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The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
(BS-BA) undergraduate with an accounting option is designed to meet the
needs of those seeking careers in public accounting, industry and
commerce, or governmental agencies, or in business management positions
which require an understanding of accounting. The accounting curriculum
at Colorado State University currently satisfies the educational
background required to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA),
Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
and Certified Financial Accountant (CFA) examinations.
BS-BA students complete a program of course work that includes a block
of required and elective courses known as University Studies which has
been designed to provide communication and computing skills and an
exposure to a broad variety of elective liberal arts and non-business
subjects. The remainder of the course work consists of required business
and accounting courses and electives.
Career Opportunities.
Today, accountants are leaders in business and active participants in
corporate decisions and strategies. While accountants still have
traditional duties of gathering necessary information, they must also be
able to explain and analyze the information and assist in the
interpretation of data. Our goal in the accounting program in the College of
Business is to create the "new" accountant: one who is an information
specialist and business advisor and well prepared for today's complex
business environment.
An education in accounting provides an opportunity for a variety of
careers in the field of business management as well as one of the many
specialized fields within the accounting profession. There are many
areas of specialization for today's accountant. These include: risk
assessment, business performance measurement, information technology,
electronic commerce, assurance services, financial planning and
reporting, consulting services, and international accounting. Career
paths have led accountants to positions such as: owner, partner, or
manager in a CPA firm, financial analyst, bank officer, management
information systems analyst, auditor, cost accountant, tax accountant,
or chief financial officer or chief executive officer in industry and
commerce. Public accounting firms, industry, and the government hire
accountants.
Public Accounting Firms hire CPAs to fill management positions and
provide consulting and assurance services to their clients. Industry
requires accountants for mid-management positions leading to
senior-level positions such as controller, treasurer, or financial
vice-president. Government jobs are available at all levels (federal,
state, and local). These positions include those with agencies such as
the Government Accounting Office, Internal Revenue Service, Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Your Future. Many accountants seek to gain
professional recognition by becoming a Certified Public Accountant
(CPA), a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), or a Certified Internal
Auditor (CIA). Of course, many accountants practice without professional
designations and are highly respected individuals within their
organizations.
The CPA certificate is evidence of professional competence in the
discipline of accounting. CPAs have a distinctive role in examining
financial statements and in expressing independent opinions on their
fairness. They also provide advice and consultations on various
management problems. Tax planning and return preparation are a
substantial part of the work load of many CPAs.
The CMA designates that the accountant is professionally competent in
the field of management accounting. The CMA will generally have key
responsibilities for developing, producing, and analyzing information
for top management.
The CIA designation is a recognition of the
professional competence of internal auditors. An internal auditor
assists the management of an organization in discharging its
responsibilities effectively by furnishing analyses, appraisals, and
recommendations concerning activities reviewed. Internal auditors
play a key role in insuring that organizations fulfill their fiduciary
responsibilities. While an undergraduate degree in
accounting at Colorado State University can fulfill current requirements
to sit for the CPA examination in Colorado, most states require 150
hours of education. In order to guarantee the ability to practice
as a certified public accountant in other states, students are strongly
encouraged to complete at least 150 hours of education. For
additional information on how this might be done at Colorado State
University, please refer to information about
Master of Science program in Accounting.
In any case, students should consult their academic advisors and faculty
to ensure that their program of study is fully consistent with their
career goals in accounting. |
