Academic Catalog 2026–2027

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Bachelor of Science in Business Studies with Emphasis in Accounting

Overview

Accounting is the science used to record, collect, measure and assess financial data to determine an organization’s profit or loss through tracking efforts. Accounting is an essential function, one which is used to show the well-being and efficiency of businesses, non-profit and governmental organizations, and as such, is considered the backbone of the firm. In sum, accountants ensure that firms operate efficiently; they also analyze budgets and provide financial planning.

The BS in Business Studies with Accounting emphasis grounds you in the decision-making process and prepares you for beneficial careers in accounting across all industries. It is also an excellent step toward graduate studies, such as the Master of Business Administration (MBA), the Master of Science (MS) degree, and recognized professional certificates such as the CPA.

Curriculum

A minimum of 92 credits are required to graduate, distributed as follows:

  • Business Core Requirements (36 credits)
  • Accounting Emphasis Requirements (15 credits)
  • Business Electives (12 credits)
  • LAS Requirements (30 credits)*
  • Free Electives (5 credits)

* The core business courses ECO201 and ECO202 fulfill 6 of these credits, as they are also LAS Social Sciences requirements.

The changes in LAS, business electives, and free electives) requirements are applicable for the entering class of Fall 2021. Existing students may choose to follow the old or the new curriculum.

Business Core Requirements (36 credits)

  • ACC203 Financial Accounting (3 cr.)
  • BUS213 Business Law & Ethics (3 cr.)
  • BUS299 Civic and SDG Engagement (0 cr.)
  • ECO201 Microeconomics (3 cr.)
  • ECO202 Macroeconomics (3 cr.)
  • FIN301 Managerial Finance (3 cr.)
  • ITM211 Information Systems and AI for Business (3 cr.)
  • MGT201 Foundations of Management & Entrepreneurship (3 cr.)
  • MGT338 Negotiation Workshop (1 cr.)
  • MGT420 Strategic Planning & Policy Formation (3 cr.)
  • MGT438 Leadership Workshop (1 cr.)
  • MKT201 Contemporary Marketing (3 cr.)
  • OPM301 Operation & Production Management (3 cr.)
  • QBA201 Statistics for Business Insights (3 cr.)
  • XXX399 Internship/Practicum* (1 cr.)

* Major-specific course with the appropriate code: ACC399, FIN399, FEM399, ITM399, IBS399, MGT399, or MKT399.

Accounting Emphasis Requirements (15 credits)

  • ACC302 Cost Accounting (3 cr.)
  • ACC311 Intermediate Accounting I (3 cr.)
  • ACC312 Intermediate Accounting II (3 cr.)
  • ACC401 Advanced Accounting (3 cr.)
  • ACC412 External Auditing (3 cr.)

Business Electives (12 credits)

Block A: Minimum 6 credits

  • ACC310 Accounting Information Systems (3 cr.)
  • ACC405 Forensic Accounting (3 cr.)
  • ACC407 Sustainability Reporting (3 cr.)
  • ACC413 Internal Auditing (3 cr.)
  • ACC415 Tax Accounting (3 cr.)
  • ACC420 Information Technology Audit (3 cr.)
  • ACC421 International Accounting (3 cr.)
  • ACC431 Financial Statement Analysis (3 cr.)

Block B: Maximum 6 credits

1. Soft Skills: Maximum 3 credits

  • MGT236 Communication Skills (1 cr.)
  • MGT336 Developing a Business Plan (1 cr.)
  • MGT436 Personality & Career Development (1 cr.)

2. Vertically Integrated Projects: Maximum 3 credits

  • VIP201 Vertically Integrated Projects (1 cr.)
  • VIP301 Vertically Integrated Projects (1 cr.)
  • VIP401 Vertically Integrated Projects (1 cr.)

3. Other Electives

  • BDA211 Introduction to Applied Data Analytics (3 cr.)
  • BDA214 AI for Business (3 cr.)
  • QBA301 Intermediate Managerial Statistics (3 cr.)

LAS Requirements (30 credits)

Free Electives (5 credits)

Recommended Study Plan

Year One

Fall (15 credits)

  • ACC203 Financial Accounting (3 cr.)
  • MGT201 Foundations of Management & Entrepreneurship (3 cr.)
  • ECO201 Microeconomics (3 cr.)
  • LAS Core Requirement (3 cr.)
  • LAS Elective (3 cr.)

Spring (15 credits)

  • MKT201 Contemporary Marketing (3 cr.)
  • ECO202 Macroeconomics (3 cr.)
  • FIN301 Managerial Finance (3 cr.)
  • LAS Core Requirement (3 cr.)
  • LAS Elective (3 cr.)

Year Two

Fall (16 credits)

  • QBA201 Statistics for Business Insights (3 cr.)
  • MGT338 Negotiation Workshop (1 cr.)
  • ACC302 Cost Accounting (3 cr.)
  • ACC311 Intermediate Accounting I (3 cr.)
  • Business Elective I (Block A or B — see Elective Menu) (3 cr.)
  • LAS Elective (3 cr.) 

Spring (15 credits)

  • BUS213 Business Law & Ethics (3 cr.)
  • BUS299 Civic and SDG Engagement (0 cr.)
  • ACC312 Intermediate Accounting II (3 cr.)
  • ACC401 Advanced Accounting (3 cr.)
  • Business Elective II (Block A or B — see Elective Menu) (3 cr.)
  • LAS Elective (3 cr.)

Summer (after Year Two) 

  • ACC399 Accounting Internship / Practicum (1 cr.) (Minimum 120 hours; prerequisite: BUS299.)

Year Three

Fall (16 credits)

  • ITM211 Information Systems and AI for Business (3 cr.)
  • MGT438 Leadership Workshop (1 cr.)
  • ACC412 External Auditing (3 cr.)
  • Business Elective III (Block A or B — see Elective Menu) (3 cr.)
  • LAS Elective (3 cr.)
  • Free Elective (3 cr.)

Spring (14 credits)

  • MGT420 Strategic Planning & Policy Formulation (3 cr.)
  • OPM301 Operations & Production Management (3 cr.)
  • Business Elective IV (Block A or B — see Elective Menu) (3 cr.)
  • LAS Elective (3 cr.)
  • Free Elective (2 cr.)