Department of Accounting

Chair and Associate Professor: S. Watson (PhD/CPA), 450-5311
Professor: K. Atkinson (PhD/CPA), P. Jensen (DBA/CPA), T. Oxner (PhD/CPA), P. Spikes (PhD/CPA)
Associate Professor: C. McKnight (PhD/CPA)
Assistant Professor: A. McMullen (JD), K. Oxner (DBA/CPA), A. Phillips (JD/LLM)
Senior Lecturer: L. Young (MAcc/CPA)
Lecturer I: S. Nelson (MBA/CPA)

[1] Objectives

The objective of the curriculum is to provide students with a theoretical foundation such that they will be prepared to become life-long learners who can evolve professionally in a dynamic business environment. Accounting graduates are prepared for entry-level positions in public accounting, private industry and not-for-profit organizations as well as entry into graduate programs in accounting, business administration, or law.

[2] Honors in Accounting

[Jump to Recognition of Academic Achievement for general information about Honors in the Majors.]

Seniors, with the consent of the department chair and their advisor, having a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and 3.25 in the major, may participate in the Honors in Accounting program. The student will be required to complete ACCT 4390, which consists of a research paper and presentation based on individual study under the direction of a member of the accounting faculty. Successful completion of this program will allow the student to graduate with honors.

[3] Baccalaureate Degree: Bachelor of Business Administration

The degree of Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in accounting requires successful completion of 120 hours including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements (see the UCA Core requirements) and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using designated BBA foundation, core, and major courses; (2) the BBA foundation and core requirements; (3) the major requirements listed below; and (4) electives to bring total credit hours to 120.

[3.1] Major in Accounting (24 hours)

The major in accounting consists of twenty-four (24) hours of upper-division accounting courses including:

Note* Accounting majors take ACCT 3320 Accounting Information Systems in place of MIS 3321 [UD UCA Core: R] and ACCT 4315 Advanced Cost Accounting in place of MGMT 3344 in the Business Core.

A minimum of a 2.0 GPA is required overall, in the Business foundation and core, and in the major.

[3.2] Minor in Accounting (18 hours)

The minor in accounting requires eighteen (18) unique hours (i.e., these 18 hours may not be used for any other major or minor). The Accounting minor includes five required courses plus a sixth course chosen from an approved list:

Required Courses (15 hours):

Choose one of the following courses (3 hours):

ACCT 3312 Intermediate Accounting II
ACCT 4304 Government/Not-for-profit Accounting
ACCT 4315 Advanced Cost Accounting
ACCT 4316 Advanced Income Tax

[4] CPA Exam Preparation

To qualify to sit for the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination, candidates must complete 120 semester hours of course work. In order to receive a CPA Certificate in Arkansas, a candidate must have 150 hours of course work. Handouts are available in the Department of Accounting that describe these requirements. Many students who plan on becoming CPAs elect to earn a Master of Accountancy to complete the 150 hour requirement. In addition, students must earn a C or better in all courses that are used to satisfy the 30-hour accounting component of the CPA Exam requirements.

[5] Courses in Accounting (ACCT)

Follow this link for ACCT course descriptions: course link.