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Concentration in Accounting

accounting student at UNC

Yield high returns with a degree in Accounting

Unlock the door to a world of opportunity with our comprehensive accounting program. Designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed for success in the ever-evolving field of accounting, our program offers a dynamic curriculum taught by industry-leading experts.

Whether you're pursuing a career in public accounting, corporate finance, or entrepreneurship, our hands-on learning approach and real-world experiences will prepare you to excel in any professional setting.


What makes our accounting program unique

  • Our accounting program is AACSB accredited.
  • The most recent placement rate for accounting undergraduates is 96%.
  • The placement rate for graduate accounting students is 100%.
  • UNC Accounting is currently rated #1 in the world (out of more than 800 universities!) for experimental research in Accounting Information Systems, the branch of research related to the intersections of accounting, analytics, and information systems.
  • We are leveraging our international ranking, along with our faculty expertise, to create an accounting degree with a greater concentration on technology and analytics.

About Our Program

UNC’s Monfort College of Business is one of the very few that is accredited by AACSB International in both business administration and accounting—the "gold standard" for accreditation. The program is also internationally recognized for exceptional research in accounting systems.

Our students develop valuable skills in analytics, financial accounting, management accounting, auditing, tax, and accounting systems.  Class sizes are small, our faculty know our students, and our program emphasizes critical, strategic and ethical thinking.

Undergraduate students can pursue a Business Administration degree in accounting, while graduate students can earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with a concentration in Accounting Analytics.

Students will learn: 

  • financial statement creation and analysis
  • Tax laws, tax planning strategies, and tax returns
  • Audit planning, risk assessment, internal controls, audit evidence, and the audit report
  • Accounting processes, internal controls, and the use of accounting software
  • Professional standards, corporate governance, and ethical decision-making frameworks

What is Accounting?

Accounting is the process of recording, summarizing, analyzing, and communicating financial information about businesses or individuals. It involves tracking financial transactions, providing insights for decision-making, ensuring compliance, and communicating financial health to stakeholders.

accounting students working together

Careers in Accounting

There are many potential job titles for accounting graduates. Below are a few example careers. The titles and salaries listed below are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience, geographical location, and required advanced degrees or certifications may affect pay scales.

Career
*Growth
(2020 -2030)
*Median Annual Salary

Accountant

2-4%

$79,880

Budget Analyst

2-4%

$84,940

 Bank Examiner

9%+

$84,300

* Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA) and Bureau of Labor Statistics 2022 wage data

  • Degree Overview

    To graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting, students will need to take a total of 24 credit hours on top of the usual Business Core requirements.

  • Cirriculum 

    Required Courses include: 

    • Intermediate Accounting I
    • Intermediate Accounting II
    • Cost & Managerial Accounting I
    • Income Tax I
    • Accounting Systems
    • Advanced Accounting
    • Accounting Ethics
    • Auditing I

    Choose 2 electives: 

    • Fraud Examination
    • Governmental & Institutional Acc.
    • Income Tax II
    • Internship in Accounting
    • Business Administration & the Law
  • Learning Goals and Objectives

    MCB Accounting
    Learning Goals

    MCB Accounting Learning Objectives

    Demonstrate knowledge of key concepts in major business disciplines

    Students will score at the 80th percentile or higher on each section of the ETS Major Field Test.

    Demonstrate effective communication skills

    Students will demonstrate competency in preparing and delivering professional quality presentations on various accounting topics.

    Students will demonstrate competency in preparing professional accounting documents.

    Demonstrate conceptual and analytical skills

    Students will analyze accounting data/information to identify key accounting issues, generate and evaluate appropriate alternatives, and propose feasible accounting alternatives at a competent level.

    Demonstrate technology skills

    Students will score a minimum of 80% on the BA 101 assessment of technological proficiency in the following business software packages:  Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

    Students will demonstrate competence in business software packages to solve accounting problems.

    Students will demonstrate competency in the use of professional accounting software such as ACS, ACL, RIA's Checkpoint and a general ledger package.

    Demonstrate knowledge of accounting ethics concepts

    Students will score demonstrate competence on course-embedded ethics and social responsibility assessments.

    Students will competently identify the ethical issues or problems in an accounting case based on the AICPA's Code of Professional Conduct and the Colorado State Board of Accountancy's Rules of Professional Conduct, analyze the consequences for various stakeholders and develop an acceptable resolution.

    Demonstrate knowledge of key accounting concepts

    Students will demonstrate competence on test questions specifically tied to individual course objectives (as outlined on course syllabi).

  • Mission and Values

    The Accounting Program, as one of the five areas of emphasis within the Monfort College of Business (MCB), supports both the University of Northern Colorado and the MCB in their responsibilities as designated by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education and in their respective missions as decided by faculty. In addition, because the Program strategically operates as a separate program, the Accounting Program puts forth the following Vision, Mission, Value and Strategic Objectives in order to serve its stakeholders efficiently and effectively.

    Vision:

    Enrich society and accounting practice by facilitating students’ transformation into exemplary citizens and professionals.

    Mission:

    • Provide excellent accounting education that prepares students for successful, meaningful careers and responsible global citizenship.
    • Conduct and publish scholarship that enriches accounting practice, education and academics.
    • Engage the accounting profession, our community, and other stakeholders through active involvement in both professional and community organizations.

    Values:

    • Student connections with faculty
    • Student placement and lifelong relationships ‐ "Always a Bear!"
    • Engagement with the profession and the community
    • Ethical awareness and application
    • Creative problem solving
    • Independent and lifelong learning

    Additionally, the Accounting Program identified the following five Strategic Objectives, which are consistent with MCB’s strategic objectives and enable the Program to full its mission effectively and efficiently.

    1. Attract and retain high‐quality students.
    2. Enhance the quality and currency of our curriculum, thus allowing students to pursue a wide variety of accounting careers.
    3. Advise and place students in entry‐level positions in the accounting field.
    4. Hire and retain faculty dedicated to honorably serving students and the accounting profession through teaching, research, and service.
    5. Expand existing and develop more professional and student employment relationships within the accounting profession.

"From my first day on campus, my experience at MCB has been more than I could have imagined. I cannot think of one teacher that doesn't have experience outside of the classroom, which is what I like most about MCB. The experiences and stories shared by professors make class more interesting and allow me to relate to what they are teaching. They tell you that they put their students first, and they have all followed through with that by going out of their way to make sure I succeed."

- Morgan Laustrup, Class of 2015

Monfort College of Business logo with Celebrating 50 Years in a curved banner

CONTACT MCB:
800 17th St
Campus Box 128
Greeley, CO 80639 

GIVE US A CALL:
970-351-2764

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