First Year IBEM Students, Class of 2030

Welcome to the Integrated Business & Engineering at Michigan program!

The Ross Academic Advising team is looking forward to meeting you and working with you throughout your time at Michigan. The information below will help provide answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) as you start to plan your first year.

What happens during Orientation this summer?
What steps do I need to complete prior to my Orientation experience?
What academic requirements do I need to complete during my first year?
How can I find out more about the BBA curriculum?
How can I find out more about the Engineering curriculum?
What are the Ross distribution and Engineering Intellectual Breadth requirements that I will complete as an IBEM student?
What is the Inclusive Leaders Pathway, and when should I complete this?
What do I do if I still have questions?​

Q. What happens during Orientation this summer?
A. Orientation this summer will consist of three parts: some pre-advising online activities (including placement exams), a virtual Academic Advising Day with advisors from both Ross and Engineering, and a one-day on-campus experience. As an IBEM student, you will have access to advisors through both the College of Engineering and the Ross School of Business. Before the fall semester begins, you will also have access to an IBEM program advisor. 

During your virtual Academic Advising Day, you will hear from an Engineering Advising Center advisor and then meet with a Ross advisor to schedule your Fall courses and prepare for your transition to college. Over the summer, you will receive communications with resources and information to prepare you for your first year as an IBEM student.

Q. What steps do I need to complete prior to my Orientation experience?
A. In April, you received emails from the Office of New Student Programs (ONSP), instructing you to register for a virtual Academic Advising Orientation session and complete any necessary steps in advance of that session, including the UM virtual Orientation course.

Once you complete the portion of the virtual Orientation Course required for all incoming UM students, you must then complete the portions for both the Ross School of Business and the College of Engineering. You must complete all sections before your Virtual Academic Advising Day. You will notice several other steps on this site that you must complete prior to your Advising Day, as well, including:

  • Complete the placement exams required for both Ross and Engineering at least two weeks prior to your virtual Academic Advising Day. Please go here to learn more information and find links to complete placement exams.
  • Complete both the Academic Planning and Interest Survey and the 2026 First Year Student Pre-Advising Day Questionnaire. The latter will be emailed to your Umich email account during the week of May 4. The surveys will give us an idea of your experiences so far, as well as your expectations and goals for your time at Michigan.

Q. What academic requirements do I need to complete during my first year?
A. In your first year, we recommend that you plan to take at least 17-18 credits per term, which must include the following requirements:

  • Complete the following three courses at UM-Ann Arbor by the end of Winter Term 2027:
    • IBEM-specific ENGR 100 section in Winter 2027 that will meet both the Engineering and Ross First Year Writing requirements [C or better]
    • Economics 101 (including IB or A-Level test credit for this course; AP credit does not meet this requirement) [C- or better]
    • Calculus I, II, or III (including AP, IB, or A-level credit for this course) [C or better]
  • Successfully complete the following three core courses at the Ross School of Business by the end of Winter 2027: BA 100 (Fall), BCOM 250 (Winter), and ACC 300 (Winter).
  • Engineering also strongly recommends that you complete:
    • MATH 115/116 (or 214, 215, 216 – depending on prior credits and placement results)
    • ENGR 101 in the Fall semester (unless you have EECS 180 AP credit)
    • Other coursework needed toward Engineering, such as CHEM 130/125/126 (5.0 credits), PHYSICS 140/141 (5.0 credits), or PHYSICS 240/241 (if 140/141 already completed)
    • A course in your Engineering major (if you meet prerequisites)
  • Enroll in a minimum of 12 credits or more at UM-Ann Arbor during Fall Term 2026 and Winter Term 2027.
  • Maintain “Good Academic Standing” with a term and cumulative grade point average of 2.500 or higher at UM-Ann Arbor.

Your exact first-year schedule will depend on the incoming credits you may have. At orientation, advisors will work with you to develop a tailored plan for your first semester.

  • An example Fall semester schedule may look like: ENGR 101, BA 100, a Math or a Science course, ECON 101, and 2-3 credits of humanities
  • An example Winter semester schedule may look like: ENGR 100 (IBEM-specific section), BCOM 250, ACC 300, a Math course, and a Science course.

Q. How can I find out more about the BBA Curriculum?
A. During your first year, you will take a broad range of courses in addition to those required for the BBA program. Below is some general information and answers to common questions regarding Ross program requirements. For more detailed information, please visit the BBA curriculum page. Ross academic advisors are another great resource for answering curriculum and course planning questions.

Q. How can I find out more about the Engineering Curriculum?
A. In your first few semesters, you’ll complete the math, science, and engineering coursework that acts as the foundation for the degree’s program requirements. You can learn more about the requirements of each CoE degree on the Engineering Advising Center’s Sample Schedules website.

Q. What are the Ross distribution and Engineering Intellectual Breadth requirements that I will complete as an IBEM student?
A. IBEM students must complete coursework to fulfill both the Ross distribution requirements and the Engineering Intellectual Breadth requirements. Individual courses may count toward both requirements. 

The Ross distribution requirements must be completed by one of the two following options:

Option 1
Foreign Language – 4th term proficiency
Natural Science and/or Mathematical and Symbolic Analysis – 9 credit hours
ECON 101 and 102
Humanities – 3 credit hours (should be at the 300–level to count toward Engineering’s Intellectual Breadth requirement)

Option 2
Natural Science and/or Mathematical and Symbolic Analysis – 9 credit hours
ECON 101 and 102
Humanities – 6 credit hours (3 credit hours should be at the 300–level to count toward Engineering’s Intellectual Breadth requirement)
Social Sciences – 6 credit hours

The College of Engineering’s Intellectual Breadth Requirements are as follows:

  • 16 Intellectual Breadth Credits: Comprised of Liberal Arts Courses (LACs — defined in the following section of the Bulletin titled, “Definition of Liberal Arts Courses”), including:
    • Humanities: At least 3 credits of Humanities classes marked HU in the LSA course guide, credit by test cannot be used to meet this requirement
    • 300-level LAC: At least 3 credits of LAC must be at the 300 level or higher. Students may satisfy the Humanities and 300-level requirements with a single course

(Optional) PCDC – no more than 4 credits of PCDC (defined in the following section of the Bulletin titled, “Professional or Creative Development Courses”)

Please refer to the CoE Bulletin for more information regarding intellectual breadth. Individual courses may be used to fulfill both the Ross distribution requirement and CoE Intellectual Breadth requirement. You are encouraged to discuss your plan for completing these requirements with academic advisors.

Q. What is the Inclusive Leaders Pathway, and when should I complete this?
A. The Inclusive Leaders Pathway is a degree requirement designed to introduce Ross students to the concepts of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the contexts of their business education and roles as future business leaders. Students must complete all four components of the milestone requirement to receive the BBA degree. This year, you will complete your first Inclusive Leaders Pathway Milestone through BA 100. Your BA 100 Canvas site will have information about how to fulfill the requirement. You can also reference the BBA Bulletin, talk with your academic advisor, or reach out to BBAmilestone@umich.edu.

Q. What do I do if I still have questions?
A. Academic advisors are great resources for answering curriculum questions and helping you develop a course plan that supports your academic goals as well. You will be able to start scheduling future academic advising appointments later this summer after our Virtual Advising Days are complete. In the meantime, you may reach out to your advisors via the email addresses below: