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Northern Illinois University

College of Business - NIU

Retention Criteria & Transcript Request Form

B.S. in Accountancy

Any student admitted to NIU can declare the accountancy major; however, to enroll in any 300- or 400-level accountancy courses, certain criteria must be met. These criteria are as follows:

Criteria Option #1

  1. Meet the requirements to enroll in UBUS 310, Business Core Lecture*; and

  2. Obtain a 3.20 cumulative GPA or higher (NIU plus transfer GPA based on a four-point scale); and

  3. Obtain a minimum grade of B in ACCY 206, Introductory Financial Accounting, and minimum grade of B in ACCY 207, Introductory Cost Management, or equivalent courses. If a student earns a C in ACCY 206/207, a second opportunity to take the course can be provided. See the Accountancy advisor for further details.

Students who meet Criteria Option #1 must formally request a review of their transcript by sending a completed Department of Accountancy Transcript Request Form to the Department of Accountancy. Note: This form is separate from the NIU Admission form and the College of Business Transcript Request Form. To submit an Accountancy Transcript Request Form, click on transcript request form at the end of this page.

OR

Criteria Option #2

  1. Meet the requirements to enroll in UBUS 310,* Business Core Lecture; and

  2. Obtain a passing score on the Accountancy Qualifying Examination (AQE).
    1. More information about the AQE.

Students who wish to meet Criteria Option #2 should contact Testing Services at 815-753-1203 to register for the AQE. An information sheet about the AQE can be obtained from Testing Services or the Department of Accountancy (815-753-1637).

*To enroll in UBUS 310, a student must:

  1. Complete ECON 260, ECON 261, MATH 211 or MATH 229, PSYC 102, and ENGL 104 or ENGL 105 or equivalent courses; and

  2. Complete one of the following courses: ANTH 120, GEOG 202, GEOG 204, HIST 171, WOMS 235, PHIL 170, PHIL 231, POLS 260, or SOCI 170 or equivalent courses; and

  3. Obtain a C or better in ACCY 206, ACCY 207, MGMT 217, and UBUS 223; and

  4. Obtain a 2.75 cumulative GPA

  5. Complete 60 semester hours.

  6. Effective fall 2008, in order to graduate, a student must earn a grade of at least C in each of the required business core classes listed above.

Students who request a review of their transcript by the Department of Accountancy will be notified concerning the results of that review by letter. It is the student's responsibility to make sure that all transcripts are on file at the NIU Office of Registration and Records so that request forms can be verified in a timely manner.

To submit a Transcript Review Form, go to our online transcript request form.