(Bachelor of Science Degree)
The accounting major prepares students for careers in public and private accounting, including non-profit, governmental and education. Public accounting is a recognized state-licensed profession that embraces the areas of financial statement preparation, auditing, financial investigations, design and installation of accounting systems, and taxation. Private and other accounting alternatives also engage in the above activities, though the focus is primarily on the single entity-the employer. Graduates may find a variety of opportunities, including responsible positions in a public accounting firm or other business and not-for-profit or governmental entities.
Transfer students must complete at least 15 hours of accounting at Utica University.
Public Accounting Concentration
As a licensed profession, public accounting is subject to regulation by the State of New York. As of August 2009, to be eligible to sit for the CPA licensure examination, a candidate must have completed 150 semester hours of coursework, including work in a number of related specified fields (management, marketing, finance, law, computer science, and statistics). Successful completion of this undergraduate major, along with the Utica University MBA in Professional Accountancy, will constitute eligibility to take the CPA licensure examination. Students with the undergraduate accounting major Public Accounting concentration who maintain a 3.0 or better GPA will be automatically accorded acceptance into the college’s MBA - Professional Accountancy program. Students with less than a 3.0 undergraduate GPA wishing to pursue the MBA may be asked at the discretion of the MBA program director to submit a GMAT score.
Further information about CPA certification is found in the Public Accountancy Handbook. A copy of this publication may be obtained without cost by writing to the Office of the Professions, Professional Licensing Services, Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY 12230. Information is also available on the web at http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/cpa/.
Private Accounting Concentration
Private accounting deals primarily with the financial records, statements, and reports of a single business, and the use of accounting as a tool of management. Graduates with training in private accounting may expect to progress to such positions as a cost accountant, cost analyst, budget director, chief accountant, comptroller, internal auditor, and chief financial officer.
Many treasurers and presidents of large corporations were formerly comptrollers.
Comptrollership is a rapidly growing field that deals primarily with the application of accounting, economics, finance, and statistics to the operations of a business enterprise.
Students who wish to pursue this course of study should opt for the Private Accounting concentration.
Business Program Learning Goals:
- Understand the structure of an organization and processes for managing them.
- Identify and interpret legal and ethical issues in the global business environment.
- Consume and produce quantitative and qualitative information in order to facilitate business and/or economic decision-making.
- Solve business and organizational problems using analytical and critical thinking skills.
- Apply rudimentary concepts from the management of technology discipline to people, process, and technology management challenges in a modern organization.
- Recognize the impact of the global and multi-cultural environment on managing a business.
- Employ oral communication skills to influence a professional audience.
- Demonstrate proficiency in written communications across multiple platforms and purposes.
Accounting Major Program Learning Goals:
- Prepare a financial statement and interpret financial information for decision-making.
- Apply accounting and non-accounting information for internal decision-making and control.
- Recognize and incorporate regulatory, tax, and ethical considerations and business decisions.
- Explain attestation and demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and processes involved in performing an audit.
Special Requirements
A grade of C or better is required for each major course. For major-related courses a C average is required.
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