In addition to developing quantitative and analytical competencies, accounting majors take courses in marketing and human resources while building soft skills critical to career success.
UB accounting students are well-prepared for entry-level professional positions in public accounting and a range of careers in industry and government.
However, if you wish to become licensed as a CPA in New York State and virtually all other states, you must satisfy the 150-hour education requirements. New York, as well as many other jurisdictions, not only requires completion of 150 college credit hours but also mandates fairly specific requirements regarding accounting and business coursework within those 150 hours.
The School of Management offers a one-year Master of Science in Accounting registered by New York State. Completing a registered accounting program puts you in the express lane for CPA licensing approval. In fact, your application will get automatic approval with respect to the educational requirements, rather than a detailed review by a government employee. In addition, a graduate degree gives you a competitive advantage in a credential-conscious marketplace in your first position and throughout your career.
Academic performance in freshman and sophomore courses is the main criterion for admission to the upper division in the School of Management. In the first two years, you will complete the university writing requirements, general education courses and seven prerequisite courses for the major.
If you're not ready for calculus, you should take precalculus before attempting MTH 131.
Prerequisite courses
ECO 181 Introduction to Macroeconomics
ECO 182 Introduction to Microeconomics
MGA 201 Introduction to Financial Accounting
MGA 202 Introduction to Management Accounting
MGQ 201 Introduction to Statistics for Analytics
MTH 131 Mathematical Analysis for Management*
PSY 101 Introductory Psychology
* If MTH 121 or MTH 141 has an earned grade, these substitute for MTH 131. The School of Management's repeat policy is applied to all attempted calculus courses.
If you repeat a prerequisite course for your major, the second grade is counted, even if that grade is lower than the grade you earned the first time. You may not take a course for a third time.
Academic Requirements
Students must successfully complete the seven accounting prerequisite courses to be permitted to take the required courses for the major and meet the stated minimum admission requirements (minimum B grades in MGA 201 and MGA 202, 3.0 prerequisite GPA, 3.0 UB GPA, 3.0 overall GPA, and 60 earned credit hours)
| First semester | Second semester |
|---|---|
| ECO 181 Introduction to Macroeconomics (prerequisite to accounting major) | ECO 182 Introduction to Microeconomics (prerequisite to accounting major) |
| MTH 131 Mathematical Analysis for Business (prerequisite to accounting major) | PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology (prerequisite to accounting major) |
| ENG 101 Writing I | ENG 201 Advanced Writing II |
| UGC 111 World Civilization I | UGC 112 World Civilization II |
| Free elective (AACSB - 3 units) |
| First semester | Second semester |
|---|---|
| MGA 201 Introduction to Financial Accounting (prerequisite to accounting major) | MGA 202 Introduction to Management Accounting (prerequisite to accounting major) |
| MGQ 201 Introduction to Statistics for Analytics (prerequisite to accounting major) | Arts general education course |
| Natural Science | Natural Science (with lab) |
| UGC 211 American Pluralism | Free elective (AACSB - 3 units) |
| Free elective (AACSB - 1 unit) | Free elective (AACSB - 3 units) |
After you successfully complete the freshman and sophomore year curriculum at the minimum admission standards and gain formal admission to the major, the following requirements remain:
| First semester | Second semester |
|---|---|
| MGA 301 Intermediate Financial Accounting I: Assets and Income Determination (Required ACC course) | MGA 302 Intermediate Financial Accounting II: Equities and Liabilities (Required ACC course) |
| MGA 311 Accounting Information Systems (Required ACC course) | MGA 314 Cost Accounting (Required ACC course) |
| MGA 303 Communication for Accountants (2 units - fall or spring) (Required ACC course) | MGG 300 Career Strategies, Planning and Management (2 units - fall or spring)** |
| MGQ 301 Statistical Decisions in Management** | MGO 302 Production and Operations** |
| MGS 351 Introduction to Management Information Systems** | MGE 302 Applied Economics** |
| MGF 301 Corporation Finance** | Free elective (AACSB - 3 units) |
Important advising notes
| First semester | Second semester |
|---|---|
| MGA 402 Auditing (Required ACC course) | MGA 404 Advanced Financial Accounting (Required ACC course) |
| MGA 403 Introduction to Federal Income Taxes (Required ACC course) | MGF 401, 402, 403, 405 or 407 (Required ACC course) |
| MGT 403 Business Law I (Required ACC and core course) | MGO 403 Fundamentals of Strategic Management** |
| MGM 301 Principles of Marketing** | MGB 301 Organizational Behavior and Administration** |
| MGI 301 Human Resources Management** |
**Required MG core courses
Students interested in the CPA credential should visit the New York State CPA website and investigate our Master of Science in Accounting to the meet the 150-hour requirement.
| First semester | Second semester |
|---|---|
| ECO 181 Introduction to Macroeconomics (prerequisite to accounting major) | ECO 182 Introduction to Microeconomics (prerequisite to accounting major) |
| MTH 131 Mathematical Analysis for Business (prerequisite to accounting major) | PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology (prerequisite to accounting major) |
| ENG 105 Writing And Rhetoric (CL1) | Global Pathways |
| UB Seminar | Thematic Pathway |
| Diversity Learning |
| First semester | Second semester |
|---|---|
| MGA 201 Introduction to Financial Accounting (prerequisite to accounting major) | MGA 202 Introduction to Management Accounting (prerequisite to accounting major) |
| MGQ 201 Introduction to Statistics for Analytics (prerequisite to accounting major) | Global Pathway |
| MGG 303 Communication Literacy for Business (CL2) | Thematic Pathway |
| Scientific Literacy and Inquiry 1 | Scientific Literacy and Inquiry 2 (with lab) |
| Thematic Pathway | MGG 298 Career Connections I** |
After you successfully complete the freshman and sophomore year curriculum at the minimum admission standards and gain formal admission to the major, the following requirements remain:
| First semester | Second semester |
|---|---|
| MGA 301 Intermediate Financial Accounting I: Assets and Income Determination (Required ACC course) | MGA 302 Intermediate Financial Accounting II: Equities and Liabilities (Required ACC course) |
| MGA 311 Accounting Information Systems (Required ACC course) | MGA 314 Cost Accounting (Required ACC course) |
| MGQ 301 Statistical Decisions in Management** | MGF 301 Corporation Finance** |
| MGS 351 Introduction to Management Information Systems** | MGO 302 Production and Operations** |
| MGG 398 Career Connections II** | Global Pathway |
| UB Capstone |
Important advising notes
| First semester | Second semester |
|---|---|
| MGA 402 Auditing (Required ACC course) | MGA 404 Advanced Financial Accounting (Required ACC course) |
| MGA 403 Introduction to Federal Income Taxes (Required ACC course) | MGF 401, 402, 403, 405, 407, 420 or 439 (Required ACC course) |
| MGT 403 Business Law I (Required ACC and core course) | MGO 403 Fundamentals of Strategic Management** |
| MGM 301 Principles of Marketing** | MGB 301 Organizational Behavior and Administration** |
| MGE 302 Applied Economics** | MGI 301 Human Resources Management** |
**Required MG core courses
Students interested in the CPA credential should visit the New York State CPA website and investigate our Master of Science in Accounting to the meet the 150-hour requirement.
Undergraduate Programs Office
School of Management
University at Buffalo
204 Alfiero Center
Buffalo, NY 14260-4010
Tel: 716-645-3206
Fax: 716-645-2341
mgt-undergrad@buffalo.edu
