2012-2013 General Catalog (Summer, Fall 2012) ARCHIVED CATALOG: To search archives, MUST use search box to left. Current catalog: catalog.usu.edu.
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: School of Accountancy
WWW: http://huntsman.usu.edu/acct/
Director of Graduate Accounting Programs:
Bonnie Villarreal, Business 518, (435) 797-3958, bonnie.villarreal@usu.edu
Undergraduate Advisor:
Kelli Rawson, Business 309, (435) 797-2272, kelli.rawson@usu.edu,
Degrees offered: Bachelor of Science (BS), Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Accounting; Master of Accounting (MAcc)
Undergraduate options: A dual major in Accounting and Economics is available.
Graduate specializations: MAcc—Professional Accountancy, Taxation and Personal Financial Planning. An MBA with a specialization in Personal Financial Planning is offered in the Huntsman School of Business.
Undergraduate minors offered: Accounting and Personal Financial Planning
Mission Statement
“We achieve excellence in accounting education by providing an engaged learning experience,
enabling our students to distinguish themselves as ethical, dedicated,
and successful business professionals. “
Guiding Principles
The following eight values guide us in accomplishing our mission:
We expect adherence to the highest standards of honesty, personal accountability, and ethical behavior from our faculty and our students.
We promote the fair treatment of individuals and aspire to an increased global vision by respecting, experiencing, and learning from diverse points of view.
We seek to disseminate accounting and business knowledge in dynamic and creative ways to our students and business community.
We are committed to producing new and relevant educational and business ideas and to a process of lifelong learning for ourselves and our students.
We value the diverse contributions received from our students, faculty, alumni, employers, and business community.
We seek to create rigorous learning activities that challenge our students to be well-rounded critical thinkers and communicators, capable of undertaking leadership roles.
We embrace the opportunities resulting from an increasingly dynamic and interconnected global business environment.
We seek continual improvement in our financial strength and national prominence.
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
Undergraduate Programs
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. No 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 ; ACCT 2020 ; MIS 2100 ; 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 in the department.
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.
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, Ernst & Young Professor, department head School of Accountancy; financial
Richard L. Jenson, 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, 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
Kevin McBeth, financial, managerial,tax, audit
Christopher J. Skousen, financial, managerial, cost
Assistant Professors
Richard A. Price III, financial, capital markets
Chad A. Simon, auditing, corporate governance and internal controls
Nate M. Stephens, auditing, corporate governance and internal controls
Principal Lecturer
Franklin D. Shuman, financial, managerial
Senior Lecturer
Jack W. Peterson, auditing, financial
Lecturers
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
|
