Accounting

“If you’re thinking of pursuing a career in business and dream of being in a field that offers challenging assignments, an array of travel opportunities, advancement potential, skills building, and the chance to play a vital role in evaluating business deals and growth and investment strategies – and yes, making a good salary as well – then you should consider becoming an accountant.” –Robert Half International

You will learn:

  • The language of business
  • How businesses run – their common operations
  • To think critically and to measure, process, and communicate financial information
  • Skills essential to successfully manage your own or someone else’s company
  • To use software to capture and analyze information to run an organization
  • To apply concepts, procedures, and principals used in generating financial information
  • To advance the smooth functioning of the free market system
  • To enhance the profession through leadership, research and service

What can I do with my Accounting degree?

Every single organization needs accountants. That’s why they are always in such high demand. Accountants typically work in one of five areas.
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  • Public Accounting
  • Business and Industry
  • Government
  • Not-for-Profit
  • Education

In the real world

In our Taxes I course, you will have an opportunity to be a VITA volunteer. VITA is an IRS program that offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income people who cannot prepare their own tax returns. Hundreds of people from the surrounding community come to USF each year to have their basic tax returns prepared by certified volunteers.

As a team member in the Business Policy senior capstone course, accounting majors have provided strategic business assistance to several local businesses.

Certification

Many accountants enhance their professional standing by passing an exam and becoming certified. There are many professional accounting certifications. The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is considered by many to be the gold standard but there are several others. To sit for the CPA exam in Illinois you will need 150 semester hours of credit – 22 more than the minimum required for graduation. Many USF accounting majors graduate with 150 hours by taking an extra class each semester and/or going to summer school. We encourage all our accounting majors to consider pursuing some type of certification after graduation.

Other types include the Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and certifications in forensic (fraud) accounting, financial planning, web security and information technology.

 

Learn more about the profession