UW-River Falls Academic Plan

Accounting . . .

measures and communicates business performance information, encouraging investment activity, creating new jobs, and helping the economy to achieve sustainable growth.

Accountants are the financial gatekeepers of the business world.

Businesses recognize that accounting is fundamental to overall strategic success and its practitioners are uniquely positioned for leadership roles.

Department of Accounting and Finance
124 South Hall
(715) 425-3335

A program in the College of Business and Economics

Faculty

Accounting faculty are qualified both academically and professionally. Faculty are credentialed as Certified Public Accountants, Certified Management Accountants, or both. Faculty have business experience and are active in professional accounting associations. Accounting faculty work with students on research projects and independent study projects of current interest.

Why Major in Accounting?

Opportunities and career paths for accounting professionals are increasing. Accounting is predicted to be one of the 10 fastest growing industries in the United States. Work environments range from large, multi-national corporations to one-person public accounting firms.

As an accountant you may be employed by a business or government agency as an internal auditor, reviewing financial records and reports to help the business or agency function more economically and reduce financial waste. Or you may be a public accountant, preparing and analyzing financial reports, serving as a tax consultant, or auditing financial statements for business. Environmental accountants integrate sustainability and economic objectives.

Accountants serve in numerous management or government roles. Management accountants are employed by corporations and private businesses and tend to be more specialized in their work than public accountants. Accounting systems experts plan and implement critical information technology, while international accountants adapt businesses to the global environment. Government accountants examine the records of public agencies and businesses to determine whether they are in compliance with tax laws and other regulations.

Strengths of the Program

The College of Business and Economics is accredited by AACSB International, the Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business.

Upper level classes are small and often include team projects. A professional adviser in the College of Business and Economics advises freshman and sophomore students, and upper level students are advised by faculty. With careful planning, you can graduate in four years. There are numerous internship and career opportunities throughout the Twin Cities and in western Wisconsin.

Our student organization, the Accounting & Finance Society, is active and generates professional and social interaction.

You may combine the accounting major with a second major, a minor, a masters degree, or additional coursework to earn the 150 credit hours required to sit for the CPA exam. The 150 credit hour requirement to sit for the CPA exam is not a graduation requirement.

Bachelor of Science Degree. Accounting. Academic Advising Plan.

Semester 1 (Fall)

CBE 100 Orientation to CBE ~ 0.5
General Education CW (ENGL 100) ~ 3
General Education M (MATH 146) ~ 3
General Education SB ~ 3
General Education SB ~ 3
General Education S ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 15.5

Semester 5 (Fall)

ACCT 321 Intermediate Accounting I ~ 3
ACCT 356 Cost Accounting ~ 3
FINC 345 Managerial Finance ~ 3
MNGT 300 Management and Organizational Behavior ~ 3
General Education HW (P ED 108) ~ 1
American Cultural Diversity ACD ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 16

Semester 2 (Spring)

ECON 201 Principles of Microeconomics ~ 3
MATH 156 Calculus for Business and Social Science ~ 3
General Education CS (CSTA 101) ~ 3
General Education SL ~ 3
General Education HF ~ 3
Physical Education Activity HW ~ .5
Total semester credits ~ 15.5

Semester 6 (Spring)

ACCT 322 Intermediate Accounting II ~ 3
ACCT 357 Advanced Cost Accounting ~ 3
ACCT 366 Accounting Systems ~ 3
CBE 300 Professional Development II ~ 0.5
General Education EC ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 12.5

Semester 3 (Fall)

ACCT 231 Principles of Accounting I ~ 3
BLAW 265 Business Law I ~ 3
CSIS 215 Information Systems for Business Management ~ 3
ECON 202 Principles of Macroeconomics ~ 3
General Education CW (ENGL 200) ~ 3
Physical Education Activity HW ~ .5
Total semester credits ~ 15.5

Semester 7 (Fall)

ACCT 360 Federal Income Tax I ~ 3
ACCT 430 Advanced Accounting ~ 3
ACCT 461 Auditing ~ 3
MKTG 310 Principles of Marketing ~ 3
Accounting Elective ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 15

Semester 4 (Spring)

ACCT 232 Principles of Accounting II ~ 3
ECON 226 Introduction to Statistics
or MATH 226 Fundamentals of Statistics ~ 3
BLAW 266 Business Law II ~ 3
General Education HF ~ 3
Select 1: ENG 251, 266, 367 or CSTA 116 ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 15

Semester 8 (Spring)

ACCT 361 Federal Income Tax II . ~ 3
Accounting elective course ~ 3
General Education MD ~ 3
Global Perspectives GP ~ 3
General Elective ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 15

Summary of Degree Requirements

General Education ~ 38 cr.
American Cultural Diversity and Global Perspectives ~ 6 cr.
Accounting Major ~ 69 cr.
General Electives ~ 7 cr.
Credits to Degree ~ 120 cr.

PDF version

Updated July 2009

Accounting students may choose to fulfill the 150 credit hour requirement for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure by completing a double major, a minor, or a graduate degree. The 150 credit hour rule is not a graduation requirement.

This academic plan is an example of how students might choose to fulfill program requirements within a period of four years. After consulting with their advisers students may make other course choices which would meet the program requirements and be more suitable for them.