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Accounting

All programs offered by the Foster College of Business, Bradley University, are accredited by the AACSB International: The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

FACULTY: Professors Petravick (chair); Associate Professors Kerr, Troutman; Assistant Professors Adams, Benco; Instructors Johnson, Wayvon; Visiting Instructors Browning, Longfellow.

Accounting Major

The mission of the Department of Accounting is to prepare students for productive and satisfying careers. The highest priority of the department is to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to commence and continue their careers. Our undergraduate program meets the needs of students seeking accounting careers in private industry and the public sector and, additionally, lays the foundation for those seeking careers in public practice. Our Master of Science in Accounting program is designed both for students entering public practice and for experienced accountants desiring to further their education. Graduates should be productive, act ethically, and be responsible citizens in social and economic communities, which are becoming increasingly dynamic and interdependent.

Accounting is an extremely flexible major. Our students not only learn about accounting principles but also study business and technology concepts. This broad training opens diverse career paths. Many of our graduates accept positions with public accounting firms and corporations. However, an accounting degree will also allow movement into finance, information systems, management, or consulting positions. An accounting degree helps a student look beyond the numbers to assist both people and businesses with shaping their financial futures. Accounting majors may also consider earning a concentration in Internal Auditing, a 12-hour program.

To ensure that tomorrow’s professionals can meet the challenges of these new roles, many professional organizations have revised educational requirements. For example, nearly all states now or will require CPA exam candidates to have 150 hours of education. In response to these changes, the Department of Accounting has identified three paths to obtain at least 150 hours: (1) graduate with 150 undergraduate hours, (2) graduate with a Master of Science in Accounting, or (3) graduate with a Master of Business Administration. See the Graduate Catalog or the Foster College of Business web site (bradley.edu/fcba) for information about the Master of Science in Accounting or the MBA.

The Department of Accounting also offers an integrated Bachelor's (BS or BA) and Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) degree. In this integrated program (commonly referred to as a 3:2 program), students can take coursework after they have senior status and designate to which degree that coursework will apply. Courses can be used in only one degree, and only appropriate courses can be applied to the MSA. Combining pursuit of the BS or BA degree with the MSA degree offers students three major advantages: greater availability of financial aid, earlier guarantee of admission to the graduate program, and more flexibility in the sequencing of classes.

Admission to the 3:2 program is available when students are initially admitted to Bradley University or during their junior year. The Graduate Catalog provides a complete description of the 3:2 program’s requirements.

Whether a student is in the 3:2 program or not, to complete an undergraduate degree with a major in accounting, a student must earn 30 semester hours of accounting course credit beyond the Foster College of Business Administration’s requirement of ATG 157 and ATG 158.

Courses required for all accounting majors (30 hours of accounting)

  • ATG 201 Accounting Principles—Accounting Techniques (1 hour)
  • ATG 203 Research and Analysis in Accounting (2 hours)
  • ATG 204 Cost Accounting
  • ATG 268 Business Ethics
  • ATG 301 Intermediate Accounting I
  • ATG 302 Intermediate Accounting II
  • ATG 383 Accounting Systems and Control
  • ATG 401 Advanced Accounting I
  • ATG 457 Auditing
  • ATG 477 Federal Taxes I
  • Accounting Elective (3 hours)

Courses which may be used to fulfill the remaining three-semester-hour accounting elective

  • ATG 485 Special Topics in Accounting
  • ATG 501 Advanced Accounting II
  • ATG 514 Advanced Managerial Accounting
  • ATG 526 Fraud Examination
  • ATG 547 Internal Auditing
  • ATG 561 International Accounting Issues
  • ATG 583 Accounting Information Systems
  • ATG 585 Contemporary Issues in Accounting
  • ATG 590 Professional Accounting Problems
  • BMA 345 Law of Business

Accounting majors also must satisfy the following requirements:

  1. A 2.0 GPA in all accounting courses beyond ATG 157, 158, and 201.
  2. A minimum of 9 semester hours of upper-level accounting course work in residence.

Other electives/requirements

  • Junior/Senior Economics Elective Course - 3 hrs.
  • ENG 306 Business Communications - 3 hrs.

Suggested Course Sequencing

Students are advised to seek and follow faculty recommendations concerning the selection of courses to meet their career objectives. Elective courses should be chosen with care to ensure that the University general education and FCB requirements are met. Please note that 6 hours of PSY and/or SOC are needed to fulfill the FCB behavioral science requirement.

Requirements for Professional Certification

The bachelor's degree provides the educational background for many entry-level accounting positions. Students with this degree will have the necessary educational requirements for the CMA and CIA exams. Students will also have earned 124 hours of the 150 hours needed to sit for the CPA exam in those states requiring 150 credit hours. Students may earn the remaining hours needed for the CPA exam by obtaining a Master of Science in Accounting degree or other graduate degree, such as the Master of Business Administration, or by taking additional undergraduate classes. Students should consult with their advisors and their State Boards of Accountancy for the exact requirements.

Student Organizations

Membership in the Bradley Accounting Club (BAC) is available to all accounting majors. This organization conducts a variety of social and educational activities uniting accounting students, faculty, and staff. Beta Alpha Psi, the national honorary accounting organization, strives to promote scholastic and professional achievement through lectures, career-oriented events, campus and community service, and social activities. A minimum GPA is required. See the Beta Alpha Psi advisor for information.

Internship and Co-op Programs

Opportunities are available for qualified students to obtain on-the-job experience in either corporate or public accounting through internship and co-op programs. The programs involve multiple work experiences and are generally started during the student’s sophomore or junior year. Students interested in the programs should contact the Foster College of Business Co-op Coordinator as early as possible.

Concentration In Internal Auditing

Internal auditors are employees of organizations who are responsible for evaluating corporate governance, risk management, and internal control activities. Since internal auditing touches nearly every aspect of an organization, it provides a tremendous opportunity for students to launch their careers because of the breadth of exposure they will receive. Students who have declared an undergraduate accounting major may take 12 hours of course work in order to receive a concentration in internal auditing.

Requirements

Three 3-hour courses:

  • ATG 530 Professional Interviewing Skills – 3 hrs.
  • ATG 547 Internal Auditing – 3 hrs.
  • ATG 548 Computer Assisted Audit Techniques – 3 hrs.

One 3-hour elective:

Students are required to take one three-hour elective supporting the practice of internal auditing. This elective must be approved by the coordinator of the Internal Audit Education Partnership Program.

Additional Requirements:

  • Students must maintain a GPA of 2.50 or better and have no single grade below “C” for the required and elective courses in the concentration.
  • Students must sit for at least one part of a certification exam applicable to internal auditing before graduation. These can be the:
    • Certified Internal Auditor’s exam offered by the Institute of Internal Auditors,
    • Certified Public Accountant’s exam,
    • Certified Information Systems Auditor’s exam, or
    • Certified Fraud Examiner’s exam.

Minor In Internal Auditing

Internal auditors are employees of organizations who are responsible for evaluating corporate governance, risk management, and internal control activities. Since internal auditing touches nearly every aspect of an organization, it provides a tremendous opportunity for students to launch their careers because of the breadth of exposure they will receive. The primary objective of the minor in internal auditing is to prepare business students for entry-level and higher positions in internal auditing. Students completing the minor in internal auditing will meet the academic requirements needed to sit for the Certified Internal Auditor’s (CIA) exam, the premier certification for internal auditing professionals.

The minor requires 16 hours. At least 13 hours in courses must be unique from those used to fulfill the student’s major requirements. At least 10 of the 16 required hours must be completed at Bradley University.

Requirements

  • Completion of a Foster College of Business major. The minor in internal auditing is not open to accounting majors. Students must have an overall GPA of at least 2.5 based on courses completed at Bradley University.
  • Completion of ATG 157 and ATG 158, with a GPA of 2.50 or better.
  • Required courses:
    • ATG 201 Accounting Principles – Accounting Techniques - 1 hr.
    • ATG 204 Cost Accounting - 3 hrs.
    • ATG 301 Intermediate Accounting I - 3 hrs.
    • ATG 383 Accounting Systems and Control - 3 hrs.
    • ATG 547 Internal Auditing – 3 hrs.
  • Elective course (Choose one of the following):
    • ATG 485 Special Topics in Accounting – 3 hrs. (provided the course is focused on internal auditing)
    • ATG 526 Fraud Examination – 3 hrs.
    • ATG 530 Professional Interviewing Skills – 3 hrs.
    • ATG 548 Computer Assisted Audit Techniques – 3 hrs.

Additional Requirements

  • Required and elective courses for the Internal Auditing Minor must be completed with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 with no grades lower than a C.
  • Sit for at least one part of a certification exam applicable to internal auditing before graduation. This can be the:
    • Certified Internal Auditor’s exam offered by the Institute of Internal Auditors,
    • Certified Public Accountant’s exam,
    • Certified Information Systems Auditor’s exam,
    • or the Certified Fraud Examiner’s exam.

This is the official catalog for the 2013-2014 academic year. This catalog serves as a contract between a student and Bradley University. Should changes in a program of study become necessary prior to the next academic year every effort will be made to keep students advised of any such changes via the Dean of the College or Chair of the Department concerned, the Registrar's Office, u.Achieve degree audit system, and the Schedule of Classes. It is the responsibility of each student to be aware of the current program and graduation requirements for particular degree programs.