Accounting: The Degree with 360 Degrees of Opportunity
Advising Information
Advisor: Joslyn Heiniger
Office: Business 309
Phone Number 435.797.2272
Email: joslyn.heiniger@usu.edu
Undergraduate Accounting Programs in the School of Accountancy
Accounting Admission Requirements
In addition to meeting the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business requirements, students must have achieved a cumulative overall GPA of 3.0 or higher and have earned a grade of B or better in Acct 2010 before they will be allowed to enroll in ACCT 3110 or 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. Please make an appointment with the undergraduate accounting advisor, Joslyn Heiniger (435-797-2272).
Accounting Major Requirements
For a bachelor’s degree in accounting, students must complete at least 120 credits, including at least 30 credits in accounting and at least 90 credits in non-accounting courses. At least 15 credits of upper-division accounting courses must be completed through the USU School of Accountancy (Logan Campus). To qualify for graduation as an accounting major, a student must have an accounting and an overall GPA of at least 2.5. All accounting majors are required to complete the General Education requirements and the University Studies Depth Education requirements, the Pre-Business course requirements, the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business Core, and the Required Accounting Courses.
Why choose a degree in accounting?
The language of business, (accounting) continues to be one of the most popular and versatile academic majors in the university. Accounting prepares a student to understand complex business processes and be able to measure and report on the effectiveness and financial consequences of such processes. Because of their business understanding and technical skills in accounting and financial management, accountants are prepared to follow many different career paths. Whether students pursue traditional accounting and financial careers or aspire to be a lawyer, an FBI agent, or an entrepreneur, the accounting degree is widely respected. That is because organizations of every kind and size must efficiently manage their resources to achieve their goals.
Accounting is a rewarding career offering:
- Professional & personal advancement
- Attractive income potential
- Upward job mobility
- Opportunities for travel
- Long-term career stability
What types of jobs are available to those with a degree in accounting?
In a very real sense, accountants serve as enterprise navigators by providing the strategic information essential for guiding and directing the organization. Accounting graduates put their education to work in a variety of organizations. Graduates may work for a CPA firm providing auditing and accounting services, personal financial planning, tax services, and management consulting for all types of companies and organizations, or they may work for a major corporation in the finance and operations areas and be part of the management team.
Many students pursue careers in state or federal government as a finance officer, military officer, IRS agent, or FBI agent. The certified public accountant (CPA) is the most widely recognized accounting professional in the U.S.
A CPA certification will open doors to interesting & influential career paths. Possibilities include:
- Assurance Services – examine and certify annual reports of public companies to ensure that investors, regulators and other interested parties receive reliable information about companies’ finances.
- Forensic Accounting – the "fraud busters" dig below accounting records searching for evidence of criminal misconduct.
- Consulting Services – offer objective advice and assistance to a variety of constituents.
- Information Technology (IT) Services – design and implement advanced systems to fit an organization’s needs.
- Environmental Accounting – conduct audits and design systems to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
- International Accounting – provide understanding of international trade laws and regulations in today’s complex global economy.
- Tax and Financial Planning – help individuals and companies with financial planning, investments, taxes, mergers and acquisitions and much more.
Career Path – How do I Begin?
Accountants first and foremost are business people who must have a clear understanding of business processes. Therefore, an accounting student will study the business core disciplines, which include accounting, economics, finance, human resource management, marketing, production, and management information systems. Accounting coursework will challenge each student to become a critical thinker, effective communicator, and problem solver. To ensure your success in our program:
- Take an active role in your education. Talk to your advisor early in your academic career to plan your program.
- Get involved in extracurricular activities such as Beta Alpha Psi, IMA, or the Financial Planning Student Association.
- Develop a wide array of knowledge, skills and competencies ranging from a strong understanding of accounting and business concepts to effective leadership and communication skills.
- Stay abreast of and utilize new computer applications and systems.
- Develop a broad business perspective, which will enable you to "see the big picture" of the internal and external factors that impact how a business operates.
- Recognize that the learning doesn’t end in school; it’s really just the beginning of your lifetime commitment to continual education and development.
Do you have what it takes?
The following are skills and competencies considered important to a successful career in accounting:
High Ethical Standards– Given the high level of trust people place in accountants, it’s not enough to simply understand the rules of professional conduct. It requires a reliable internal compass that guides one in doing the right thing at all times. Honesty and integrity are qualities which are highly valued.
Personal Skills– Accounting is a service activity, and you will have to work well in teams as well as in pairs. Critical to any organization’s success is also the ability to lead, motivate, and empower teams to attain clear, concrete, timely and measurable results.
Strong Communication Skills– You will be called upon to persuasively present, discuss and defend your views both formally and informally, in writing and verbally. Clients and co–workers will present you with issues and questions you will need to interpret and respond to quickly. The ability to show empathy and sensitivity to their situation will position you in a favorable light and earn their respect and trust.
Information Technology Skills– You need to keep current on emerging technologies like e-commerce, image processing, and workflow technology and understand how they impact business operations and the use of information for decision making. You should know how to use the Internet, e-mail, and discussion boards, as well as be familiar with the latest spreadsheet, database, word processing, accounting, and business and presentation software packages.
Problem-Solving, Analytical and Research Skills– You should be able to analyze, compare, and interpret facts and figures. The ability to identify and solve unstructured problems in an unfamiliar setting and provide insightful consulting advice is a valued quality. Creative thinking will help you face issues on a daily basis and generate innovative solutions. Also, to be able to effectively and efficiently research, organize, and report on technical and/or industry specific issues utilizing print, electronic or human sources is essential.
Marketing/Client Focus– Individuals who are marketing and client focused are better able to anticipate and meet the changing needs of clients, employers, customers, and markets.
Project Management– Conflicting demands, unexpected requirements, coinciding deadlines, and family obligations are but a few of the sources of stress and pressures you will face. To manage these pressures, you must be able to judge the situations, assign priorities, and organize the tasks/obligations to meet the respective deadlines.
Broad Business Perspective– You need a keen business sense and an awareness of current events both locally as well as globally. As a key business partner to clients and/or company management, you add value to the organization by making appropriate recommendations based on your understanding of company operations, policies, practices, and competitive factors.
Student Experiences
"When I first arrived at Utah State, I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to major in. I had always found the business world interesting, so I decided I would start off as a general Jon M. Huntsman School of Business major. It did not take long for me to realize that the most valuable business degree was one in accounting. The majority of the top students seemed to be in the School of Accountancy and that is where I decided I wanted to be."
Chad Evans, MAcc 2003, 2003 Tax Challenge Team, Top score on the Idaho May 2003 CPA exam.