B.S.B.A. in Accounting

An accounting graduate will:

• demonstrate an ability to apply knowledge of fundamental U.S. accounting, auditing, and tax techniques and standards to accounting problems;
• demonstrate effective oral communication and presentation skills;
• demonstrate effective written communication skills;
• demonstrate proficiency in the appropriate application of relevant information technology skills for professional tasks;
• demonstrate basic professional skills for problem-solving and critical thinking;
• demonstrate an ability to research accounting, auditing, and tax issues;
• demonstrate an understanding of the importance of ethics in the accounting profession and the ability to apply ethical reasoning to accounting decision-making.

The B.S.B.A. accounting curriculum prepares students for a variety of career paths in the dynamic field of accounting. The curriculum emphasizes technical knowledge, professional development, written and oral communication, information technology, ethics, and global perspectives.

The B.S.B.A. program has an active co-op and internship program in which students work in paid positions during the semester or summer and earn academic credit for the program. Both the co-op and internship can be completed within the four-year program and often lead to full-time employment. The B.S.B.A. also offers a business forensic concentration.

Students who want to pursue CPA certification can meet the 150-hour requirement for CPA licensure by double majoring in the B.S.B.A. program or by continuing in the 4+1 Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program.

Undergraduate accounting majors are encouraged to work closely with their advisors to select courses that will best address their career and certification plans. Students should consult the specific certification requirements of the state jurisdiction in which they plan to become certified and plan accordingly.

4-Year Plan

The following educational plan is provided as a sample only. Rider students who do not declare a major during their freshman year; who are in a Continuing Education Program; who change their major; or those who transfer to Rider may follow a different plan to ensure timely graduation. Each student, with guidance from his or her academic advisor, will develop a personalized educational plan.

1 Students must take four Liberal Arts Electives; 3 credits must be in Natural Science, 3 credits must be in Social Science, 3 credits must be in Humanities, and 3 credits can be any course offered by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
2 Choose from LDP 398 The Co-op Experience Seminar, LDP 200 Foundations of Leadership, LDP 220 Service Learning Through Minding Our Bus, MGT 355 Team Management, or MGT 363 Management Skills. Students taking ACC 399 The Co-Operative Experience are required to take LDP 398 The Co-op Experience Seminar during the co-op semester.
3 CIS 185 Information Systems Essentials and CBA 110 Introduction to Business can be taken in the Fall or Spring of Year 1.
4 Students may be required to take MSD 104 Intro to Quantitative Methods based on placement. MSD 104 counts as a 3-credit Free Elective.

NOTES

• Business Fraud and Forensic Concentration: Students should take ACC 325 Fraud Examination and Business Forensics in the spring of their sophomore year, ACC 321 Internal Auditing in the fall of their junior year, and ACC 450 Business Forensic Application in the spring of their senior year.
• CPA Licensure Requirements for Students Not Entering the MAcc: Students should also work with their academic advisor to plan the additional 30 credits.
• Students are required to take FIN 308 International Finance as one of the required International Business Electives, as well as BUS 210 Intro to Law: Contracts.
• Students are strongly suggested to complete a credit-bearing experiential course (e.g., Internship, Co-op, Study Tour, study abroad, ENT 448 Seminar in Small Business Consulting, ECO 450 Seminar in Economic Research).
• Students working co-op positions in the spring of their third year will substitute ACC 399 (6 credits of free electives) for MSD 301 and one liberal arts elective. MSD 301 and the liberal arts elective must be taken in another semester.

3-Year Plan

The following educational plan is provided as a sample only. Rider students who do not declare a major during their freshman year; who are in a Continuing Education Program; who change their major; or those who transfer to Rider may follow a different plan to ensure timely graduation. Each student, with guidance from his or her academic advisor, will develop a personalized educational plan.

1Students must take four Liberal Arts Electives; 3 credits must be in Natural Science, 3 credits must be in Social Science, 3 credits must be in Humanities, and 3 credits can be any course offered by the College of Arts and Sciences.
2 Students may be required to take MSD 104 Intro to Quantitative Methods based on placement. MSD 104 counts as a 3-credit Free Elective.

NOTES

• The above plan assumes no AP or other credits were transferred into Rider University.
• Students are required to take 6 credits of International Business Electives. One of the courses must be FIN 308 International Finance.
• Business Honors students will have a different sequence.
• For the Leadership Elective, choose from LDP 200 Foundations of Leadership, LDP 220 Service Learning Through Minding Our Bus, LDP 398 The Co-op Experience Seminar, MGT 355 Team Management, or MGT 363 Management Skills.
• It is strongly suggested that students complete a credit-bearing experiential course (e.g., internship, co-op, study tour, study abroad, ENT 448 Small Business Consulting Sem, ECO 450 Seminar in Economic Research).
• Students are required to take FIN 308 International Finance as one of the required International Business Electives, as well as BUS 210 Intro to Law: Contracts.

Graduates from Rider’s accounting program are employed in public and private companies, public accounting firms, and government and nonprofit organizations.

Common careers:

• Public accounting - Certified public accountant (CPA)
• Corporate accounting - Certified management accountant (CMA)
• Internal Audit (CIA) - Certified internal auditor
• Forensic Accounting - Certified fraud examiner (CFE)
• Governmental Accounting
• Finance Manager
• Comptroller/Controller
• Chief Financial Officer - CFO