School of Accountancy

Gwen R. Pate, Director
118 College Drive, Box 5178
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.4641

N. Adkins, M. Anderson, P. Beck, J. Brown, A. Cole, B. Granger, A. Hatten, S. Jackson, M. Leach, M. Liu, P. Parker, G. Pate, K. Raulston, V. Simmons, L. Smith, W. Smith, R. Wilson

Mission

Supporting the missions of The University of Southern Mississippi and the College of Business, 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 accounting 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 accounting 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 Accounting examination. See the Graduate Bulletin for MPA admission and curriculum requirements.

The accounting program also provides quality accounting education to non-accounting students who choose to increase their knowledge of accounting.

School of Accountancy faculty are actively engaged in academic, professional and pedagogical research to advance the accounting discipline, the accounting profession and accounting education. Through research and professional development, accounting faculty continuously hone their professional skills while ensuring curricular material is both current and relevant. Faculty also fulfill institutional and professional service responsibilities and establish and maintain close ties with accounting firms located within the Gulf South region, thereby enabling the School of Accountancy to better serve this important constituency.

Additional Information

A grade of C or better in all accounting courses is required for graduation.

Accounting majors initially enrolling in the 2010-11 catalog year and thereafter will be allowed two attempts to make a grade of C or better in ACC 300 and 400 level courses. An attempt includes any withdrawal after the last day to drop without academic penalty. Two unsuccessful attempts to pass an accounting course with a grade of C or better will result in disenrollment from the Accounting program. Students disenrolled as a result of this process may petition to the Director of the School of Accountancy for reinstatement to the program; petition for reinstatement must cite the reasons such consideration should be granted.

All students (both undergraduate and graduate) planning to enroll in ACC 325 - Intermediate Accounting I , must pass the Principles of Accounting Competency Examination (PACE) prior to the last day to register for a full-semester class in order to remain enrolled in ACC 325 . Upon enrolling in ACC 325 , students will have access to a special PACE Canvas site that provides information about the PACE and learning materials to prepare for it. The PACE exam will be offered a number of times prior to the first day of classes and a final time before the last “add” date. The scheduled test times will be posted on the PACE Canvas site as soon as they are determined.

The School of Accountancy offers an opportunity for undergraduate students to intern with a public accounting firm during the first half of the Spring semester of their senior year. During the first half of the Spring semester, interning students are away from campus as full-time interns, earning 6 credit hours in ACC 392 (Internship). During the second half of the Spring semester, interning students return to campus and enroll in two compressed accounting core courses (6 credit hours). To accommodate this internship opportunity, students planning to seek internships must enroll in the College of Business capstone course, MGT 400 , during the Fall semester of their senior year. Students desiring internship opportunities should work closely with the School’s internship coordinator as well as the accounting academic advisor. More information regarding internships may be found on the Internship Program web page.

Computer Requirements

All business majors are required to own a laptop computer. Computer specifications are available on CoB website at www.usm.edu/business/computer-requirement.

Programs

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration