2024-2025 Catalog

May 21, 2024

2024-2025 Catalog

Accountancy - Finance (ACCF-BS-BU), B.S.

Location(s): Ferris Main Campus

Bachelor of Science

The Accountancy program is a professional, career-oriented course of study. Students often take staff accountant positions in industry or public accounting upon graduation as well as pursue professional certification.

Unlike other universities, our bachelor’s degree covers all of the content required to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) exams. Ferris faculty bring real-world experience to the classroom and a spectrum of certifications in these areas.

The Accountancy/Finance dual degree is unique and prepares students for interdisciplinary careers that require an understanding of accounting and finance. The additional credits required for the dual degree can help students seeking to fulfill the 150-hour requirement for CPA licensure.

The Bachelor of Science in Accountancy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools & Programs (ACBSP).

Program Outcomes

Summarize the economic consequences of business activities to inform decision makers in complex economic environments supported by generally accepted accounting principles.
Adhere to the ethical requirements of the profession and be able to make value-based decisions by identifying ethical issues and formulating well founded ethical judgments in the practice of accounting.
Evaluate economic effects of business transactions and identify assumptions, extraneous information, reasoning, and evaluation of arguments.
Present and defend their interpretations through formal and informal, written, and oral presentation using appropriate technology.
Finance majors will be able to use and apply financial theories and their analytical techniques in analyzing and solving financial problems. They will be able to: (a) assess a firm’s financial condition and financial needs; (b) demonstrate the concept of time-value of money in making financial decisions; (c) demonstrate the concept of risk-return trade-off in making financial decisions and valuing securities; (d) demonstrate an understanding of the capital budgeting process and the basic tools used to evaluate investments and their limitations.
Finance majors will be able to obtain useful financial information from various sources and utilize them in making financial decisions. They will be able to: (a) get financial information from various sources. (i.e., from the library, from proprietary financial sources such as Mergent online, Standard and Poor’s, and from internet sources such as YahooFinance, Moneycentral.MSN, Morningstar, Bloomberg); (b) evaluate the financial data obtained to determine if they are credible and appropriate to use in a particular situation; (c) use the financial data in a form that will help them solve specific financial problems.
Finance majors will be able to use computer technology to access, process and analyze financial data. They will be able to: (a) download the required data from the internet in a form needed (i.e. excel format, word format) that is complete and usable; (b) use downloaded information and data in Microsoft Excel to evaluate and solve problems in several content areas (time value of money, financial planning, capital budgeting, investment decisions, or risk/return trade-off); (c) use Microsoft Excel financial functions and graphing capability to create spreadsheet financial models to solve specific problems in several content areas (time value of money, financial planning, capital budgeting, investment decisions, or risk/return trade-off) and display results.

Admission Requirements

New Student Admission Requirements

2.50 High School GPA (on a 4.00 scale)

SAT Scores Two of the Three Criteria:
1. ERW SAT score of 450 or higher.
2. Math SAT score of 500 or higher. Placement in MATH 109 or MATH 110 will be considered (Math SAT score of 480 or higher).
3. Composite SAT of 900 or higher.
ACT Scores Two of the Three Criteria:
1. English ACT score of 16 or higher.
2. Math ACT score of 19 or higher.
3. Reading ACT score of 19 or higher.

Transfer Student Admission Requirements

Combined college or university GPA of 2.35 (on a 4.00 scale) from all institutions attended. GPA based on completion of 12 credit hours or more. Developmental courses will not be considered in computing the GPA requirement.
Transfer equivalency for Ferris State University’s ENGL 150 or placement during the first semester at Ferris State University which would require an English ACT score of 16 or higher; or ERW SAT score of 450 or higher; or English Accuplacer score of 6 or higher.
Transfer equivalency for Ferris State University’s MATH 114 or MATH 115 or placement during the first semester at Ferris State University which would require a Math ACT score of 19 or higher; Math SAT of 500 or higher; or Math Accuplacer scores: Elementary Algebra score 75 or higher and College Level Math 0 to 49.

University Requirements - 40 to 41 Credits Required

First Year Seminar Requirement (FSUS 100 or Equivalent) - 0 to 1 Credit Required

All First-Time-In-Any-College Freshmen (FTIACs) must complete a one-credit FSUS 100 course, or its equivalent. Additional information and the definition of FTIAC for FSUS purposes can be found in the: Ferris State University Academic Affairs FSUS Policy

University General Education Requirements - 40 Credits Required

Courses in this section are required to satisfy the University General Education Requirements for a bachelor’s degree. The University General Education requirements can be found on the: Ferris State University General Education Requirements Webpage

Communication Competency - 12 Credits Required (or Their Equivalent)

COMM 121 - Fundamentals-Public Speaking Credit Hours: 3
ENGL 150 - English 1 Credit Hours: 3
ENGL 250 - English 2 Credit Hours: 3
ENGL 325 - Advanced Business Writing Credit Hours: 3

Quantitative Literacy Competency - 4 Credits Required (or Their Equivalent)

Choose 1 of 4
MATH 114 - Quantitative Reason for Pro 2 Credit Hours: 4
Official Pre-2016 Math SAT Score of 560 or Higher
Official Post-2016 Math SAT Score of 580 or Higher
Official Math ACT Score of 24 or Higher

Natural Sciences Competency - 6 Credits Required

Two courses are required with a minimum of 6 credits: must have at least one lab course.

Culture Competency - 9 Credits Required

Three courses are required with a minimum of 9 credits: must be from two different disciplines, have at least one 200 level or higher course, and have no more than 5 credits from Cultural Competency Activities.

Self and Society Competency - 9 Credits Required

Three courses are required with a minimum of 9 credits: must be from two different disciplines and have at least one 200 level or higher course.

ECON 201 - Principles of Microeconomics Credit Hours: 3
ECON 202 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credit Hours: 3

United States (U.S.) Diversity Competency - 1 Course Required

If not met by courses taken for Culture Competency, Self and Society Competency, or Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA), a student must have one course with the United States (U.S.) Diversity attribute. Some courses include both Global and United States (U.S.) Diversity attributes.

Global Diversity Competency - 1 Course Required

If not met by courses taken for Culture Competency, Self and Society Competency, or Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA), a student must have one course with the Global Diversity attribute. Some courses include both Global and United States (U.S.) Diversity attributes.

Collaboration Competency - Courses Required Met in College Requirements

If not met by courses taken in the College Requirements section, a student must have two courses with the Collaboration attribute. Some courses include both Collaboration and Problem Solving attributes.

ISYS 321 - Business Information Systems Credit Hours: 3 (Met in College Requirements)
BUSN 499 - Integrating Experience Credit Hours: 3 (Met in College Requirements)

Problem Solving Competency - Courses Required Met in College Requirements

If not met by courses taken in the College Requirements section, a student must have two courses with the Problem Solving attribute. Some courses include both Collaboration and Problem Solving attributes.

ISYS 321 - Business Information Systems Credit Hours: 3 (Met in College Requirements)
BUSN 499 - Integrating Experience Credit Hours: 3 (Met in College Requirements)

College Requirements - 92 to 93 Credits Required

Business Core Requirements - 30 Credits Required

These courses are used to calculate the core 2.00 GPA requirement.

ACCT 201 - Princ. of Financial Accounting Credit Hours: 3
ACCT 202 - Princ of Managerial Accounting Credit Hours: 3
STQM 260 - Introduction to Statistics Credit Hours: 3
MGMT 301 - Applied Management Credit Hours: 3
BLAW 321 - Contracts and Sales Credit Hours: 3
MKTG 321 - Principles of Marketing Credit Hours: 3
MGMT 370 - Quality-Operations Mgmt Credit Hours: 3
FINC 322 - Financial Management 1 Credit Hours: 3
ISYS 321 - Business Information Systems Credit Hours: 3
BUSN 499 - Integrating Experience Credit Hours: 3

Accounting Courses - 24 Credits Required

These courses are used to calculate the major 2.00 GPA requirement.

ACCT 310 - Intermediate Accounting 1 Credit Hours: 3 (May Be Taken Concurrently with MATH 114 )
ACCT 312 - Intermediate Accounting 2 Credit Hours: 3
ACCT 321 - Cost Accounting 1 Credit Hours: 3
ACCT 350 - Fed Income Tax-Individual Credit Hours: 3
ACCT 410 - Advanced Accounting Credit Hours: 3
ACCT 431 - ACCT Systems and Controls 1 Credit Hours: 3
ACCT 441 - Auditing Credit Hours: 3
ACCT 450 - Federal Income Tax-Corp Credit Hours: 3

Finance Courses - 27 Credits Required

These courses are used to calculate the major 2.00 GPA requirement.

FINC 300 - Mathematics of Finance Credit Hours: 3
FINC 312 - Financial Markets-Institutions Credit Hours: 3
STQM 322 - Inferential Statistics Credit Hours: 3
FINC 323 - Financial Management 2 Credit Hours: 3
FINC 375 - Fin Analysis & Forecasting Credit Hours: 3
FINC 451 - Investment Principles Credit Hours: 3
FINC 452 - Financial Modeling Credit Hours: 3
FINC 454 - Portfolio Management Credit Hours: 3
FINC 465 - Problems in Finance Credit Hours: 3

Directed Electives - 2 to 3 Credits Required (Advisor Approval)

These courses are used to calculate the major 2.00 GPA requirement.

Directed Business Elective - 300 Level or Higher Credit Hours: 2-3 (Advisor Approval, FINC 491 Highly Recommended)

Additional Requirements - 9 Credits Required

These courses are not used to calculate the major 2.00 GPA requirement.

ISYS 105 - Introduction to Microcomputer Systems and Software Credit Hours: 3
Choose 1 of 3
COMM 221 - Small Group Decision Making Credit Hours: 3
COMM 310 - Nonverbal Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMM 332 - Persuasive Speaking Credit Hours: 3
Choose 1 of 3
ECON 321 - Money and Banking Credit Hours: 3
ECON 331 - Labor Economic Labor Relations Credit Hours: 3
ECON 431 - Economics of Public Finance Credit Hours: 3

Notes

Students who return to the university after an interrupted enrollment, not including summer semester, must normally meet the requirements of the curriculum which are in effect at the time of their return, not the requirements which were in effect when they were originally admitted.
Be sure to evaluate the requirements for any professional certification with the appropriate state board.
Credit Variance - Credits required may vary based on course placement, prerequisites, etc. If you have questions, contact your advisor.

Graduation Requirements

In order to graduate from Ferris State University, students must meet both University and Programmatic Graduation Requirements.

University Graduation Requirements

These are the minimum graduation requirements for a bachelor’s degree at Ferris State University:

All requirements as specified in the University Requirements section must be met.
A minimum of 120 credits must be earned.
A 2.00 or higher cumulative Ferris State University GPA is required.
A minimum of 30 credits must be earned from Ferris State University to meet the Residency requirement.
A minimum of 40 credits of 300 level or higher courses must be earned.

Programmatic Graduation Requirements

These are the additional graduation requirements mandated by the program:

All requirements as specified in the College Requirements section must be met.
A 2.00 or higher cumulative GPA is required in the Business Core Requirements section.
A 2.00 or higher cumulative GPA is required in the Accounting Courses, Finance Courses, and Directed Electives sections.