About the School of Accountancy
Accounting is one of the fastest growing professions. Individuals in the profession are primarily employed by public accounting firms, corporations, governmental agencies, and not-for-profit organizations, although a significant number are self employed. Many accountants further specialize in auditing (either external or internal), tax accounting, management accounting, and/or business consulting. Young people with strong analytical abilities who are ambitious and desire an interesting, challenging and rewarding career would do well to consider accounting.
High school students who are considering accounting at Missouri State University (Missouri State) should have a good background in English and mathematics and should have keyboarding skills. A college-bound curriculum offers the best preparation available to potential accounting majors. Accounting majors at Missouri State receive a diverse educational background during their years at the University. The first two years of undergraduate study are concentrated in general education courses and introductory business courses that are intended to provide students with the basic skills necessary to successfully complete a degree in accounting. The final two years of undergraduate study consist of courses in finance, management, marketing, and statistics along with a high concentration in accounting. These courses are designed to provide students with breadth across all areas of business and both breadth and depth in the technical areas of accounting.
Students who complete degree programs in accounting at Missouri State meet the education requirements to take the Certified Public Accountant's (CPA) examination, the Certified Management Accountant's (CMA) examination, and the Certified Internal Auditor's (CIA) examination. Note, however, that students who sit for the CPA exam for the first time after June 30, 1999, will be required to have completed five years of college-level accounting education. The Master of Accountancy program at Missouri State is an excellent means of meeting this additional education requirement.
Students planning to complete the Master of Accountancy program at Missouri State will be expected to complete at least seven additional advanced level accounting courses. Please consult the graduate catalog for specific details of the Master of Accountancy program.
Please consult the Missouri State undergraduate and graduate catalogs for course descriptions and other specific degree requirements.
The School of Accountancy (SOA) faculty has a wealth of experience in public accounting, corporate accounting, and governmental accounting, as well as academic experience. The SOA has twenty full-time faculty members; sixteen have PhDs or D.B.As, and nineteen are Certified Public Accountants (CPA), Certified Management Accountants (CMA), Certified Internal Auditors (CIA), and/or Certified Governmental Financial Managers (CGFM). The accounting faculty members are known as excellent teachers and several have won university-wide teaching awards. In addition, most are active in professional organizations, appearing on programs and serving as officers at the local, state and national level. Many are also accomplished authors having their manuscripts published in national journals such as The Journal of Accountancy, Management Accounting, and the Internal Auditor.
Almost all accounting classes are taught by full-time faculty members. Classes are held in modern classrooms and enrollment is typically limited to 35-40 students per section. Faculty members are available in their offices for several hours per week to assist students with problems. Computers are used in many of the accounting classes, and students have access to numerous microcomputer laboratories in Glass Hall as well as across campus.
Special Opportunities & Services
The School of Accountancy has three very active student organizations. The Accounting Club, the student chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants and the national accounting honor fraternity Beta Alpha Psi. The student organizations are active in bringing prospective employers and guest speakers to campus. They also sponsor activities such as Accounting Career Day, Meet Our Majors, the Resume Booklet, picnics, and trips to businesses.
Students are also able to integrate what they have learned in the classroom with practical experience through cooperative education and summer internships. A large percentage of accounting majors participate in these programs at some time during their years at Missouri State.
Both the undergraduate and the graduate accounting programs have achieved national recognition as quality programs by being awarded accreditation from the prestigious International Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International). In addition, the School of Accountancy is an active member of the Federation of Schools of Accountancy (FSA), The FSA membership is restricted to those graduate programs in accounting that are accredited by the AACSB. The goal of the FSA is to enhance the quality of accounting education provided by colleges and universities.
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For More Information Contact:
Dr. John R. Williams, Director |