School of Accountancy

K.E. “Skip” Hughes II, Director
118 College Drive, Box 5178
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.4641

N. Adkins, M. Anderson, J. Brown, M. Dugan, B. Granger, K. Hughes, S. Jackson, C. Jordan, S. Mark, P. Munn, P. Parker, G. Pate, R. Posey, V. Simmons, W. Smith

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 level programs. This educational experience includes mastering associated business and communication skills, 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 needed to ensure that graduates of the program possess the skills necessary to succeed in these organizations.

As the knowledge required to practice accounting is expanding rapidly, qualified students are encouraged to consider pursuing 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 scholarly, professional and pedagogical research to extend the knowledge boundaries of the accounting discipline while maintaining currency of their academic qualifications as well as the School’s curriculum. Faculty also fulfill institutional and professional service responsibilities, establishing and maintaining close ties to public accounting firms located within the Gulf South region, thereby enabling the School of Accountancy to better serve this important constituency.

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 (i.e., an attempt includes “WP”). 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 Blackboard 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 Blackboard site as soon as they are determined. Students must register through the School of Accountancy at least 24 hours in advance to take the PACE.

Programs

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Accounting, B.S.B.A.