Major

A dynamic, rewarding, and highly respected profession, accountancy operates at the heart of business decision-making and financial information services.  In addition to providing services in the traditional areas of preparation and analysis of financial statements, auditing, and tax planning and compliance, accountants serve as valuable members of management teams, as highly respected consultants to top management, and as trusted advisers to professionals, business owners, and government leaders.  For a person who wants to have a successful career in business, a degree in accounting is an excellent choice.

Accounting Program’s Mission Statement

The primary mission of the EIU Accountancy Program is to build a better future for our students, transforming their lives through excellence in relationship-driven instruction of accounting principles, practices, and technologies needed for entry into and success in the accounting profession.

Our secondary purposes are to advance accounting knowledge through academic inquiry and research and to perform service activities to benefit the School of Business, the Lumpkin College of Business and Technology, the University, the community, and the accounting profession.

Program Policies

Continuation Requirement:  A student majoring in accounting must maintain a cumulative EIU GPA of 2.50 or higher in order to enroll in senior-level (4000-level) accounting courses.

Important Notice: Candidates who wish to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Examination in Illinois are required to have earned at least 120 hours of college credit, including an undergraduate degree.  Of the 120 hours, at least 24 hours must be in accounting. Students in their final semester of courses, that would qualify them for the 120-hour requirement, may receive Provisional Approval to sit for the CPA exam from the Illinois Board of Examiners.

To be certified as a CPA, students must complete at least 150 credit hours with a total of 30 hours of accounting including courses in tax, audit, managerial and financial accounting. Students are encouraged to verify educational eligibility with the Illinois Board of Examiners.

Course Requirements

The BSB in Accounting comprises:

1.  42 semester hours in general education
2.  38 semester hours in the business core
3.  28 semester hours in major courses
4.  12 semester hours in electives.

Major Courses

• ACC 3200 - Intermediate Financial Accounting I. Credits: 3

• (see footnote *)

• ACC 3250 - Intermediate Financial Accounting II. Credits: 3

• (see footnote *)

• ACC 3300 - Management and Cost Accounting. Credits: 3

• (see footnote *)

• ACC 3900 - Accounting Information Systems. Credits: 3

• (see footnote *)

• ACC 4400 - Federal Income Taxation I. Credits: 4

• (see footnote *)

• ACC 4500 - Advanced Financial Accounting. Credits: 3

• (see footnote *)

• ACC 4700 - Auditing and Assurance Services. Credits: 3

• (see footnote *)

• ACC 4760 - Advanced Accounting Information Systems. Credits: 3

• (see footnote *)

Plus one course selected from the following:

• ACC 3950 - Financial Data Analysis and Technical Communications. Credits: 3
• ACC 4275 - Internship in Accounting. Credits: 1 to 15

• (Only 3 hours will count towards the Accounting major.)

Footnotes:

*A grade of “C” or better is required in all required ACC courses.

Calculation of the major GPA is based on courses taken at EIU with the prefix BUS and ACC.