WSU Tri-Cities Major in Accounting (ACCTG)
WSU Tri-Cities offers a Business Administration major in Accounting. Accounting is the analysis and communication of financial information for businesses and organizations. Accountants are experts in auditing, taxation, and financial reporting. They advise others about financial decisions and accounting information systems.
In addition to the GER requirements and CBE prerequisite and business core course requirements the following courses are required to major in Accounting for students certified Fall 2010 or later:
Required Accounting courses
- Acctg 330 Intermediate Accounting
- Acctg 331 Intermediate Accounting II
- Acctg 335 Intro to Taxation
- Acctg 338 Cost Accounting
- Acctg 433 [M] Accounting Systems & Auditing
- Acctg 439 [M] Auditing
Plus two (2) of the following
- Any 400 level Accounting course*
- Any 300 or 400 level MIS or Finance Course*
- BLaw (MgtOp) 487 Business Ethics
* May not include courses from the BA core, the set of required Acctg courses, or any 498 or 499 courses. Additional Accounting courses that may be available at WSU Tri-Cities include Acctg 438 (Advanced Cost Accounting) and Acctg 435 (Individual Income Taxes). Available Finance and MIS courses include: Fin 425 [M] (Intermediate Financial Management); MIS 322 [M] (Enterprise Business Process Analysis); MIS 372 [M] (Database Management); MIS 374 (Information Technology Infrastructure and Security); MIS 420 (Business Intelligence); MIS 441 (Global E-Commerce); MIS 448 (Global IS Project Management).
NOTE: Students should consult the General Catalog for course planning and must meet course requirements as outlined in the General Catalog in order to graduate.
Careers in Accounting
An undergraduate degree with a major in accounting prepares students for a successful career in the public, corporate, not-for-profit, and government sectors. Accounting graduates become certified public accountants (CPAs), chief financial officers, company controllers, auditors, tax specialists, consultants, budget and finance experts, agents with the FBI and IRS, general managers, and more. Fortune 500 companies, Big Four accounting firms, local and regional accounting firms, government agencies, and private corporations are eager to hire Washington State University accounting majors for internships and for career positions in such areas as auditing, taxation, budgeting, and consulting.
Salaries
In 2004-5, new graduates in accounting with bachelor's and master's degrees had starting salaries of $40-58,000. Salaries increase quickly with experience. Partners in Big Four accounting firms frequently earn more than $500,000 annually. Ph.D.'s earn $95-175,000 per academic year as faculty in large universities.
Advising
For questions about the ACCTG major requirements or to schedule an advising appointment:
Kristen Wilson
Undergraduate Business Advisor
kristenwilson@tricity.wsu.edu
509-372-7614