Business Essentials Requirements

The Business Essentials courses are designed to prepare students with the fundamentals of business. In this sequence they learn the basics of sound theory and practice. The Business Essentials requirements must be completed prior to taking any core courses. Applicants with baccalaureate degrees in business or economics from AACSB-accredited schools (or equivalent schools as determined by the Business Graduate Curriculum Committee) may meet this requirement by demonstrating a "B" or better grade in the required undergraduate business courses. See individual degree requirements for specific courses. 

These courses must have been completed within the previous seven years, from the date of enrollment into the program. Waivers are not given for professional experience, professional development courses or courses taken at professional institutes.

For all business programs, a student may demonstrate competency in a Business Essentials subject by passing a departmental subject (waiver) examination. Exams must be taken by the end of the student's first term and may be taken only one time. Deadlines for completion of waiver exams may be obtained from the Graduate Business Programs Office.

For a course from an international institution or from a domestic non-AACSB-accredited institution to be considered for a waiver of a Business Essentials requirement without examination, the following conditions must be met: 

•    The student must be able to provide a course syllabus for at least two courses taken in the discipline.

•    The student must indicate the textbook used for the course and provide a table of contents, if possible. 

•    At least one course must have been completed at a more advanced level than the Business Essentials course being considered for a waiver.

•    All courses completed in the discipline must have been completed with a grade of "B" or better.

International students who graduate from a three-year degree program may not waive Business Essentials courses.

M.S. Finance

For the M.S. in Finance program, passing level I of the CFA exam may waive some essential classes but determination will be made on a case-by-case basis depending on individual section test scores. 

M.S. Accounting

For the M.S. in Accounting program, students may waive the prerequisite courses if these courses were taken as part of their baccalaureate degrees or as post-baccalaureate students with a "C" or higher in the following undergraduate course(s) within the previous seven years from an institution recognized by The University of Tampa:

1.   Intermediate Accounting I

2.   Intermediate Accounting II

3.   Cost Accounting

4.   Accounting Information Systems

5.   Federal Tax Accounting I

6.   Auditing

7.   Business Law I

For the MS-ACC program, if the student has completed the respective undergraduate course(s) with a "C" or higher, but it has been longer than seven years, the prerequisite may be waived if the student has current relevant work experience. Students who have completed any of the required courses at an AACSB-accredited college or university within the previous seven years with a "B" or better in the respective course will be required to substitute the course with an elective allowed within the MS-ACC program. Degree completion requires a minimum of 32 graduate credit hours, 20 of which must be accounting courses.