Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Business Administration in Accounting


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OVERVIEW OF DEGREE REQUIREMENTS 

Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 120

Minimum Cumulative GPA required to graduate: 2.0

Minimum Grade requirements for courses to count toward major: A C- or higher is required in all business core classes: BUA 101, BUA 201, BUA 202, BUA 220, BUA 235, BUA 270, BUA 325, BUA 337, BUA 343, BUA 350, and BUA 449. Core business courses may be repeated only once, and when a student earns a grade less than a C- in a core business course, they must retake that class at UMaine.

Other GPA requirements to graduate: Must earn a minimum overall gpa of 2.0 in all BUA and ECO classes. Must earn at least 70% of the total credit hours in core business classes, as well as the majority of the courses in the major at UMaine

Required Course(s) for fulfilling Capstone Experience:  BUA 449

Contact Information: Niclas Erhardt, Associate Dean, 211 DP Corbett, (207)581-1968 


The Accounting major prepares students to have skills in the organization and presentation of financial information to corporate stakeholders and internal financial and managerial information to business managers. Accounting majors’ career paths include financial reporting, taxation, internal and external auditing and business consulting.

School/Departmental Requirements:

To earn a B.S. in Accounting at least 70% of the total credits earned in business core classes, as well as the majority of the specialized courses in the major (i.e., 4 out of 6 in accounting) must be taken at the University of Maine. Business and economics coursework must be completed with a 2.0 (“C”) cumulative average.

A C- or better is required in all business core classes and those classes may be repeated only once.

Students wishing to transfer from other institutions or from other programs within UM must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 and be in good academic standing. In addition to University-wide policies for transfer of credit, MBS, as an institution accredited by AACSB International, evaluates transfer credit according to AACSB standards. Rarely do business courses from a non-AACSB accredited institution transfer to the MBS other than as electives. Thus the transfer student may be required to take more than 120 credit hours to graduate. Such students are strongly encouraged to check with MBS well in advance about how business courses will transfer.

First year accounting students should take BUA 101, BUA 201, BUA 202 and BUA 235. Sophomores (24 or more degree hours) may take  BUA 325, BUA 220, BUA 301, BUA 302 and BUA 270. Juniors (54 or more degree hours) may take any other 300- or 400-level business course for which prerequisites have been met unless the course specifies “Senior Standing”. Class standing requirements are never waived.

The Business Program for Accounting majors has three components:

  1. The General Foundation (54 credits). Throughout the program students acquire a broad education in the liberal arts and sciences. Through courses in English, communications, international studies, mathematics, computer science, economics and psychology, as well as electives, students build a strong foundation for lifelong learning. Within this component, the student will satisfy the University’s general education requirements.
  2. The Business Core (33 credits). The core business courses provide an understanding of the functional areas common to most businesses: accounting, finance, law, marketing, management, management information systems, production and operations, international business and strategy.
  3. The Major Fields (15-18 credits). Students acquire advanced knowledge of a major field (accounting, finance, management, or marketing) by taking five courses (six in accounting) beyond the introductory level in a chosen major. Concentrations in International Business, Management of Information Systems, and Entrepreneurship can be elected in addition to a major.

Note: The remaining 15-18 credits needed to qualify for graduation can be filled with any course offered at the University.

Prospective CPA students:
Students who intend to sit for the CPA (Certified Public Accounting) examination must have completed 150 credits including a baccalaureate degree and a minimum of 15 credits in accounting. One option recommended for University of Maine students is to complete the baccalaureate degree in business with a major in accounting and then complete the UMaine MBA. Students should strongly consider an internship in accounting sometime during their program.

General Foundation - 54 credits


I. Arts and Sciences Core (37 credits)


II. Outside Electives (17 credits)


These 17 credits may be chosen from the offerings of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences from the School of Economics, or any non-business course that satisfies a general education requirement. Students should use these credits to complete the University’s general education requirements that are not satisfied by the courses above (3 credits each in Western Cultural Tradition, Population and the Environment, Artistic and Creative Expression, and Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives) as well as to complete a minor or pursue an area of interest.

Free Electives (15 credits)


Any courses offered at the University of Maine will fill these electives.

Required Courses in Suggested Sequence for a B.S. in Business Administration in Accounting


Although the following is a suggested curriculum, upper-level Accounting classes are offered only once a year.  Students should adhere to the sequence of accounting classes. 

Note: Students may take BUA 301 and BUA 302 in their third year if BUA 201 and BUA 202 have been completed successfully.  Students anticipating an Accounting internship in their senior year should plan their program carefully to free one semester for the full work.

First Year - Second Semester (15 credits)


Second Year - First Semester (15-16 credits)


Students should note that several courses satisfy more than one general education requirement allowing for a wider selection of electives later.  Accounting students should take BUA 301 and 302 during the sophomore year.

Second Year - Second Semester (15-16 credits)


Third Year - First Semester (15 credits)


Fourth Year - First Semester (15 credits)


Fourth Year - Second Semester (13-18 credits)


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