Business (BS)/Accounting (MS)

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Program Description

The BS/MS in Accounting program is an accelerated dual degree program unique to the Stern Undergraduate College. The program graduated its first class in 2010. Stern undergraduates are required to apply to this academically rigorous track and have the benefit of earning two distinct degrees, a Bachelor of Science in Business from the Stern Undergraduate College and a Master of Science in Certified Public Accounting from the Stern Graduate School. Students in the BS/MS in Accounting program can study away as well as pursue a second Stern concentration or a minor or additional major at CAS - options that can ultimately enhance their academic and professional opportunities.

By design, the program satisfies the educational requirement to become a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in New York State, offering students the opportunity to earn 150 credits in an abbreviated time frame. The BS degree is completed in four years, or with careful planning, in as little as three-and-a-half years. Students begin the MS degree requirements while still matriculated as undergraduates and as a result, are able to complete the MS degree in the summer immediately following graduation from the Undergraduate College. The accelerated format also empowers students who plan to earn a CPA license in New York State to sit for all four parts of the CPA Exam in as early as spring of their senior year. This means that most BS/MS students will have passed the licensure exam before starting full-time employment.

BS/MS in Accounting students regularly secure coveted positions in auditing, taxation, forensic accounting, or advisory in one of the Big 4 or Mid-Tier Accounting firms. The BS/MS in Accounting program also opens a world of opportunities to students beyond the field of accounting. Students utilize the power of the dual degree in fields as diverse as consulting, investment banking, private equity, mergers and acquisitions, as well as in entrepreneurial ventures.

The program boasts an alumni network with a global reach and universal appeal. Recent graduates have shared stories about joining teams where they work alongside other program alumni. The alumni remain a critical force in the BS/MS in Accounting program, returning to campus to mentor and inspire the next generation.

CPA Licensure Disclosure Statement

Graduates of the BS/MS in Accounting Program satisfy the educational requirements for the CPA licensure in New York State. For CPA licensure requirements in other states, students are encouraged to refer to the specific state board for the most current information since the requirements are different for every state and may change. Check the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy website at nasba.org/stateboards for information on individual states.

Admissions

The BS/MS in Accounting program is only open to NYU Stern undergraduates enrolled in the Business Program. Admission is open to second-semester first year students, sophomores, and first-semester juniors, however, interested second-semester juniors and seniors are encouraged to meet with an academic adviser and may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Students with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 and grades of B- or better in accounting coursework who have an interest in the dual degree are encouraged to apply.

For information regarding specific admissions processes and policies for this program, see the Program’s Application Guidelines.