Accountants gather, organize and analyze financial information. Accountants assess performance and efficiency and suggest improvements for their employers and clients. They are needed in Certified Public Accounting (CPA) firms and corporations, as well as nonprofit organizations. Advancements in technology, evolving accounting rules and regulations, and rapid globalization promise abundant and interesting career opportunities to those with strong quantitative abilities.
Accounting graduates who take positions in public accounting firms provide management consulting, tax, and audit services to external clients. Other accounting graduates, who take positions with industry and not-for-profit organizations, work as part of the management team providing information for decision support, taxation issues and performance evaluation.
Lubar College of Business accounting programs are separately accredited by the AACSB (one of only three accounting accredited schools in Wisconsin). Graduates meet the legal requirements to take the CPA Exam in Wisconsin. However, 150 credits of education are required to obtain the CPA license in Wisconsin. Many BBA Accounting graduates apply, are accepted, and enroll in the Lubar College of Business Master of Science in Management-Professional Accounting (MS-PA) program to complete the credits to prepare for the CPA exam and meet the 150 credits for licensure.
Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Advancement to Major | ||
| General Education Requirements | 24 | |
| Business Foundation Courses | 21 | |
| Business Core | 28 | |
| Accounting Major Requirements | 24 | |
| Business Electives | 9 | |
| General Electives | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Advancement to the Major
Students are eligible to advance within the major when the following requirements have been met:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Attain Junior standing (56 credits) | ||
| Satisfy Oral and Written Communication requirement (Part A) by obtaining a grade of 'C' or better | ||
| College Writing and Research | ||
Or obtain a high enough score on the English Placement Test or other appropriate test, as determined by the English Department. | ||
| Satisfy Quantitative Literacy requirement (Part A) by obtaining a grade of 'C' or better | ||
| Introduction to College Algebra | ||
or MATH 108 | Algebraic Literacy II | |
Or place high enough on the Math Placement Test or other appropriate test, as determined by the Mathematical Sciences Department. | ||
| Complete the Business Foundation Courses | ||
With a cumulative GPA of 2.25 or above | ||
| Achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher | ||
Obtain a cumulative GPA (including transfer work) equal to or higher than the standard established by the Lubar College of Business | ||
| Achieve a cumulative UWM GPA of 2.00 or higher | ||
Students who have a 2.50 cumulative grade point average or higher, including at least a 2.00 UWM cumulative grade point average, are guaranteed advancement to major. | ||
Lubar College of Business General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Oral and Written Communication | ||
| ENGLISH 102 | College Writing and Research (or equivalent) 1 | |
| ENGLISH 205 | Business Writing | 3 |
| Quantitative Literacy | ||
| Select one of the following (QL-A): | ||
| Introduction to College Algebra 1 | ||
| Algebraic Literacy II 1 | ||
Or equivalent course | ||
| Select one of the following (QL-B): | ||
| Quantitative Models for Business | ||
| Survey in Calculus and Analytic Geometry I | ||
Or equivalent course | ||
| Arts | ||
| Select 3 credits | 3 | |
| Humanities | ||
| Select 6 credits 2 | 6 | |
| Social Sciences | ||
| Select 6 credits 3 | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences | ||
| Select 6 credits (At least two courses including one lab) 4 | 6 | |
| UWM Foreign Language Requirement | ||
| Complete Foreign Language Requirement through: 1 | ||
Two years (high school) of a single foreign language | ||
Two semesters (college) of a single foreign language | ||
Or equivalent | ||
| UWM Cultural Diversity Requirement | ||
| One course from the Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences must also satisfy UWM's Cultural Diversity requirement | ||
| Total Credits | 24 | |
- 1
Credit earned for 100-level English and Math courses, as well as college credit earned for Foreign Languages, is counted towards General Electives.
- 2
Excluding COMMUN 103 if used to satisfy a Foundation course requirement.
- 3
Excluding COMMUN 105 if used to satisfy a Foundation course requirement. Only one 100- or 200-level economics course can be used to satisfy the Social Science requirement (excluding ECON 103 and ECON 104).
- 4
Business Foundation Courses
Complete with a cumulative grade point average of 2.25 or higher:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 103 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 104 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| BUS ADM 201 | Introduction to Financial Accounting 1 | 4 |
| BUS ADM 230 | Introduction to Information Technology Management 2 | 4 |
| MATH 208 | Quantitative Models for Business 3 | 4 |
| or MATH 211 | Survey in Calculus and Analytic Geometry I | |
| COMMUN 103 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| or COMMUN 105 | Business and Professional Communication | |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
- 1
A grade of "B" or better in BUS ADM 201 is required for Accounting majors. Students in the Business Scholars Program or who are interested in joining the program should enroll in the equivalent BUS ADM 207 course.
- 2
A grade of "C" or better in BUS ADM 230 is required for Information Technology Management majors. Students in the Business Scholars Program should enroll in the equivalent BUS ADM 231 course.
- 3
Business Core Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BUS ADM 202 | Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| BUS ADM 210 | Statistical Modeling in Business Analytics | 4 |
| or BUS ADM 211 | Business Scholars: Statistical Modeling in Business Analytics | |
| BUS ADM 330 | Organizations | 3 |
| or BUS ADM 331 | Business Scholars: Organizations | |
| BUS ADM 360 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| or BUS ADM 361 | Business Scholars: Principles of Marketing | |
| BUS ADM 370 | Introduction to Supply Chain Management | 3 |
| or BUS ADM 371 | Business Scholars: Introduction to Supply Chain Management | |
| BUS ADM 391 | Business Law I | 3 |
| BUS ADM 450 | Intermediate Finance | 3 |
| BUS ADM 600 | Management Analysis | 3 |
| International Business Component | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 3 | |
| International Financial Management | ||
| International Marketing | ||
| International Business | ||
| Study Abroad: Business Topics: | ||
| Global Information Technology Management | ||
| Cross-Cultural Management | ||
| International Investments | ||
| Total Credits | 28 | |
Accounting Major Requirements
A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, completion of MATH 208 or MATH 211, BUS ADM 230 or BUS ADM 231, a grade of B or better in BUS ADM 201 or BUS ADM 207, and completion of BUS ADM 202 are required to enroll in BUS ADM 301. A grade of B or better in BUS ADM 301 is required to enroll in BUS ADM 402, BUS ADM 404, and BUS ADM 409.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| BUS ADM 301 | Intermediate Accounting I | 4 |
| BUS ADM 303 | Career Planning for Accounting | 1 |
| BUS ADM 401 | Introduction to Data Analytics in Accounting | 4 |
| BUS ADM 402 | Intermediate Accounting II | 3 |
| BUS ADM 405 | Income Tax Accounting I | 3 |
| BUS ADM 408 | Accounting Information Systems | 3 |
| BUS ADM 409 | Auditing: Procedures and Applications | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Consolidations and Governmental Accounting | ||
| Cost Management | ||
| Income Tax Accounting II | ||
| Total Credits | 24 | |
Business Electives
A business elective is any course with Bus Adm as the subject. The course cannot be one a student has already taken as part of the foundation, core, or major coursework. Students often use business electives to complete a double major or certificate.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 9 credits in the Lubar College of Business. May include 300-level Bus Adm internship courses, additional Bus Adm courses in the major, business courses outside of the major, and/or Bus Adm courses used in the completion of a second Business major or Business Certificate program. | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
General Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Credits towards the degree not counted in other categories will apply to General Electives. Classes counting towards General Electives may include, but are not limited to: | 14 | |
| Introduction to College Writing | ||
| College Writing and Research | ||
| Introduction to College Algebra | ||
| Algebraic Literacy II | ||
Foreign Language credits | ||
| Total Credits | 14 | |
Degree Completion Requirements
Credits
A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation for all majors. At least 50% of the business credit hours required for the business degree must be completed at UWM.
Grade Point Average
Students are required to earn at least a 2.25 overall GPA to graduate. Non-accounting majors are required to earn a minimum 2.25 GPA in all business and economics courses, as well as a 2.25 GPA in all business and economics courses completed at UWM, to graduate.
Accounting majors must have earned a 2.5 GPA for all business and economics courses completed (including transfer credits), as well as a 2.5 GPA in all business and economics courses completed at UWM, to graduate.
Residence Requirements
A minimum of 12 credits must be completed in residence at UWM in each Business Administration major.
Students must earn their last 30 credits at UWM. BBA degree and major requirements must be completed within 10 years of initial enrollment at UW-Milwaukee. Should students not complete the degree and major within the 10-year time frame, the students will switch to the most current degree and major requirements. A new 10-year time frame would then begin.
Post-Baccalaureate Options
The above requirements refer to the full requirements of an initial bachelors degree only. Requirements of a second undergraduate degree are listed on the Lubar College's Policies and Regulations. The Accounting major may not be completed as a second undergraduate degree or as a post-baccalaureate major/Certificate of Major. The General Business Major may not be completed as a post-baccalaureate major/Certificate of Major.
Multiple Majors
Students interested in completing a double major with another UWM program or within Business should meet with an academic advisor to discuss how best to combine their academic plans. Students may double-count up to two major courses between any combination of BBA majors. Accounting majors may also use the BUS ADM 450 requirement towards the Finance or SCOM majors. General Business majors may not select a second major within the Lubar College of Business but may select any number of certificates.
Certificate Option
Students have the option to complete one or more certificates in conjunction with BBA majors. No more than 50% of each certificate’s credits may double count towards BBA Core or Major requirements.
Business BBA Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from UWM’s Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programs will:
- Create novel solutions to a business problem.
- Analyze data to explore alternative solutions.
- Identify the role of technology in supporting decision-making.
- Explain findings, organize ideas, and justify conclusions.
- Produce written documents to communicate their business understanding.
- Possess the skills needed for oral communication.
- Apply the basic concepts and principles of their business discipline.
- Recognize an ethical dilemma, relevant stakeholders, and potential consequences.
- Identify and analyze the legal issues that impact a business decision.
- Summarize cultural issues that impact a business decision.
- Summarize global issues that impact a business decision.
Advising
For information on Academic Advising for undergraduate business majors, see Undergraduate Student Services. All students should meet with an academic advisor at least once a semester.
Career Services
The Lubar College of Business also features a dedicated Career Services Center for its students. Internship positions and job requests are posted on a special bulletin board, which is maintained by the College as a service to students and to businesses that have specifically requested UWM business students to fill positions. Career Advisors can help students post their resume and search for jobs using UWM's jobs board on Handshake. The Career Services Center also provides a resume referral service. Potential employers may request resumes by functional area or by special interests within functional areas. Online national job searches and an alumni placement service are other services offered.
Accelerated Program Option
This program is offered as part of an accelerated graduate program. For more information, see Accelerated Graduate Degrees.
Honors in the Lubar College of Business
Beta Gamma Sigma is the national scholastic honor society in the field of business. Election to membership is available to both undergraduate and graduate students in business. Each semester, students are invited to join Beta Gamma Sigma. Selection is based upon outstanding scholastic achievement.
See also information on the Business Scholars Program.
Dean's Honor List
Students who earn a GPA of 3.500 or above on 12 or more graded credits in a given semester are placed on the Dean's Honor List.
Honors College Degree and Honors College Degree with Distinction
Granted to graduating seniors who complete Honors College requirements, as listed in the Honors College section of this site.
Commencement Honors
Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 40 graded UWM credits earned prior to the final semester, will receive all-university commencement honors and be awarded the traditional gold cord at the December or May Honors Convocation. Please note that for honors calculation, the GPA is not rounded and is truncated at the third decimal (e.g., 3.499).
Final Honors
Earned on a minimum of 60 graded UWM credits: Cum Laude - 3.500 or above; Magna Cum Laude - 3.650 or above; Summa Cum Laude - 3.800 or above.