Accounting and Finance Programs Offered at Bellarmine University
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The W. Fielding Rubel School of Business at Bellarmine University offers both finance and accounting degree programs for students who want to work in either field. More than 55% of its graduates passed the CPA exam on the first attempt, which is higher than the average pass rates reported by all colleges in Kentucky and all schools in the nation. The university offers an early entry program for incoming freshmen. They receive a scholarship that covers the cost of taking two accounting programs in the summer before the school year begins.
Students have many different options in regards to studying finance and accounting at Bellarmine University. They can pick a major in accounting or declare a second major in finance, economics or another field. The university offers a dual degree program in accounting and business administration. This program takes five years to finish and allows students to get credit for both a master’s and a bachelor’s degree from the graduate classes they take.
To help students get more experience, Bellarmine permits them to do internships as part of a dual degree or a double major program. The university allows students to work in any bank, financial institution or accounting firm for credit. Some of the classes designed for undergrads include Principles of Financial Accounting, Taxation, Auditing, and Advanced Accounting Issues. Both finance and accounting majors must complete the business core too, which includes Managing Information Technology, Principles of Marketing, Principles of Management, Business Law and Business Finance. Those double majoring in finance and accounting will also take Cases in Financial Management, Topics in Corporate Finance, Investment Theory and Money and Banking.
Students who have a bachelor’s degree can get an accounting certificate from the university. They’ll take 15 credits of accounting classes and 12 credits of electives from other departments. The MBA (business administration) and accounting dual program features a 30-credit core and six credits of electives. Those electives can include Business Valuation, Investment Analysis, Special Topics in Finance, Project Management and Negotiations. Many of the business programs offered at Bellarmine University include study abroad options for students too.
About Bellarmine University
Bellarmine University is a private university in Louisville, Kentucky. Established as a liberal arts college in 1950, it had a close affiliation with the Roman Catholic Church that continues today. Leaders working for that Church helped bring attention to the idea of a new college and raise the money needed for a new campus. Though only 15 students enrolled in the first year, enrollment grew to more than 100 by the following year. It grew even faster during the 1960s after it became one of the only colleges in Louisville with computers that students could use. The college also added new opportunities for women, including athletic teams they could join and programs they could study.
Though U.S. News and World Report ranks Bellarmine as the 11th best university in its region, both Washington Monthly and Forbes rank the university as one of the top in the country. It has a good reputation for the scholar programs it offers in the summer that allow freshmen to take classes before beginning a degree program. With an enrollment of nearly 4,000 students, Bellarmine University now ranks as one of the largest private colleges in Kentucky.
Bellarmine University Accreditation Details
Bellarmine takes accreditation seriously, which is why it established a committee that is responsible for following the standards for accreditation. The hard work of this committee helped the university receive regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and to maintain that accreditation. All the finance and accounting programs offered by Bellarmine have the same accreditation that its business school has, which comes from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Bellarmine University Application Requirements
The basic requirements for getting an acceptance letter from the university include a class ranking in the top 50%, a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 and a score of 1060 on the SAT. Those who took the ACT must score 21 or higher. Bellarmine also asks that students take classes in high school that will prepare them for college, including four English classes, three courses in math and social studies and at least two science and foreign language classes. The application asks about any hobbies or interests the student has, his or her extracurricular activities and any volunteer experiences the applicant has. Students should provide an application along with their test scores and transcripts.
Though the MBA program prepares students for working in finance and accounting positions, it has different degree requirements. Those applying to a dual degree program will need to meet some of these requirements when they apply later in their education careers. Those requirements include an official GRE or GMAT score, email addresses and names of two references and a resume. Bellarmine asks for a personal statement that explains the student’s career goals and how the MBA program will help them. They must also submit official transcripts after finishing their bachelor’s degrees.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Undergrads attending Bellarmine full-time pay $20,440 each semester. They also pay a comprehensive fee of $1,550 every year, which includes the technology, parking, and other fees charged by the university. Students can also live on the Bellarmine campus for an additional $9,420 each year. The accounting certificate program offered by the university charges a rate of $655 per credit hour. Students in the MBA program pay between $760 and $1,000 per credit hour too. Bellarmine allows undergrads to pay different rates during the semesters that they take both bachelor’s and master’s classes.
Though the cost of attendance is high, Bellarmine University offers financial aid packages that cover most or all of a student’s direct costs. Direct loans and PLUS loans from the federal government go to graduate students, and both undergrads and their parents can apply for government PLUS and subsidized loans. Those who use the FAFSA may also receive grants and work-study opportunities. Bellarmine scholarships have a deadline of February first and require that students submit a scholarship application to apply. The university offers an alumni scholarship for the children of former students and grants for student-athletes. All accounting and finance majors attending Bellarmine University qualify for at least one type of financial aid.
