Accounting Major, B.A./B.S.

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General Information:

Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science

The objectives of the accounting major are to 1) prepare students for placement in the job market by acquiring basic accounting skills; 2) prepare students to pass the professional accounting exams for Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA); and 3) prepare students for graduate school.

Applicants who apply for the Uniform Certified Public Accountants (CPA) Examination in Missouri must have at least one hundred and fifty (150) semester hours of college education including a baccalaureate or higher degree conferred by an accredited college or university recognized by the Missouri State Board of Accountancy, with a major in accounting or the equivalent of a concentration in accounting. The Missouri State Board of Accountancy requires that the one hundred and fifty (150) semester hours include thirty-three (33) semester hours in accounting (with at least one course in auditing and at least eighteen (18) semester hours of upper-level accounting courses) and twenty-seven (27) semester hours in general business courses (i.e., marketing, economics, finance, etc.).

Students interested in completing the 150 semester hours necessary to qualify for CPA certification have two options:

Complete the Accounting Major, take six additional hours of upper level accounting courses, and complete the remaining required hours in other areas of interest (i.e., Business Administration, Marketing, Economics, Computer Science, etc.). If more than eight terms are required to complete this option, the student may request a one-term extension.
Or upon completing the baccalaureate degree, the student may pursue a Master’s Degree program or obtain the additional hours needed elsewhere.

Residents of a state other than Missouri need to contact their state’s accountancy board concerning that state’s requirements to sit for the CPA exam.

Majors and minors are expected to participate in assessments administered by the Accounting Department.

Requirements:

Required major courses: 27 credit hours

A minimum of two of the following: 6 credit hours

Required collateral courses: 21 credit hours

Two courses from the following areas: 6 credit hours

(all 6 hours may be in one area)

Business Administration (BUS)
Marketing (MKT)
Economics (ECN)
Free Enterprise (FER)

Note:

Accounting majors may not declare a Business Administration major or minor, since they have its equivalent as part of their major.