SCHOOL OF
1040
ACCOUNTING
A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
THE ACCOUNTING PROFESSION ─ LARGE, IMPACTFUL, CHALLENGING AND REWARDING
Accounting touches every sector of the economy. Local, regional, national and global businesses
rely on accounting professionals to design and implement systems to protect and preserve core
business assets and processes, measure and evaluate performance, and analyze the economic
impact of business activity. They also reassure the marketplace about the integrity of financial
reports, and advise management regarding crucial business decisions as diverse as designing
the appropriate structure of compensation plans, valuation of merger or acquisition targets,
expansion of business activities both nationally and internationally, and everything in between. Integrity is a core principle of the accounting profession, which is why accountants are almost
universally the most trusted professionals in the business community. A reputation for integrity allows the professional accountant to be included in virtually every important decision that businesses make ─ people know they can trust their CPA with even the most sensitive information. Along with the hard-earned reputation for integrity, accountants benefit from the well-known intellectual challenge of the profession. Not only does certification require beginning accountants to demonstrate mastery of a broad, difficult and diverse body of knowledge, the complexity of the business environment in which we operate requires a lifelong devotion to learning in order to keep up with the evolving sophistication of the profession. Not surprisingly, given the importance of accounting across the entire spectrum of business activity, the accounting profession is unimaginably vast. The largest public accounting firms have global practices, with offices in every major city in the world. In fact, the aggregate revenues of just the four largest accounting firms are considerably larger than those of the world’s 100 largest law firms. With well over 100,000 accounting firms in the U.S. alone, the opportunities for accounting graduates are unlimited. For those interested in a career that offers constant variety, global opportunity, continuous technical and personal development, and the rewards associated with mastery of an endlessly challenging profession, this just might be the major for you. I invite you to explore the programs and opportunities available for students in the School of Accounting at the Rawls College of Business. Sincerely,
Robert Ricketts, Ph.D. Director, School of Accounting
OVERVIEW
POINTS OF PRIDE
The Rawls College of Business houses the first separately accredited School
• First separately accredited School of Accounting in Texas
of Accounting in Texas and one of only about 40 such schools nationwide. The School of Accounting provides a high-quality professional education to a diverse group of outstanding students who are in high demand by our recruiting partners. In addition to technical accounting skills, graduates of the program also master the communication and critical thinking skills necessary
• Influential alumni, including partners in public accounting firms, corporate executives and leading professors in the academy
for professional success in a variety of career paths. The Accounting Program is also one of only 168 programs in the U.S. that
• Specialized tracks in Taxation and Audit/Financial Reporting
is separately accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). These rigorous standards require a focus on continuous improvement through an emphasis on regular 360 degree assessment of inputs to and outcomes of the Accounting Program. As a result, students can be assured that they are receiving instruction that is current, relevant and supported by cutting-edge research conducted by faculty who are experts in their field. Graduates of our flagship 150-hour Program in Accounting are
• Unique faculty-led study abroad experience available for graduate and undergraduate students • Established internship program allowing students the opportunity to gain professional experience before graduating
recruited by the top firms in the accounting profession with opportunities to begin their careers in a variety of offices both nationally and internationally. Placement rates from the 150-hour Program have been at or near 100 percent for the past 25 years.
• Exceptional pass rates on the CPA exam for first-time test takers • 100% job placement rate for Master of Science in Accounting graduates with over 85% of students receiving job offers at least 18 months before graduation
RANKINGS U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT
BEST GRAD SCHOOLS #87 Rawls M.S.A. Program
Rawls M.S.A. P rogram
RANKED #29
RANKED TOP 10 NATIONALLY
by Public Accounting Report
123
by TaxTalent
ACCOUNTING AT A
GLANCE JOB PLACEMENT*
Accounting - 96.5% M.S.A. - 100% * as of December 2014
MAJOR ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS A or B in ACCT 2300 and 2301, A or B in ACCT 3304, 2.75 cumulative Texas Tech University GPA
STUDENT POPULATION Female - 49% Male - 51%
AVAILABLE TRACKS Taxation, Audit/Financial Reporting
POPULAR STUDY ABROAD OPTIONS AND FACULTY-LED PROGRAMS Australia, Italy, Czech Republic, Germany, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom View a full list of business study abroad programs at RawlsAbroad.com.
CAREERS Public Accounting
Corporate Accounting
Additional Areas
• Staff auditor • Tax staff • Consulting staff • Transaction tax
• Financial analysis • Internal audit • Treasury • Staff accountant
• Academia • Governmental accounting • Non-profit accounting
COMPANIES THAT HIRE • BDO
• Lockheed Martin
• ConocoPhillips
• Pioneer Natural Resources
• Deloitte
• PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Dixon Hughes
• Ryan, LLC
• EY
• Weaver
• Grant Thornton
• Wells Fargo
• KPMG
• Whitley Penn
PROGRAMS Ph.D. PROGRAM IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
CONCENTRATION IN ACCOUNTING
The academic accounting field is characterized by rapid change and increasing integration of accounting with other disciplines including economics, finance, management and statistics. The doctoral program offered by the School of Accounting is designed to train students to conduct interesting and timely empirical research, and to prepare them for successful academic careers. The typical doctoral program generally requires four years of work to complete beyond the master’s degree, during which the student must maintain continuous full-time enrollment. The doctoral curriculum consists of five accounting seminars, four statistics and/or econometric courses, several independent studies courses, and various electives selected to accommodate individual student’s research interests. Coursework normally takes two years to complete, after which written comprehensive qualifying examinations are taken in the accounting area. If the student elects to pursue a minor in a given area, sufficient hours in that area must also be completed and a separate comprehensive exam be successfully written. Students successfully completing the comprehensive exam(s) will be admitted into candidacy, during which time the dissertation will be developed and completed. Development and completion of the dissertation generally requires two years of intense work after entering candidacy. During students’ time in residence, they will also participate actively in research colloquia and workshops, and will present the results of their empirical research to the faculty and fellow doctoral students. Students typically work closely with the faculty in the conduct of research, with students actively involved in the design of studies, collection and analysis of data, and summarization of the results. We have faculty currently performing empirical research in all areas of accounting. Our faculty have published and are publishing their work in elite research journals, including The Accounting Review, Journal of Accounting Research, Journal of Financial Economics, Accounting, Organizations and Society, Contemporary Accounting Research, and Review of Accounting Studies. As such, the School of Accounting is able to provide students with a challenging and rewarding environment in which they work closely with faculty, whatever their fields of interest.
“The best part of the School of Accounting’s Ph.D. program is the faculty. The professors go beyond teaching technical skills and really take the time to mentor each student on how to achieve a rewarding career in academia. Faculty-student collaborations in the program are very common and extremely helpful in getting promising working papers in the ‘pipeline’ before graduation. My ‘pipeline’ of working papers with Texas Tech co-authors helped me secure a tenure-track position at Clemson University. I continue to work with colleagues from Texas Tech and always think fondly of my time in Lubbock and at the Rawls College.” - Nancy Harp, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, College of Business and Behavioral Science, Clemson University Ph.D. in Business Administration (concentration in Accounting), 2012
“The knowledge I've gained from the 150-hour Program has been directly applicable to my internship experience. On the first day, I was asked to use a system I'd used in my audit class. The most beneficial thing I've gained from this program has been confidence. Even during the first week of my internship, I was able to answer questions and keep up with all of the accounting lingo. The professors I had took an interest both in me personally and in my ability to hold my own with professionals who have been working for years.� - Taylor Holcomb, 150-hour Program (Audit), El Paso, Texas
150-hour Program OVERVIEW
The 150-hour Program in Accounting equips students with a thorough understanding of core accounting knowledge, augmented with advanced study in either the Taxation or Audit/Financial Reporting tracks. The program integrates the undergraduate and graduate curricula, allowing students to earn both a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Accounting in a combined 150 hours of study. Upon successful completion of the program, students are prepared to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination and begin careers in public accounting.
REQUIREMENTS
Audit/Financial Reporting Track
Advanced Accounting
+
Advanced Income Taxation Accounting Ethics in Accounting Advanced Business Law Graduate Elective Professional Accountancy (Capstone)
Advanced Auditing Systems Auditing Research & Communication Financial Statement Analysis
or
+ Taxation Track
Required Undergraduate Business Coursework
Accounting Core
Tax Research Estate & Gift Tax Partnership Tax International Tax
“The taxation track has been challenging but also more rewarding than I ever would have imagined. Thanks to the program, I gained the knowledge and confidence I needed to land a great job in public accounting in Fort Worth after graduation. I have passed three of the CPA exams and am working on the fourth one currently. I can trace much of my success thus far to my education. The greatest part about the taxation track and the Rawls College overall is that the professors don’t just make in difference at the classroom; the professors go above and beyond for their students to help them succeed.” ─ Rachele Reagan, 150-hour Program (Taxation), Goliad, Texas
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ACCOUNTING Students can earn a Master of Science in Accounting through the Rawls College in four ways. They can either pursue the 150-hour Program in Accounting, earning both a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in five years; participate in the Integrated Program with Austin College; enroll in the master’s program if they have a bachelor's degree in business from an accredited institution; or pursue a dual degree with the Texas Tech School of Law to earn a Juris Doctorate and Master of Science in Accounting degree simultaneously.
OPTIONS FOR PURSUING A MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ACCOUNTING (M.S.A.) First 2 Years
150-hour Program
Integrated Program TTU/Austin College
Master of Science in Accounting
University Core & Lower Division Business Coursework Requirements
Junior Year Fall: • Begin upper division coursework • Professional Seminar Spring: • Apply to the M.S.A. Program • Meet the Firms Summer: • Begin graduate coursework
First three years required coursework at Austin College Begin graduate coursework during the summer term at Texas Tech
Senior Year Fall: Continue undergraduate and begin graduate coursework Spring: Internship and compressed graduate course(s) Summer: Complete undergraduate and continue graduate coursework
Complete undergraduate coursework requirements
Fall: Complete 150-hour Program requirements, except for capstone Spring: Capstone course
Fall: Graduate coursework Spring: Graduate coursework Summer: Capstone course
Choose an option.
Fall: Graduate coursework
Option 1: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from an accredited institution
Spring: Graduate coursework
Option 2: Bachelor’s degree from another field from an accredited institution •Plus required leveling courses in Accounting
J.D./M.S.A. Program
Graduate Year
Option 3: Non-business bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution •Plus required leveling courses in business •Plus required leveling courses in Accounting
Summer: Capstone course
Graduate coursework in Accounting and Law Fall: Graduate coursework Spring: Graduate coursework Summer: Capstone course
M.S. IN ACCOUNTING Students who already have a bachelor’s in Accounting, either from Texas Tech or another accredited institution, may apply to the Master of Science in Accounting program. Students admitted to the M.S.A. Program take the same graduate coursework as those in the 150-hour Program. Their professional opportunities and record of success after graduation is the same.
INTEGRATED PROGRAM TTU/AUSTIN COLLEGE Students apply to the integrated program during their junior year of study at Austin College. Ultimate admission to the program is based upon performance in introductory graduate coursework taken on the Texas Tech campus in the summer before senior year. Courses taken that summer count toward the requirements for the undergraduate degree at Austin College and the M.S.A. degree from Texas Tech.
J.D./M.S.A. PROGRAM The School of Accounting also offers a dual degree with the Texas Tech School of Law in which students apply 12 hours of graduate coursework in Accounting toward the requirements for the J.D. degree and 12 hours of Law courses toward the requirements for an M.S.A. degree. To be eligible for this program, students must first be admitted to the TTU School of Law. Once admitted, students can enroll in the dual program.
BEYOND THE
CLASSROOM THE ACCOUNTING LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
Accounting students develop strong relationships with the professional community well before graduation. Students can join the Accounting Leadership Council (ALC) once they begin taking accounting courses. The ALC introduces students to working professionals from both public accounting and private industry. These interactions enable students to develop an understanding of the responsibilities of the accounting profession, to understand the importance of integrity, and to learn more about career paths available to accounting students.
“The Accounting Leadership Council allows students to network with potential employers, faculty and staff, and peers within the School of Accounting. I enjoy being a part of ALC for many reasons, but I believe the fun social and networking events stand out above all. We have multiple intramural sports teams, participate in many volunteering events, and host a networking tailgate during football season.” ─ Katie Merriman, 150-Hour Program (Audit), Georgetown, Texas
MEET THE FIRMS Every spring semester, the School of Accounting and the Rawls Career Management Center host “Meet the Firms,” an on-site recruiting event attended by the top public accounting firms in the country. During Meet the Firms, accounting students in their junior year have the opportunity to interview for internship positions for the spring or summer semesters for the following (senior) year.
STUDENT INTERNSHIPS “My internship gave me the experience and confidence to pursue my goals as an accountant. I was given an opportunity to test existing accounting knowledge learned in class while applying real-world trends in the industry. My favorite part of the internship included the networking. I trained with interns and worked alongside staff while collaborating with clients on the site. I believe the best way to grow yourself in the business world today is through networking, and I credit this opportunity to the School of Accounting.” ─ Andy Wearden, 150-hour Program (Audit), Dallas, Texas PwC Assurance Intern, Spring 2015
“While interning with KPMG, I learned the tax process from the beginning to delivery to the client, and all of the steps in between. I've become experienced at seeing the big picture. Honestly, the best thing about interning is interacting with my team and the client. The School of Accounting and the Rawls College have helped me get an understanding of the tax process, but more importantly be able to interact with everyone and build lasting relationships.” ─ Regan Head, 150-hour Program (Taxation), Snyder, Texas KPMG Tax Intern, Spring 2015
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE There are a number of study abroad options for accounting students. Many experiences are available as early as their sophomore or junior years. The School of Accounting hosts faculty-led study abroad programs in Prague, Czech Republic, and Rome, Italy. Both undergraduate and graduate students have the opportunity to take one or two courses toward their degrees while experiencing another culture. All study abroad courses are led by outstanding faculty, and the international experience is a valued addition to student résumés. Additionally, accounting students can travel to various other countries around the world – including Australia, Germany, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates – to fulfill their accounting credits.
ITALY
AUSTRALIA
ENGLAND
NEW ZEALAND
CZECH REPUBLIC
IRELAND
Box 42101 | Lubbock, TX 79409 - 2101 Phone: 806.834.3181 | Email: ba_accounting@ttu.edu | Web: accounting.ba.ttu.edu
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