Bachelor of Science in Accounting Studies (BSAS)

Overview       

The Bachelor of Science in Accounting Studies (BSAS) degree provides a broad-based business education with a focus on industry knowledge. This accelerated program is intended to allow students seeking a bachelor’s degree to complete coursework quickly by utilizing previously completed vocational coursework (Occupational Specialization). By utilizing vocational coursework, the BSAS degree serves the Rockford community by fostering partnerships between area institutions and industries.

The BSAS degree is composed of the Occupational Specialization credits along with general education courses and accounting concentration specific coursework. Students may be able to transfer credits within any of these degree components, however 60 credit hours must be earned from a 4-year institution (at least 30 of which must be upper level coursework), with 30 of the last 36 hours of coursework completed at Rockford University, and no more than 15 credit hours can be articulated into the major area component.

Degree Information

Regarding the Occupational Specialization component, the BSAS degree allows students to qualify up to a maximum of 25 credits. These credits can be earned from student coursework completed at a Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) accredited community college, technical school, and/or university. The qualifying coursework must be in one concentrated area. Official transcripts from prior institutions will be reviewed and approved by committee prior to awarding credit. Many students who pursue the BSAS program have previously completed an Associate’s of Applied Science degree and/or a certificate. Vocational coursework may be from any vocation, as a business concentration vocation is not required.

For admission into the Rockford University BSAS program, students must meet the following criteria:

  • The previous college cumulative grade point average of all institutions combined must be 2.0 or above with a minimum grade of C for each course being accepted for transfer credit.
  • Submit official transcripts from CHEA accredited institutions of higher learning for evaluation.

BSAS Degree Requirements (minimum of 124 credits)

The 124 hours must include all university degree specific general education requirements, all degree specific requirements, and all major requirements.

  General Education                                                                       24–25
Occupational Specialization/Electives                                       24-25
Supporting degree specific requirements                                      15
Major requirements*                                                                          51
Upper-level liberal arts courses**                                                      9


*Students may transfer in no more than 15 credits within the major. BSAS 490 and BSAS 495 must be taken at Rockford University.
** Students will be required to complete 9 credits of upper-level liberal arts requirements as part of the major. These courses will be offered on a regular basis within the cohort format.
Note: The minimum GPA for the BSAS program is 2.0, and students are required to earn a passing grade in all major courses.

BSAS Degree Requirements

Required Core Courses

Major Courses: (51 credits)
BSMS 301Team Dynamics

3

BSMS 305Organizational Communication

3

BSMS 315Business Ethics

3

BSMS 323Development & Review of Financial Information

3

BSMS 343Management Essentials

3

BSMS 348Human Resources Management

3

BSMS 358Marketing

3

BSAS 320Bookkeeping and Payroll

3

BSAS 330Principles of Accounting II

3

BSAS 340Intermediate Accounting

3

BSAS 345Federal Income Taxes

3

BSAS 447Auditing and Fraud

3

BSAS 460Accounting Information Systems

3

BSMS 480Leadership Seminar

3

BSMS 490Strategy & Policy

3

BSMS 495Senior Seminar

3

General Education Courses

Composition - 6 hours (2 courses)

Social Sciences - 6 hours (2 courses)

Arts/Humanities - 9 hours (3 courses)

Science/Math - 3/4 hours (1 course)

Pre-Requisite Courses

Pre-requisite courses may count towards General Education (15 credits)
BSMS 120Principles of Microeconomics

3

BSMS 121Principles of Macroeconomics

3

BSMS 220Principles of Financial Accounting

3

BSMS 221Principles of Managerial Accounting

3

BSMS 230Principles of Statistics

3