School of
Business

Accounting

If you are looking for a career that combines a high starting salary with many opportunities to advance, accounting may be for you. An accountant is a valuable member of any business team, providing information about resources within the firm, where those resources come from, and how effectively the firm has used those resources. Accounting is a growing field. According to the 2010-2011 Occupation Outlook (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), employment in business and financial operations occupations is projected to grow by 18 percent, resulting in 1.2 million new jobs. Increasing oversight of financial transactions by firms will increase demand for accountants, adding approximately 280,000 jobs from 2009-2018. Accountants also serve as management analysts, a field that will add about 180,000 jobs. Together, that amounts to approximately 38 percent of new business and financial operations jobs! (Source: http://www.bls.gov/oco/oco2003.htm )


Salaries

  • Starting Median Salary: Approx. $41,000*
  • After 5 Years Experience: Approx. $60,000

Department Homepage

Quick Facts

  • Your classes will be taught by professors with excellent academic credentials who have practical experience in many different industries.
  • The XBRL (Extendable Business Reporting Language) team, led by students, won a national award in 2006.
  • Students have immediate access to professors for one-on-one interaction, greatly enhancing the learning experience.
  • Students may participate in a variety of internship opportunities to gain practical experience in the field.

Career Opportunities

  • Certified Public Accountant
  • Corporate Accountant
  • Tax Planner
  • Auditor

Major Requirements

  • General Education Program: 48 hrs
  • Business Core: 39 hrs
  • Accounting Requirement: 22 hrs

CPA Requirements

To earn the prestigious Certified Public Accountant designation, you must earn a bachelor's degree or higher and complete additional course work for a total of at least 150 semester hours. Your degree and additional course work require a concentration in accounting at a college or university recognized by the State Board of Accountancy.

Clubs

  • Beta Alpha Psi
  • Accounting Club

* August 2008 Data; Yahoo Hot Jobs Salary Calculator. Verified with about.com: career calculators: Accountant