Bachelor's and Master's Accounting Degree Combined

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The 5-year Combined B.S. in Accounting -to- M.S in Accounting & Taxation Program prepares you for success even faster.

This combined program provides academically talented students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in less time than would normally be required. A student enrolled in the combined program will earn the bachelor’s degree upon completion of the undergraduate program and the master’s degree upon completion of the graduate program.

5-year Combined Program Requirements
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5-year Combined Program Requirements:

In addition to the Accounting undergraduate program and graduation requirements, the minimum requirements for the 5-year combined program are:
- Junior standing or an upper-division honors student
- Has a grade point average of 3.2 or better in the following courses (MAC 1105, MAC 2233, STA 2023 and ACG 3103)
- Has earned a B or better in ACG 3103
- Has completed 75 semester hours and earned a minimum 3.2 FGCU GPA .
- Transfer students must have completed a minimum of one semester (15 hours) at FGCU and earned a 3.2 FGCU GPA.
- Has completed at least 5O% of required service learning hours
- Carries a course load of no more than 15 semester hours when enrolled in a graduate course, and
- A minimum grade of B is required for each graduate course taken while enrolled in the BS Accounting program.
- The student will take 12 graduate credits from the following list of approved courses: QMB 6303 Business Analytics, ISM 6404 Bl and Visualization, ISM 6136 Big Data Analytics & Data Mining, ACG 6257, Global Reporting (IFRS) & Audit, TAX 6525 International Tax Issues, BUL 6831 Law & Business II, TAX 6045 Tax Research Planning, and TAX 6205 Flow Through Entities (with prior approval of LCOB Graduate Programs Coordinator).
Individual Program Requirements of the bachelor’s degree and master’s degree:

Full program requirements for each specific program included in the combined program are found at the links below:
- B.S. in Accounting
- Master of Science in Accounting and Taxation (M.S.)
Degree Maps
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Application Process
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Candidates for the combined program will apply during their junior year to the Lutgert College Business (LCOB) Graduate Programs Coordinator. A committee of accounting graduate faculty will review combined program applications. Students accepted into the combined program will meet with the LCOB Graduate Programs Coordinator to plan course schedules. The LCOB Graduate Programs Coordinator arranges for the student to be registered in the approved graduate courses. Students will remain classified as Undergraduates until the bachelor's degree is awarded. Graduate courses taken while enrolled in the 5-Year program can be applied to the undergraduate degree requirements.

Each student is responsible for completing application materials for the MS Accounting & Taxation within one semester of graduation from the BS program to ensure continuous enrollment under the current catalog. Students who do not successfully complete the application to the MS program within one semester of graduation from the BS program will be dropped from the combined BS/MS program. Students will be accepted into the MS program if they have fulfilled all of the requirements for admission. Upon acceptance into the graduate program, students will be classified as Graduate. Students will complete an additional 18 graduate credits to satisfy the MS Accounting & Taxation as outlined in the catalog. Graduate credits taken while an Undergraduate will be counted to reach the 30 required credits for the MS Accounting & Taxation.

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CPA License Information
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CPA License Information

The references below cover important information for pursuing your CPA License both here in Florida or other states.
**Always check with the state or jurisdiction's board of accountancy for the most current information**

State Board Websites

Florida Requirements
- Education Requirements to Sit for the CPA Exam:
  120 semester hours/ a bachelor’s degree to include -
  - Total Upper Division Accounting Hour:
    24 semester hours must include –
    - Auditing
    - Cost Accounting
    - 3 semester hours of Financial Accounting
    - 3 semester hours of Taxation based on USA Accounting Standards.
  - Total Upper Division Business Hours:
    24 semester hours must include –
    - 3 semester hours of Business Law based on USA Law
- Education Requirements for Licensure:
  150 semester hours to include –
For full details visit the Florida State Board website

Frequently Asked Questions
- View/Print the CPA License FAQs
Contact Information
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Accounting (B.S.)

The B.S. in Accounting prepares students for careers in government, industry, public accounting, and service organizations. The faculty are committed to preparing graduates who are not only technically competent, but who possess the full range of business professional skills. Students are required to use a variety of technology tools in class assignments. Courses include projects designed to enhance critical thinking, oral and written communications, and teamwork skills and foster awareness of diversity, ethical, and global issues.

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Accounting & Taxation (M.S.)

The Master of Science in Accounting and Taxation (M.S.) program prepares students for careers in accounting and taxation. This program offers a balanced approach to accounting and taxation. Many jobs that will exist 5 to 10 years from now do not exist today. Thus, the focus is not just on advanced technical competence in accounting and/or taxation, the effective use of technology in research and practice, effective communications with colleagues, clients and other stakeholders of diverse backgrounds, and ethical responsibilities but also on the development of life-long learning skills to maintain professional competence.

Lutgert News | AccountingSee All

Accounting Department hosted 70 students from Immokalee High School for Future Accounting Scholars by Moorings Park

February 16, 2024 / Lutgert News / Tags: Accounting, Beta Alpha Psi, High School, Scholarships

the Department of Accounting hosted 70 students from Immokalee High School for Future Accounting Scholars by Moorings Park. The students were greeted by Dr. Tanya Benford, Dr. Patrick Wheeler, and Dr. Adrian Valencia, who shared what to expect in accounting as a career as well as what professional pathways can be forged with an Accounting degree. Michelle Gonzalez and Justine Padrone stopped by and made sure that all financial aid and application questions were answered. After their introduction to FGCU and accounting, the students were provided with an opportunity to try it for themselves! Jacqueline Conrecode stepped in to teach the basics of Accounting for a game of Monopoly on day two. At the end of day two, scholarships were awarded to students who were the most successful in their game of Monopoly (and passing an audit by Dr. Adrian Valencia!). Special thank you to the student volunteers from Beta Alpha Psi: Johana Brito-Mieses, Cazimy Coulanges, Erick Ontiveros, and Diana Ramirez.

Brave New World? AI Researcher Says Ditch Dystopian Fears

April 13, 2023 / Lutgert News / Tags: AI, Accounting, Advertising, Agribusiness, Economics, Finance, Information Systems & Operations Management, Management, Marketing, PGA Golf Management, Real Estate, Resort & Hospitality, Sales

The warnings are ominous and plentiful. For over half a century, we’ve been hit with a deluge of cautionary tales – from books to the big screen – teaching us to fear the unleashed power of artificial intelligence (or AI). Inevitably, in those stories, technology develops sentiency, plunging the world into a dystopian hellscape, leading to the end of human civilization. So why is Chrissann Ruehle, Lutgert College of Business instructor, eschewing pop culture to embrace the latest AI development? “I see this as a collaboration and connection between humans and machines, humans and technology, as well as being a benefit for our students and also for faculty,” she explained. For the past six years, Ruehle has researched the burgeoning field of AI and is working on publishing articles and papers on the subject. She describes one of the newest creations, ChatGPT, as a “generative artificial intelligence program that uses conversational artificial intelligence.”

Professional Development Skills Course Bridges the Gap Between the Classroom and the Workforce

April 05, 2023 / Lutgert News / Tags: Accounting, Advertising, Agribusiness, Economics, Finance, Information Systems & Operations Management, Management, Marketing, Mentorship, New Course, PGA Golf Management, Real Estate, Resort & Hospitality, Sales, Undergraduate

The Lutgert College of Business remains in constant contact with industry partners to make sure our graduates have the knowledge employers are looking for. This consistent communication has led to new majors in Supply Chain Management and Data Analytics, integration of advanced MS Excel skills into the accounting curriculum, and a new concentration in International Business for management majors. Yet the most frequent request across disciplines and majors is the need for “soft skills”: networking with clients, giving effective presentations, writing professional communications. Even a handshake can make the difference between clinching a deal or losing a client.

Master's
Degree in Accounting & Taxation

Accounting BS/MS

Make Your Time Count for Even More

Accounting (B.S.)

Accounting & Taxation (M.S.)

Lutgert News | AccountingSee All

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