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ACCTG_BS Degree Requirements - 2023-24

Smeal College of Business baccalaureate degree requirements in Accounting (ACCTG_BS) for Academic Year 2023-24. Students new to Penn State in summer 2023, fall 2023 or spring 2024 follow these requirements.

Smeal College - Accounting Department

B.S. Accounting (ACCTG_BS) – Academic Year 2023-24

ACCTG_BS - Suggested Academic Plan 2023-24

PLEASE NOTE: Important scheduling information for students pursuing the Integrated Master of Accounting Program

Department Notes

Public Accounting – Students interested in public accounting should take ACCTG 406 and ACCTG 473 for the Additional Accounting Courses requirement and BLAW 444 in the supporting course or electives area. These courses assist in preparation for the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) examination.

Corporate Accounting – Students interested in corporate accounting should choose among ACCTG 406, ACCTG 432 and ACCTG 481 for the 'Additional Accounting Courses' requirement. 

A. GENERAL EDUCATION

    a. Writing and Speaking (GWS) – Complete 3 credits in each area with grades of C or better (9 credits)
        i. Composition – ENGL 015 (3), ENGL 030 (3), ESL 015 (3), ENGL 137H (3), or CAS 137H (3)
        ii. Speech – CAS 100 (3), CAS 100A (3), CAS 100B (3), CAS 100C (3), CAS 138T (3), or ENGL 138T (3)
        iii. Effective Writing – ENGL 202D (3)
      b. Quantification (GQ) – Complete the following two categories with grades of C or better
          i. Calculus – MATH 110 (4), MATH 140 (4), or MATH 140B (6)
          ii. Statistics – SCM 200 (4) or STAT 200 (4)
        c. Global, Cultural, and Integrative Studies – Courses may satisfy General Education, Major, or Elective requirements
            i. Complete 6 Inter-Domain (N) and/or Linked (Z) credits
            ii. Complete 3 United States Culture (US) credits
            iii. Complete 3 International Culture (IL) credits
        d. Natural Sciences (GN) – Complete 9 GN credits with at least 3 credits that are not Inter-Domain
        e. Arts (GA) – Complete 6 GA credits with at least 3 credits that are not Inter-Domain
        f. Humanities (GH) – Complete 6 GH credits with at least 3 credits that are not Inter-Domain
        g. Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS) - Complete the following two categories (6 credits)
            i. ECON 102 – Introductory Microeconomic Analysis and Policy (3)
            ii. Complete 3 GS credits (3)
        h. Health and Wellness (GHW) - Complete 3 GHW credits that are not Inter-Domain

      B. COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS

        a. World Language – Demonstrate proficiency at the 12th credit level (4 credits)
          b. ECON 104 – Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy (3 credits)
            c. Foundation Business Courses – Complete the following at Penn State with grades of C or better (13 credits)
                  ACCTG 211 – Financial and Managerial Accounting for Decision Making (4) [Prerequisite: MATH 21 or higher or satisfactory score on the mathematics placement examination]
                  MGMT 301 – Basic Management Concepts (3) [Prerequisite: (ENGL/ESL 15 or ENGL 30 or ENGL/CAS 137H) and (ECON 102 or 104) and MATH 21 or higher or satisfactory score on the mathematics placement examination]
                  MKTG 301 – Principles of Marketing (3) [Prerequisite: (ENGL/ESL 15 or ENGL 30 or ENGL/CAS 137H) and (ECON 102 or 104) and MATH 21 or higher or satisfactory score on the mathematics placement examination]
                  FIN 301 – Corporation Finance (3) [Prerequisite: (ENGL/ESL 15 or ENGL 30 or ENGL/CAS 137H) and ACCTG 211 and (ECON 102 or 104) and (SCM 200 or STAT 200)]
              d. Core Business Courses - Complete the following prescribed courses (15 credits)
                  SCM 301 – Supply Chain Management (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 211 and ECON 102 and (SCM 200 or STAT 200)]
                  MIS 250 – Introduction to Problem Solving with Spreadsheet Analysis and Information Systems Management (3)
                  BA 342 – Socially Responsible, Sustainable and Ethical Business Practice (3) [Prerequisite: MGMT 301/301W; Concurrent: FIN 301 and MKTG 301 and SCM 301]
                  BLAW 341 – Business Law I: Introduction to Contracts, Liability Issues, and Intellectual Property (3) [Prerequisite: MGMT 301/301W; Concurrent: FIN 301 and MKTG 301/301W and SCM 301]
                  BA 411 – Analyzing Business and Industry (3) [Prerequisite: BLAW 341 and FIN 301]

             

            PLEASE NOTE: Smeal College of Business Residency Policy - Pursuant to accreditation standards of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Smeal College of Business requires that all upper-division courses within the sponsoring department must be completed in residence at University Park under the instruction of Smeal College faculty. Students in the Accounting (ACCTG_BS) major complete the following prescribed and additional 300-level and 400-level courses in residence with Smeal College faculty.

            C. PRESCRIBED ACCOUNTING COURSES – Complete the following prescribed courses (15 credits)

              A grade of C or better is required in ACCTG 471, ACCTG 472, and ACCTG 405
                  ACCTG 471 – Intermediate Financial Accounting I (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 211]
                  ACCTG 472 – Intermediate Financial Accounting II (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 471]
                  ACCTG 404 – Managerial Accounting: Economic Perspective (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 211 and (SCM 200 or STAT 200) and ECON 102]
                  ACCTG 405 – Principles of Taxation I (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 211 and FIN 301]
                  ACCTG 403W – Auditing (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 471]

            D. ADDITIONAL ACCOUNTING COURSES – Complete two courses from the following (6 credits)

                  ACCTG 406 – Principles of Taxation II (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 405]
                  ACCTG 432 – Accounting Information Systems (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 471 and (MIS 204 or MIS 250)
                  ACCTG 440 – Advanced Management Accounting (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 404]
                  ACCTG 473 – Advanced Financial Accounting (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 472]
                  ACCTG 481 – Financial Statement Analysis: Accounting Based Evaluation and Decision Making (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 472]
                  ACCTG 483 – Forensic Accounting (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 472 and ACCTG 403W]

            E. SUPPORTING COURSES: Smeal Two-Piece Sequence – Complete one Two-Piece Sequence from the list below (6 credits)

            F. ELECTIVES – Complete 11 credits

            SUPPORTING COURSES LIST (Smeal College Two-Piece Sequence) – Complete one two-piece sequence (6 credits)

              Business Law – Complete two courses from the following
                  BLAW (RM) 424 – Real Estate Law (3) [Prerequisite: BLAW 341]
                  BLAW (RM) 425 – Business and Environmental Regulation (3) [Prerequisite: BLAW 341]
                  BLAW 441 – Agency, Employment and Business Structure (3) [Prerequisites: BLAW 341 and FIN 301]
                  BLAW 444 – Advanced UCC and Commercial Transactions (3) [Prerequisites: BLAW 341, ACCTG 211, and FIN 301]
                  BLAW 445 – Advanced Intellectual Property and Competition Law (3) [Prerequisite: BLAW 441]
                  BLAW 446 – Employment Law (3) [Prerequisite: BLAW 441]
                  BLAW 447 – Entertainment Law (3) [Prerequisite: BLAW 341]
                Business Sustainability – Complete two courses from the following
                    BA 441 – Strategies for Enterprise Sustainability (3) [Prerequisite: BA 342]
                    BA (MKTG) 442 – Sustainable Behavior of Consumers, Firms and Societies (3) [Prerequisite: BA 342]
                    SCM 448 – Building Sustainable Supply Chains (3) [Prerequisite: SCM 301]
                  Corporate Diversity – Complete the following two courses
                      MGMT 320 – Establishing Workforce Diversity and Inclusion (3)
                      MGMT 445 – Managing a Diverse Workforce (3) (US) [Prerequisite: MGMT 301]
                    Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship – Complete the following two courses
                        MGMT 425 – New Venture Creation (3) [Prerequisite: (ECON 102 or ECON 104 or MGMT 215) and (CAS 100 or CAS/ENGL 138T)]
                        MGMT 453 – Creativity and Innovation (3) [Prerequisite: MGMT 301]
                      Economics – Complete courses based on the following
                          a. Complete 3 credits of 300/400 level Economics
                          b. Complete 3 credits of 400 level Economics
                        Finance – Complete two courses from the following
                            FIN 305 – Financial Management of the Business Enterprise (3) [Prerequisite: FIN 301]
                            FIN 406 – Security Analysis and Portfolio Management (3) [Prerequisite: FIN 301]
                            FIN 408 – Financial Markets and Institutions (3) [Prerequisite: FIN 301]
                          Information Systems Management – Complete the following two courses
                              MIS 301 – Business Analytics (3) [Prerequisite: SCM 200 or STAT 200; Concurrent: (MATH 110 or MATH 140) and (MIS 204 or MIS 250)]
                              MIS 446 – Information Technology and Business Strategy (3) [Prerequisite: MIS 301 or MIS 390]
                            International Business – Complete two courses from the following
                                IB 303 – International Business Operations (IL) (3) [Prerequisite: 5th semester standing or higher]
                                IB 403 – International Business and National Policies (3) [Prerequisites: ACCTG 211 and FIN 301]
                                IB 404 – Contemporary Issues in International Business (3) [Prerequisites: ACCTG 211 and FIN 301]
                                IB 450 – Business Environment of Europe (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 211; FIN 301]
                                IB 460 – International Business in Emerging Nations (3) [Prerequisites: ACCTG 211and FIN 301; Concurrent: IB 303]
                                IB 470 – International Development in an African Context (3) [Prerequisite: 5th semester standing or higher]
                              Management – Complete the following two courses
                                  MGMT 326 – Organizational Behavior and Design (3) [Prerequisite: MGMT 301]
                                  MGMT 481 - Global Strategic Management (3) [Prerequisite: MGMT 326]
                                Marketing – Complete courses based on the following
                                    a. Complete one of the following courses
                                      MKTG 330 – Consumer Behavior (3) [Prerequisite: MKTG 301]
                                      MKTG 327 – Retailing (3) [Prerequisite: MKTG 301]
                                    b. Complete one of the following courses
                                      MKTG 445 – Global Marketing (GI, IL) (3) [Prerequisite: MKTG 301]
                                      MKTG 422 – Advertising and Sales Promotion Management (3) [Prerequisite: MKTG 330 or MKTG 342]
                                  Real Estate – Complete the following two courses
                                      RM 303 – Real Estate Fundamentals (3) [Prerequisite: 4th semester standing or higher]
                                      RM 450 – Contemporary Issues in Real Estate Markets (3) [Prerequisite: RM 303 or RM 330W]
                                    Risk Management – Complete the following two courses
                                        RM 302 – Risk and Insurance (3) [Prerequisite: 4th semester standing or higher]
                                        RM 440 – Risk, Strategy, and Decision Making (3) [Prerequisite: RM 302 or RM 320W or RM 303 or RM 330W]
                                      Supply Chain and Information Systems – Complete two courses from the following
                                          SCM 404 – Demand Fulfillment (3) [Prerequisite: SCM 301]
                                          SCM 405 – Manufacturing and Services Strategies (3) [Prerequisite: SCM 301]
                                          SCM 406 – Strategic Procurement (3) [Prerequisite: SCM 301]

                                       

                                      In lieu of completing a two-piece sequence, students in Accounting (ACCTG_BS) can complete one of the designated University minors listed below provided the program has a minimum of six credits of 400-level coursework to use in the two-piece category.

                                        Smeal College Minors
                                            Information Systems Management - ISM_UMNR
                                            International Business - IB_UMNR
                                            Legal Environment of Business - LEBUS_UMNR
                                            Supply Chain and Information Sciences & Technology - SCIST_UMNR
                                        Penn State Minors
                                            Economics - ECON_UMNR
                                            Entrepreneurship and Innovation - ENTI_UMNR
                                            Information Sciences and Technology - IST_UMNR
                                            Labor and Human Resources - LHR_UMNR
                                            Mathematics - MATH_UMNR
                                            Statistics - STAT_UMNR
                                        World Language Minors
                                            Arabic Language - ARAB_UMNR
                                            Chinese Language - CHNS_UMNR
                                            French and Francophone Studies - FR_UMNR
                                            German - GER_UMNR
                                            Greek - GREEK_UMNR
                                            Hebrew - HEBR_UMNR
                                            Italian - IT_UMNR
                                            Japanese Language - JAPNS_UMNR
                                            Korean Language - KORLG_UMNR
                                            Latin - LATIN_UMNR
                                            Portuguese - PORT_UMNR
                                            Russian - RUS_UMNR
                                            Russian Translation - RUST_UMNR
                                            Spanish - SPAN_UMNR
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