FOUR-YEAR UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE

The JCU accountancy program enjoys the reputation of being one of the premier accounting programs in Ohio. Accountancy majors at John Carroll are exposed to aspects of international accounting and the application of professional ethics throughout the curriculum. While the orientation is to instill technical competence and develop analytical skills in accounting, the department is aware that students who decide to major in accounting must also have a firm background in the liberal arts, sciences, business administration and communications. That is why the rich tradition of the Jesuit liberal arts curriculum at JCU contributes to developing the mental dexterity and analytical competence essential for any functioning member of our increasingly complex society.

The primary objective of the department is to prepare students for a career in professional accounting, but the faculty also are dedicated to developing the whole student, one that is able to use the many skills learned at John Carroll when embarking on his or her chosen career. In accordance with the mission of John Carroll, excellence in teaching is emphasized as well as faculty and student interaction on academic and personal levels. This bond between student and faculty member can be seen on a daily basis as students grapple with difficult subjects and are assisted in their exploration by the extremely dedicated department staff. Career placement of graduates has been at or very close to 100% for a number of years.

Students who would like to major in Accountancy but do not need to satisfy the 150-hour requirement (to sit for the CPA exam) can earn a bachelors degree with a major in Accountancy. Typically this degree can be accomplished in a traditional four year program of 128 semester hours.

Some states' (including Ohio's) 150-hour CPA legislation does not require that CPA candidates complete a degree in accounting. Rather, any degree with 150 hours of college level credits including 24 hours of accounting beyond principles will suffice. The 150-hour professional accountancy option is designed for students who wish to become CPAs in a cost and time-efficient manner.

The Department has traditionally offered the accounting sequence to those students who have received degrees in other areas. Many (if not all) of the sequence students have gone on to pursue successful careers in accountancy. Accordingly, students graduating with degrees in other majors may wish to pursue the accounting sequence as an alternative to graduate school.

The 150-hour undergraduate option may also be ideal for students who have transferred credits from other institutions or who have advance placement credits upon entering JCU. This option may also be attractive to students who decide to change majors and have accumulated significant hours in another area of study.

Students who are dual majors may also find themselves at a premium in the marketplace upon graduation. The combination of computers/MIS and accounting is a particularly attractive combination in the current marketplace. This combination may be possible at relatively little additional cost.

Since the cost of 18 undergraduate hours per semester is generally the same as the cost of 16 hours, students may wish to take 18 hours per semester thereby accumulating 144 hours over the traditional eight undergraduate semesters. With the student taking six hours in one additional summer session, the 150-hour Ohio CPA requirements would be met in four years of study at the cost of only six additional hours. If the student has advanced placement credits, this option may prove to be even more attractive.

Alternatively, students may wish to take the normal semester courseloads for the Bachelors degree with an additional 22 hours taken as summer courses. This option, however, would not be as cost effective.

 Graduate Program