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Accounting Major

Study accounting at SBU

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Be prepared for a variety of career opportunities in public accounting, not-for-profit accounting, auditing, tax accounting and many more possibilities. Accounting graduates are in high demand in business, government and education industries. And an SBU accounting major can get you ready for the workforce quickly - 150 college credit hours are required to take the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) exam and yet nearly all SBU Accounting students complete all the needed courses within four years!

Small class sizes ensure that you receive quality, individualized instruction in your accounting courses. SBU Accounting faculty genuinely care about their students and will work closely with you for success in the classroom as well as to help you obtain internship and career positions.

The Accounting degree is offered through SBU's Robert W. Plaster College of Business. 

Resources

Major Map (PDF)

Degree Plan

100%
Job
placement
rate

(100% of SBU accounting majors graduating in 2021-22 had employment in their field at the time of graduation.)

SBU College of Business Job Placement and Salary Data (PDF)

SBU students working on group project

The SBU Advantage

  • More than 80% of SBU Accounting students achieve the required 150 credit hours for CPA licensure within four years. Guided CPA Exam prep is provided throughout your time as an accounting major at SBU.
  • SBU students have a 70% first-time pass rate on the CPA exam versus the national average of only 53%! (Five-year rolling average, 2017-2021 grads; information available as of October 2022)
  • SBU Accounting alumni stay connected with the department, which benefits current students through scholarship offers, mentoring programs and networking opportunities.

Faith Integration

As an SBU Accounting student, you will be equipped for a successful career. Our dedicated Christian faculty teach you the application of accounting concepts in current practice through a Christian worldview so that you are prepared to be both a skilled employee and a servant leader in the workplace.

Psalm 15 — SBU's College of Professional Programs and the Robert W. Plaster College of Business have a Psalm 15 initiative, which provides intentional integration of faith and academic discipline. Using Psalm 15 as a basis, the Colleges have identified eight character traits that should be the hallmark of the students and graduates. These character traits are emphasized in coursework and in a special lecture series. The highlighted character traits are: Integrity, Service, Respect, Charity, Faithfulness, Truthfulness, Humility and Perseverance.

Ethics and Professional Development — As part of an intentionally Christian education, students in the Robert W. Plaster College of Business take a senior-level course in Ethics and Professional Development. The course teaches Christian personal and professional ethics and equips students with life skills such as career development, etiquette, and servant leadership, with the goal of producing ethical business leaders who will be servant leaders in the workplace.

Career Examples

  • FORVIS
  • Grant Thornton LLP
  • KPMG International
  • Leggett & Platt
  • Miller Management Systems

Internship Examples

  • Abacus CPAs
  • Associate Electric Cooperative
  • Citizens Memorial Hospital
  • Heritage Foundation (Washington, D.C.)
  • Missouri State Auditor's Office
  • O'Reilly Automotive

Full-Time Faculty

Kristin Hamm

Kristin Hamm, Assistant Professor
Jenell Wagner

Jenell Wagner, Assistant Professor
 

Clubs and Organizations

Accounting Club

Join the SBU Accounting Club and participate in various activities throughout the year including an interview blitz, field trips to visit prestigious accounting firms, social gatherings, networking opportunities, and more!

Institute of Management Accountants (IMA)

You are encouraged to join SBU's student chapter of IMA and may also join the national IMA organization to receive additional professional development benefits.

Accounting Scholarships

SBU Accounting students may apply for several privately funded departmental scholarships. Additionally, some incoming freshmen accounting majors are selected to receive scholarships funded by SBU Accounting alumni.

Blaise Torrence
"My courses at SBU developed in me a work ethic and confidence that helped me excel in post-graduate school and my career beyond. Faculty intentionally recognized the particular gifts I had and encouraged me to explore them."
Blaise Torrence '20
Audit Associate at Grant Thornton LLC

Scholarships

The College of Professional Programs and the Robert W. Plaster College of Business offer many privately funded scholarship opportunities for their students. During a recent academic year, more than $89,000 was awarded in private scholarships to students from these college-level scholarships. Some scholarships available to accounting students include:

  • FORVIS Public Accounting Scholarship
  • Elliott, Robinson & Co. Public Accounting Scholarship
  • Glenn A. & Kimberly B. Miller Excellence in Non-profit Accounting Scholarship
  • Integrity Tax & Accounting Scholarship
  • KPM, CPAs Scholarship
  • Paul A. Mott, CPA, Accounting Scholarship
  • Van & Pearl Clark Memorial Accounting Student Aid
  • SBU Accounting Alumni Scholarship

Accounting (CPA Track) with Financial Services Minor (150+ hours) Four-Year Plan

Freshman

Fall Semester

BIB 1013 Old Testament 3
UNI 1111 University Seminar 1
POL 1113 American Government and Politics 3
ENG 2213 English Composition I 3
FAR 10_3 Intro. to Art, Fine Arts, Music or Theatre 3
BUS 1193 Business Calculus 3
Total hours 16

Spring Semester

HIS 2213 US History 3
UNI 1121 Critical Thinking 1
BIB 1023 New Testament History 3
ACC 2013 Principles of Financial Accounting 3
BUS 2023 Business Statistics 3
ENG 2213 English Composition II 3
Total hours 16
 

Sophomore

Fall Semester

MGT 3013 Principles of Management 3
ACC 2043 Principles of Managerial Accounting 3
COM 1103 Speech Communications 3
ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics 3
BUS 2013 Business Communications 3
SPF 2012 Introduction to Spiritual Formation 2
Total hours 17

Spring Semester

ECO 2033 Principles of Macroeconomics 3
CIS 1103 Computer & Info Management 3
BIO 1004 Principles of Biology 4
ACC 3033 Accounting Information Systems 3
FIN 3003 Personal Financial Planning 3
Total hours 16
 

Junior

Fall Semester

ACC 3024 Intermediate Accounting I 4
FIN 3053 Business Finance 3
ACC 3063 Tax Accounting I 3
FIN 4073 Insurance and Risk Management 3
LDR 4043 Ethics and Professional Development 3
Total hours 16

Spring Semester

MKT 3023 Principles of Marketing 3
ACC 3034 Intermediate Accounting II 4
ACC 3073 Tax Accounting II 3
ACC 4043 Auditing 3
FIN 4053 Investments 3
Total hours 16
 

Senior

Fall Semester

CIS 3123 Survey of Data Science 3
ACC 4013 Advanced Accounting 3
BUS 3073 Business Law I 3
ACC 3023 Managerial Cost Accounting 3
SOC 2012 Human Diversity 2
ECO 3023 Money and Banking 3
Total hours 17

Spring Semester

MGT 4083 Strategic Management 3
ACC 4053 Accounting for Non-Profit and Gov't Entities 3
BUS 3083 Business Law II 3
MGT 3033 Operations Management 3
Acc 3211 Intro to Forensic Accounting 1
ACC 4983 Internship in Accounting 3
Total hours 16

NOTE: In order to reach the 150 hours required for CPA licensure, the student needs to transfer in some dual credit courses or take summer courses. This example assumes the student transfers in 20 hours including PSY 1103 Psychology, KIN 1162 Fitness and Wellness, and PHS 1104 Intro to Physical Science. General education courses can be rearranged between semesters to meet scheduling preferences.

This is a proposed guideline. Please check the catalog and see your advisor for your final degree requirements. Southwest Baptist University reserves the right to make changes to degree plans without advanced notice or obligation. The student is responsible for understanding and completing all general education, degree, departmental and graduation requirements.

Download in PDF format:
Accounting CPA Track Plan (PDF)

 

Accounting (Non-CPA Track) Four-Year Plan

Freshman

Fall Semester

BIB 1013 Old Testament 3
UNI 1111 University Seminar 1
POL 1113 American Government and Politics 3
ENG 1113 English Composition I 3
FAR 1023 Introduction to Music 3
BUS 1193 Business Calculus 3
Total hours 16

Spring Semester

HIS 2213 US History 3
UNI 1121 Critical Thinking 1
BIB 1023 New Testament History 3
ENG 2213 English Composition II 3
BUS 2023 Business Statistics 3
ACC 2013 Principles of Financial Accounting 3
Total hours 16
 

Sophomore

Fall Semester

PHS 1004 Intro to Physical Science 4
COM 1103 Speech Communication 3
ACC 2043 Principles of Managerial Accounting 3
ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics 3
BUS 2013 Business Communications 3
Total hours 16

Spring Semester

ECO 2033 Principles of Macroeconomics 3
SPF 2012 Spiritual Formation 2
CIS 1103 Computer & Info Management 3
MGT 3013 Principles of Management 3
FIN 3003 Personal Financial Planning 3
ACC 3033 Accounting Information Systems 3
Total hours 17
 

Junior

Fall Semester

ACC 3024 Intermediate Accounting I 4
FIN 3053 Business Finance 3
ACC 3063 Tax Accounting I 3
BIO 1104 Biology 4
LDR 4043 Ethics and Professional Development 3
Total hours 17

Spring Semester

ACC 3034 Intermediate Accounting II 4
ACC 4043 Auditing 3
ACC 3073 Tax Accounting II 3
MKT 3023 Principles of Marketing 3
FIN 4053 Investments (or any elective) 3
Total hours 16
 

Senior

Fall Semester

KIN 1162 Fitness and Wellness 2
PSY 1103 Psychology 3
BUS 3073 Business Law I 3
CIS 3123 Survey of Data Science 3
ACC 3023 Managerial Cost Accounting 3
MGT 3033 Operations Management 3
Total hours 17

Spring Semester

MGT 4083 Strategic Management 3
SOC 2012 Human Diversity 2
BUS 3083 Business Law II 3
ACC 3211 Intro to Forensic Accounting 1
ACC 4983 Internship in Accounting 3
  Any elective 3
Total hours 15

Download in PDF format:
Accounting (Non-CPA Track) Plan