Graduation Checklists

This page helps with: Understanding requirements and graduation progress

Graduation Checklist & Requirements: What you need to Know

Degree Requirement Update

The College of Business Administration currently has two different business core and overall degree requirements. For ease of reviewing requirements throughout Advising Central, these descriptors will be used: 

• For students who started in Fall 2025 and later
• For students who started before Fall 2025

Curriculum FAQs

Which business curriculum applies to you:

• For students who started at Marquette in Fall 2025 or later: follow the NEW business core.
• For students who started before Fall 2025: follow the Business core that applies to the term you began at Marquette and is on your Graduation Checklist.

Can I switch to the new major requirements?

• For students who started before Fall 2025: follow the major requirements from the term you started at Marquette University.
• Exceptions for: Spring 2027 or later graduates with: Business Analytics Major, Finance Major-Financial Planning Concentration, and Human Resources Major-Business Leadership Concentration.

Where can I find my requirements:

• For students who started in Fall 2025 or later: visit the current Marquette Bulletin.
• For students who started before Fall 2025: use the Previous Marquette Bulletin that applies to your starting term OR visit CheckMarq; Degree Progress tile; MyAcademic Requirements.

Key Differences

Finding and using your graduation checklist

• Check your personalized Graduation Checklist and the Marquette Bulletin to track your courses and requirements. How to find your graduation checklist
• How to understand your requirements: Review the Marquette Bulletin as needed, looking at previous Bulletin years if you began in an earlier year than the current one.

GPA Requirements

• All students: Minimum 2.000 GPA in all courses taken at Marquette University, in Business classes (2.500 GPA for Accounting majors), and in Major selection(s).
• Majors: Must earn at least a C in all major requirements and electives, including the core courses introducing the major (i.e. FINA 3001 for Finance majors).
• If a course transfers into Marquette University, only the credits transfer, not the grade/GPA.

Important Rules

• MATH 1400 Elements of Calculus and all Business courses must be taken at Marquette. Exceptions are made for students participating in a Marquette-approved study abroad experience.
• At least one approved International Business course is required through your major, electives, or study abroad. Only business courses apply; non-business courses in the INBU major do not. Visit the INBU major page in the Marquette Bulletin for options: Select one business course.
• Courses may share across checklist areas when allowed. For students who started before Fall 2025: Non-business electives may only share with WRIT, ESSV2, and non-business minor requirements.

Upper Division Business Electives: are courses numbered 3000-4999 and are generally taken by sophomores through seniors.

Internship for Credit: Students often pursue internships for credit, which may count as a major elective in some majors. Review your major requirements in the Bulletin to determine if this option applies. The Business Career Center manages the program; more information is available here.

Jump to: Students who started in Fall 2025 or later

For students who started before Fall 2025

Credit Requirements

Students need at least 129 credits but may graduate with as few as 122 by using approved options, such as sharing up to two business courses across the Discovery Tier Theme and Business Core or Major requirements/electives, or waiving BUAD 1060 Excel by exam. See "Registration & Forms." These are the only ways to earn a B.S. in Business Administration with fewer than 129 credits.

Reduction of Credits form: Dual Applying Business Courses

Business as Non-Business Elective request form

• For students who started before Fall 2025:
  • Accounting Majors OR Accounting Majors taking MATH 1200
  • Non-Accounting Majors OR Non-Accounting Majors taking MATH 1200

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Marquette Core Curriculum

Marquette Core Curriculum Requirements: General education requirements for all students.

• University Marquette Core Curriculum updates
• Business student guide to Discovery Tier Themes, WRIT, and ESSV2 options

Discovery Tier Theme: Select and declare your theme by 60 credits. Some courses may dual-apply to Business Core or Major requirements, helping reduce total credits. Students who started before Fall 2025 may dual-apply up to 6 credits with an approved form. All courses may dual-apply where allowed except non-business electives.

• See the Marquette Bulletin: Discovery Tier Themes
• Students may change a declared theme anytime.

WRIT and ESSV2 Courses: One Writing Intensive (WRIT) and one Engaging Social and Systems Values Level 2 (ESSV2) course are required. These should not add credits; plan to fulfill them through your Discovery Tier Theme, Business Core, non-business electives, or major/non-business minor requirements. See the Marquette Bulletin: WRIT and ESSV2 Courses

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Business Core Curriculum

Business Core classes include foundational courses and three structured electives: Business Ethics, Core Enhancement, and Analytics. When possible, they dual-apply to business major requirements.

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Non-Business Electives

• Accounting majors: 12 non-business credits
• Other business majors: 18 non-business credits
• Up to 3 credits may be an open elective, inside or outside Business, including non-business major/minor courses, business internships for credit, study abroad, or a Marquette business course outside your declared major. Use this form for a Business class

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Business Major

• Declare your major(s) before junior year.
• You can change your major later, but aim to decide by the end of sophomore year.
  • Find major contacts and details on the Course Planning tab and in the Marquette Bulletin.
• Business Administration (BUAD) is a primary major only and cannot pair with another business major. It includes 9 upper-division business electives.
• One course may count toward two business majors, except International Business. This helps with scheduling but does not reduce total credits; additional coursework may be needed.

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Still have questions? Check your Graduation Checklist, the Marquette Bulletin, or ask your advisor—they want to help you graduate on time!

For students who started in Fall 2025 or later

Credit Requirements

Fall 2025 and after: At least 124 credits are required. Some major and non-business minor combinations may exceed 124 credits.

Typical Four Year Plan Guide - for students who started in Fall 2025 and later

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Marquette Core Curriculum

Marquette Core Curriculum Requirements: General education requirements for all students.

• University Marquette Core Curriculum updates
• Business student guide to Discovery Tier Themes, WRIT, and ESSV2 options

Discovery Tier Theme: Select and declare your theme by 60 credits. Some courses may dual-apply to Business Core or Major requirements, helping reduce total credits. Students who started before Fall 2025 may dual-apply up to 6 credits with an approved form. All courses may dual-apply where allowed except non-business electives.

• See the Marquette Bulletin: Discovery Tier Themes
• Students may change a declared theme anytime.

WRIT and ESSV2 Courses: One Writing Intensive (WRIT) and one Engaging Social and Systems Values Level 2 (ESSV2) course are required. These should not add credits; plan to fulfill them through your Discovery Tier Theme, Business Core, non-business electives, or major/non-business minor requirements. See the Marquette Bulletin: WRIT and ESSV2 Courses

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Business Core Curriculum

Business Core classes include foundational courses and three structured electives: Business Ethics, Core Enhancement, and Analytics. When possible, they dual-apply to business major requirements.

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General Elective Credits

Credits needed to reach at least 124 total credits. These fall outside specific Marquette Core, Business Core, Business Major, and non-business minor requirements. Depending on major/minor choices, no extra credits may be needed.

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Business Major

• Declare your major(s) before junior year.
• You can change your major later, but aim to decide by the end of sophomore year.
  • Find major contacts and details on the Course Planning tab and in the Marquette Bulletin.
• Business Administration (BUAD) is a primary major only and cannot pair with another business major. It includes 9 upper-division business electives.
• One course may count toward two business majors, except International Business. This helps with scheduling but does not reduce total credits; additional coursework may be needed.

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Still have questions? Check your Graduation Checklist, the Marquette Bulletin, or ask your advisor—they want to help you graduate on time!