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Accounting Bachelor's/Master's Combined Program

Earn 2 degrees in 5 years!
4+1 Accountancy Program Overview

This combined bachelor’s/master’s degree program is designed to provide qualified students the opportunity to complete both degree programs in five years. A student will earn a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting and an M.S. in Accountancy.

B.S.B.A. Accounting students must apply for admission to the 4+1 B.S. Accounting/M.S. Accountancy program. Six hours of courses taken at the 500-level will be dual counted towards both degrees. Upon completion of the B.S. degree, students have the option to apply to the graduate school and continue progress towards the M.S. Accountancy degree.

Program Benefits

  • Allows six graduate credits to satisfy three credits toward undergraduate accounting concentration core requirements and three credits of undergraduate free electives
  • Provides MSA students two fewer classes to take while in the MSA program to allow more time in the graduate program to prepare for and take sections of the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam

 

With this program, you can become:

A certified public accountant (CPA) is a designation provided to licensed accounting professionals. The CPA license is provided by the Board of Accountancy for each state. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) provides resources on obtaining the license. The CPA designation helps enforce professional standards in the accounting industry.

Forensic accounting is a specialized area of accounting — and a challenging one. A forensic accountant investigates incidents of fraud, bribery, money laundering and embezzlement by analyzing financial records and transactions, tracing assets, and more.

Internal auditors take a holistic view of their organization’s governance, risk, and control systems (in other words, primarily non-financial information), while external auditors are either concerned with the accuracy of business accounts and the organization’s financial condition or, in some industries, the organization’s compliance with laws and regulations.

Accounting managers develop, test, and evaluate new systems for validating and reporting financial information. They may also prepare budget reports and assist with new employee on-boarding.

Finance managers oversee their organization's different departmental budgets. They analyze market data to make forecasts managers consider when making financial decisions.

Senior financial analysts analyze data and calculate risk to complete projects and make financial decisions for their organization. As managerial staff, they may also screen, hire, and train new employees.

Tax accountants prepare and file tax documents for individuals or organizations and meet with clients to discuss and explain complex financial matters.

Corporate controllers manage their organization's financial and accounting operations, such as billing, accounts, and budgeting.

Learn to

Develop the skills necessary for critical thinking, professional research, and continuous learning.

Develop a global perspective of business and accounting practices.

Provide a framework for developing leadership and team building skills.

Recognize the importance of social responsibility and making ethical business decisions.

Develop effective communication skills and strong interpersonal skills.

4+1 Accountancy Courses

Either of the courses below can be used to replace ACG 445 or ACG 450, taken by non–combined program undergraduate accounting students: 
  • MSA 560: Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination
  • MSA 522: Accounting Analytics and Business Database System
SEE THE FULL CURRICULUM

Program Timeline

Once students are admitted to the CSB and have completed ACG 301 and ACG 306, they can apply for admission into the 4+1 program. Admission to the 4+1 program does not guarantee admission to the MSA program upon completion of the B.S. in Business Administration.

Students who successfully complete both 500-level accounting courses and all remaining B.S.B.A. degree requirements are awarded the B.S. in Business Administration with an Accounting Concentration.

In the final semester of their B.S. program, students apply to the MSA program. If admitted to the MSA, the six credits earned at the 500-level will count towards the degree requirements of the M.S. Accountancy degree as long as the student earned a "B" or better in the course.

Program Requirements

  • Admission to the Cameron School of Business as an accounting concentration student
  • “B” or better grade in ACG 301 and ACG 306 (note: a “B-“ does not meet this requirement)
  • Minimum overall GPA: 3.2
  • Resume
  • Completion of the 4+1 application form
Apply Now!

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Contact Us

Dr. Bill Kerler

Phone: (910) 962-7632

kerlerw@uncw.edu

601 College Rd
Wilmington, NC, 28403