Bachelor of Accountancy
Overview
Accounting is the management of financial information. Accountants design and implement systems that capture relevant information from the transactions in which an organization engages. The accountant analyzes that information and communicates it to others, answering questions such as: “How profitable is this business? How solvent? How risky?“
Career Options in Accountancy
Every organization with financial records needs accountants. Students with a Bachelor of Accountancy who begin working immediately upon graduation pursue careers in public or corporate accounting or with the government. Public accountants audit financial statements and provide tax planning and financial advisory services to their clients. Some accountants who work for corporations are responsible for preparing and maintaining the financial records of the business; others use accounting and other information to help evaluate potential and existing products and projects in order to aid in managerial decision making. Governmental accountants help to prepare and administer the budgets under which their agencies operate.
An undergraduate degree in accounting is also an excellent foundation for graduate study in business, finance, or law.
Program of Study
The curriculum for the freshman and sophomore years is the same for all undergraduate students in GWSB whether they pursue a Bachelor of Accountancy (BACCY) or a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). Students who would like to pursue a BACCY should have made this decision by the spring semester of their sophomore year. In order to officially change their degree status, students should submit a Change of GWSB Degree form (available in Duquès 456 ) to The Advising Center in Duquès 456 . Students should be aware that almost all upper-level Accountancy courses are only offered once per academic year; therefore, students must enroll in required Accountancy courses during the semesters listed below.
In the fall semester of their junior year, students pursuing a BACCY take Intermediate Accounting I (ACCY 121), Business Law: Contracts, Torts, and Property (ACCY 151), and Federal Income Taxation (ACCY 161). These courses give students intermediate knowledge in financial accounting, legal principles, and taxation concepts and prepare them to take Intermediate Accounting II (ACCY 122) and Advanced Financial and Tax Accounting (ACCY 192) in the spring of their junior year. Students pursuing a degree in accountancy will also take Basic Marketing Management (BADM 110) and Financial Management and Markets (BADM 115) to round out their business knowledge. In addition, students take three approved 3-credit upper-level (100-level) electives during their junior year. All three of these electives must be non-business courses.
In the fall semester of their senior year, students take Auditing (ACCY 171), Accounting Systems (ACCY 181), and Advanced Managerial Accounting (ACCY 193). Students are then prepared to take the final accountancy course, Financial Accounting Capstone (ACCY 196), in the spring of their senior year. Students in their senior year also take Business and Government Relations (BADM 150), Strategic Management (BADM 197), and four 3-credit upper-level electives. All four electives must be non-accounting courses; one of them must be in the Department of International Business, and two of them must be outside GWSB.
See main BACCY page.