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What is your Major
What do you want to Study?
- Do you already know your major?
- Are you considering other majors, minors, or certificates?
- Did you have favorite subject or are you already interested in taking specific classes (real estate, accounting, entrepreneurship, etc.,)?
- If you aren’t sure what you want to study, start by reviewing the MSU Denver academic programs, including Minors, Certificates, and Special Programs
First Steps
let’s review your ACT and/or SAT Scores for math placement
Did you take the ACT or SAT?
If no, you can go ahead and skip to the English Placement Survey section.
If yes, we will need you to download and show us a copy of your Score Report only if the following is true:
- Your scores are less than 5 years old
- You received a 500+ on the Math section of the SAT and/or a 19+ on the Math section of the ACT
- You are not transferring in college level Algebra, Finite Math, Pre-Calculus, or Calculus.
You can find and download your SAT Score Report and your ACT Score Report
Hint: If you used your High School email to set up your SAT or ACT scores and can no longer access it, you will need to call the College Board or ACT Customer Help Number to reset your email/password
Now, let’s review your transfer credits
If you do not have transfer credits, including AP, IB, CLEP, DSST, or concurrent enrollment classes, go ahead and skip to the next section
Do you have AP or IB credits? If so, please list the exams you took and the scores (if known)
Do you have any concurrent enrollment classes? If yes, please list them
(a concurrent enrollment class is a college class you took for college credit in High School)
Do you have any additional transfer credits coming in?
If yes, about how many transfer credits are you expecting to bring in? _______________
We need to see UNOFFICIAL TRANSCIPTS to provide course recommendations and class overrides. We will NOT provide overrides without them.
If you aren’t transferring in a Freshman Comp class, please take the English Placement Survey before moving on. The Survey takes two minutes, and you will get an immediate course recommendation sent to the email address you entered in the survey.
Which course did the English Placement Survey recommend for you?
How Many Classes To Take
Credit guidelines and maximums
You can take a maximum of 18 credits hours your first semester (6 classes). We do not recommend taking 18 credits your first semester, most students take 12 credits (or 4 classes), however, even this may be too many depending on your situation.
Here’s a guide to help you figure out how many classes is right for you:
- Health Insurance – If you need health insurance, you need a minimum of 9 credit hours (3 classes)
- Financial Aid – If you need to be full time status for Financial Aid, GI Bill, Scholarship or Athletic Eligibility, you should take 12 credits (4 classes)
- Graduate in four years – If you want to finish your degree in 4 years, you should take 15 credit hours each semester (5 classes)
Please Note: Each 3-credit class takes roughly 6 to 9 hours of study time, working on assignments, etc. 12 credit hours is the equivalent to working 24 to 36 hours. If you are already working a full-time job, you might consider taking 1 or 2 classes first to see how much time you have for school.
Course Delivery Options
Let’s talk about course delivery method.
MSU Denver offers a variety of Delivery Methods for our classes. An explanation for all delivery methods is available on the Registrar’s website.
Most Common Options
Class Schedule
Now let’s look at the class schedule. The Class Schedule will let you know the course delivery format (Instructional Method), Meeting Days and Times (if in-person or Synchronous online), instructor, current availability, and if the course has low or no material costs.
Most business classes that are held in-person and Synchronous online will be in one of these time blocks: 8 am to 9:15 am, 9:30 am to 10:45 am, 11 am to 12:15 pm, 12:30 to 1:45 pm, 2 to 3:15 pm, or 3:30 to 4:45 pm. Evening courses are usually two nights a week from 5:30 – 6:45 pm or one night a week from 5:30 pm – 8:20 pm. Courses outside of the College of Business may have different credit hours and different time blocks depending on the course.
Now that you understand the schedule and format, take a few minutes to think about what your perfect class schedule looks like.
Your First Semester
Now, let’s talk about classes that you should take your first semester.
We recommend you pick classes that…
- Interest you
- Are Business Core prerequisites
- Meet General Studies requirements
- Promote healthy lifestyles and habits
- Explore other majors if you are undecided
Here is an optimal mix for your consideration. You don’t need to take them all—most students take 4 or fewer classes their first semester.
One or two of these Business Core prerequisite classes:
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- An English class (usually ENG 1010, Composing Arguments). To register for ENG 1010, you must have taken the directed self-placement survey or have a copy of your SAT or ACT Scores.
- An Oral Communication class (COMM 1010, Presentational Speaking, or COMM 1100, Fundamentals of Oral Communication). In COMM 1010, you learn what makes a good speech and how to give various types of presentations. In COMM 1100, you learn about communication theory, how people communicate, and conflict resolution.
- A Math class (this is typically going to be MTH 1310, Finite Math, or MTH 1311, Finite Math with the required lab, MTH 1312). To register for Math, you must have taken the ACT (minimum score 19) or SAT (minimum score 500); MAT 0300 with a grade of C- or better; or the AAF Accuplacer with a minimum score of 220 for MTH 1311 & MTH 1312 or Score of 235 for MTH 1310.
A Business Core class – You can take any of the following:
-
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- BUS 1850, Intro to Business. This is our introductory Business Core class where you learn about and begin planning your business career
- CIS 1010, Intro to Computers. This is a prerequisite class to CIS 2010, one of the Business Core classes. If you are already familiar with Excel, you may be able to test out of CIS 1010 by passing the CIS Placement Test. CIS 1010 teaches you PC applications, focused on Excel
- ECO 2010, Macroeconomics. This is a Business Core class and teaches you about supply and demand, Adam Smith & Wealth of Nations, GDP, GNP, etc
- ECO 2020, Microeconomics. This is a Business Core class that teaches you about how things like interest rates impact the economy
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An Introductory Business Major course. You can take any of these:
- BUS 2250, Personal Money Management
- ECO 1776, Global Economic History
- FIN 2700, Introduction to Banking
- FIN 190A, Introduction to Managing your Money (Omni-bus course; catalog description not yet available)
- MGT 1260, Introduction to Human Resources Management
- MGT 2500, Creativity, Innovation, and Business Venturing
- MKT 1260, Introduction to Customer Service
- MKT 2250, Introduction to Sales
- REL 2400, Introduction to Affordable Housing
These survey level business classes have additional prerequisites (ENG 1010, ENG 1020, and/or Quantitative Literacy) but are also available to all students regardless of major:
- BUS 2010, Intro to High-Impact Non-profit Organizations
- MKT 2010, Marketing Across the Globe
- REL 2200, Intro to Real Estate
Depending on your major, these classes could count towards major requirements or as open electives. Ask your advisor how they fit into your degree.
Open elective
this can be any class that you want to take at MSU Denver. We have cooking classes like Latin American Cooking; gym classes like Golf & Yoga; Hospitality classes; developing healthy habit classes like Time Management and Stress Management; etc., Let your advisor know if you have a favorite subject.
An introductory course to majors you are considering
For example, if you are also considering Psychology as a major, take PSY 1001, Intro to Psychology. If you are considering Criminal Justice, take CJC 1010, Intro to Criminal Justice. Let your advisor know during registration if you are interested in other majors so we can help you find classes.
Any General Studies class including these (you will take ECO 2010 and ECO 2020 for your Social and Behavioral Science Electives)
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- A Historical Elective
- An Arts & Humanities Elective
- A Natural & Physical Science Elective
- An Ethnic Studies/Social Justice class (ESSJ)
How to Pick General Studies classes
Use the General Studies Information to pick your Historical, Arts & Humanities, Natural & Physical Science, and ESSJ Electives.
- Courses in BOLD font do not have prerequisites and may be taken your first semester.
- Courses in BLUE font also meet the Global Diversity requirement. For example, MTR 1600, Global Climate Change, will meet 3 of the 6 required Natural & Physical Science credits and “double dip” the Global Diversity requirement
- Courses in RED font also meet the Ethnic Studies & Social Justice requirement
- We recommend you take classes that double dip requirements to free up open electives for minors, certificates, and/or double majors. For example, HIS 1150, Race in US History, meets the Historical Elective and ESSJ requirement.
- Don’t take an Arts & Humanities Elective if you speak Spanish, French, or German and HAVE NOT taken AP or IB credits in your language. You may be eligible to take a CLEP exam and bring in Arts & Humanities Elective and open elective credit.
You are ready!
Now use the class schedule to start working on picking your actual classes.
Remember, you won’t be able to register for classes until your orientation hold is removed. If you have completed on-line orientation, you need to download Navigate 360 and set up an academic advising appointment. You can find instructions on the Advising website.
If you attend a Virtual or On-campus Registration Session, you will be meeting with an academic advisor during a registration lab to help you pick your classes.
Welcome again to the College of Business!