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Accounting - B.B.A.

Looking to explore the world of accounting and advance your career prospects? The B.B.A. degree in Accounting offers a dynamic curriculum and renowned faculty to provide you with the essential skills and knowledge required to succeed in this ever-evolving field.

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Anna siesel

“During my first year, I knew I wanted to major in accounting as it was the right fit for me. I joined the Accounting Association and attended bi-monthly meetings that brought in different firms. It was so helpful to network with other accounting students, as well as the recruiters from various accounting firms. When it came time for Kent State’s annual Meet the Accountants Night, I was able to land my first internship which helped me apply the accounting principles I learned in the classroom to the real business world.” -  Anna Siesel, Accounting

 

Overview

  • Students gain the skills necessary to attain positions as auditors, industrial accountants, financial analysts, tax consultants, or governmental and nonprofit accountants.
  • Beta Alpha Psi, the honorary student organization, promotes the study and practice of accounting, finance and information systems, provides opportunities for self-development and encourages a sense of ethical, social and public responsibility.
  • Students who wish to sit for the CPA exam must complete 120 credit hours; the accounting curriculum is aligned to prepare them to take the exam.
  • IMA certification badge
    The accounting program is endorsed by the Institute of Management Accountants for Certified Management Accountants (CMA) certification. It is also a member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Finance Leadership Program and has the education partnership with the Institute of Internal Auditors and Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
  • The department provides ample opportunities for students to network and obtain paid internships and full-time jobs in international, national and regional CPA firms, corporations and organizations, through the annual Meet the
    Accountants Night event in fall and the Accounting Meet and Greet event in Spring.
  • Accounting faculty are expert teachers and scholars who create an engaging learning environment for students.

 

Program Information

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in accounting theory and practice necessary for entry-level accounting positions and career advancement. It encompasses a common body of concepts, conventions, principles and theories essential to the professional competency of the certified public accountant, controller, industrial accountant, institutional accountant and governmental accountant.

Accounting students may apply early to the M.B.A. degree and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program policy in the University Catalog for more information.

In addition, students may apply toward a five-year program that leads to both the B.B.A. degree in Accounting and the Master of Science in Accounting degree. The two-degree, five-year program meets the requirements for admission of graduates to the Uniform CPA Examination. Requirements differ in different states, and students should check with the state board of accountancy for requirements.

Admissions
Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Given a defined financial accounting transaction, identify and analyze the issue, record the transaction in the books of original entry and prepare the financial statement disclosure.
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of managerial and cost accounting with the ability to identify and analyze information useful in decision making.
  3. Gain a functional understanding of taxation of individuals.
  4. Understand financial statement auditing.
  5. Assemble, cleanse and analyze the information provided by information systems; prepare summary reports useful for business decision-making.

Graduates of all Bachelor of Business Administration programs will be able to:

  1. Core Business Knowledge - Recall the strategic frameworks that are used to make business decisions.
  2. Analytical Skills - Use analytical methodologies and critical thinking skills to evaluate and solve business problems.
  3. Digital Technology – Demonstrate the technological skills necessary to analyze business problems and develop solutions.
  4. Written Communication - Write effective business communications.
  5. Oral Communication - Make effective business presentations, using appropriate technologies.
  6. Teamwork – Collaborate effectively with others to achieve a common business purpose.
  7. Business Ethics – Recognize ethical business dilemmas and use ethical decision making to resolve the dilemma.
  8. Global - Analyze the key global factors when making business decisions.
Coursework
On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
ACCT 33001INTERMEDIATE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING I (min C grade)3
ACCT 33004INTRODUCTION TO ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS (min C grade)3
ACCT 33010COST ACCOUNTING (min C grade)3
ACCT 33012INTERMEDIATE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING II (min C grade)3
ACCT 43009ACCOUNTING DATA ANALYTICS (min C grade)3
ACCT 43010PRINCIPLES OF AUDITING (ELR) (WIC) (min C grade) 13
ACCT 43031INCOME TAXATION I - INDIVIDUAL TAXATION (min C grade)3
Accounting Electives, choose from the following: 9
ACCT 43013
ADVANCED MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING
ACCT 43020
ADVANCED FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING
ACCT 43033
INCOME TAXATION II - ENTITY TAXATION
ACCT 43034
NONPROFIT ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING
ACCT 43043
INTERNAL AUDIT AND FRAUD EXAMINATION
ACCT 43089
INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING EXPERIENCE (ELR)
ACCT 43092
ACCOUNTING INTERNSHIP (ELR)
ACCT 43095
SPECIAL TOPICS: ACCOUNTING
ACCT 43096
INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION IN ACCOUNTING
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
ACCT 23020INTRODUCTION TO FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING (min B- grade) 23
ACCT 23021INTRODUCTION TO MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING (min B- grade) 23
BA 24056BUSINESS ANALYTICS I 53
BA 34060OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT 3
BUS 10123EXPLORING BUSINESS 33
BUS 30062ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 3
CIS 24053INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER APPLICATIONS 3
COMM 15000INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) (min C grade)3
ECON 22060PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS (KSS) 3
ECON 22061PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS (KSS) 3
FIN 26074LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS 3
FIN 36053BUSINESS FINANCE 3
FIN 36072LAW OF COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS 3
MATH 11010ALGEBRA FOR CALCULUS (KMCR) (min C grade)3
MATH 11012INTUITIVE CALCULUS (KMCR) 43-5
or MATH 12002 ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I (KMCR)
MGMT 24163PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT 3
MGMT 44285INTEGRATED BUSINESS POLICY AND STRATEGY 3
MKTG 25010PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING 3
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
UC 10162INTRODUCTION TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 1
Kent Core Composition 66
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each)9
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines)3
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory)6-7
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours) 710
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

2

If a student does not have at least a B- grade in both ACCT 23020 (ACTT 11000 or equivalent) and ACCT 23021 (or ACTT 11001 or equivalent) but the student does have an average GPA of at least 2.700 in ACCT 23020 (or ACTT 11000 or equivalent) and ACCT 23021 (ACTT 11001 or equivalent), the student can apply to the Department of Accounting for an override to be admitted to junior-level accounting courses.

3

A student changing to a program in the college, transferring, or an incoming student with prior college credit, may be waived out of BUS 10123 if:

  1. 30 or more credit hours have been earned and any two classes (from ACCT 23020, ACCT 23021, FIN 26074, MGMT 24163, MKTG 25010 or CIS 24053) have successfully been completed.
  2. 60 or more credit hours have been earned and the student has successfully completed one course from (ACCT 23020, ACCT 23021, FIN 26074, MGMT 24163, MKTG 25010 or CIS 24053)
  3. At the discretion of the dean's office, the student has sufficient breadth and depth of knowledge in a business field (as demonstrated by a CLEP exam or Credit by Exam) but does not meet the requirements listed above.
4

Students can take MATH 10051 or PHIL 21002 in place of MATH 11012 or MATH 12002. Taking MATH 10051 or PHIL 21002 will not replace a low grade in either MATH 11012 or MATH 12002. Students are required to take MATH 11012 or MATH 12002 if they change their major to, or want to double major in, Economics or Finance and/or intend to declare a minor in Data Analytics. Students who intend to enroll in certain graduate programs and/or are working toward Phi Beta Kappa status are highly encouraged to take MATH 11012 or MATH 12002.

5

Students who have taken MATH 10041 for another program may use it as a substitute for BA 24056.

6

Minimum C grade is required in ENG 21011 or HONR 20197.

7

Maximum 4 credit hours of Physical Activity, Wellness and Sport (PWS) courses may be counted toward the 120 total credit hours or 39 upper-division-credit hours graduation requirement. A minor (business or non-business) is encouraged. Any other exceptions must be approved by the assistant dean. The following courses have been recommended by accounting faculty to fulfill general electives: CIS 24167, CIS 34191, CIS 44007, ECON 32025, ECON 32050, ECON 42050, ECON 42065, ECON 42066, ECON 42068, FIN 36051, FIN 36054, FIN 36059. These are optional not required.

Progression Requirements

  • Minimum 2.000 overall GPA
  • Minimum C grade in COMM 15000, ENG 21011,  MATH 11010 (or placement out of MATH 11010), and all accounting major required courses
  • Completion of CIS 24053
  • Minimum B- grade in ACCT 23020 and ACCT 23021

If a student does not have a minimum B- grade in both ACCT 23020 and ACCT 23021, but has a minimum 2.700 average GPA in ACCT 23020 and ACCT 23021, the student can apply to the Department of Accounting  to be considered for an override to admitted to junior-level accounting courses.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
  • All accounting major courses (33000 level and above) taken to fulfill the requirements for a B.B.A. in Accounting must be taken within the last 10 years at the time of graduation.
  • Students must earn a minimum C in required ACCT major courses.
  • A basic knowledge of and the ability to use personal computers for accounting applications, including an electronic spreadsheet such as Excel, is required to major in accounting. Students should possess such knowledge and skills, if not already possessed, before taking any upper-division accounting major course or during the first semester of the term during which the course is taken. The department office can provide recommendations on self-study materials to acquire the knowledge and skills.
  • Students must complete at least 50 percent of business credit hours (required for the business degree) in-residence on a Kent State University campus.
  • Students must complete at least 50 percent of their major credit hours in residence on a Kent State University campus.
  • Students must complete two measures of outcomes assessment as specified by the college for complete satisfaction of the B.B.A. degree.
Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
BUS 10123 EXPLORING BUSINESS 3
COMM 15000 INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) 3
MATH 11010 ALGEBRA FOR CALCULUS (KMCR) 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Two
CIS 24053 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER APPLICATIONS 3
ECON 22060 PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS (KSS) 3
MATH 11012
or MATH 12002
 INTUITIVE CALCULUS (KMCR)
or ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I (KMCR)
3-5
UC 10162 INTRODUCTION TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Three
ACCT 23020 INTRODUCTION TO FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING 3
ECON 22061 PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS (KSS) 3
MKTG 25010 PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING 3
MGMT 24163 PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
!ACCT 23021 INTRODUCTION TO MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING 3
BA 24056 BUSINESS ANALYTICS I 3
BUS 30062 ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 3
FIN 26074 LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
Required for progression in the major: Minimum 2.000 overall GPA, minimum C grade in COMM 15000 and ENG 21011 and MATH 11010; and minimum B- grade in ACCT 23020 and ACCT 23021.  
!ACCT 33001 INTERMEDIATE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING I 3
!ACCT 33004 INTRODUCTION TO ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS 3
FIN 36053 BUSINESS FINANCE 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
Required: minimum overall 2.000 GPA  
!ACCT 33010 COST ACCOUNTING 3
!ACCT 33012 INTERMEDIATE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING II 3
FIN 36072 LAW OF COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS 3
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Semester Seven
Required: minimum overall 2.000 GPA  
ACCT 43009 ACCOUNTING DATA ANALYTICS 3
ACCT 43010 PRINCIPLES OF AUDITING (ELR) (WIC) 3
!ACCT 43031 INCOME TAXATION I - INDIVIDUAL TAXATION 3
BA 34060 OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT 3
Accounting Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
Required: minimum overall 2.000 GPA. Note: completion of The Assurance of Learning Assessment given in MGMT 44285  
MGMT 44285 INTEGRATED BUSINESS POLICY AND STRATEGY 3
Accounting Elective 6
General Electives 4
 Credit Hours13
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus
Accreditation

AACSB, International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries

Accountants and auditors

4.3%

about as fast as the average

1,436,100

number of jobs

$73,560

potential earnings

Budget analysts

3.4%

about as fast as the average

55,400

number of jobs

$78,970

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
$53,000 - $57,000
Average Annual Starting Salary*
$21/hour
Average Internship Wage

*Information based on the class of 2022. Salary range represents 25th-75th percentile.

Where can I get a job?

Apple Growth Partners  •  BDO USA, LLP  •  Bober Markey Federovich Coehn & Company  •  CliftonLarsenAllen  •  Deloitte  •  EY  •  Grant Thornton LLP   •  Office of the Comptroller of the Currency  •  The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company  •  Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores  •  KPMG LLP  •  Maloney + Novotny LLC  Parker Hannifin Corporation  •  PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)   •   Novogradac & Company LLP   •  Rea & Associates, Inc.   •  The J.M. Smucker Company • and more! 

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