Accounting Program (BBA)

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Objectives

The Accounting major prepares students for professional careers in public, managerial and governmental accounting, such as managerial, cost, tax or government accountant and internal or independent auditor. Graduates of the program are also prepared for advanced study in accounting, management, law, and related fields.

The curriculum emphasizes developing an understanding of the social, ethical, economic, legal and regulatory environments that affect accounting. Development of problem-solving, decision-making, communication and leadership skills, in addition to business and accounting knowledge, are emphasized.

Accounting faculty members are available to consult with students wishing to pursue careers in any of the above-mentioned areas.

Requirements

A. Business Core Courses (63 credits)

ACC 201 - Principles of Financial Accounting (3)
ACC 202 - Principles of Managerial Accounting (3)
BUS 110 - Business Concepts and Careers (3)
BUS 115 - Introduction to Business Applications (3) or equivalent
BUS 381 - Management Information Systems (3)
One from:
BUS 250 - Contemporary Legal Issues for Business (3) , required for the EIM major only
EIM 240 - Introduction to Entrepreneurship (3)
COM 338 - Communications in Business (3)
or
ENG 338 - Communications in Business (3)
ECN 201 - Principles of Economics (Macroeconomics) (3)
ECN 202 - Principles of Economics (Microeconomics) (3)
ENG 112 - Critical Writing and Reading (3)
FIN 361 - Financial Management (3)
INB 385 - International Business (3)
MGT 341 - Human Behavior in Organizations (3)
MGT 489 - Business and Corporate Strategy (3)
MKT 330 - Principles of Marketing (3)
MTH 109 - Mathematical Modeling Using College Algebra (3) , or placement into or completion of a higher-level MTH course
One from:
PSY 100 - Principles of Psychology (3)
SOC 100 - Introduction to Sociology (3)
SCM 211 - Business Statistics (3)
SCM 313 - Introduction to Business Analytics (3)
SCM 371 - Operations Management (3)

B. Accounting Major Courses (18 credits)

ACC 320 - Cost Accounting (3)
ACC 321 - Intermediate Accounting I (3)
ACC 322 - Intermediate Accounting II (3)
ACC 421 - Accounting Information Systems (3)
ACC 424 - Auditing (3)
At least three credits from:
ACC 325 - Income Tax Preparation (3)
ACC 394 - Accounting Internship Program (1-3)
ACC 420 - Federal Income Taxation (3)
ACC 422 - Taxation of Businesses (3)
ACC 423 - Fundamentals of Governmental and Not-for-Profit Accounting (3)
ACC 425 - Advanced Accounting (3)
ACC 426 - Data Analytics for Accounting (3).
FIN 467 - Financial Statement Analysis (3)

C. Current Business Topics (6 credits)

Six credits in:

BUS 499 - Special Topics Seminar (3)

D. Career Development Activities

Required of all students except those with substantial professional experience, who may be granted a waiver.

Tutorials

Completion of online tutorials and submission of final work in each of the following areas:

networking
resume writing
interviewing
job searches
business etiquette

Additional Career Activities

Activities are assigned point values as indicated below; a minimum of 30 points is required.

Practical Experience

An internship and corresponding election of ACC/BUS/EIM/FIN/INB/MGT/MKT/SCM 294 or 394 (20 points)
Participation in another extensive practical experience program, such as VITA (20 points)

Other Activities

Activities must be documented at formassembly, and may be repeated to a maximum of 10 points per activity. Other activities may be considered; consult the SOM student service coordinator.

Attending a university or non-university professional development events (5 points)
Attending an employer networking, meet-and-greet event, e.g. Inside the Industry, International Forum, Employer Marketplace, specific company open houses (5 points)
Attending a student research or professional conference (5 points)
Participating in a student research or professional conference (10 points)
Meeting with an employer-in-residence (2.5 points)
Attending an alumni speaker event (5 points)
Participating in a school trip to a company (5 points)
Attending a panel discussion with company representatives (5 points)
Attending a SOM event involving the business community, e.g. Economic forum, Hagerman Center event (5 points)
Attending a University Innovation Incubator event or SIL professional seminar (5 points)
Attending a local chamber of commerce event, e.g. Lunch on Us (5 points)
Joining a professional organization related to the major, e.g. MICPA, SHRM (5 points)
Participating in a resume reviewing meeting with the student services coordinator (5 points)
Participating in a job/internship fair, including interviews (5 points)
Participating in a mock interview (5 points)
Learning a foreign language using Rosetta Stone (2.5 points/hour)
Developing skills in a business discipline-related software, e.g. Bloomberg, Morningstar, Palo Alto business development, CESIM global strategy, MS expression, MyOMLab, FASB codification database, SAM simulation, etc. (2.5 points/hour)
Utilizing resources in the SOM Student Professional Development Center (2.5 points/hour)
Attending a business school student or SIL organization event (5 points)
Serving in a leadership role in a student organization (10 points)
ETS Business exam (points based on ETS exam score up to 7. 5 points, 2. 5 pts for each quartile starting with 2nd quartile)

E. Additional Requirements

Minimum grade point averages of 2.0 in the major area, in all courses taken in the School of Management, and in college work overall
All UM-Flint graduation requirements and School of Management General Education requirements
Passing grade in ETS Major Field Test (Business)

Minimum Credits for the Degree: 120 credits

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Requirements

To become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the State of Michigan and most other US states, students are required to have completed 150 hours of college credit. Students planning to become CPAs in Michigan should consider one of the following paths:

A. Undergraduate Coursework

Completion of 150 credit hours at the undergraduate level, to include:

ACC 320 - Cost Accounting (3)
ACC 321 - Intermediate Accounting I (3)
ACC 322 - Intermediate Accounting II (3)
ACC 420 - Federal Income Taxation (3)
ACC 421 - Accounting Information Systems (3)
ACC 423 - Fundamentals of Governmental and Not-for-Profit Accounting (3)
ACC 424 - Auditing (3)
Two from:
ACC 422 - Taxation of Businesses (3)
ACC 425 - Advanced Accounting (3) (strongly recommended)
FIN 467 - Financial Statement Analysis (3)

B. Master of Science in Accounting

Completion of the School of Management’s Master of Science in Accounting (MSA). This program is particularly appropriate for students wishing to become a CPA in a state that requires 150 hours of university education to take the CPA exam, including Michigan. For students who successfully complete the BBA program and receive a grades of B (3.0) or better in the undergraduate accounting courses, MSA foundation course requirements are waived and the MSA requires only 30 additional credits.

Note

The student who wishes to pursue a CPA license in Michigan under option A or B above should see an accounting faculty member by the junior year to see which path best fits needs. In some cases, students with a BBA degree with major in accounting may be able to take the CPA exam before the completion of all required courses, but counsel from an accounting faculty member, or State Board of Accountancy, should be sought before doing so. The student who wishes to take the CPA exam, and become a CPA in another state must comply with the requirements for education and CPA certification in that state.

Many professional certifications are available in accounting and, more generally, in financial services. Examples include, Certified Managerial Accountant (CMA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM), and Certified Bank Auditor (CBA). Criteria for these certifications are readily available on the internet, and most of them require fewer accounting credits than the CPA license. However, the CPA license is still seen by many as the top accounting designation attainable. Students are encouraged to consult with accounting faculty members regarding certification opportunities.

Honors Program

All bachelor-degree-seeking students with GPAs of 3.5 or higher are eligible to apply to the University of Michigan-Flint Honors Program . Please contact the Honors Program Manager or the Honors Program Director for further information.