Accounting

Program Overview

Rider's accounting program is designed to build professionals. The B.S.B.A. in accounting provides students with the skills and knowledge needed for careers with corporations, public accounting firms, and governmental organizations. 

Accounting majors learn in the classroom, through co-op and internship positions, and through ongoing networking opportunities with accounting executives. 

Student Learning Outcomes: 

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.

Curriculum Overview

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 advisor to select courses which 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. To learn more about individual state requirements for CPA licensure see www.nasba.org.

Master of Accountancy (4 + 1  MAcc Program)

The 4 +1 MAcc program is the fastest growing program in the Norm Brodsky College of Business.  The MAcc prepares students for CPA licensure and allows for an area of specialization. Students may enter the program directly from the B.S.B.A. program, and for students with overall and accounting GPA of 3.0, the GMAT requirement for admission is waived. The MAcc can be completed on either a full-time or part-time basis. 

Accreditation Information

The accounting program is one of less than 3% of accounting programs worldwide to hold the prestigious AACSB business and accounting accreditation. The accounting faculty are committed to continuous improvement in curriculum, faculty and student preparation. 

Degrees Offered

• B.S.B.A. in Accounting
• Master of Accountancy (fifth year program, 4+1)

Contact

Evelyn McDowell, PhD, CPA
Associate Professor and Chairperson
Sweigart Hall 329
609-895-5712
emcdowell@rider.edu

Department Website: Accounting
Accreditation:  Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business - Accounting and Business Accreditations (AACSB)

Related Programs

• Business Administration
• Entrepreneurial Studies
• Finance
• Fraud and Business Forensic Concentration
• International Business
• Management and Leadership
• Master of Accountancy

Major Requirements

(27 credits)

Students who plan to take the CPA exam may, with the Department Chair's permission, take MACC 658 Governmental and Not-for-Profit Accounting during their senior year.  These credits may be used to fulfill the 120 undergraduate credit requirement.  Students who are not entering into the MAcc but plan on taking the CPA test are allowed to take MACC 658 as part of the undergraduate program.  The student will need to have an overall and accounting GPA of 3.3.   

Students desiring to become certified public accountants (CPAs) will be required to have 120 credit hours of education to take the CPA exam and have completed 150 credit hours of education for licensure. Rider accounting majors may graduate after four years (120 credit hours) or seek to achieve the additional credit hours directly through admission to the Master of Accountancy (MACC) program at the University. It is possible to apply to the MACC program at Rider after completion of 90 credit hours. (Please consult the Rider University Graduate Academic Catalog for details on the MACC program.) Undergraduate accounting majors are encouraged to work closely with their advisor 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.

Students majoring in accounting must receive a grade of at least “C-” in a prerequisite course for any advanced course in accounting, and must have a cumulative average of at least 2.0 in the major.

4 Year Academic Plan of Study

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 a 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 sophomore year, ACC 321 Internal Auditing in the fall of junior year, and ACC 450 Business Forensic Application in the spring of 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 Academic Plan of Study

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 a 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 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.

Courses and Descriptions