Business, Management, and Economics: A.A., A.S.
Students pursing an Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.) degree in Business, Management and Economics will investigate the world of accounting, business administration, economics, finance, human resources, information systems, international business, labor relations, management, marketing and public administration. Students will develop analytical, management, communication and quantitative skills, increase their understanding of economic principles and disciplinary methods and learn about the effective use of information technologies to support career or personal goals and aspirations.
Degree programs in Business, Management and Economics offer students the opportunity to develop individualized degree plans based on their intellectual, professional, and personal interests. General program guidelines can be found on the “Program Details” tab, and students will work with an academic mentor to choose courses that meet the guidelines and address each student’s individual interests. Students can also work with their academic mentors to identify applicable transfer credit, prior college-level learning, and possible course equivalencies. Working with a mentor and using SUNY Empire’s educational planning process, students can develop a specialized concentration in Business, Management and Economics by following the general program guidelines as well as any applicable concentration guidelines. Students may also develop their own concentrations.
For more information about general undergraduate degree requirements, please visit Earning an Undergraduate Degree.
For sample degree programs and other degree planning resources, please visit the Department of Accounting, Economics and Finance, Department of Management and Human Resource Management, or Department of Business, International Business and Marketing Degree Planning Resources web pages.
For more information about Business, Management and Economics, please visit the School of Business web site.
Program Details
Business, Management and Economics programs are expected to meet the University Learning Goals, which include active learning, breadth and depth of knowledge, social responsibility, communication skills, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, quantitative literacy, information and digital media literacy.
Academic Planning takes the form of a course (commonly but not exclusively referred to as “Educational Planning”) wherein students develop a degree plan and rationale essay with their primary faculty advisor/mentor.
In their degree programs and rationale essays, students must address the BM&E Area of Study general guidelines and then the concentration guidelines, the registered program guidelines, or the individualized concentration they develop in consultation with their primary mentor.
Programs in Business, Management and Economics include the following seven foundations:
- Communications Skills
- Information Management
- Economics
- Ethical and Social Responsibility
- Quantitative Skills
- Understanding People in a Broader Context
- Understanding Organizations within Broader Context
These foundations may be met through transcript credit; college-level knowledge demonstrated through individual prior learning assessment (iPLA), professional learning evaluations (PLE), or credit by examination; or individual courses, a series of courses, or components within individual courses with Empire State University. The student’s Degree Plan Rationale Essay should clearly explain how the degree plan meets each of the foundations in the Area of Study, what will be learned, and how the student will build on these foundations to meet personal, academic, or career goals. For details about the academic planning process and requirements, please see the Student Degree Planning Guide.
ASSOCIATE IN ARTS (AA) AND ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE (AS)
An associate degree in Business, Management and Economics is meant to introduce students to a range of foundational subjects related to Business, Management and Economics. For an associate degree, students must have four of the of the seven foundations in their degree programs. Courses that meet the four selected foundations, must be School of Business courses (ACCT, BUSN, ECON, FSMA, HRMS, MGMT, MRKT) or equivalent.
Foundation #1: COMMUNICATION SKILLS
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 3015 | Federal Income Tax I: Individual Income Tax | 4 |
| ACCT 3020 | Federal Income Tax II: Business Income Tax | 4 |
| ACCT 3035 | Principles of Fraud Examination & Financial Forensics | 4 |
| ACCT 4005 | Accounting Information Systems | 4 |
| ACCT 4015 | Auditing | 4 |
| BUSN 1005 | Business Communication | 4 |
| BUSN 2005 | Business Law II | 4 |
| MRKT 4040 | Marketing Strategy | 4 |
Foundation #2: INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 4005 | Accounting Information Systems | 4 |
| BUSN 2015 | Computer Applications in Business Management & Economics | 4 |
| BUSN 3122 | Management Information Systems | 4 |
| HRMS 3020 | Human Resources Information System | 4 |
| MGMT 3050 | Operations Management | 4 |
Foundation #3: ECONOMICS
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 2005 | Principles of Economics | 4 |
| ECON 2010 | Introductory Economics: Micro & Macro 6 Cr. | 6 |
| ECON 2015 | Macroeconomics | 4 |
| ECON 2020 | Microeconomics | 4 |
| ECON 3005 | Applied Microeconomics | 4 |
| ECON 3010 | Behavioral Economics | 4 |
| ECON 3015 | Behavioral Economics & Finance International Programs Only | 4 |
| ECON 3025 | Econometrics | 4 |
| ECON 3035 | Economics of Crime | 4 |
| ECON 3040 | Economics of Gender Work & Family | 4 |
| ECON 3045 | Economics of Labor Markets | 4 |
| ECON 3050 | Environmental Economics & Policy | 4 |
| ECON 3055 | Economic Issues in Health Care | 4 |
| ECON 3065 | Industrial Economics International Programs Only | 4 |
| ECON 3070 | Industrial Organization | 4 |
| ECON 3075 | Intermediate Macroeconomics | 4 |
| ECON 3080 | Intermediate Microeconomics | 4 |
| ECON 3085 | International Economics | 4 |
| ECON 3090 | International Political Economy | 4 |
| ECON 3095 | International Trade & Finance International Programs Only | 3,4 |
| ECON 3100 | Public Finance | 4 |
| ECON 3105 | Public Finance & Economics International Programs Only | 4 |
| ECON 3122 | Money & Banking | 4 |
| ECON 3125 | New Perspectives in Economics International Programs Only | 4 |
| ECON 3130 | Topics in Contemporary Business & Economic Issues International Programs Only | 3 |
Foundation #4: ETHICAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 3035 | Principles of Fraud Examination & Financial Forensics | 4 |
| ACCT 4015 | Auditing | 4 |
| BUSN 3010 | Business Ethics | 4 |
| ECON 3135 | Business Government & Society | 4 |
| FSMA 3020 | Finance Society & Ethics International Programs Only | 4 |
| MGMT 3015 | Ethics for a Global Economy | 4 |
| MGMT 3040 | Managing Sustainable Organizations | 4 |
| MGMT 3073 | Current Issues in Healthcare Management | 4 |
Foundation #5: QUANTITATIVE SKILLS
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 1005 | Accounting for Decision Makers | 6 |
| ACCT 2005 | Introductory Accounting I: Financial Accounting | 4 |
| ACCT 2010 | Introductory Accounting II: Managerial Accounting | 4 |
| ACCT 3005 | Accounting For Governmental & Not-For-Profit Organizations | 4 |
| ACCT 3010 | Cost Accounting | 4 |
| ACCT 3025 | Intermediate Accounting I | 4 |
| ACCT 3030 | Intermediate Accounting II | 4 |
| BUSN 2010 | Business Statistics | 4 |
| BUSN 2175 | Personal Finance Management | 4 |
| BUSN 3127 | Business Analytics | 4 |
| ECON 3025 | Econometrics | 4 |
| FSMA 3005 | Behavioral Finance International Programs Only | 4 |
| FSMA 3010 | Corporate Finance | 4 |
| FSMA 3015 | Entrepreneurial Finance for Small Business | 4 |
| FSMA 3025 | Healthcare Finance | 4 |
| FSMA 3030 | International Finance | 4 |
| FSMA 3045 | Investment Management | 4 |
| FSMA 3055 | Risk Management & Insurance | 4 |
| FSMA 4005 | Financial Markets & Institutions | 4 |
| FSMA 4010 | Security Analysis & Portfolio Management | 4 |
| MGMT 3030 | Logistics Management | 4 |
| MGMT 3075 | Supply Chain Management | 4 |
| MGMT 3080 | Supply Chain Management In The Global Context | 4 |
| MGMT 4025 | Manufacturing Management | 4 |
| MGMT 4030 | Project Management for Business | 4 |
Foundation #6: UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE IN AN ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HRMS 3015 | Human Resource Management | 4 |
| HRMS 3030 | Labor Management Relations for Business | 4 |
| HRMS 3035 | LGBTQ Workplace Issues | 4 |
| HRMS 4015 | Organization Development & Change | 4 |
| MGMT 3025 | Leadership | 4 |
| MGMT 3060 | Organizational Behavior | 4 |
| MGMT 3090 | Women in Management | 4 |
| MGMT 4005 | Change Management | 4 |
Foundation #7: UNDERSTANDING ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN BROADER CONTEXT
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 4010 | Advanced Accounting | 4 |
| BUSN 3005 | Business Enterprise in American History | 4 |
| BUSN 3040 | Electronic Commerce (e-Commerce) | 4 |
| BUSN 4030 | International Business | 4 |
| BUSN 4035 | International Business Law | 4 |
| ECON 3020 | Ecological Economics | 4 |
| ECON 3030 | Economic Policies of the European Union International Programs Only | 3 |
| ECON 3085 | International Economics | 4 |
| ECON 3090 | International Political Economy | 4 |
| ECON 3095 | International Trade & Finance International Programs Only | 3,4 |
| ECON 3110 | Social & Economic Contexts of Globalization International Programs Only | 3 |
| ECON 3115 | The Global Financial Crisis & the Great Recession International Programs Only | 3 |
| ECON 3120 | Economic Policies of the European Union International Programs Only | 4 |
| FSMA 3015 | Entrepreneurial Finance for Small Business | 4 |
| FSMA 3030 | International Finance | 4 |
| HRMS 4020 | Strategic Human Resource Management | 4 |
| HRMS 3010 | Diversity in the Workplace | 4 |
| MRKT 4025 | International Marketing | 4 |
| MGMT 3010 | Cross Cultural Management | 3 |
| MGMT 3020 | International Cross Cultural Management | 4 |
| MGMT 4035 | Strategic Management | 4 |
Learning Outcomes
- Foundation 1: Communication Skills, Students will be able to identify and apply appropriate basic communications skills necessary to successfully function in an organizational environment. At a minimum, students should have acquired the competencies in a course such as English Composition that meet SUNY General Education requirements for Basic Communication.
- Foundation 2: Information Management, Students will be able to use information technology tools and systems to collect, manage, and analyze data for decision making relevant to the business environment. Studies can be introductory or advanced level but must be beyond basic computer applications.
- Foundation 3: Economics, Students will be able to solve economic problems using appropriate economic principles and concepts and analytical models.
- Foundation 4: Ethical and Social Responsibility, Students will be able to examine, explain or apply moral theories, ethical standards and social responsibilities in the business environment.
- Foundation 5: Quantitative Skills, Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of quantitative reasoning and analytical tools and an ability to apply these tools to problems in the business environment.
- Foundation 6: Understanding People in an Organizational Context, Students will be able to examine and reflect on organizational culture and apply the concepts that explain how individuals and groups behave in the organization.
- Foundation 7: Understanding Organizations Within Broader Context, Students will be able to evaluate challenges to organizations in a complex and changing world by describing the strategic impact of diversity, political, International, technological or environmental issues in the business environment.
Concentration Guidelines
ASSOCIATE OF Arts or Associate of SCIENCE IN BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS WITH A CONCENTRATION IN ACCOUNTING
These guidelines for an Associate of Science in the area of study of Business, Management and Economics (BME) with a concentration in accounting is intended to provide a framework for students who seek an associate degree in this field. Whether this associate degree would be for purposes of obtaining an entry level clerical positions as a standalone degree, or a pathway toward a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting or BME (BS/BPS) degree program with Concentration in Accounting Practices, the degree provides students with a sense of accomplishment by dividing the long-term goal, towards the bachelor’s degree, and then graduate programs, into short-term goals that results in an Empire State University degree. Students can then nest the associate degree into a Bachelor of Science in accounting, or a different type of bachelor’s degree in BME It is also intended to support students who are interested in exploring the field of accounting, to determine if a longer-term career goal (and corresponding preparation with a bachelor’s degree, and/or master’s degree) is suitable. The degree also provides students who already have work experience in accounting, to obtain a SUNY Empire degree, therefore strengthening their academic credentials and expanding their job horizons.
WHERE YOU MAY BE PLACED IN A JOB MARKET WITH AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN BME WITH A CONCENTRATION IN ACCOUNTING?
Students who obtain an associate degree in BME with a concentration in accounting strengthen their ability to obtain entry level bookkeeping or accounting clerk positions. Employers require a foundational knowledge of accounting. Moreover, having an associate degree may qualify someone to apply for Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB) license, which is accredited by the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB). The license is recognized throughout the United States and its properties. Please see Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB) License. In addition, holding an associate degree, may qualify someone for a Certified Accounting Paraprofessional (CAP) license, which is accredited by the National Association of Certified Accounting Paraprofessionals (NACAP). It is recognized throughout the United States and its properties. These licenses enhance one’s credibility and job prospects in the field. While an associate degree strengthens one’s credentials, it does not guarantee that one will successfully obtain the CPB or CAP licensure or a particular job.
RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES FOR AN A.S. IN BME WITH A CONCENTRATION IN ACCOUNTING
The recommended guidelines for the associate degree follow the same requirements for any associates at SUNY Empire. These requirements include thirty-two credits for liberal arts courses and thirty credits across 7 SUNY General Education requirements. Associate degrees in BME with a concentration in accounting must include a minimum of 15-16 credits in accounting. Most of SUNY Empire courses are four credits. Many students bring community college courses, which are often three credits. Transfer credits for accounting courses that are equivalent to SUNY Empire accounting courses, will be considered as part of the minimum accounting course requirement. For example, if a student has a three credit Introductory Accounting I: Financial Accounting course from a community college, that course counts toward the accounting requirements [If equivalent contents]. These guidelines pertain to an associate degree, therefore, there is no advanced level credit requirement. Below is a sample of course requirements for an Associate of Science in BME with a concentration in accounting.
Sample of course requirements.
- General Education coursework (24 credits - liberal)
- Statistics (4 credits - Gen. Ed. Math - liberal)
- Total Credits (36 liberal, twenty-eight non-liberal)
- Macro or Micro-Economics (4 credits - Gen. Ed. Social Science - liberal)
- Educational Planning (4 credits - liberal)
- Legal Environment of Business or Business Law I (4 credits)
- Organizational Behavior or equivalent (4 credits)
- Introductory Accounting I: Financial Accounting (4 credits)
- Introductory Accounting II: Managerial Accounting (4 credits)
- Intermediate Accounting I (4 credits)
- Select at least one of the following (4 credits):
- Intermediate Accounting II
- Federal Income Tax I
- Cost Accounting
- Accounting Information Systems
- Elective
- Total Credits (36 liberal, twenty-eight non-liberal)
Students interested in pursuing a degree towards the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) career, may be eligible to join directly- upon completing the associate degree - the Dual Degree registered CPA Licensure Qualifying program; BS in Accounting/MBA Business Management Dual Program [Nine credits are cross counted towards both the bachelor's and Master's degrees]. This program is listed among the licensure-qualifying programs by the NYS Education Department's Inventory of Registered Programs CPA 150 and CPA 150E.
Upon completing 60-cr with GPA average 3.2 or higher, students may enroll in the Combined program BS/BPS BME/MBA [twelve credits are cross counted towards both the bachelor's and Master's degrees], BS/BPS In BME Concentration Accounting Practices/MBA Business Management program. Each program awards a bachelor's degree upon its completion while working towards the achievement of the master's degree and provides a substantial cost saving taking cross-listed graduate courses at undergraduate tuition rate per course. No requirements for a concurred degree plan.
Students pursuing a career to a bachelor's degree may be eligible to enroll in some graduate courses [nine credits] while undergraduate. It is an opportunity for cost saving and advancement to a graduate program when completing the bachelor's degree. An undergraduate student must be within thirty-two (32) credits of completing a bachelor’s degree and must have a concurred degree program.