The Fox School of Business and Management

• "Footnotes from Fox"
  
• Accounting Circle
• Executive Commitee of the Accounting Circle
• Research Presentations/Workshops
• Department of Accounting Annual Report- 2010-2011
• PICPA Passport to Opportunity at Temple University
• Performance Scorecard Conference: May 22-24, 2012

Undergraduate Program in Accounting

The Undergraduate Program in Accounting provides the student with a broad education and intensive study within the major as preparation for professional careers in public accounting, cost and managerial accounting, information systems, business consulting, government, and not-for-profit institutions. Students in the program earn a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A) while preparing for the accounting profession.

The curriculum in accounting acquaints the student with the conceptual framework and theory of accounting, transactional analysis, asset management, liabilities, owners' equity, and financial reporting. Cost analysis and control, accounting information systems, taxation, consolidated financial statements, International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and foreign operations, auditing theory and techniques and an understanding of the ethical and performance standards of the profession are also covered. Coursework is also required outside of the major in topics of legal and social environment of business, written and oral communication, the humanities, and the social sciences. Refer to the 2010-11 Undergraduate Bulletin for a suggested sequence of courses for an Accounting Major.

Accounting majors are encouraged to become active in at least one of the four accounting student professional organizations. The following student professional organizations provide networking opportunities with professionals from public accounting and industry. Students majoring in finance and information systems are also eligible for membership in these organizations.

• Beta Alpha Psi (BAP--National Honorary Fraternity)
• Institute of Management Accountants at Temple (IMA-T)
• National Association of Black Accountants (NABA)
• Ascend

Accounting majors considering a career in public accounting should be familiar with the education and experience requirements of the CPA Exam. Pennsylvania changed the education and experience requirements, effective January 1, 2012.

Candidates seeking the CPA designation after January 1, 2012 are required to complete 150 hours of college education, including 36 hours in accounting and auditing, business law, finance, or tax subjects acceptable to the Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy. The 150 credits can be accomplished through undergraduate, graduate or a combination of both. With this change, Pennsylvania conforms to the national education standard of 150 credit hours and one year of public accounting experience—in addition to the successful completion of the CPA Exam—before granting a CPA license. 

Students can meet the new Pennsylvania requirements by completing a Bachelors degree (e.g. the current accounting major in the Fox School’s BBA) and the Fox School of Business' Master of Accountancy (MAcc) Degree.  Students enrolled in the Fox School’s undergraduate accounting program will be eligible to apply for the MAcc after completing 90 semester-hour credits (that is, they can apply for admission to the MAcc at the completion of their junior year). The first class to enter the MAcc program commenced in Fall 2011. Students can also meet the new requirements by completing 150 undergraduate credit hours.