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:

1. Demonstrate effective information literacy and communication with valid and reliable research.
2. By analysis, apply ethical standards as required by accounting and finance professionals.
3. Prepare and deliver a complete financial statement package presented in a professional format in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
4. Use technology to efficiently communicate accounting information.
5. 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)

ENG 121 English Composition I

ENG 122 English Composition II

ENG 131 Public Speaking

ENG 310 Research Writing

Humanities Elective (3 credits)

HUM Humanities Elective

Social Science (6 credits)

ECO 101 Economics I

PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology

OR

SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology

Mathematics (3 Credits)

MAT 205 Introductory Survey of Mathematics

Natural Science (3 or 4 Credits)

Natural Science Elective

Computer Operations (3 credits)

CTA 326 Integrating Excel into Business Problem Solving

Critical Analysis (3 credits)

PHI 100 Introduction to Critical Thinking

Citizenship (3 credits)

HIS 381 Contemporary Global Issues

Business Core (30 credits)

BAC 101 Accounting I

BAC 102 Accounting II

BBA 301 Intro to Business Analytics

BBM 201 Principles of Management

BBM 301 Organizational Behavior

BBM 320 Business Communications

BBM 402 Strategic Management

BMK 305 Marketing

FIN 305 Financial Management

MAT 312 Business Statistics

BAC 102: BAC 101 Prerequisite for BAC 102

BBM 301: available as a co-op

BAC 101, BAC 102: Students concentrating in Accounting should choose Auditing (BAC 423)

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.

BAC 201 Intermediate Accounting I

BAC 202 Intermediate Accounting II

BAC 301 Cost Accounting I

BAC 302 Cost Accounting II

BAC 321 Tax Accounting I

BAC 322 Tax Accounting II

BAC 423 Auditing

BLA 303 Legal and Ethical Environment of Business

ECO 102 Economics II

FIN 302 Financial Planning

FIN 306 Corporate Finance

FIN 410 Financial Reporting and Analysis

BAC 201, BAC 202, BAC 301, BAC 302, BAC 321, BAC 322, FIN 306, FIN 410: Students concentrating in Accounting should choose Auditing (BAC 423)

Choose one of the following two courses:

FIN 308 Financial Economics and Instruments

OR

FIN 309 Introduction to Global Derivatives

Choose one of the following three courses:

FIN 399 Bad Finance: Greed & Fear

OR

FIN 411 Investments and Security Analysis

OR

FIN 412 Financial Institution Management

Choose one of the following two courses:

BAC 435 Accounting Information Systems (AIS)

OR

MIS 320 Management Information Systems

BAC 435: available as a co-op

BAC 435: Students concentrating in Accounting should choose Auditing (BAC 423)

Free Electives (9 credits)

Free Elective

Free Elective

Free Elective

Accounting and Finance Completion Degree

Curriculum

What is a Completion Degree?

Business Accounting and Finance Program Core Courses

BAC 301 Cost Accounting I

BAC 302 Cost Accounting II

BAC 321 Tax Accounting I

BAC 322 Tax Accounting II

BAC 423 Auditing

BLA 303 Legal and Ethical Environment of Business

FIN 305 Financial Management

FIN 306 Corporate Finance

FIN 308 Financial Economics and Instruments

FIN 410 Financial Reporting and Analysis

Completion Degree Required Courses

BBM 402 Strategic Management

MAT 312 Business Statistics

Select two of the following five courses:

BAC 330 Financial Fraud Examination

FIN 302 Financial Planning

FIN 399 Bad Finance: Greed & Fear

FIN 411 Investments and Security Analysis

FIN 412 Financial Institution Management

Select one of the following three courses:

BAC 435 Accounting Information Systems (AIS)

MIS 320 Management Information Systems

Co-op

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.

This information applies to students who enter this degree program during the 2024-2025 Academic Year. If you entered this degree program before the Fall 2023 semester, please refer to the academic catalog for the year you began your degree program.