Accounting and Finance

Undergraduate

John D. Neill, Chair
ACU Box 29329
Abilene, Texas 79699-9329
Mabee Business Building, Room 171

Phone: 325-674-2053
Fax: 325-674-2507
Email: john.neill@coba.acu.edu
Web: www.acu.edu/coba

Faculty

Clint Buck, College Instructor
Curtis E. Clements, Professor
William E. Fowler, Associate Professor
Jody Jones, Assistant Professor
John D. Neill, Professor
David Perkins, Professor
Jonathan Stewart, Professor
T. Kyle Tippens, Associate Professor
Paul Wertheim, Professor

Introduction

The Department of Accounting and Finance offers the Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting and in finance.

The Master of Accountancy degree is available as a separate graduate degree or as part of the Integrated BBA/MAcc degree as described below.

Integrated Plan: Accounting (BBA) and Master of Accountancy (MAcc)

Students planning to enter the Master of Accountancy program may choose to apply for entry into the Integrated Plan. The Integrated Plan allows students to take a limited number of MAcc courses during their senior year and substitute 6 hours of MAcc graduate courses for the 6 hours of accounting or finance electives required in the BBA degree. Students must complete all BBA requirements of the accounting degree and also must complete the 30 hours of the Macc degree. The Integrated Plan requires 152 hours of course work and satisfies the 150-hour regulations for students wanting to take the Uniform CPA exam.

Students should take note of the following provisions of the Integrated Plan:

Entry into the plan is by application and must be approved by the department chair.
A student’s BBA degree will not be awarded until satisfactory completion of 15 hours in the MAcc program.
A student in the plan may participate in undergraduate commencement exercises during the semester in which all BBA requirements other than the 6 hours of accounting and finance electives are fulfilled.

Study Abroad Expectations

All students are encouraged to participate in ACU’s Study Abroad program. Classes offered at Study Abroad sites vary depending on the site. Academic advisors can assist students in planning ahead for their Study Abroad experience and should be consulted during the freshman year.

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)

Admission Requirements

Before being admitted to a business program, a student must satisfy the requirements listed in the College of Business Administration Admission Requirements section of this catalog.

Graduate

John Neill, Director and Chair
ACU Box 29329
Abilene, Texas 79699-9329
Mabee Business Building, Room 171

Phone: 325-674-2053
Fax: 325-674-2507
Email: john.neill@coba.acu.edu
Web: www.acu.edu/grad

Faculty

Curtis Clements, Professor
Bill Fowler, Associate Professor
Jody Jones, Assistant Professor
John Neill, Professor
David Perkins, Professor
Jonathan Stewart, Professor
T. Kyle Tippens, Associate Professor
Paul Wertheim, Professor

Introduction

The Master of Accountancy (MAcc) degree is designed primarily to prepare students for professional careers that frequently begin in public accounting. Most students in the program intend to become Certified Public Accountants. The curriculum adds to and broadens the accounting and business knowledge acquired from undergraduate studies.

Accounting education is going through dynamic change prompted by several forces. The business world is more complex, and the public is demanding more meaningful financial reporting. Accountants do not work in isolation, but instead contribute to the business as part of a team. Financial transactions are more sophisticated. Accounting and auditing standards are more numerous and require greater interpretive skills.

Technology is also altering the way we work, learn and communicate. Students and employees must build skills that enable them to use technology to do their work, to manage information, to document and create processes, to research, and to communicate.

Expectations for academic and technical proficiency are considered minimum criteria for entry into the accounting profession. Additionally, students are expected to develop skills in written and oral communication, team work, critical thinking, problem solving (in an unstructured environment), and creativity.

Two key ingredients for success in today’s world are flexibility and commitment to learning. Businesses, employees, students and educators must continually nurture these attributes if they are to endure and prosper. The Master of Accountancy degree, by its structure and intent, encourages students to become not just accountants, but lifelong learners.

Integrated Program

The Department of Accounting and Finance offers an integrated program, which shortens the time it takes to complete both a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Accountancy degree at ACU. In this program, high-performing undergraduate students count a specified number of graduate courses toward both degrees. For details regarding the Department of Accounting and Finance’s integrated program, please see the undergraduate section above.

Admission Requirements

The MAcc program is designed primarily for full-time study. The admission requirements for the MAcc are:

A completed application for admission with a nonrefundable application fee;
An official transcript(s) in English (or translated to English) of all previous colleges attended. The transcript must indicate an earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university or equivalent;
Applicants have earned a minimum 3.00 GPA in their undergraduate accounting courses;
Applicants without an undergraduate degree in accounting will be expected to earn a 3.00 GPA in their accounting leveling courses before taking more than 9 hours of graduate work;
GPA of 3.00 from a college or university in the United States;
Two letters of recommendation;
A satisfactory GMAT score (generally a 50th percentile or better) may be required of any student who applies to the MAcc program and who has not completed 24 or more semester hours at ACU with a minimum GPA of 3.00;
A written personal statement of academic interests, strengths and weaknesses.

An applicant cannot be considered for admission until all graduate admission requirements are completed and received. Final action on the admissions request is usually completed within a few weeks from the receipt of all documents. Students are advised to complete and submit all admission materials as soon as possible. Students may apply to enter in either the fall or spring term.

Prerequisites

Applicants with an undergraduate degree in accounting will generally meet all of the prerequisite standards. All applicants must satisfy the prerequisites for accounting and business.

Accounting Prerequisites

Financial Accounting
Managerial or Cost Accounting
Intermediate Accounting I and II
Income Tax - Individuals
Accounting Systems
Auditing
Advanced Accounting

Programs

Undergraduate Majors

Master’s Programs

Accountancy, MAcc (ACCT)

Courses

Accounting

Finance

Master of Accountancy