Bachelor of Business Administration Requirements

Professional Certifications

Upon graduation, accounting majors often pursue professional certifications to strengthen their career prospects. Common options include becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), or Enrolled Agent (EA). Most certifications require passing a rigorous national examination and completing a designated period of professional practice.

Students planning to pursue certifications, especially CPA licensure, should meet with accounting faculty to develop a personalized plan based on career goals, intended work location, and potential interstate mobility.

CPA Evolution and Licensure Pathways

The CPA licensure process has recently been modernized through the CPA Evolution initiative and updated state requirements. In 2024, the Uniform CPA Examination moved to a Core + Discipline model. All candidates must pass core exams in Financial Accounting and Reporting, Auditing and Attestation, and Taxation and Regulation, plus one discipline exam in either Business Analysis and Reporting, Information Systems and Controls, or Tax Compliance and Planning.

States have also expanded pathways to CPA licensure. While specific accounting and business coursework requirements vary by state, most pathways include:

1. a graduate and undergraduate degree totaling 150 semester credit hours, plus one year of professional experience;
2. an undergraduate degree with 150 semester credit hours, plus one year of professional experience; or,
3. an undergraduate degree with 120 semester credit hours, plus two years of professional experience.

Obtaining 150 Credit Hours

Students pursuing a 150-credit pathway have several attractive options:

• Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Pathway: Complete up to six graduate credits during your undergraduate study, then finish a Master of Science degree online either full-time or part-time while gaining professional experience.
• Master of Science Degree: Complete one of three graduate programs online either full-time or part-time after graduation while gaining professional experience.
• Double Major: Earn a Bachelor of Business Administration in a complementary field, including finance, supply chain management, or management, alongside your accounting degree.

¹

For BBA programs offered by the Distance Campus, the world languages degree requirement may be waived for online degree students (exclusions may apply).

²

BUSADMIN 4990 satisfies only the internship requirement for the accounting major.

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The Accounting B.B.A. is offered in person only.

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This course may apply toward a Core General Education Requirement.

Additional Requirements for the Accounting Degree

1. Students must earn an overall GPA of 2.50 in required courses for the major.
2. Satisfactory completion of an approved business internship is required.
3. The minimum of six accounting elective credits must be in upper division courses (courses numbered 3000 or above).

¹

For BBA programs offered by the Distance Campus, the world languages degree requirement may be waived for online degree students (exclusions may apply).

²

Students must complete 42 credits at the 3000 or 4000 level.

³

Students must earn an overall GPA of 2.50 or higher for courses identified in the BBA core, finance required courses, and finance electives.

⁴

This course may apply toward a Core General Education Requirement.

¹

For BBA programs offered by the Distance Campus, the world languages degree requirement may be waived for online degree students (exclusions may apply).

²

Students must complete 42 credits at the 3000 or 4000 level.

³

Students must earn an overall GPA of 2.50 or higher for courses identified in the BBA core, human resources required courses, and human resources electives.

⁴

This course may apply toward a Core General Education Requirement.

¹

For BBA programs offered by the Distance Campus, the world languages degree requirement may be waived for online degree students (exclusions may apply).

²

Students must complete 42 credits at the 3000 or 4000 level.

³

Students must earn an overall GPA of 2.50 or higher for courses identified in the BBA core, marketing required courses, and marketing electives.

⁴

This course may apply toward a Core General Education Requirement.

¹

For BBA programs offered by the Distance Campus, the world languages degree requirement may be waived for online degree students (exclusions may apply).

²

Students must complete 42 credits at the 3000 or 4000 level.

³

Students must earn an overall GPA of 2.50 or higher for courses identified in the BBA core, supply chain required courses, and supply chain electives.

⁴

This course may apply toward a Core General Education Requirement.

¹

For BBA programs offered by the Distance Campus, the world languages degree requirement may be waived for online degree students (exclusions may apply).

²

Students must complete 42 credits at the 3000 or 4000 level.

³

Students must earn an overall GPA of 2.50 or higher for courses identified in the BBA core, management required courses, and management electives.

⁴

This course may apply toward a Core General Education Requirement.

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Management majors completing the Entrepreneurship & Innovation minor will need to take ENTRP 4070 as their second technical elective in the minor.

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Graduate-level course only available for students enrolled in the Master of Science in Sport Administration Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's (AB2M) Program.