Accounting Degree Programs

A wide variety of organizations recruit SDSU accounting graduates, including all of the major accounting firms. Auditors examine the financial records of businesses, government agencies, or private citizens. You can view more complete information regarding the Accounting program in the General Catalog available at the official web site. All students are responsible for reading and knowing the information pertinent to their areas of study available in the General Catalog. It contains requirements for all academic majors, course descriptions, policies, and regulations governing progress at the university. Catalogs are distributed at all New Student Orientation programs. To order a Catalog, call (619) 594-7535.

Contact Information
Mailing address:

School of Accountancy
College of Business Administration
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-8221

E-mail: accounting@sdsu.edu
Telephone: (619) 594-5070
Fax: (619) 594-3675
Office location: Student Services 2411
Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Accounting can be called the language of business. The Accounting degree at San Diego State University provides students with traditional technical accounting skills, as well as expanded skills in analytical reasoning, problem solving, computers, and oral and written communication. The accounting program prepares students to succeed in careers with public accounting firms, corporations, and non-profit organizations. The accounting profession has evolved from a narrow specialty to a broad-based profession. Today’s accountants find themselves working as tax-consultants, management consultants, information technologists, litigation specialists, and chief financial and executive officers of major corporations.

The curriculum at SDSU has been designed to offer an integrated educational experience in the sub-disciplines of financial accounting, managerial accounting, taxation, information systems, and auditing. San Diego State University undergraduate accounting curriculum is unique. Its core consists of three six-unit classes that integrate the technical material that is traditionally taught in functional accounting classes.

These courses provide students with a thorough technical knowledge of accounting, as well as expanded competencies in the following areas:
Information technology
Communication
Interpersonal relations
Problem solving
Business strategy and processes

All programs offered by the College of Business Administration are impacted programs. Find out more information regarding the impaction.

Special Features of the Program

The School of Accountancy at San Diego State University is the first and one of only four accredited accounting programs in California. Student test scores on the CPA exam consistently rank among the top five in the nation.

The Graduate Tax Program is considered by the “Big Five” accounting firms to be among the top 20 in the United States.

Student Organizations - Accounting majors benefit from membership in the Student Accounting Society and the honorary accounting organization, Beta Alpha Psi.

Business Honors Program - The program challenges students to integrate their Business education with material across the university and within the broader community. Students in the program build strong critical thinking skills and are challenged to apply those skills in a broad context.

Business Advising Center - The mission of the Business Advising Center is to enhance the quality of the College’s undergraduate program by providing information, counseling, and advising to current and prospective undergraduate students.

A Board of Directors composed of stellar local and national business leaders provides direction to the College of Business Administration on a regular basis.

The program provides students with specialized preparation for a career in professional accountancy, whether in industry, government, not-for-profit, or public accounting. The Degree Program will tailor your program to meet your objectives. You can combine course work in related fields such as finance, management and information technology. The program is adaptable to working students as well as full-time students. Consider advancing your career by obtaining an San Diego State University MS Accountancy degree.

Tuition fees are currently $520 per credit hour and are due one week before the first day of the term(long An increase in the tuition fee to $575 per credit hour is effective in the Fall 2008 semester. Technology fees of $50 for the Summer term and $110 for Fall and Spring semesters are effective beginning Summer 2008.

To be admitted to the M.Acc degree program a student must have an undergraduate degree with the course mentioned above completed.. Admission standards require students to earn a GMAT score of 480 or better and an index score of 1050 or better using the formula (GMAT score + 200 x higher education GPA.)

Applications consist of an Application Form, A Personal Statement and Résumé, all Higher Education Transcripts, a GMAT Score, one Letter of Recommendation and a $25 Application Fee. Application deadlines are: Fall Semester – August 1 Spring Semester – December 1 and Summer Term – May 1. International students need to provide additional time to meet visa requirements.

The M.Acc degree requires a minimum of 30 credits of approved graduate coursework, including at least 15, but not more than 21, graduate accounting credits. Students must have a 3.00 or higher cumulative GPA at the Brock School of Business to graduate. At least 12 graduate accounting credits must be earned at the Brock School of Business. The following undergraduate courses must be completed prior to graduation and in most cases, prior to beginning graduate work: Accounting Concepts I, Accounting Concepts II, Financial Accounting & Reporting I, Financial Accounting & Reporting II, Cost Accounting, Auditing I, Information Systems, Income Tax I, Legal Environment of Business, and Business Law. A business course “Management Information Systems (MIS) and Communications Technology (BUSA 533)” is required of all students. The remaining business elective credits are selected from the Master of Business Administration Core (non-Foundation) Courses. Of the 30 credits, 24 must be taken in courses reserved exclusively for graduate students.

Upon completion of the program, students will meet the State of Alabama’s education requirements to sit for the CPA exam.

Accounting programs at the Brock School of Business prepare students for a career in this dynamic profession and for successful completion of the CPA exam. Success in the accounting profession, be it working for one’s own firm, a corporate accounting department, a public accounting firmor a nonprofit or government agency, typically includes successfully passing the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam.  In nearly all states, the CPA exam can only be taken after completing a 150-hour program of study. A combination of the B.S.B.A. accounting major and the M.Acc. degree fulfills this requirement. Taking the M.Acc. courses upon completion of the undergraduate degree places students in the workforce in only one year from completion of an undergraduate degree program and the M.A.cc prorgam. Beginning in the 2009 school year, the Brock School of Business will offer a 150-hour joint B.S.B.A. Accounting/M.Acc degree program.

The Master of Accountancy (M.Acc.) program prepares graduates to succeed as accountants and advisors to organizations in today’s dynamic, global business environment. The graduate program at the Brock School of Business works effectively with others to provide a network to help students, faculty and alumni connect with accounting professionals to facilitate career and placement opportunities for students. Students will develop technical, interpersonal, critical-thinking and communication skills to enable them to derive and interpret information used by investors, managers and governments.

General Information for Undergraduate Admissions and Transfer Students

Admissions for the Undergraduate Programs in Brock School of Business are processed through Samford University’s Admission Office.

Graduate Programs Admissions Information

Admissions for the Graduate Programs at the Brock School of Business are handled directly by the Graduate Office located within the Brock School of Business. For Graduate Admissions Information contact Larry Harper at (205) 726-2391 or lcharper@samford.edu

To schedule an Undergraduate program visit: contact the admissions office at (205) 726-3673 or visit www.samford.edu/admission

To schedule a Graduate program visit: contact Larry Harper at (205) 726-2931.

University Core Requirements (22 credits) **UCCA & UCCP classes should be completed in the Freshmen year; UCBP & UCFH 120 can be completed anytime during the student’s matriculation. Core classes cannot be taken as a Transient Student**
Course & Term Offerings
Term Taken
Credits
Course & Term Offerings
Term Taken
Credits
Ucca 101 (Fall & Summer) (FR Yr)
4
Ucca 102 (Spring & Summer) (FR Yr0
4
Uccp 101 (Fall & Summer) (FR Yr)
4
Uccp 102 (Spring & Summer) (FR Yr)
4
Ucbp 101 (Fall & Spring)
4
Ucfh 120 (Fall, Spring, Jan, Summer)
2
General Education Requirements (32 Credits) **Gen Ed. Courses may be completed anytime during the student’s matriculation except for Math 150 (FR Year) & Econ 201 (SO Yr)**
Fine Arts # 1 (Fall, Spring, Jan, Summer)
2
Math 150 (Fall, Spring, Jan, Summer) (FR Yr)
4
Fine Arts # 2 (Fall, Spring, Jan, Summer)
2
Humanities (Fall, Spring, Summer)
4
Natural Science (Fall, Spring, Jan, Summer)
4
World Lang. 101 (Fall & Jan)
4
Natural Science (Fall, Spring, Jan, Summer)
4
World Lang. 102 (Spring)
4
Econ 201 (Fall, Spring, Summer) (SO Yr)
4
Pre‐Business Curriculum (19 credits) **Pre‐Business courses must be completed before Junior year or before entering 300‐level business classes**
Busa 100 (Fall & Spring) (FR Yr)
3
Acct 211 (Fall, Spring, Summer) (SO Yr)
3
Busa 130 (Fall & Spring) (SO Yr)
3
Acct 212 (Fall, Spring, Summer) (SO Yr)
3
Busa 160 (Fall, Spring, Jan, Summer) (Fr Yr)
1
Econ 202 (Fall, Spring, Summer) (SO Yr)
3
Busa 231 (Fall & Spring) (SO Yr)
3
Business Core (25 credits) **Business & Accounting Core courses should be taken Junior & Senior Year – See catalog for prerequisites**
Busa 252 (Fall & Spring) (SO or JR Yr)
3
Acct 470 (Fall) (JR Yr)
3
Busa 303 (Fall, Spring, Summer) (JR Yr)
3
Busa 400 (Fall & Spring) (SR Yr)
3
Busa 311 (Fall & Spring) (JR Yr)
3
Busa 481W *** (Fall & Spring) (SR Yr)
3
Busa 321 (Fall & Spring) (JR Yr)
3
Busa 482 *** (Fall & Spring) (SR Yr)
1
Busa 342 (Fall & Spring) (JR Yr)
3
Accounting Core (24 credits)
Acct 310 (Spring) (JR Yr)
3
Acct 420 (Fall) (SR Yr)
3
Acct 311 (Fall) (JR Yr)
3
Busa 454W (Fall & Spring) (JR or SR Yr)
3
Acct 312 (Spring) (JR Yr)
3
Acct Elective* (Fall & Spring) (JR or SR Yr)
3
Acct 313 (Spring) (SR Yr)
3
Acct/Busi Elective** (Fall & Spring) (JR/SR Yr)
3
General Electives (6 credits) **More than 6 credits may be required depending on placements in UCCA, Language, & Math**
*Accounting Elective (choose one of the following): Acct 410 Income Tax II (offered Fall Term B in Senior year); Acct 415 Governmental Accounting offered Spring Term B in Senior year); Acct 496 Accounting Internship (offered Spring Term A in Senior year).
**Accounting or Business Elective (choose from the following): It is recommended to take one more of the above listed courses. However, you can take a Business elective, which is any 300‐400 level course that is not already required for your major.
*** Those planning an Accounting Internship during Spring term of their Senior year should register for this course during the Fall term. Requirements from 2008-2009 Catalog
Requirements from 2008-2009 Catalog
Course Titles
COURSE NUMBER TITLE CREDITS AREA
UCCA 101/102 Communication Arts I & II 4 each University Core
UCCP 101/102 Cultural Perspectives I & II 4 each University Core
UCBP 101 Biblical Perspectives 4 University Core
UCFH 120 Concepts of Fitness & Health 2 University Core
ECON 201 Macroeconomics 4 General Education/PBUS
MATH 150 Precalculus 4 General Education
ACCT 211 Accounting Concepts I 3 Pre‐Business
ACCT 212 Accounting Concepts II 3 Pre‐Business
BUSA 100 World of Business 3 Pre‐Business
BUSA 130 Quantitative Methods I (Business Calculus) 3 Pre‐Business
BUSA 160 Computer Competency 1 Pre‐Business
BUSA 231 Quantitative Methods II (Business Statistics I) 3 Pre‐Business
ECON 202 Microeconomics 3 Pre‐Business
ACCT 470 Accounting Information Systems 3 Business Core
BUSA 252 Legal Environment 3 Business Core
BUSA 303 Principles of Management 3 Business Core
BUSA 311 Marketing Management 3 Business Core
BUSA 321 Financial Management 3 Business Core
BUSA 342 Operations Management 3 Business Core
BUSA 400 Managerial Values 3 Business Core
BUSA 481W Business Strategy 3 Business Core
BUSA 482 Business Simulation 1 Business Core
ACCT 310 Income Tax I 3 Accounting Core
ACCT 311 Financial Accounting & Reporting I 3 Accounting Core
ACCT 312 Financial Accounting & Reporting II 3 Accounting Core
ACCT 313 Cost Accounting 3 Accounting Core
ACCT 420 Auditing 3 Accounting Core
BUSA 454W Business Law 3 Accounting Core
Accounting Electives (Choose one)
ACCT 410 Income Tax II 3 Accounting Core Elective
ACCT 415 Governmental & Not‐for‐Profit Accounting 3 Accounting Core Elective
ACCT 496 Accounting Internship 3 Accounting Core Elective
Business Electives (Choose one)
**Any 300 or 400 level business course not previously taken to meet a stated requirement (listed above) is considered a Business Elective, of which you can choose one or you can choose to take one more of the above mentioned Acct electives.
**General Electives are courses taken outside of your major (non‐business classes)