B.S. IN COMMERCE

First-Year Student Admissions Process and Requirements

Beginning in fall 2025, the McIntire’s B.S. in Commerce is evolving into a three-year program, opening its doors to second-year students. Our highly ranked undergraduate program not only imparts essential business skills, but also fosters a vibrant and collaborative community, providing an enriching student experience for aspiring leaders.

Students who are in their first year in 2024-2025 and future first-year students can apply to the program in April or May of their first year of classes. If accepted, they will start the program in August of their second year.

Admissions Timeline

Application Opens

March 2025

Application Deadline

April/May 2025

Decisions Released

June 2025

Students who are in their first year in 2024-2025 and future first-year students will be eligible to apply for admission to the B.S. in Commerce Program in April or May of their first year, for matriculation in the fall of their second year.

Requirements For Admission

The admissions requirements for first-year students include prerequisite courses that must be completed prior to applying. In addition, students should continue to make progress on UVA's General Education Requirements.

Prerequisites & General Education Requirements

Students must complete the following prerequisite courses, including the First Writing Requirement, to apply to McIntire:

COMM 1800: Foundations of Commerce (3 credits)

The primary objective of this course is to provide a foundational overview of business, including the themes of the history of business, business and society, and innovation. The course will enable students to gage interest in business and prepare students for business-related education, jobs, and careers.

ECON 2010: Principles of Microeconomics (3 credits)

Studies demand and supply, consumer behavior, the theory of business enterprise, the operation of competitive and monopolistic markets, and the forces determining income distribution.

First Writing Requirement

All UVA undergraduate students (other than Echols Scholars) MUST complete the First Writing Requirement. There is NO WAY TO OPT OUT OR TEST OUT of this requirement. Learn more about completing this requirement.

Recommended Courses to Consider

While not strictly required for admission to McIntire, we strongly suggest students consider completing additional courses in these areas before being admitted to McIntire.

Make progress towards completing area requirements in the General Education Requirements (Engagements Pathway).
Complete World Language in the first year if possible.
Complete one Quantification, Computation, and Data Analytics (QCDA) requirement.

How to Be a Successful Applicant

Creating an academic plan that is both rigorous and aligned with your interests will best allow you to demonstrate readiness for success at McIntire and the unique perspective you bring the classroom.

Consider these keys to success as you navigate your academic journey and prepare your application:

Take full course loads (13 or 16 credits).
Challenge yourself with rigorous courses across many disciplines/areas, building your oral and written communication skills, ethics and moral reasoning, global perspective, quantitative skill set, and creative and critical-thinking abilities.
Create a balanced schedule: Avoid taking more than two quantitative courses in the same semester.
Develop a plan and start to get involved outside of the classroom.

What We’re Looking For

McIntire's vision of developing global citizens who can transform commerce and society guides the selection of attributes for use in the admissions process. The School believes that future business leaders must develop both a rigorous, real-world skill set and a human-centered mindset, one characterized by empathy, work ethic, agency, accountability, and impact. Thus, McIntire applicants are evaluated based on qualities that speak to their potential in these areas.

It is not expected that every candidate will possess all of these qualities. However, this list reflects qualities that facilitate the enrollment of cohorts that align with the overall mission and learning objectives of McIntire’s programs. As you begin working on your essay responses in your application, keep these qualities in mind with personal experiences you can detail to showcase them:

Academic excellence
Intellectual curiosity
Strong work ethic
Ability to collaborate
Awareness and ability to engage across differences
Initiative
Resilience and perseverance
Unique perspective

Frequently Asked Questions

What prerequisite courses are needed to apply to McIntire?

COMM 1800
ECON 2010
First-Year Writing Requirement

How will I know the application is open?

Students will be contacted by email when the application is open. Those who are interested in being notified when applications open should contact the McIntire Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

What do you look for in a successful applicant?

The School believes that future business leaders must develop both a rigorous, real-world skill set and a human-centered mindset, one characterized by empathy, work ethic, agency, accountability, and impact. Thus, McIntire applicants are evaluated based on qualities that speak to their potential in these areas. It is not expected that every candidate will possess all of these qualities. However, this list reflects qualities that facilitate the enrollment of cohorts that align with the overall mission and learning objectives of McIntire’s programs.

Academic excellence
Intellectual curiosity
Strong work ethic
Ability to collaborate
Awareness and ability to engage across differences
Initiative
Resilience and perseverance
Unique perspective

Can I apply to McIntire as a high school student?

High school students who have enough credits and have completed college-level prerequisite courses still need to complete a minimum of one academic year at UVA before enrollment at McIntire. We recommend students make progress toward the General Education Requirements in their first year to be a competitive applicant.

How many credits do I need to graduate from McIntire?

Students will need a minimum of 120 credits to graduate from UVA. The breakdown of credits for the B.S. in Commerce Program is the following:

48 graded Commerce credits

3 prerequisite credits (COMM 1800, ECON 2010, and First Writing Requirement)
15 second-year Integrated Core credits
18 third-year Integrated Core and COMM Law credits
9-12 concentration credits
0-3 Commerce elective credits

+57 non-Commerce credits (General Education Requirements/Engagements Pathway)

+15 graded Commerce or non-Commerce credits

120 total credits (60 credits must be taken at UVA)

Connect With Us

McIntire’s Office of Undergraduate Admission collaborates with prospective B.S. in Commerce students, helping in a variety of ways.

We encourage prospective students to contact us early in the admissions process to take advantage of all of our advising opportunities, including academic advising, information sessions, and other events, or to connect with a student ambassador.

Learn More

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