Accounting and Finance (Integrated Degree), Bachelor of Science
Program Purpose
The Bachelor of Science degree program in Accounting and Finance is designed to provide students with a unique blend of insights into financial information. Accountants and finance professionals often view the same data from different vantage points and with different goals. This often leads to a lack of communication between these two sets of professionals within the same organization. Conflicts between preparation and usefulness can arise and while neither side is wrong, a more careful understanding of the other’s position will lead to better information being provided to the decision makers of the organization. This program integrates both disciplines with a carefully selected flow of courses that enables the student to interrelate the information provided to make both tactical and strategic decisions. The program provides a competitive advantage for students pursuing careers in either accounting or finance.
Program of Study
This program in the area of accounting and finance gives the student flexibility in both course offerings and career choices. The program of study provides a firm foundation in both accounting and finance. It differs from the University’s traditional accounting or finance programs in two ways. It does not require the student to complete courses in advanced accounting (typically required for those pursuing the CPA); however, it provides the option to integrate those courses easily into the program. Similarly, FIN 301 Personal Finance is not required in this program as the emphasis is more in the organizational arena; however, by using a free elective, the student can easily fit this course into their course of study.
Cooperative Learning Experiences
Cooperative learning experiences (co-ops) are available in the Accounting and Finance program. Students with a finance concentration can use FIN 302 Financial Planning for a co-op experience sequence, and students with an accounting concentration can use for BBM 301 Organizational Behavior and BAC 435 Accounting Information Systems. Elective courses may also be structured as co-ops. Each co-op experience is expected to last for two consecutive semesters and earn the student six credits toward their 120-credit degree.
To be eligible for the co-op the student must have completed 60 credits and have a minimum 2.5 GPA. The student must contact the office of Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) one semester before they would like to begin their co-op assignment. Once an opportunity description is secured, the WIL office will seek credit approval of the experience from the Accounting and Finance Program Chair.
Program Competencies
In addition to achieving the Wilmington University undergraduate graduation competencies given in the Academic Information section of this catalog, graduating students will:
- Demonstrate effective information literacy and communication with valid and reliable research.
- By analysis, apply ethical standards as required by accounting and finance professionals.
- Prepare and deliver a complete financial statement package presented in a professional format in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
- Use technology to efficiently communicate accounting information.
- Integrate financial terms, concepts and theories affecting corporations, brokerage firms, insurance companies and financial institutions (banks, credit unions, pension funds, etc.).
Minimum Grade Policy
Students pursuing a degree in Accounting and Finance are required by College of Business policy to attain a minimum grade of “C” for all program core courses. For the purpose of this policy, program core courses are all accounting courses and finance courses. These courses are designated by the prefix “BAC” and “FIN.”
No minimum grade for CTA 326.
Curriculum - General Education Requirements
English Composition (12 Credits)
Humanities Elective (3 credits)
Social Science (6 credits)
Mathematics (3 Credits)
| MAT 205 | Introductory Survey of Mathematics | 3 |
Natural Science (3 or 4 Credits)
| | Natural Science Elective | 3 or 4 credits |
Computer Operations (3 credits)
| CTA 326 | Integrating Excel into Business Problem Solving | 3 |
Critical Analysis (3 credits)
| PHI 100 | Introduction to Critical Thinking | 3 |
Citizenship (3 credits)
Business Core (30 credits)
Accounting and Finance Program Core (45 credits)
The College of Business programs require a minimum grade of “C” for program core courses. Accounting and Finance majors receiving a grade lower than “C” in any BAC course (including BAC 101 and BAC 102) or FIN course (including FIN 305) must retake that course.
Choose one of the following two courses:
| FIN 308 | Financial Economics and Instruments | 3 |
| OR | | |
| FIN 309 | Introduction to Global Derivatives | 3 |
Choose one of the following three courses:
Students concentrating in Accounting should choose Auditing (BAC 423)
Choose one of the following two courses:
| BAC 435 | Accounting Information Systems (AIS) | 3 |
| OR | | |
| MIS 320 | Management Information Systems | 3 |
BAC 435: available as a co-op
BAC 435: Students concentrating in Accounting should choose Auditing (BAC 423)
Free Electives (9 credits)
Certain Free Electives courses may be available as a co-op.
| | Free Elective | 3 |
| | Free Elective | 3 |
| | Free Elective | 3 |
Students with less than 16 transfer credits are required to take
FYE 101 as one of their electives.
Accounting and Finance Completion Degree
Curriculum
Transfer students who hold an associate degree from a partner institution are required to take the following courses.
The College of Business programs require a minimum grade of "C" for Business Accounting and Finance Program Core Courses. Students receiving a grade lower than "C" in any required program core course must retake that course.
What is a Completion Degree?
A completion degree is a personalized version of a bachelor's degree created exclusively for students who have completed an associate degree at an accredited institution. Completion degrees are available for most Wilmington University Bachelor of Science degrees. A student who expects to transfer a completed associate's degree should communicate with a Wilmington University academic advisor before registering for courses. A transcript with documentation of the conferred degree must be received by Wilmington University to confirm eligibility.
Business Accounting and Finance Program Core Courses
Completion Degree Required Courses
Select two of the following five courses:
Select one of the following three courses:
| BAC 435 | Accounting Information Systems (AIS) | 3 |
| MIS 320 | Management Information Systems | 3 |
| | Co-op | |
The following courses or their equivalents are prerequisites for a degree in Accounting and Finance:
ENG 122 English Composition II
MAT 205 Introductory Survey of Mathematics
BAC 101 Accounting I
BAC 102 Accounting II
BAC 201 Intermediate Accounting I
BAC 202 Intermediate Accounting II
BMK 305 Marketing
CTA 326 Integrating Excel into Business Problem Solving
ECO 101 Economics I
ECO 102 Economics II
BBM 201 Principles of Management
BBM 301 Organizational Behavior
BBM 320 Business Communications
Dual-Credit ADVANTAGE™ Accelerated Option
Through Dual-Credit ADVANTAGE™, this accelerated program option allows eligible College of Business students to take up to four selected graduate-level courses in place of selected undergraduate courses and provides the opportunity to be formally accepted into the M.S. in Management or MBA graduate program prior to completion of their bachelor’s degree.
In order to be eligible, students must have completed 75 undergraduate credits and obtained an overall GPA of 3.0 or better and have specific undergraduate courses remaining in their program. Please schedule an appointment with an Academic Advisor to learn if you are eligible to participate in this program and determine your concentration-specific course substitutions and requirements.
Note: These graduate-level courses will fulfill requirements for both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Students are required to maintain a 3.0 in all graduate programs.