Accounting

Accounting Home | Courses | Curriculum | Contact Information

Accounting is recognized as the "language of business" and accountants as lifelines of the business world. The Department of Accounting focuses specifically on the preparation of accounting majors for a professional career in accounting - not only in the more traditional fields of auditing, income tax, managerial accounting and not-for-profit accounting but also in newly emerging specialized fields such as fraud examination and systems analysis.

Career Opportunities

The profession of accountancy offers a challenging and exciting career. A degree in accounting opens the doors to a wide variety of career opportunities that are in high demand in today’s environment many of which are described in the Department’s brochure “A Brief Guide to Career Opportunities in Accounting.”

The demand for entry level accountants results in starting salaries that rank among the top
for college graduates. Salaries for accountants are stable and continue to rise steadily each year with additional certifications such as the CPA (Certified Public Accountant), the CMA (Certified Management Accountant) and the CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) increasing a candidate’s base salary by an average of 10 percent.

Faculty

The faculty members of the Department of Accounting are uniquely qualified to provide each accounting major with an education of the highest caliber. With diverse backgrounds in academia, industry, and public accounting, the faculty brings a wealth of experience and scholarly research to the Department and creates a professional atmosphere, which enhances learning. Of the nine full-time accounting faculty, six hold doctorates in accounting and seven are Certified Public Accountants.

Student Organizations

Accounting Society membership provides all accounting majors with the opportunity to interact with other students, faculty members, and professional accountants. Society members are encouraged to become involved not only with professional accounting activities, but also with all facets of campus and community life. Beta Alpha Psi is the honorary accounting fraternity whose membership is based on high scholastic performance. Membership in the organization provides junior and senior accounting majors another opportunity for professional growth and helps them develop the leadership and accounting skills necessary for a successful career in professional accounting. Members of Beta Alpha Psi staff an on-campus tutoring service that aids students enrolled in Introductory Accounting. In addition, members volunteer annually to prepare income tax returns through the IRS VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program.

Curriculum

The curriculum provides accounting majors with the basic conceptual framework of accounting, as well as offering a program consisting of a high level of specialized training necessary for a successful career as an accountant. Required courses in other business areas and courses in the arts, humanities, sciences, and communications provide students with the broad educational background needed in today's business world. Students completing the 125-hour undergraduate program are awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Upon completion of an additional 25 hours of study, the student meets the educational requirement of 150 hours currently set forth by the Louisiana State Board of Certified Public Accountants to sit for the CPA Examination. In addition, UL Lafayette's accounting graduates possess the educational prerequisites to sit for the Certified Management Accounting Exam (CMA) and the Certified Internal Auditor Exam (CIA).