Starting Your Degree

Q. What can I do with a Business Administration, Marketing, or Management major? Is it right for me?

A. Information on B.S. in Business Administration.

B. Information on B.S. in Marketing.

C. Information on B.S. in Management.

Q. What are the hardware and software technology requirements?

A. The following is an overview of minimum hardware and software requirements:

• IBM compatible computers should have a 486 or higher processor, running on Windows 95, 98 or NT; Macintosh computers should have 68040 or faster processor, running Macintosh OS 7.1 or higher.
• Your computer should be capable of displaying at least 256 colors.
• To install and run your browser, you should have 20MB of hard disk space, and at least 16 MB of free RAM.
• Modem should be 28.8 or faster (56 K, DSL, and Cable works best).

For a complete list of technolgoy requirements for distance education on the Internet visit Technology Support pages.

Q. What courses should I take first?

A. It depends on how far you are in your program. In general, you will want to consider what is appropriate to your skill level and applies toward degree requirements. For example, 100–level = freshman level (0–29 credits completed), 200–level = sophomore (33–59 credits), 300–level = junior (60–89), and 400–500–level = senior (90+).

Q. When do I take the assessments?

A. New students must complete assessments (also known as Diagnostic Assessments) before they can register. The back of your General Education Liberal Studies (GELS) Worksheet will indicate whether you need to complete reading, writing or math assessments. Each will take approximately an hour to complete. College requires strong reading and writing skills — courses you want to complete early in your program. College Algebra is the prerequisite for many of your business courses. The results from the assessments will provide you important insight into your current skills, help you plan your first term, and may allow you to:

1. Waive the first-level writing or math course, or
2. Identify some developmental courses that will help you lay a solid foundation to ensure your college success.

If you are not satisfied with your placement results, you may retest once.

Q. Where do I take assessments?

A. Students may make arrangements to take the assessments at any proctored location if they are having difficulty attending the Metropolitan State University campus. This applies to both the paper-pencil version and the computerized version. It is the student’s responsibility to find a proctor from a local college, university, or library. The Proctor Information Form should be filled out by the student with the potential proctor, and then arrangements can be made with our assessment office.

Download Proctor Information Form (PDF 53k)

Students may also take the required assessments at most MnSCU institutions and have the results transferred to Metropolitan State. If you still have questions, there is a Diagnostic Assessments website with information such as Frequently Asked Questions, Sample Tests and more.

Q. Why do I have to participate in the orientation?

A. The Metropolitan State University orientation provides you with information necessary for your success as a student at Metropolitan State University. You will be introduced to the requirements needed to obtain your degree, the resources available to students at Metropolitan State, and the policies and procedures you should be familiar with. This information is necessary to assist you in making good choices throughout your program and not wasting time and money by choosing inappropriate courses, missing deadlines, or not understanding options that you may have for reducing your time in a degree program.

Q. What are my responsibilities as a student?

A. Ask questions if you don’t understand what you have read or have been told. Be proactive in seeking assistance for making program/registration decisions. Track your own progress and check with an advisor to make certain you are choosing the appropriate courses for your major. If you have concerns or difficulties with courses, instructors, policies or procedures, bring this up with an advisor to assist you in finding a solution. Students are responsible for understanding and complying with drop, withdrawal, registration, and graduation dates and deadlines. Students are responsible for attending classes, completing assignments and tests, their own time management and study skills, and communicating with instructors if concerns arise. Students are responsible for making arrangements with their instructors if they need to miss class.

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