THE HOLISTIC EXPERIENCE TOWARD A LIFE WELL-LIVED CAN START WITH a rewarding career in accounting

Students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate accounting degree from the Knauss School of Business benefit from a holistic approach to education that combines classroom instruction with opportunities to learn and grow through internships, professional networking, career fairs and regular exposure to a wide range of public, private and non-profit organizations.

This holistic approach stems from an accomplished faculty team that views student success as its primary goal and highest achievement.

20 events of this type are staged each semester, providing students an easy-access way to explore a variety of career options and develop critical skills.

Faculty members create international networking opportunities as well. They invite professionals from other countries to visit the campus as guest speakers and instructors. A recent visit included the accounting team from Italy’s largest electric utility. Graduate students in the masters of accountancy (MACC) program have the opportunity to visit major accounting firms in Paris and Rome each summer.

Students can explore local, regional and national employment possibilities through the department’s employer recruitment program that runs a full month each semester and includes two career fairs. Accounting students also have access to a dedicated Student Professional Development Manager who maintains extensive connections with potential employers and serves as a career advisor, working with students to hone their interview skills and target jobs in industries or organizations that interest them. With all these readily available resources, many students obtain internships and permanent placements well before graduation, some as early as the sophomore year.

The investment in student success even extends a er graduation as students are encouraged to stay in touch with professors to celebrate professional achievements or seek out career advice.

Faculty members also maintain strong connections to major accounting firms and work many hours each semester with the student Accounting Society and Beta Alpha Psi to schedule presentations where students receive career advice and learn professional skills from working accountants, many of whom are alumni. Up to

Faculty members work diligently to create learning experiences that go beyond the technical aspects of accounting. They help students explore big-picture concepts that foster critical thinking so that students can contribute to an organization’s overall strategic vision. Lessons like these prepare USD students to have a seat at the decision table where they can advance their careers, achieve success and make meaningful contributions to their communities.