved for a minor.
A list of major and minor advisors can be found here.
Q: Can my second major/minor courses also count towards my primary major or general degree requirements?
A: Olin does not restrict second major/minor students from counting their coursework to their primary major or general degree requirements. It is always important to check with any other major or four-year advisors you may have to confirm that they will allow it, however.
Q: What is the difference between a second major and a dual degree?
A: Pursuing a dual degree is a significant undertaking that requires a student to meet ALL degree requirements for two-degree programs (Ex. Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration). This may require 150 credits or more and often takes more than 8 semesters to complete. For this reason, most students interested in adding an area of study in business choose to add a second major or minor instead.
Transfer Students
Q: How do I transfer to the Olin Business School?
A: Students interested in transferring to Olin should meet with an On-Call Advisor to discuss minimum requirements, the transfer process, and to recommend courses. To view the On Call schedule, click here.
For more details and information about the internal transfer process, click here.
Q: What are the minimum requirements to transfer to the Olin Business School?
- An academic record that supports the conclusion that the student will be able to complete the BSBA degree within a typical time frame.
- Successful completion of Calculus II for credit is a requirement for admission to our program. Students may be currently enrolled in Calculus II at the time of the request to transfer providing the student will have completed the course and earned a letter grade prior to admission to Olin.
- Students are expected to have completed at least two business (BU) professional core courses for credit through Olin. For Olin courses, the course department code will start with a B (i.e. B54 MEC 292 Global Economy*).
- A 3.5 cumulative grade point average.
- You must be in good standing in your current division.
Completion of the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
Q: What courses should I register for if I hope to transfer to Olin?
A: Great options for a student’s first semester at WashU include Math 131/132. Others include Econ 1011 & Econ 1021 (these are beneficial courses, but do not count towards the 2 Olin course requirement). In the second semester, courses like MEC 290, DAT 120, MGT 100, MGT 150*, and ACCT 2610 will all count towards the two Olin courses required for transfer.
*MGT 150 is not required for transfer students, but the 60 business credit minimum still applies. It can still count as one of two Olin courses for transfer.
Q: How do I transfer to Olin Business School from an outside institution?
A: Please visit University Admissions for more information on how to transfer to Olin for the fall semester.
Global Programs
Q: What if I have questions about studying abroad?
A: View our Olin Undergraduate Global Programs FAQ here.
Q: What is the Global Mindset requirement?
A: The Global Mindset component for the undergraduate BSBA degree is designed to support the Olin Pillars of providing world-changing business education, research and impact. Through a Global Mindset experience, students will have the opportunity to expand their intellectual curiosity, gain confidence in their ability to make decisions under pressure and enhance their leadership advantage in a rapidly changing global society. Students will be able to satisfy the Global Mindset component of their degree through a variety of experiences that expose them to new academic and professional ideas, peoples, cultures and philosophies. This could be done through study abroad or with a carefully curated set of experiences completed on campus and in the St. Louis community.
Q: How can I fulfill the Global Mindset requirement?
A: Students will declare their Global Mindset journey in the fall of their sophomore year, selecting between a “Domestic Journey” and a “Journey Abroad”.
Journey Abroad: Those choosing the “Journey Abroad” will complete at least one of the following experiences to fulfil their requirement:
- Semester abroad (traditional or internship program)
- Summer program abroad
- J-Term program abroad
- Course with international travel (i.e. MGT 401M, MGT 401C CELect, international sections only)
Domestic Journey: Those who do not plan on studying abroad and choose the “Domestic Journey” will need to enroll in and complete B99 INTL 350E Glocal Learning: Engaging with the World Locally, a 1.5 credit course offered in the spring. It is recommended students complete this course during the spring of their sophomore year.
Business & Computer Science (BUCS)
Q: I’m interested in learning more about the BUCS program. Where can I find more information?
A: Students interested in the Business and Computer Science Joint Degree Program can review the curriculum online here.
Q: What are the minimum requirements to transfer into the BUCS program?
- Minimum GPA of 3.5 overall and in all business and computer science classes.
- Completion of a minimum of 2 business and 2 computer science courses that are required in the BUCS curriculum.
- Successful completion of Calculus II for credit is a requirement for admission to our program. Students may be currently enrolled in Calculus II at the time of the request to transfer providing the student will have completed the course and earned a letter grade prior to admission to BUCS.
- Ability to complete degree in a timely manner.
We encourage you to schedule an appointment to meet with Anna Russo (Olin Undergraduate Programs) or Andrew Swafford (McKelvey School of Engineering) to discuss schedule ideas for the next semester as well as to familiarize yourself with the degree requirements.
Completion of the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
Q: Will I graduate with two degrees?
A: No. The BUCS program is a joint degree program, meaning you will earn one combined degree, a Bachelors of Science in Business and Computer Science.
Q: Can BUCS students study abroad?
A: Yes! BUCS students are able to apply to either Olin or McKelvey abroad programs. While the majority of students will select one discipline to study while abroad, there are some programs that allow the completion of both business and computer science coursework.
Q: Which school are BUCS students enrolled in?
A: BUCS students are enrolled in both the McKelvey School of Engineering and the Olin School of Business. Students will be assigned a prime division, however, for advising purposes.