Villanova University & Bucks County Community College Partner to Offer New Pathway to Graduate Accounting Degrees

The innovative program between Villanova University and Bucks County Community College (BCCC) provides merit-based tuition reductions during the pursuit of the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) degree at Villanova as well as a $14,000 scholarship towards a graduate accounting degree.

BCCC officials have announced that the School of Business, Innovation, and Legal Studies is launching a new transfer pathway program that will enable BCCC graduates to earn a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) degree from Villanova University’s College of Professional Studies and transition into Villanova’s Master of Accounting (MAC) or Master of Business Taxation (MBT) programs in the Villanova School of Business. This innovative partnership provides a streamlined path for students aspiring to careers in accounting.

The pathway program leverages BCCC’s strong foundation in business administration, Villanova’s College of Professional Studies’ BIS program, and the Villanova School of Business’ accounting programs. Students will complete an associate degree in Business Administration at BCCC, including foundational courses in accounting. They will then transfer to Villanova’s College of Professional Studies to pursue a BIS degree in either Organizational Development and Management or Information Systems and Technology. BCCC students will be eligible for merit-based reduced tuition rates based on their GPA ranging from a 20%-25% reduction.

A key component of this pathway is the integration of graduate-level accounting prerequisites within the undergraduate curriculum. Students will take four crucial accounting courses — Intermediate Accounting I & II, Federal Income Tax, and Auditing — at the Villanova School of Business during their junior and senior years. These courses will count as electives toward the undergraduate degree and provide students with a head start in their graduate accounting studies.

“This partnership offers a tremendous opportunity for our students,” said BCCC President & CEO Patrick M. Jones. “It creates a clear and supported pathway to a graduate accounting degree at a prestigious university, building upon the strong academic foundation students receive at Bucks.”

“We are delighted to partner with Bucks County Community College on this important initiative,” said Christine Kelleher Palus, PhD, Dean, College of Professional Studies, Villanova University. “This collaboration reflects our commitment to providing accessible and high-quality educational opportunities. By integrating graduate-level coursework into the undergraduate experience, we are preparing students for success in their future accounting careers.”

“The Villanova School of Business is proud to offer this pathway program for BCCC graduates,” said Michael Peters, PhD, Chair, Accounting & Information Systems and Alvin A. Clay Endowed Professor of Accounting. “Our goal is to prepare the next generation of accounting professionals to become leaders in the field by embracing change, making ethical choices, and advancing the profession.”

Students will work closely with mentors and advisors throughout the program and will have the opportunity to network with accounting firms and interview for internships. Applications for the graduate accounting programs can be submitted as early as the fall semester of their senior year.

Students who complete the program, having started their education at BCCC and completed their Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies at Villanova and if accepted into the Villanova graduate accounting programs, will receive a $14,000 scholarship towards the MAC or MBT graduate program. They will also be eligible to apply for other Villanova University scholarships.

To learn more, please contact Greg Luce, dean of the School of Business, Innovation, and Legal Studies at Bucks County Community College at 215-968-8227 or email business@bucks.edu.