Accounting, Business Administration, Accounting Concentration

This program is designed to give students an understanding of the theory and practice of the major fields of accounting: financial accounting and reporting, managerial accounting, taxation, accounting information systems, and auditing. Accounting is an ever-evolving field with growing importance in most businesses and not-for-profit organizations. Today's accountants are important members of their organizations, using their business expertise, communication, interpersonal skills, and accounting knowledge to improve organizational decision making.  Accountants play a key role in the continued growth of a prosperous society.

Accountants must be able to explain and analyze business data, excel in communications, teamwork, leadership, and possess technical and computer-based skills. The accountant in an increasingly global society is rapidly becoming both an information specialist as well as a business advisor. Accountants also act as the moral and ethical compass for business practices.

The undergraduate accounting curriculum at CSU satisfies current educational requirements to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam in the state of Colorado. Additional coursework is required to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the state of Colorado. (Requirements to become a CPA are unique to each state and students should be aware of requirements of the state in which they intend to practice.)

The accounting curriculum is designed to meet the needs of those who seek professional education and training to practice as public, private, not-for-profit and governmental accountants, or those who expect to work in business managerial positions requiring an understanding of fundamental accounting concepts and principles. The curriculum offers considerable flexibility in designing a program of study that will meet a variety of career interests. In addition to the All-University Core Curriculum and the College of Business Core Curriculum, students are particularly encouraged to take additional course work in both finance and computer information systems.

Students will demonstrate:

• Knowledge of the fundamental concepts of financial accounting and reporting
• Knowledge of the fundamental concepts of managerial accounting and decision making
• Knowledge of taxation (federal, state) and its application to business decisions
• Knowledge of business organization, processes, and understanding of accounting-based systems integration issues
• Knowledge of the principles of auditing and attestation
• Knowledge of business ethics and principles of social responsibility
   

Some examples include, but are not limited to: accountant or auditor of publicly or privately held companies, government agencies, or not-for-profit organizations; consultant in firms providing professional advisory services; public, private, or personal tax specialist; financial analyst; forensics accountant; internal auditor; information technology auditor.

Application Materials

All applicants for admission must submit an online application, $50 application fee or fee waiver request, and academic transcripts. Freshman/first-year applicants are required to submit a personal statement. The application includes an optional Academic Explanation section for applicants to provide more context for their performance and/or enrollment history. Recommendations and ACT/SAT scores are not required. The Office of Admissions may request additional information before completing a full review of an applicant’s application file.

Refer to the appropriate application guides for details.

Application Fee or Fee Waiver

An application fee is required as part of a complete application; a decision cannot be rendered without it. If payment of the application fee presents a financial hardship, applicants can request a fee waiver.

Refer to the Office of Admissions website for the application fee refund policy.

High School Transcript and proof of graduation (or equivalent)

High school performance, as reflected on a student's transcript(s), is an essential component of the admission decision for all freshman/first-year applicants and for transfer applicants with fewer than 30 post-high school credits.

High school transcripts for transfer applicants with more than 30 post-high school credits are considered only when needed to satisfy the admission requirement in mathematics.

All freshman/first year applicants and all transfers with fewer than 60 post-high school college credits must submit proof of high school graduation or equivalent prior to the start of their first semester of enrollment.

ACT/SAT results

ACT or SAT test scores are not required. Our review process is individualized, includes a range of academic and personal factors and emphasizes students’ efforts and achievement demonstrated over 3-4 years. Test scores are not given much weight in the admission decision and are not considered at all for scholarships. Students who wish to have their scores considered in the admission decision should email [email protected] with this request.

ACT or SAT results can be used for composition placement purposes and thus can be helpful to submit by any incoming student before orientation/registration.

College Transcript(s)

Freshman/first-year applicants typically are required to submit an official college transcript at the point of application only if college enrollment is being used as their full-time high school curriculum (such as early college, ASCENT and fifth-year programs, and some homeschool curricula). Refer to College-Level Courses Completed by High School Students for additional information.

Transfer applicants must submit an official college transcript from each college attended, regardless of the type of institution, amount or type of credit earned, and age of the credential, even if the work will be reflected in transfer on another transcript. No part of the previous collegiate record may be disregarded. Failure to include all institutions previously attended may result in the rescinding of admission, loss of credit, or disenrollment. Transcripts reflecting courses taken at vocational-technical institutes or colleges that are not regionally accredited can be helpful documentation and may be required, though they do not qualify an applicant for transfer applicant status or advanced-standing credit. 

Second Bachelor applicants are only required to submit an official transcript from the college/university from which they earned their first (or most recent) bachelor's degree. Official transcripts from other colleges/universities attended (if applicable) are encouraged if an applicant is seeking a competitive major or to demonstrate explicit pre-requisites for their new degree program.

Advanced standing credit (transfer credit) is only awarded from an official transcript.

International Applicants: Additional Requirements

In addition to the documents outlined above, applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside of the US also may be prompted to submit the following:

• A certified English translation of any academic credentials not in English
• Evidence of English Proficiency to be considered for direct admission
• An Immigration Information Form, financial support documentation and a copy of the passport identification page for immigration documentation

Application Timelines 

Students can begin their enrollment during fall semester (August start), spring semester (January start) or summer term (May/June start; not recommended for freshman/first-year students).

Applicants are encouraged to apply 6-12 months prior to the start of the term. Freshman/first-year applicants must have completed at least 75% of their high school curriculum (through junior year equivalent) before a decision can be rendered; transfer applicants must have no more than one academic term in progress when a decision is rendered. Second bachelor’s/post-bachelor candidates must be finished with their first degree or in their final term of enrollment with degree pending for a decision to be rendered.

Refer to the appropriate application guides for more detail about application dates and timelines.