Degree
- Bachelor of Business Administration https://www.stmarytx.edu/academics/programs/accounting/ https://www.stmarytx.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/accounting-400×420-1.png
Department
Accounting at St. Mary’s
The Accounting program at St. Mary’s University provides students with the professional and technical knowledge necessary for careers in the growing fields of accounting, auditing and financial management.
In addition to various professional pathways, becoming an accountant can open the door to ever-growing areas like sustainability, entrepreneurism and financial technology. Our comprehensive, well-balanced approach to teaching includes extensive faculty-student engagement in and out of the classroom.
Our faculty are dedicated to the academic and professional growth of our students. Our strong connections with alumni and area employers, coupled with our substantial engagement with the community, translates into student opportunities for internships and job placement.
Institute of Management Accountants Endorsement
The Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) Higher Education Endorsement Program identifies business curricula that meet the quality educational standards required to enable students to earn the CMA® (Certified Management Accountant) designation. IMA’s globally-recognized CMA program is a relevant assessment of advanced accounting and financial management knowledge in areas such as financial planning, analysis, control and decision support — each of which is increasingly critical in meeting the changing needs of business and, therefore, essential learning for students of accounting and finance.
To qualify for endorsement by IMA, schools must meet the following criteria:
- The program must substantially cover the CMA exam content;
- The program must have adequate faculty resources to deliver this content;
- The program must be accredited by a recognized accreditation organization and
- A faculty member must be designated as an IMA Campus Advocate.
Become a CPA
The State of Texas has recently changed CPA examination educational requirements. Students may take the examination after completion of the 120-credit-hour B.B.A., although final licensure requires completion of a total of 150 credit hours. These additional hours may be earned by adding a minor, a second major or by transitioning into the 150-credit-hour major in Accounting and Data Analytics.
Degree Plan
The B.B.A. in Accounting at St. Mary’s fulfills 120 credit hours of the 150 credit hours required by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy CPA exam and 27 credit hours of the 30 credit hours of upper-division Accounting courses required by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy CPA exam.
It also satisfies all Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam requirements for business-related courses, to include ethics, research and communications.
Courses
Our ethics, research and communications courses are approved by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy.
Highlighted courses include:
- Accounting Information Systems
- Auditing
- Business Law
- Cost Accounting
- Intermediate Accounting I, II, II
- Personal Income Tax
- Research in Federal Taxation
What can I do with a degree in Accounting?
Hands-On Experience with Internships
Students in the Accounting program have obtained internships and job opportunities at the following organizations, among many others:
- ATKG
- CliftonLarsonAllen
- Ernst & Young
- Frost Bank
- Liberty Mutual
- Prudential Financial
- Valero Energy
Access Valuable Career Opportunities
The Accounting program at St. Mary’s prepares students for numerous career opportunities. Our recent graduates have found success in the following roles:
- Corporate accounting
- Financial management and analysis
- Financial statement auditing
- Forensic accounting and fraud examination
- Government and not-for-profit accounting
- Information systems auditing and security
- Management consulting
- Public accounting
- Tax compliance and planning
St. Mary’s provided a platform for me to interact with different people from various cultures and backgrounds. From Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas to the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, there were many opportunities I took part in that strengthened my foundation to be of service to others.”
Jose Placencia (B.B.A. ’10)
Outside the Classroom
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
In the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, students and faculty volunteer thousands of hours each year to assist low-income families in our community.
Accounting Club
The St. Mary’s University Accounting Club provides students with networking opportunities with businesses and organizations that regularly recruit on campus, such as Valero, NuStar Energy, USAA, EY, KPMG, ATKG LLP, PwC, RSM, Sol Schwartz & Associates, Frost Bank, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and many others.
Faculty
-
Thomas Madison, Ph.D., CPA (TX – Ret.) Chair of the Department of Accounting -
Ying “Caroline” Chen, D.B.A., CPA, CMA Assistant Professor of Accounting -
Teri Grimmer, D.B.A. Assistant Professor of Accounting -
Suzanne Oliva, LL.M., CPA Assistant Professor of Business Law -
Mark B. Persellin, Ph.D., CPA (TX), CFP Professor of Accounting -
Kent W. Royalty, LL.M. Emil C. E. Jurica Distinguished Professor of Accounting
Similar Programs
Accounting and Data Analytics
- Bachelor of Business Administration https://www.stmarytx.edu/academics/programs/accounting/ https://www.stmarytx.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/accounting-400×420-1.png
Finance and Risk Management
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