School of Accountancy

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Mission

Supporting the missions of the University of Southern Mississippi and the College of Business and Economic Development, the School of Accountancy has its own unique mission.

The School of Accountancy’s mission is to provide a quality educational experience for accounting students in the Gulf South region enrolled in the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree level programs. This educational experience includes mastering technical skills and professional competencies, and extends beyond the classroom to include interacting with the accounting and business community. An integral part of this mission is to prepare students for launching a successful career in the accounting profession.

To accomplish this mission, the SoA strives to produce BSBA graduates who are competent in entry-level business and accounting positions, and have the educational background necessary for advancement in public, corporate, and governmental accounting organizations. The curriculum includes the breadth and depth of business and accounting knowledge as well as the professional skills needed to ensure that graduates of the program possess the competencies necessary to succeed in these organizations.

As the knowledge required to practice accounting is expanding rapidly, qualified students are encouraged to pursue a fifth year of study leading to a Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA). The BSBA curriculum is integrated with the MPA program. MPA graduates are especially prepared for careers in public accounting, and meet the course and credit hour requirements to sit for the nationally administered Certified Public Accountant examination. Enrollment in the school’s MPA program is limited to those students who show a high probability of success.

Admission to the Program

Admission requirements and procedures are the same as for the MBA program with a few exceptions. The following MPA applicants qualify for a test score waiver: (1) Applicants who have previously earned a Master’s degree or higher; (2) Applicants who have previously passed the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam; (3) Applicants who have demonstrated strong academic performance in their undergraduate accounting curriculum, as evidenced by earning a Bachelor’s degree while achieving a minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0, along with a minimum Accounting GPA of 3.0, from a university accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The likelihood of admission to the MPA program is not impacted by managerial work experience.

Graduation and Retention Standards

Graduation and retention standards for the MPA program are the same as those listed for the MBA program.

Continuous Enrollment Requirement: Students must meet the requirement specified in the front section of this Bulletin.

Programs

• Master of Professional Accountancy MPA

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