Program Overview

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Accounting, Bachelor of Business Administration

The accounting program draws on curricula that provide a strong base of traditional technical subject matter and the skills needed for solving complex business problems. This framework of study enables students to continue professional growth over the entire span of their careers. The program emphasizes communication skills and provides the academic background required for leadership positions in business, government, and public accounting. It can also qualify students to take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination.

Admission Requirements

• Students who wish to earn the Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in accounting must be admitted to the Tippie College of Business.
• Undergraduate accounting majors are subject to the probation and dismissal rules described in the Undergraduate Programs section of the catalog and are governed by the Tippie Honor Code.

Program Requirements

• The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) requires a minimum of 120 s.h. of credit, including at least 48 s.h. earned in business courses and at least 52 s.h. earned in non-business courses.
• BBA students must earn 45 s.h. at the University of Iowa following admission to the BBA program.
• At least 24 s.h. in business courses must be earned with Tippie College of Business coursework.
• At least two-thirds of the semester hours in a student's major must be earned in the student's major department at the Tippie College of Business.

Graduation Requirements

• To graduate, BBA students must have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.00 in all college-level coursework attempted, all college-level business coursework attempted, all college-level major coursework attempted, all college-level coursework attempted at the University of Iowa, all college-level business coursework attempted at the University of Iowa, and all college-level major coursework attempted at the University of Iowa.

Common BBA Requirements

General Education

• Students may not count courses taken to fulfill General Education Program requirements toward other course requirements for the BBA.
• Course List:
  • Historical Perspectives: 3 hours
  • International and Global Issues: 3 hours
  • Interpretation of Literature: 3 hours
  • Natural Sciences (without lab): 3 hours
  • Rhetoric: 4 hours
  • Social Sciences (excluding ECON:1100 and ECON:1200): 3 hours
  • Understanding Cultural Perspectives: 3 hours
  • Values and Society: 3 hours
  • World Languages: 0-10 hours

World Languages

• Tippie College of Business students may complete the World Languages requirement using one of three options.
  • Option One: Attain fourth level proficiency in a single world language.
  • Option Two: Attain third level proficiency in a single world language and complete a World Language and Cultural Exploration course.
  • Option Three: Attain second level proficiency in each of two world languages.

Prerequisites for Admission to the BBA Program

• Course List:
  • BAIS:1500: Business Computing Essentials: 2 hours
  • ECON:1100: Principles of Microeconomics: 4 hours
  • MATH:1350: Quantitative Reasoning for Business: 4 hours
  • RHET:1030: Rhetoric: Writing and Communication: 4 hours
  • STAT:1030: Statistics for Business: 4 hours

Prerequisites for Declaring a BBA Major

• Course List:
  • ACCT:2100: Introduction to Financial Accounting: 3 hours
  • ECON:1200: Principles of Macroeconomics: 4 hours

BBA Core

• Course List:
  • ACCT:2200: Managerial Accounting Analytics and Data Visualization: 3 hours
  • BAIS:2800: Foundations of Business Analytics: 3 hours
  • BAIS:3000: Operations Management: 2 hours
  • BAIS:3005: Information Systems: 2 hours
  • BUS:2200: Discover Business at Tippie: 1 hour
  • BUS:3000: Business Communication and Professionalism: 3 hours
  • FIN:3000: Introductory Financial Management: 3 hours
  • MGMT:2000: Introduction to Law: 3 hours
  • MGMT:2100: Introduction to Management: 3 hours
  • MKTG:3000: Introduction to Marketing Strategy: 3 hours

Experiential Learning Requirement: Tippie RISE

• RISE is an acronym for hands-on experiential learning in the form of research with faculty, internship course, study abroad, and experiential course.
• All BBA students in the Tippie College of Business students must successfully complete at least one of these four experiences.

Research With Faculty

• Working closely with a faculty mentor, students explore a research question of interest for a semester or more.
• Course List:
  • ACCT:4999: Honors Thesis in Accounting: arr. hours
  • BAIS:4999: Honors Thesis in Business Analytics: arr. hours
  • BUS:3600: Mentored Research: arr. hours
  • BUS:4999: Honors Thesis in Business: arr. hours
  • ECON:4999: Honors Thesis in Economics: arr. hours
  • FIN:4999: Honors Thesis in Finance: arr. hours
  • MGMT:4999: Honors Thesis in Management: arr. hours
  • MKTG:3702: Marketing Institute Seminar II: 2 hours
  • MKTG:4999: Honors Thesis in Marketing: arr. hours
  • URES:3992: Undergraduate Research and Creative Projects: 0 hours
  • URES:3993: Undergraduate Research and Creative Projects: 1-4 hours
  • URES:3994: Undergraduate Research and Creative Projects: 1-4 hours
  • URES:3995: Independent Creative Research by Undergraduates Summer Internship: 0 hours

Internship Course

• As students gain valuable hands-on work experience in a professional internship, they complete one of the approved internship courses to assist them in having a meaningful learning experience.
• Course List:
  • BUS:3100: Academic Internship or Cooperative Education: 0 hours
  • BUS:3900: Business Communication Internship I: 3 hours
  • BUS:4900: Academic Internship: arr. hours
  • CCP:1201: Academic Internship: 1-3 hours
  • CCP:2020: Washington Center Internship Program: arr. hours
  • CCP:2202: International Student Full-Time Academic Internship: 9 hours
  • ENTR:4300: Launching an Entrepreneurial Venture: arr. hours
  • ENTR:4900: Academic Internship: arr. hours
  • EVNT:2110: Internship in Event Management: 3 hours
  • LS:3011: Leadership Certificate Capstone: 0-2 hours
  • SRM:4199: Independent Sport and Recreation Field Experience: arr. hours

Study Abroad

• By taking advantage of short-term, summer, semester, or academic year programs, students can expand their worldview and learn alternative business and cultural practices outside of the United States.
• Any study abroad program is accepted for credit, including virtual programs, short-term faculty-led programs, and summer, semester, or year-long programs.

Experiential Course

• In approved experiential courses, students improve their understanding of academic concepts by applying them to a class project with a company or nonprofit organization.
• Course List:
  • ACCT:3451: Tax Practicum (VITA) II: 1 hour
  • BAIS:4150: Business Analytics and Information Systems Capstone: 3 hours
  • BUS:3920: Business Case Competitions Professional Preparation: arr. hours
  • ECON:3360: Experimental Economics: 3 hours
  • ENTR:4100: International Entrepreneurship, Culture, and Social Impact: 1-3 hours
  • ENTR:4200: Entrepreneurship: Business Consulting: 3 hours
  • FIN:4250: Applied Equity Valuation: 3 hours
  • FIN:4310: Advanced Corporate Finance: 3 hours
  • FIN:4350: Applied Wealth Management: 3 hours
  • FIN:4410: Enterprise Risk Management: 3 hours
  • FIN:4420: Property and Liability Insurance: 3 hours
  • FIN:4460: Insurer Operations and Captive Management: 3 hours
  • LS:1024: Hawkeye Service Breaks: 3 hours
  • LS:3002: Career Leadership Academy Part 2: Leadership in Action: 3 hours
  • MGMT:3600: Nonprofit Organizational Effectiveness II: 3 hours
  • MGMT:3850/ENTR:3850: Entrepreneurial Leadership Academy II: 3 hours
  • MGMT:4600: Nonprofit Ethics and Governance: 3 hours
  • MKTG:3100: Marketing Research: 3 hours
  • MKTG:3103: Advanced Marketing Research: 3 hours
  • MKTG:3700: Marketing Institute Seminar I: 2 hours
  • MKTG:3701: Marketing Institute Field Studies: 2 hours
  • MKTG:4250: Marketing and Sustainability: 3 hours
  • MKTG:4800: Marketing Consulting Project: 3 hours
  • SRM:4197: Sport and Recreation Field Experience: arr. hours

Major Area of Study

• All BBA students must complete a major area of study.
• The college offers BBA majors in accounting, business analytics and information systems, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, management, marketing, and risk management and insurance.
• The requirements for each major are established by the department that offers the major.

Students With Associate of Arts Degrees

• Students who have been granted an Associate of Arts (AA) from a community college participating in the Iowa and Illinois Community College/Regents Articulation Agreements are considered to have met all high school unit requirements for admission to the BBA and all of the General Education Program requirements listed under "General Education Requirements," except the Understanding Cultural Perspectives and World Languages requirements.
• The program of study for which a student was awarded the AA must have included:
  • A minimum of 60 s.h. (or 90 quarter hours) of credit acceptable toward graduation from the University of Iowa.
  • Completion of the agreed-upon group of courses at the community college.
  • A GPA of at least 2.00.

Transfer Courses

• Students who have taken courses at another institution that are similar to those approved for the common business requirements at Iowa may request that these courses be evaluated for transfer credit.
• Students who transfer fewer hours than needed to meet a common business requirement may use only approved courses to complete the remainder of the requirement.
• Only courses taken at accredited four-year institutions may be used to satisfy business course requirements numbered 3000 or above.
• Students must complete a minimum of 24 s.h. of business coursework at Iowa and at least two-thirds of the coursework in the major in the department awarding the major.
• They must also meet the 45 s.h. residence requirement of the Tippie College of Business.
• Credit earned through online courses may be counted toward all requirements for graduation, subject to approval by a student's major department.

Multiple Majors in Business

• Students may earn the BBA degree with more than one major; they may also combine the BBA degree with the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in economics (except for the BBA in economics).
• The Four-Year Graduation Plan is not available to students earning more than one major or degree.
• Students have access to degree audits in MyUI for all of the programs of study they have officially declared.
• They also have access to all program courses, with some limitations, during early registration.
• A student must be in good academic standing in order to declare more than one major.

Accounting Major

• The Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in accounting requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including at least 24-25 s.h. of work for the major.
• All required major coursework must be taken at the University of Iowa.
• Students must have a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least 2.00 in all college coursework attempted, all college coursework attempted in business, all college coursework attempted in the major, all coursework attempted at the University of Iowa, all business coursework attempted at the University of Iowa, and all coursework in the major attempted at the University of Iowa.

Accounting Common Required Courses

• Course List:
  • ACCT:3100: Professional Accounting Seminar: 1 hour
  • ACCT:3200: Income Measurement and Asset Valuation: 3 hours
  • ACCT:3300: Valuation of Financial Claims: 3 hours
  • ACCT:4200: Advanced Managerial Accounting Analytics: 3 hours

Accounting Major With No Subprogram

• The major in accounting with no subprogram is the best option for students who plan to take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam and work in the public accounting sector.
• Students who major in accounting with no subprogram complete an additional 15 s.h. from the following:
  • Course List:
    • ACCT:3400: Introduction to Taxation: 3 hours
    • ACCT:3600/BAIS:3100: Accounting Systems and Analytics: 3 hours
    • ACCT:4100: Auditing: 3 hours
    • ACCT:4300: Accounting Ethics and Law: 3 hours
    • And one accounting elective from the following:
      • ACCT:3500: Advanced Tax Topics: 3 hours
      • ACCT:4280/BAIS:4280: Cybersecurity: 3 hours
      • ACCT:4400: Advanced Financial Accounting: 3 hours

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam and Licensure

• A significant percentage of accounting graduates pursue the CPA license.
• Requirements to sit for the CPA exam and for CPA licensure vary by state.
• Each state requires 150 s.h. to become a licensed CPA, including specific courses and a minimum number of accounting hours.
• In many states, the required accounting hours exceed the minimum requirements of the BBA.
• Students should review their state's educational requirements at the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) website and consult with the director of the Master of Accountancy program as needed.

Optional Accounting Electives

• Course List:
  • ACCT:3420: Taxes and Business Strategy: 3 hours
  • ACCT:3450: Tax Practicum (VITA) I: 0,2 hours
  • ACCT:3451: Tax Practicum (VITA) II: 1 hour
  • ACCT:3550: Financial Statement Analysis: 3 hours
  • ACCT:4000: Special Topics in Accounting: 1-3 hours
  • ACCT:4220: Design and Use of Cost Management Systems: 3 hours
  • ACCT:4600: Research Seminar for Tax Professionals: 2 hours

Accounting Major With Corporate Subprogram

• The corporate subprogram equips students with skills tailored for corporate finance, management accounting, financial analysis, and strategic planning.
• Students who major in accounting with the corporate subprogram complete at least an additional 14 s.h. from the following:

Corporate Subprogram Required Courses

• Course List:
  • ACCT:3550: Financial Statement Analysis: 3 hours
  • One of the following:
    • ACCT:3400: Introduction to Taxation: 3 hours
    • ACCT:3420: Taxes and Business Strategy: 3 hours
    • ACCT:4100: Auditing: 3 hours

Corporate Subprogram Upper-Level Electives

• Students complete a minimum of 8 s.h. in accounting courses (prefix ACCT) numbered 3000 or higher, excluding courses already taken for the major.
• The following courses from other departments in the Tippie College of Business also count toward the corporate subprogram:
  • Course List:
    • BAIS:3025: Business Process Automation: 3 hours
    • BAIS:3140: Information Visualization: 3 hours
    • BAIS:3200: Database Management: 3 hours
    • BAIS:3500: Data Mining: 3 hours
    • ECON:3355: Economic and Business Forecasting: 3 hours
    • ENTR:4200: Entrepreneurship: Business Consulting: 3 hours
    • FIN:3300: Corporate Finance: 3 hours
    • FIN:3400: Principles of Risk Management and Insurance: 3 hours
    • FIN:4210: Futures and Options: 3 hours
    • FIN:4220: Fixed Income Securities: 3 hours
    • FIN:4240: International Finance: 3 hours
    • FIN:4250: Applied Equity Valuation: 3 hours
    • FIN:4330: Investment Banking: 3 hours
    • FIN:4340: Wealth Management: 3 hours
    • MGMT:3200: Individuals, Teams, and Organizations: 3 hours
    • MGMT:4100: Dynamics of Negotiations: 3 hours

Career Opportunities

• The accounting major prepares students for various career opportunities in finance, business, and other sectors.
• Graduates can pursue roles such as financial accountant, management accountant, tax accountant, auditor, financial analyst, or forensic accountant.
• They find employment in diverse sectors, including public accounting firms, corporations, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and financial institutions.
• This major offers a solid foundation in financial reporting, analysis, and decision-making, ensuring students are well-equipped for success in the dynamic field of accounting.

Sample Plan of Study

• Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study.
• Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor.
• For additional sample plans, see MyUI.

Accounting, BBA

• Plan of Study Grid (Manual) Academic Career:
  • First Year:
    • Fall:
      • BUS:2200: Discover Business at Tippie: 1 hour
      • ECON:1100: Principles of Microeconomics: 4 hours
      • MATH:1350: Quantitative Reasoning for Business: 4 hours
      • RHET:1030: Rhetoric: Writing and Communication: 4 hours
      • GE: Social Sciences: 3 hours
      • CSI:1600: Success at Iowa: 1 hour
    • Spring:
      • BAIS:1500: Business Computing Essentials: 2 hours
      • ECON:1200: Principles of Macroeconomics: 4 hours
      • STAT:1030: Statistics for Business: 4 hours
      • ENGL:1200: The Interpretation of Literature: 3 hours
      • GE: Understanding Cultural Perspectives: 3 hours
  • Second Year:
    • Fall:
      • ACCT:2100: Introduction to Financial Accounting: 3 hours
      • BAIS:2800: Foundations of Business Analytics: 3 hours
      • BAIS:3000: Operations Management: 2 hours
      • BAIS:3005: Information Systems: 2 hours
      • GE: Natural Sciences without Lab: 3 hours
      • Minor, certificate, or non-business elective: 1 hour
    • Spring:
      • ACCT:2200: Managerial Accounting Analytics and Data Visualization: 3 hours
      • ACCT:3100: Professional Accounting Seminar: 1 hour
      • ACCT:3200: Income Measurement and Asset Valuation: 3 hours
      • BUS:3000: Business Communication and Professionalism: 3 hours
      • GE: Historical Perspectives: 3 hours
      • Minor, certificate, or non-business elective: 2 hours
  • Third Year:
    • Fall:
      • ACCT:3300: Valuation of Financial Claims: 3 hours
      • ACCT:4200: Advanced Managerial Accounting Analytics: 3 hours
      • MGMT:2100: Introduction to Management: 3 hours
      • GE: International and Global Issues: 3 hours
      • Minor, certificate, or non-business elective: 3 hours
    • Spring:
      • ACCT:3600: Accounting Systems and Analytics: 3 hours
      • ACCT:3400: Introduction to Taxation: 3 hours
      • MGMT:2000: Introduction to Law: 3 hours
      • GE: Values and Society: 3 hours
      • Minor, certificate, or non-business elective: 3 hours
  • Fourth Year:
    • Fall:
      • ACCT:4100: Auditing: 3 hours
      • MKTG:3000: Introduction to Marketing Strategy: 3 hours
      • Major: elective course: 3 hours
      • Minor, certificate, or non-business elective: 3 hours
      • Minor, certificate, or non-business elective: 2 hours
      • Minor, certificate, or non-business elective: 1 hour
    • Spring:
      • ACCT:4300: Accounting Ethics and Law: 3 hours
      • FIN:3000: Introductory Financial Management: 3 hours
      • Major: elective course: 3 hours
      • Minor, certificate, or non-business elective: 3 hours
      • Minor, certificate, or non-business elective: 3 hours
      • Degree Application: apply on MyUI before deadline (typically in February for spring, September for fall)