The accounting major prepares students for entry into the accounting profession. Accounting is the "language of business" and is important in every type of organization. The insights provided by an in-depth preparation in accounting are an important addition to the management capabilities of entrepreneurs and managers. Individuals who do well in this area generally enjoy working with the development and analysis of financial information.
Many graduates of this program complete the requirements for becoming a certified public accountant (CPA) and work for public accounting firms. Public accountants may perform audits, do management consulting and prepare financial statements and tax returns. Accountants in private industry may do financial statement and tax return preparation for their companies, or may perform internal audits. Corporate accountants are often also responsible for gathering information to assist management decision-making. Still others work in specialized areas of accounting such as public utilities, federal, state, and local government, and non-profit organizations. With additional preparation in finance or Management Information Systems (MIS), accounting majors can seek jobs in financial analysis and accounting systems design. An undergraduate accounting degree is an excellent foundation for further study of business administration at the graduate level. It also is a good preparation for the study of law, particularly corporate and tax law.
Degree Plans for a major in Accounting
Accounting students interested in becoming certified public accountants can also consider our Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program.
Licensure Notification
The DOE legislation including 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v) and 34 CFR 668.43 (c) requires disclosures by institutions regarding educational requirements for programs leading to professional licensure or certification regardless of modality. 34 CFR 668.43(a)(5)(v) requires an institution to make readily available to enrolled and prospective students whether programs leading to professional licensure or certification meet educational requirements. The regulation requires the following:
- A list of all States for which the institution has determined that its curriculum meets the State educational requirements for licensure or certification;
- A list of all States for which the institution has determined that its curriculum does not meet the State educational requirements for licensure or certification; and
- A list of all States for which the institution has not made a determination that its curriculum meets the State educational requirements for licensure or certification
To that end, Midwestern State University has determined that our accounting program curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure or certification in the following states: Texas
Midwestern State University has not yet made a determination that our accounting program curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure or certification in the following states: all states other than Texas
The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy (TSBPA) defines the educational requirements to take the Uniform CPA Examination. Briefly summarized, the TSBPA requires applicants to have completed 150 semester hours. These 150 semester hours must include 30 hours from upper-level accounting courses and three hours of ethics. However, the TSBPA requirements have some specific, detailed subtleties that require careful attention. Students planning to sit for the CPA exam should consult carefully with their academic advisor and—potentially--the TSBPA.