School of Accountancy

(770) 423-6084

The School of Accountancy offers an Accounting major that prepares students for careers in the field of Accounting. Graduate programs are also offered (described in the KSU Graduate Catalog). The State of Georgia requires everyone who wishes to be licensed as a CPA to have five years of education (150 semester hours), including a baccalaureate degree. 123 hours are required to earn the bachelors degree, hence 27 additional hours are needed. While these can be undergraduate hours, the faculty recommends that prospective CPAs earn a Masters degree to satisfy the five year requirement.

The primary objective of Accounting is to provide useful information for economic decisions. It involves measurement, communication and analysis of financial data. Accounting provides the system for collecting and interpreting the information and reporting it to those who need it, whether inside or outside the organization.

Upon graduation, Accounting majors have a wide range of job opportunities. Many go into public practice (CPA firms), which involves independent auditing, accounting, consulting and tax services to clients. This is the traditional path for becoming a Certified Public Accountant. Others choose private accounting, becoming financial, tax, systems or managerial accountants or internal auditors in business and industry. Still others enter the specialized field of not-for-profit accounting. Accounting also serves as a solid background for graduate work in any business area or law. Many find rewarding lifetime careers in Accounting; others use it as a stepping stone to high-level management positions.

All business majors at Kennesaw State University take two accounting courses, which provide the basic understanding of accounting necessary to support any business program of study. Success in business requires an understanding of accounting. Nonbusiness majors also benefit from taking introductory accounting courses because they learn basic concepts useful in running a business, investing and so forth.

The Coles College business law and business information systems faculty are also housed in the School of Accountancy. All business majors must take one business law class. Elective courses are offered in areas such as consumer law, real estate law, and negotiation. All business majors take two courses in business information systems. Basic computer skills are expected of incoming students. These classes further develop these skills as well as address the management of business information systems. Elective courses in business information systems are also available.