Mar 29, 2024  
2016-2017 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2016-2017 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Accounting (B.B.A.)


51 Major Hours, 120 Degree Hours

Accounting Mission

 “The mission of the Accounting Programs at the University of South Dakota Beacom School of Business is to prepare students to become successful accounting and business professionals in an environment that promotes critical thinking and encourages ethical business practices led by a faculty empowered to contribute to the profession through the exchange of ideas among scholars and service to our stakeholders.”

Students must complete the following courses:


Before enrollment in upper-level business classes, students must apply for admission to their major. (See ADMISSION TO THE BEACOM SCHOOL OF BUSINESS MAJORS .)

Additional Requirements


Students must also complete an intensive writing course (1-3 credits) and enough Advanced Free Electives to achieve a minimum of 60 credits at the 300/400 level. Most accounting majors must complete 6-8 credits of Advanced Free Electives to meet this minimum.  (See Degree Requirements on Beacom School of Business page.) 

Elective Categories


Advanced Free Electives

Courses at the junior-senior level chosen from any college/school at USD on the basis of the student’s interest are called Advanced Free Electives.

School of Business Electives

Courses at the junior-senior level that must be selected in the fields of accounting, business administration, economics, entrepreneurship, or health services administration are called School of Business Electives.

Free Electives

Courses chosen from any college/school at USD on the basis of the student’s interest are called Free Electives. These electives may be at any level and are only tested by meeting the 120 credit hour requirement.

Note:


Many accounting majors satisfy advanced free electives or School of Business electives through qualified internship experiences.

As of January 1, 1998 a total of 150 credits is required to qualify for the CPA examination in South Dakota and several other states. Therefore, many students pursuing this career goal continue their education by applying for admission to the Master of Professional Accountancy program (M.P.A.) during their junior year or senior year.

B.B.A. / M.P.A. Fast-Track Option


Undergraduate accounting and business majors meeting requirements for entry into the M.P.A. program may opt to complete both the B.B.A and M.P.A. concurrently. Students who pursue this fast-track option will be awarded their undergraduate and graduate degrees simultaneously, upon completion of the two programs.

Students may apply for admission to the M.P.A. program after completing 75 credit hours. after completing 75 credit hours. USD students applying to the B.B.A./M.P.A. program are not required to provide a GMAT exam score for admission to the fast-track option if they meet all of the following criteria: cumulative GPA of 3.25, business GPA of 3.25, and upper-level accounting GPA of 3.25.  Applicants who do not meet the above criteria are required to provide a GMAT exam score, which will be evaluated along with all application materials in a manner consistent with applications to the M.P.A. program. The fast-track option will confer special student status to those admitted, who will then be eligible to apply for graduate assistantships.

The course requirements for the B.B.A. Accounting which are listed above are modified slightly for USD undergraduate students planning to pursue the B.B.A./M.P.A. Fast-Track Option. Students planning to pursue the B.B.A./M.P.A. Fast-Track Option have the option to take BADM 582 Business Policy and Strategy instead of BADM 482 Business Policy and Strategy, and replace the BADM 482 credit with a business course from the list of approved courses below. Students pursuing the B.B.A/M.P.A. can also choose to replace BADM 323 Information Systems for Business Professionals with another business course from the approved list shown below. Students must complete the requirements of the M.P.A. program in accordance with the graduate catalog. The minimum number of credits to achieve both degrees is 150 hours.

 

Approved List of Courses that can substitute for BADM 323 and BADM 482 for students pursuing the B.B.A./M.P.A. Fast-Track Option:
ACCT 490 - Seminar (C) 
ACCT 491 - Independent Study (C) 
ACCT 492 - Topics (C) 
ACCT 498 - Undergrad Research/Scholarship (C) [W]  *
BADM 323 - Information Systems for Business Professionals 
BADM 409 - Financial Strategy 
BADM 411 - Investments (C) 
BADM 441 - Project Management 
BADM 452 - Commercial Law and Ethics 
BADM 457 - Business Ethics (C) 
BADM 474 - Personal Selling (C) 
ECON 301 - Intermediate Microeconomics (C)  **
ECON 302 - Intermediate Macroeconomics (C)  **
ECON 330 - Money and Banking (C)  **

* Must be taken for 3 credit hours and cannot double count as elective credit and as a Writing Intensive course
** Cannot double count as the third required economics course for the Business Core.

 

B.B.A. / M.B.A. Fast-Track Option


Business majors meeting requirements for entry into the Masters of Business Administration (M.B.A.) program may opt to complete both the B.B.A and M.B.A. concurrently. Students who pursue this fast-track option will be awarded their undergraduate and graduate degrees simultaneously, upon completion of the two programs.

The course requirements for the B.B.A., which are listed above, are the same for USD undergraduate students planning to pursue the B.B.A./M.B.A. Fast-Track Option. The program gives students the opportunity to begin their M.B.A. program earlier and complete both programs in a timely manner. Students must complete the requirements of the M.B.A. program in accordance with the graduate catalog. The minimum number of credits to achieve both degrees is 153 hours.