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What does an accountant do?
Hollywood has not been kind to the accountant or auditor, creating a stereotype of a profession with little excitement. The truth is a bit more interesting, however. Accountants and auditors work in all industries, are needed in all corners of the globe, and are responsible for ensuring that a business accomplishes its single most important task: making money.
On a day-to-day basis, accountants and auditors are responsible for the following:
- Examining financial statements for accuracy and legal compliance
- Computing and preparing tax documentation
- Maintain financial records for an organization
- Analyze and suggest methods for reducing costs, improving efficiences and increasing profits
- Explain often-complex financial documents and other findings to upper management in face-to-face meetings
The field can be broken into two broad categories: public accountants and management accountants.
Public Accountants (CPA)
Public Accountants generally have their own practice or work for an accounting firm. Their clients include individuals, governements and corporations, and they perofrm a variety of tax, auditing and other complicance tasks.
Management Accountants (CMA)
Management Accountants usually work within a larger corporation and perform in-house financial analysis and services for their employer. A management accountant will come to know the business and industry they work in very thoroughly, and is responsible for preparing reports and making recommendations that help senior management of an organization determine the future direction of a corporation.
Program options
Students who choose to major in accounting will select one of two options depending on career interests:
Four-year Accounting Program
Designed for students who wish to pursue a career as an accountant in the manufacturing and service sectors, in governmental and not-for-profit organizations and in public accounting in some states. This is a four-year program of study that leads to the B.A. degree with a major in accounting. This is a four-year program of study that prepares graduates to sit for the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) examination, the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) examination and in some states, the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination.
150 Credit Hour Program
Designed for students who wish to pursue a career in public accounting in Minnesota or other states that require the equivalent of 150 semester hours of college-level education to sit for the CPA examination. This is a program of study that leads to the B.A. degree with a major in accounting and students may choose to take additional courses at the undergraduate level or enroll in the Master of Arts in Management program.
Program features
In choosing one of the above options, students will benefit from the following features of our program:
- A broad-based core of business-related courses including management, finance, marketing, computer science, economics, mathematics, statistics, and legal aspects of management.
- A requirement that students develop written and oral communication skills throughout the curriculum.
- The use of accounting applications of computer technology throughout the program.
- A general education program in the liberal arts that includes courses in the humanities, sciences, and foreign language.
- The opportunity to complete an internship in accounting..
- Faculty with a commitment to teaching. All faculty members have professional accounting certifications and experience as accountants in both the public and private sectors. Faculty and students are active in local chapters of professional accounting organizations.
Major Requirements
- 28 Credits Accounting Upper Division Courses
- 8 Credits Accounting Lower Division Courses
- 20 Credits Management Courses
- 8 Credits Economics Courses
- 4 Credits Computer Information Systems Course
- 4 Credits Mathematics Course
- 4 Credits Psychology Course
Minor Requirements
- 20 Credits Accounting Courses
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