Accountancy

Mission

The mission of the baccalaureate program in accountancy is to prepare students for accounting and related careers by providing them with the knowledge and skills necessary for professional success.

Entry-level accounting positions may lead to immediate leadership opportunities within an organization. Some students may also choose to take a minor in accounting because they recognize that having a background within the area will increase their flexibility in career options.

The accounting program at Thomas More University is fully and separately accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), a mark of distinction reserved for only the highest quality accountancy programs in the nation. Students majoring in accounting can expect a comprehensive curriculum offering a blend of sound liberal arts foundation with exceptionally strong accountancy studies — more accountancy courses than what most other schools require. Under dedicated faculty with diverse accounting experiences, students have access to professors both in the classroom (due to small class sizes) and outside of the classroom, for advising. An accounting degree from Thomas More opens the door for students to an active Accounting Advisory Board, consisting primarily of alumni, which provides networking opportunities and input for an up-to-date curriculum. The program allows for exceptional experiential learning opportunities, including internships which many times lead to full-time employment prior to graduation, as well as flexible options for CPA preparation.

Each full-time faculty member is either a Ph.D./CPA or MBA/CPA.  Each faculty member brings a unique set of talents and perspectives to Thomas More providing a blend of academic and practical experience in the classroom.  Experience and accomplishments of current faculty members include:

  • Extensive academic research in the areas of auditing and accounting for non-profit organizations
  • Long-term management of a CPA firm providing accounting, tax and financial planning services to businesses and individual clients
  • Experience as an audit manager in a Big-4 accounting firm and in financial reporting and cost management projects in a manufacturing company
  • Co-author of a textbook

Graduates work in both Big 4 and regional CPA firms, large corporations and small businesses.

There are many opportunities for accountants with Big 4 and local public accounting firms, multi-national and local corporations, governmental entities, and nonprofit organizations.

Occupational possibilities include: internal or external auditor, bank examiner, IRS agent, FBI agent, financial planner, tax accountant, business teacher, controller, tax accountant, financial analyst, cost accountant, payroll manager, or information systems consultant.

Many accountancy students participate in co-op programs where they are paid for their work while earning academic credit, which can also count toward fulfilling the 150 hour requirement for CPA preparation. Students generally work while going to school full time.

For more than 30 years, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) has allowed students to gain valuable tax experience by preparing tax returns for low-income families and the elderly.

Several business partners fund scholarships for and several endowed scholarships are available to Thomas More accounting students.

Traditional College of Business students majoring in Business Administration, Accountancy, or Management Information Systems can earn graduate credit for six MBA courses taken in their senior year of college. Completing the six graduate courses enables the students to earn their bachelor’s degree in four years and their Master of Business Administration degree in the fifth year.

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Graduation (Headcount) Per Program Each Year
2018-192019-202020-212021-222022-23
BABA2631413234
SEM7641012
Accounting1224121215
BBA5150411415
MBA5761513933

Retention
2018-192019-202020-212021-222022-23
BABA71%74%71%74%71%
SEM61%70%70%71%74%
Accounting76%79%71%87%91%
BBA59%52%53%57%50%
MBA76%83%75%71%53%

Accounting Specifics
2018-192019-202020-212021-222022-23
% of Students With Employment or Graduate
School Within Six Months
92%100%88%100%100%
% of Students in Co-ops and Internships30%33%25%45%55%

Interested
in pursuing your accounting degree?