Frequently Asked Questions

For students starting 2016-2017 or later, the Seidman College of Business permits access to upper-level (300-400) business courses after meeting the following Seidman Success Standards:

Have earned at least 55 semester hours (junior status)
Established 2.500 or higher overall GPA
Completed the following courses with a 2.500 or higher combined GPA. Transfer student grades for the comparable classes being transferred into Grand Valley will be used to calculate this combined GPA: ACC 212, BUS 201, ECO 210, ECO 211, MGT 268, STA 215

Students admitted to GVSU under a catalog year prior to 2016-17 will follow the secondary admission criteria of:

Established 2.750 overall GPA
Have earned at least 55 semester hours (junior status)

All eligible students are admitted upon meeting both criteria. If you are an incoming first-year student with a 3.5 higher high school GPA and a 26 or higher composite ACT, you will be invited to join the Seidman College of Business as a first-year student.

Can I study part-time?

Yes, you may study part-time. A part-time undergraduate student is defined as one who takes less than 12 credit hours per semester. Please remember that part-time status may affect your financial aid, and if you are still declared dependent on your parents' income tax forms, it may affect your eligibility for medical insurance. It is also important to note that, while we try to vary the course offering times, some classes are offered only either during the day or night.

ACADEMIC PROGRAM

What can I study at Seidman?

The majors offered at the Seidman College of Business are Accounting, Business Economics, Economics, Finance, General Business, Human Resources Management, Management Information Systems, Marketing, Operations Management, and Supply Chain Management. The Business Economics major offers you a choice in emphasis of General Business Economics or Real Estate Business Economics. The Marketing major offers you a choice in emphasis of General, Distribution and Logistics, or Professional Sales.

What degree will I receive from the Seidman College of Business?

If you major in Accounting, Business Economics, Finance, General Business, Human Resources Management, Management Information Systems, Marketing, Operations Management, or Supply Chain Management, then you will earn a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree. If you major in Economics, you will choose to follow the curriculum to earn either a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree.

When do I start to take my business courses at Seidman?

You start taking your 200 level accounting, economics, and business law courses during your sophomore year. It is important for you to have these courses right before you take your 300/400 level Seidman courses. During your first year, you will concentrate on your general education and basic skills courses.

Where will I take my classes?

As a student of the Seidman College of Business, you get the best of two worlds. Your first-year and sophomore classes will probably all be at the Allendale campus. This provides you with the traditional "college experience" of living centers, sports activities, student life events, and eating at the commons. You get to take your upper division business classes in a thriving business community in the heart of Grand Rapids. Classes on the Grand Rapids campus offer you convenient access to many local businesses, where you may have an internship, and where business professionals in the area can easily come into your classroom to share their experience.

What opportunities will I have to study a particular business subject in depth?

Depending on the major you choose, your major will require 18 to 21 credit hours in addition to the business cognate and core requirements. Some of the courses may be specified and some may be electives depending on the major. As part of the business core requirements, you are required to complete three upper division college of business electives. These core electives allow you the flexibility to either take more courses in your major area or to complement your major program with other relevant business courses. For instance, if you intend to start your own accounting firm, you would major in accounting and then might also choose several human resource courses so that you can manage your staff, or, you may choose marketing electives so that you can promote your firm.

How many liberal arts courses will I be able to take?

The BBA degree at Seidman College of Business requires one half of your program (sixty credit hours) be non-business courses. Some of these non-business hours are fulfilled with the computer, economics and statistics courses required in the business cognate. Because Grand Valley State University seeks to achieve its mission through a broad liberal arts education, a general education curriculum is required of all undergraduate students. This curriculum is designed to foster lifelong learning and informed citizenship.

What languages will I have the opportunity to study?

You have a wonderful array of languages from which to choose. They include many modern and current languages, such as French, Spanish, German, Chinese, Japanese, Latin, Greek, and Arabic. The Bachelor of Arts in Economics does require the study of a language, the other business majors do not.

Will I be able to study abroad?

Yes! We offer you multiple countries in which to study, including England, France, Mexico, Poland, Sweden, Egypt, Costa Rica and Japan to name a few. If you would like to study in a different country, you can work with the Padnos International Center to develop your own program. You can click here to reach the International Affairs website.

Do most students succeed academically at the Seidman College of Business?

Yes! We give you the support you need to succeed at the Seidman College of Business. Free tutoring is available for all 200-level accounting and economics courses. We also have a procedure to assist you to improve your academic performance. To graduate from Grand Valley with a degree in business, you need a minimum overall grade point average of 2.5, and a minimum 2.5 grade point average in your business courses. If you fall below the 2.5 overall grade point average after you have declared your business major, the Seidman Undergraduate Student Services office monitors your academic progress for the semester and helps you plan a schedule of courses designed to help you improve your grade point average. All of the support and resources are in place, in case you need to use them.

Do faculty members teach all my classes?

Yes! Faculty members teach all courses at Grand Valley, not graduate teaching assistants.

Can I take business courses as credit/ no credit?

Business majors may not take major or cognate courses, except the internship, on a credit/no credit basis.

STUDENT LIFE

Do international students study at Seidman?

Yes. Many international students study at the Seidman College of Business each semester. Their home countries include but are not limited to India, Bosnia, France, China, Russia, Mexico, Australia, and Canada.

Does Seidman have student organizations?

Yes! There are many student business organizations that you can join, or be asked to join, according to your area of interest. Click here to view the complete list of Seidman student business organizations.

These business clubs offer you the opportunity to meet on social and professional levels with other students and with professionals from local businesses. Most organizations are open to all students.

What other business opportunities are available to students outside the classroom?

The Professional Development Series is a set of informal events offered twice in the fall and winter semesters. The Professional Development Series offers presentation on etiquette dining, how to work a room, salary & money matters and studying abroad, just to name a few. These events are free of charge for business students except for the etiquette dinner which requires a $10 charge.

Senior executive and successful alumni spend time in the classroom and at informal meetings and special events sharing their expertise and answering your questions. This offers you the opportunity to gain personal insight into the everyday activities and complexities of managing a business.

Students are invited and encouraged to attend the Seidman Alumni Breakfast Series presentations. You may click here for more information about the Breakfast Series.

CAREER PROSPECTS

How well do Seidman graduates do in the job market?

The employment rate for Seidman College of Business graduates is 79%, with 14% of the remaining graduates attending graduate school. A copy of the most recent postgraduate employment report is available on the Career Services website. You may click here to access Career Services.

How do students go about finding a job as they approach graduation?

The Career Services office provides opportunities for students to interview, on campus, with recruiters from many locally and nationally affiliated companies. To prepare for the interviews, Career Services offers a variety of workshops on topics such as Resume Preparation and Interviewing Techniques. Recognizing that networking is an excellent resource for securing employment after graduation, the Seidman College of Business provides several opportunities each year for business students to network with local businesses and organizations. Many students use their internship experience to explore companies where they may wish to work after graduation and begin networking there.

OTHER INFORMATION

How does the registration system work?

As a first-year or transfer student, you will attend group orientation facilitated by experts across the university. It is at your orientation where you will register yourself for courses. The university personnel at orientation will help guide your course selection. You are then encouraged to set an appointment with one of the Seidman Academic Advisors to further review your requirements.

Will I have an advisor?

Yes, more than one! The staff at Seidman Undergraduate Programs Office are your curricular advisors throughout your academic career at GVSU. They are available for appointments by calling (616) 331-7500, or on a walk-in basis. The advisors will review with you your degree evaluation, outlining your completed coursework and the requirements remaining for your degree. The advisors are also available to assist you in course sequencing. When you declare your business major, you will be assigned a faculty mentor. Your faculty mentor will assist you in career planning (such as courses needed to sit for the C.P.A. exam) and graduate school options. If you would like to, you are welcome to explore career options with any faculty member before one is assigned to you.

Page last modified November 10, 2022

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