Accountancy
Graduates of the undergraduate degree program in Accountancy are
prepared for employment in accounting in either the private or not-for-profit
sector or for admission to a graduate program to prepare for the Uniform CPA
Examination and a career in public accounting. Students receive an educational
foundation upon which they can grow professionally in the practice and study of
accounting as they progress throughout their careers.
Career Opportunities in
Professional Accounting
Several career paths are
available to graduates from the undergraduate program. The possibilities
include employment in corporate accounting and the not-for-profit sector.
Graduates who work in corporate accounting may be employed as managerial
accountants, internal auditors, income tax specialists, systems experts, or
management consultants. Appropriate professional certifications within this
segment of the accounting profession are Certified Management Accountant and
Certified Internal Auditor. In the not-for-profit sector, accountants play
important roles in governmental entities, health care organizations, and
charitable agencies. Based on their wide range of business exposure and
knowledge, many accountants ultimately move into high-level management
positions.
For students seeking a career in public accounting, the
undergraduate program provides a foundation for successful completion of a
graduate degree. Professional certification as a certified public accountant is
achieved by passing the Uniform CPA Examination. Many states, including
Illinois and Missouri, require CPA candidates to accumulate 150 hours of
college credit. Most candidates will satisfy that requirement by completing a
graduate degree. Graduates who work in public accounting gain exposure to a
wide variety of clients, their business practices, and their accounting
methods. Public accountants may work in the areas of auditing, taxation, or
management consulting.
Admission, Retention and
Graduation
To be admitted to the Bachelor of Science in
Accountancy program, students must meet all requirements for admission to the
School of Business. In addition, students must have at least a 2.5 grade point
average overall at the University and in all required accounting courses taken
at the University. Students may apply for admission to the Accountancy program
after completing Accounting 200, 301, and 311. Once admitted to the program,
candidates who fail to maintain at least a 2.5 grade point average at the
University, both overall and in required accounting courses, may not take
additional accounting courses until the grade point requirements are met. (They
may repeat those taken previously, subject to School of Business policy.)
Students remaining below a 2.5 grade point average either overall or in
required accounting courses for two terms may be dropped from the Accountancy
program. In addition, a student may be dropped from the Accountancy program for
receiving any combination of three withdrawal, incomplete, or failing grades in
a single required accounting course.
Graduation in Accountancy requires a 2.5 grade point average
overall at the University and in all required accounting courses taken at the
University. Candidates also must satisfy the program research requirement and
the University's Senior Assessment requirement.
Before admission to the program, students should contact the
School of Business Student Services office to consult with an adviser to plan a
program of study.
Degree Requirements
Bachelor of Science in Accountancy |
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