School of Accountancy

Return to: Academic Departments and Programs

Department Head: Larry M. Walther
Location: Business 511
Phone: (435) 797-8697
FAX: (435) 797-1475
E-mail: maryann.clark@usu.edu
WWW: http://huntsman.usu.edu/acct/

Director of Graduate Accounting Programs:

Richard L. Jenson, Business 506, (435) 797-2335, richard.jenson@usu.edu

Undergraduate Advisor:

Joslyn M. Heiniger, Business 309, (435) 797-2272, joslyn.heiniger@usu.edu

Degrees offered: Bachelor of Science (BS), Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Accounting; Master of Accounting (MAcc); participates in Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Undergraduate options: A dual major in Accounting and Economics is available.

Graduate specializations: MAcc—Professional Accountancy, Taxation, Personal Financial Planning, Information Systems, and Finance. MBAs with specializations in Accounting and Personal Financial Planning are offered in the Huntsman School of Business (see MBA - Accounting  and MBA - Personal Financial Planning  programs).

Undergraduate minors offered: Accounting and Personal Financial Planning

Undergraduate Programs

Mission

The mission of the USU School of Accountancy is to: (1) develop effective accounting and business leaders who are committed to professional excellence and ethical conduct, (2) advance accounting knowledge through theory development and accounting practice improvement, and (3) provide leadership and service to the University and professional community.

Objectives

The objective of the School of Accountancy is to provide high-quality preparation for professional accounting careers in industry, public accounting, and other organizations. The undergraduate programs are devoted to providing basic conceptual accounting, information systems, and business knowledge, along with general education, as a well-rounded foundation for career development. The fostering of active student organizations is fundamental to the career-development  process for on-campus programs.

The accounting curriculum is designed to help students prepare to meet changes in social, economic, and technological development. Academic course requirements for the bachelor’s degrees include University Studies coursework, as well as supporting courses in mathematics, economics, management information systems, business communications, business administration, accounting, and information technology. The programs provide an opportunity to choose from a  number of elective courses to broaden educational backgrounds and enhance employment opportunities.

Career Opportunities

Practice in the profession of accounting has become more complex, with computerized information and accounting systems becoming an integral part of the various accounting and business functions. University training is essential to prepare for high-level accounting careers in business, government, and public accounting.

Graduates of the accounting program find employment in a variety of industrial companies, nonbusiness and government agencies, and both large and small public accounting and business advisor firms. Graduates hold all levels of positions within organizations, including supervisors, managers, partners, controllers, financial vice presidents, and chief executive officers. Nonbusiness units and government agencies, such as the Utah State Auditors Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service, provide jobs in many varied accounting functions.

Departmental Honors

See Honors in Business description in the Huntsman School of Business  section.

Learning Objectives and Assessment

Assessment information for the School of Accountancy can be found online at: http://www.huntsman.usu.edu/acct/htm/assessment

Requirements

Huntsman School of Business Admission Requirements

All students majoring in accounting must satisfy the Huntsman School  admission requirements. Academic advising about these requirements is available in the Huntsman School of Business Programs and Advising Center, Business 309. All students enrolled at USU are required to satisfy the General Education requirements and the University Studies Depth Education requirements of the University.

Matriculation Requirement and Transfer Limitation

No more than 15 USU Huntsman School of Business credits (ACCT, BUS, FIN, MGT, MIS), numbered 2000 and above, earned as a nonbusiness major (before acceptance into the Huntsman School) can be applied to a Huntsman School degree. More than 15 business credits can be transferred from other accredited institutions. However, additional USU Huntsman School credits added to previously earned transfer business credits may not exceed a combined total of 15. Furthermore, to earn a bachelor’s degree in a Huntsman School major, at least 50 percent of the required Huntsman School credits must be earned from coursework taken from the Utah State University Huntsman School of Business.

USU Credits and Business Credits

At least 30 of the last 60 semester credits must be taken from Utah State University, at least 20 of which must be completed in upper-division courses, of which at least 10 credits must be completed in courses required by the student’s major. At least 50 percent of the Huntsman School credits required for a Huntsman School degree must be taken from the Utah State University Huntsman School or its departments, which include: School of Accountancy, Economics and Finance, Management, and Management Information Systems. At least 12 credits of 3000-level or above accounting courses must be completed through the USU School of Accountancy.

Accounting Admission Requirements

In addition to meeting the Huntsman School of Business requirements,students must have achieved a cumulative overall GPA of 3.0 or higher, have earned a grade of B or better in ACCT 2010 , and have satisfactorily completed the accounting entrance exam before they will be allowed to enroll in ACCT 3110  or ACCT 3310 .

General Instructions for all Accounting Majors

Since some accounting courses are not offered every semester and many have prerequisites, students should plan their program at least a year ahead.

Internships

Accounting students are strongly encouraged to consider obtaining practical training via formal internships. Increasingly, professional placement opportunities upon graduation are found through participation in the internship program options. Some of the internship opportunities may require absence from campus for a semester, oftentimes during the January to April time period. Therefore, students should consult with their academic advisor and internship coordinator early in their academic career, in order to establish a proper curriculum plan enabling them to take full advantage of internship opportunities with the least disruption to their academic schedule and progress.

Four-Year Degree Plan (8 Semesters)

A four-year degree plan for the Accounting major can be found at: http://www.usu.edu/degreeplans/

Second Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting

Students seeking a second bachelor’s degree in accounting must be approved by the School of Accountancy, must achieve an accounting and overall grade point average of 2.5, and must complete the course of study listed above for an accounting major. For further information, refer to the Second Bachelor’s Degree, in the Undergraduate Graduation Requirements  section.

Beta Alpha Psi

The objective of Beta Alpha Psi is to encourage and recognize scholastic and professional excellence in the accounting profession. Membership includes opportunities for self-development, service, and association among members, faculty, and practicing professionals. Βeta Alpha Psi recognizes academic excellence, complements members’ formal education, and encourages lifelong growth, service, and ethical conduct. The organization has strict entry requirements, but its members are the most eagerly sought-out by recruiters for the best jobs in accounting. It is appropriate to include the Βeta Alpha Psi honor as a resume item for the entire span of one’s professional career. For further information, see: http://huntsman.usu.edu/bap/

Institute of Management Accountants

The Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) is a worldwide organization comprised of management accounting and finance professionals. USU’s student chapter of the IMA provides networking and leadership opportunities for students pursuing accounting careers in business entrepreneurship and industry. The local chapter organizes professional meetings, social events, and service events to assist students in developing and advancing their careers through certification, education, networking, and the advocacy of the highest ethical and professional practices. For further information see: http://huntsman.usu.edu/ima/

Financial Planning Association

The Financial Planning Association (FPA) is a national association of financial planning professionals. The FPA student chapter allows students to enjoy all of the benefits of FPA membership at a significantly reduced cost. In addition, student members have opportunities to develop leadership skills, attend informative educational sessions, network with professionals, participate in service activities, and serve as volunteer staff members at state and national meetings of financial planning professionals. For further information, see: http://huntsman.usu.edu/fpa/

Additional Information

For additional information about undergraduate programs and requirements in the School of Accountancy, see the major requirement sheet, which can be obtained from the School of Accountancy, or accessed at: http://www.usu.edu/majorsheets/

A planning sheet prepared by the Huntsman School of Business can be accessed at: http://huntsman.usu.edu/majorsheet/acct

Master of Accounting

The Master of Accounting (MAcc) program provides greater breadth and depth in accounting, auditing, and taxation to develop the level of understanding, skill, and leadership ability necessary to enter professional accountancy and related business careers. This program fulfills the 150-hour education requirement for CPA certification in Utah and most U.S. jurisdictions.

Admission Requirements

See general admission requirements . Candidates will be considered based on their demonstrated excellence in their undergraduate degree program as well as their performance on the GMAT exam. A minimum GPA of 3.0 or better for the last 60 semester credits of undergraduate work is required for consideration. The minimum undergraduate accounting core GPA must also be 3.0. The minimum GMAT score for consideration is 580, with no exam sections (verbal, quantitative, or total) scoring below the 50th percentile. Letters of recommendation, professional experience, professional certification, and leadership are also considered in admission decisions. Students may apply for admission during their senior year of baccalaureate study. USU accounting students may take graduate courses during their last semester of undergraduate study, provided prerequisite courses have been completed, they have been admitted into a graduate program, and a split registration form is approved by the dean of the School of Graduate Studies .

Students with the equivalent of a USU undergraduate degree in Accounting have completed all of the preparatory work for graduate study. Students with less than the equivalent of the undergraduate program are expected to make up the deficiencies. The director of Graduate Accounting Programs will assist in necessary program scheduling.

Graduate students are expected to maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 to remain in the program.

Complete information relative to the details of the program and course scheduling is available from the School of Accountancy.

Financial Assistance

Financial assistance is available in the form of President’s Fellowships, Graduate School Fellowships, graduate assistantships, and special School of Accountancy scholarships. Applications for assistance should be made after the application for admission to the School of Graduate Studies is filed, but before March 1 of each year. Application forms are available from the School of Accountancy, and the awards are normally announced by April 15.

Professional Organizations and Activities

Graduate students are encouraged to participate in professional organizations, such as the USU chapters of Beta Alpha Psi (National Honors Fraternity for Financial Information Professionals), the Institute of Management Accountants, and the Financial Planning Association. The Federation of Schools of Accountancy, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Utah Association of Certified Public Accountants, and other professional organizations sponsor professional activities for accounting graduate students.

Accountancy Faculty

Professors
Larry M. Walther, department head, School of Accountancy; financial
Richard L. Jenson, ATK Thiokol Professor, information systems, systems audit
I. Richard Johnson, Larzette G. Hale Professor, financial
Jay H. Price, Jr., Arthur Andersen Executive Professor, financial, governmental, public utilities
Clifford R. Skousen, Ernst & Young Professor, international, managerial, financial

Associate Professors
Jeffrey T. Doyle, George S. Eccles Chair in Capital Markets Research,  financial, capital markets
Rosemary R. Fullerton, managerial, cost
E. Vance Grange, tax, financial planning

Assistant Professors
Christopher J. Skousen, financial, managerial, cost
Nate M. Stephens, auditing, corporate governance and internal controls

Principal Lecturer
Franklin D. Shuman, financial, managerial

Lecturers
Jack W. Peterson, auditing, financial
JoLynn Runolfson, Uintah Basin Regional Campus
Dale G. Siler, business law, tax
Bonnie Villarreal, tax, financial

Professors Emeritus
James W. Brackner
Frank A. Condie
Larzette G. Hale
David H. Luthy
Richard L. Ratliff 

Return to: Academic Departments and Programs