Combined BBA/MBA and BBA/MS Degree Programs - CPA Qualifying

Combined Degree Programs

The Accounting department in conjunction with the Finance and Legal Studies and Taxation departments offers three accelerated Combined Bachelor’s /Master’s degree programs for highly qualified students who wish to prepare for the public accounting profession and earn both the BBA and either the MBA or MS degree in less time than is normally required. The first is the BBA/MBA Program in Public Accounting in which students earn both the BBA and MBA in Public Accounting. The two BBA/MS programs combine the BBA in Public Accounting with either the MS in Financial Management or the MS in Taxation. All three Combined Bachelor’s/Master’s programs are registered with the New York State Education Department as meeting the 150-credit hour education requirements for CPA licensure. These programs also meet the educational requirements for admission to the CPA examination in most other states. Full-time students will be able to complete the requirements for any of the three Combined Degree Programs in five years, or four years with additional summer study.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Combined BBA/MBA or BBA/MS Programs originates at the undergraduate level. Candidates may be admitted conditionally to the program directly from high school. In order to qualify for direct admission, candidates are required to have a minimum high school average of 90% and a combined SAT score of 1150 or an equivalent score on the ACT. Students wishing to transfer into the program from another college or university must have achieved at least a 3.20 CGPA at their previous school, in addition to the other admission requirements. All transfer students will be required to fulfill a residency requirement of at least 32 credits at the undergraduate level. Continuing students applying to change their major to one of the Combined Programs are required to have at least a 3.20 CGPA for 30 credits completed at Pace University. Admission to the Master’s program requires a minimum CGPA of 3.20 for all undergraduate course work completed at Pace, a 3.00 GPA for all Pace Accounting courses and a 520 score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). Students with a final overall Pace GPA of 3.20 or higher and an overall Accounting GPA of 3.2 or higher in the BBA program are exempt from the GMAT requirement.

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the graduate program to which they are applying and maintain strong academic standing at the undergraduate level to be considered for the combined program. Submission of the Combined Degree Graduate application form, a personal statement, and one letter of reference is required. The Application Fee is waived.

Conferring of Degrees

Students will be awarded both the BBA and MBA or MS upon completion of the Combined Program. A student who does not finish the MBA or MS requirements may apply any graduate credits earned toward completion of a BBA program.