The accounting program molds individuals into financial experts. Graduates work as business consultants, financial managers, independent auditors, and tax advisors. McIntire’s accounting program is widely recognized as one of the country’s best, and graduates are highly sought. The program builds on the broad liberal arts background acquired during a student’s first two years at the University. It is designed to give the student both a sound general business foundation and the analytical and conceptual skills essential to an understanding of current accounting practices.
Accountants supply quantitative information to various users. Primarily financial in nature, this information is essential to decision making and control. As corporate financial managers, they also participate in financial decisions that allocate scarce resources within and among private and public organizations to achieve both economic and social goals. Equally important, accounting provides information to investors, creditors, government, and society on management’s stewardship and the effective use of an organization’s resources. Independent certified public accountants provide a wide variety of tax and consulting services to clients. CPAs also audit management reports and determine whether they fairly present the facts.
The basic requirements for the accounting concentration are COMM 311, 312, two courses from the following: COMM 510, 545, 514, 521, 531, or 546. Students seeking professional certification (e.g., certified public accountant, certified management accountant, or certified internal auditor) should consider taking COMM 510, 514, 521, 531, 545, 546 as electives.
University of Virginia students who have been admitted to the McIntire School of Commerce may apply for, and be accepted to, the McIntire M.S. in Accounting degree program after completing two semesters of study as a Commerce School student, earning good grades, submitting acceptable letters of recommendation, and earning GMAT scores that indicate a capacity to do graduate work at the University. Because this is a competitive admissions process, acceptance to the program is not guaranteed but ultimately hinges on the candidate’s record of accomplishments.
The Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination Students planning to sit for the Uniform CPA examination should determine the requirements for admission to the examination by contacting their State Board of Accountancy.
For information on the requirements for admission for the CPA examination in Virginia contact the Virginia State Board of Accountancy, Department of Commerce, 3600 W. Broad St., Richmond, Virginia 23230; 1-800-CPA-EXAM.
For information on admission requirements for the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) examination and/or the Certified in Financial Management (CFM) examination, contact the Institute of Management Accountants, 10 Paragon Drive, Montvale, NJ 07645-1759; 1-800-638-4427.
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