Associate in Business (DTA/MRP)

The Associate in Business DTA/MRP is generally pursued by students who plan to transfer to a four-year university as a business or accounting major after completing their first two years at Highline. It is designed to meet the distribution requirements at universities in Washington State by fulfilling the general education and business prerequisite requirements taken by freshman and sophomores.

Learning Outcomes

The outcomes for the Associate in Business degree incorporate those for the AA-DTA degree. In addition, a student earning an Associate in Business will:

Apply statistical analysis concepts to make better decisions under conditions of uncertainty.
Apply principles of law to business situations and contexts.
Analyze, record and communicate business information using generally accepted accounting procedures.

Requirements

Importance of Advising. Advising is an important part of completing a degree. Each student should meet with an advisor as early as possible. Students are responsible for checking the transfer requirements of the college or university they plan to attend; advisors can help with this.

General Requirements

90 Credits Total: Complete at least 90 credits of courses numbered 100 or higher
2.0+ Cumulative GPA: Earn at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA
- Note: Some Business programs may require a higher cumulative GPA, or a higher GPA in specific courses.
25% of Total Credits at Highline: Complete at least 25% of your 90 total credits at Highline. This is the “Residency” requirement.
75+ Credits Fully Transferable: At least 75 credits must be designated as fully transferable. All Distribution Area and PE Activity courses are fully transferable.
Maximum 15 Credits Restricted: Courses that are not fully transferable are called “restricted.” Students can use no more than 15 restricted credits for their degree. Restricted courses include most Professional-Technical courses, College Studies, PE Theory courses, independent studies, credit by examination, military experience credit, CLEP and other nontraditional credit. AP courses are generally not restricted.
Maximum 15 Credits CR/NC: You can choose to have a course graded as CR/NC, but no more than 15 credits of CR/NC courses can apply to your degree.
Maximum 3 Credits PE Activity: All PE courses are either “Activity” or “Theory” courses. You can only use 3 credits of PE Activity for your degree.

For more information, refer to the Associate Degree and Certificate Requirements page.

Specific Requirements

Communication Skills: 15 credits

Complete the following:

Complete one of the following:

Quantitative Skills: 10 credits

Complete 5 credits of Calculus and an additional 5 credits of a college-level MATH course.

Note: The second MATH course is typically the prerequisite course for either MATH&148 or MATH&151. If you don’t require the prerequisite course, speak with an advisor to choose your second MATH course.

Complete one of the following:

Complete the following

5 credits of any MATH course 100-level or higher, or PHIL& 120

Diversity and Globalism: 3 credits

Complete 3 credits from the Diversity & Globalism Course List . This course can apply to another requirement, so choose one that will also meet a Distribution or Elective requirement.

Note: Some Business programs also require a diversity or globalism course. Check the requirements of the college or university you plan on attending. It may be possible to find a course that meets both schools’ requirements. An advisor can help with this.

Distribution Requirements

A complete list of courses in the Humanities, Social Science, and Natural Science distributions can be found on the Distribution Areas page.

Humanities Distribution: 10 credits

Complete the following:

5 credits from Humanities Area 1
5 credits from Humanities Area 2

Note:

Some colleges and universities require two years of high school world language or fluency in more than one language. If a student doesn’t have either, they need two quarters of a college world language. Students can take the first in Humanities Area 1 and the second as an elective.
Students intending the international business major should consult their potential transfer institutions regarding the level of world language required for admission to the major.

Social Science Distribution: 15 credits

Complete the following:

5 credits from Social Science Area 2

Natural Science Distribution: 10 credits

Complete 10 credits from Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geology, Oceanography, Astronomy, or Physics. This must include a 5-credit course that incorporates a lab (L) experience

Students may not choose courses from Math, Engineering, Psychology, Anthropology, Computer Science, or General Science.

Note:

Students intending the manufacturing management major at WWU should consult WWU regarding the selection of natural science courses required for admission to the major.

Business Prerequisites: 25 credits

Complete the following:

Complete one of the following:

Important: BUSN 210 is strongly recommended. Most universities require BUSN 210, including UW Seattle. A student must receive permission from an advisor to use MATH& 146 for this degree.

Complete one of the following:

Important: BUS& 201 is strongly recommended because it is a common transfer requirement.

Elective: 5 credits

Choose 5 elective credits with the help of an advisor. Any course(s) chosen must be 100-level or higher. Depending on a student’s goals, good choices may include:

BUS& 101 - Introduction to Business (Take as introduction to Business pathway)
BUSN 216 - Business Computer Applications (May meet a transfer requirement at some institutions)

Institution-Specific Requirements

These institutions have requirements for admission to the major that go beyond those specified above. Students can meet these requirements by careful selection of electives that are equivalent to the following:

Gonzaga: BMIS 235 - Management Information Systems.
PLU: CSCE 120 - Computerized Information Systems, or either an equivalent course or skills test.
WSU (all campuses): MIS 250 - Management Information Systems (Highline Equivalent: CSCI 100 or BUSN 216)
WWU: MIS 220 - Introduction to Business Computer Systems (Highline Equivalent: Busn 216)