Accounting, B.S.

Accounting is the language of business decision-making and is a primary means of organizational communication. The accountant’s role has changed substantially over the past decade. Today, accountants are actively involved in the analysis and interpretation of financial data and work with other executives in decision-making and problem-solving activities.

The accounting major offered by Saint Louis University's Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business will help you develop strong technical and professional accounting skills, including communication, problem-solving and analytical skills.

Graduates have a long history of success on the CPA exam. Many graduates have passed all parts of the CPA on their first attempt, with the program consistently ranked as having CPA pass rates that are well above the national average. Recently, Chaifetz School accounting graduates ranked 28th in the nation for pass rates of first-time candidates from medium-sized institutions.

Curriculum Overview

SLU students may choose to graduate from the accounting program with the 120-credit bachelor’s degree; however, those who plan to take the CPA examination will be required to complete 150 college credits as a prerequisite for taking the exam.

Students may accumulate the 150 required credits in several ways: complete 150 credits at the undergraduate level; complete the 120-credit bachelor’s degree and complete the 30 credit Master of Accounting degree sequentially; or complete the Integrated Accounting Program, which allows you the opportunity to complete both the undergraduate and graduate degrees in accounting simultaneously.

The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) requirement for entry into the Master of Accounting program will be waived for accounting SLU undergraduates with a minimum 3.40 cumulative SLU grade point average (GPA). The Department of Accounting also offers an Accounting Scholars Program for qualified incoming freshmen.

Students may also choose to pursue the accounting minor in addition to their chosen major.

Internships/Student Organizations

St. Louis’ urban location provides many internship opportunities, which allow students to gain career-related work experience while applying classroom experiences to practice. Most are paid, and students may earn academic credit. Supervised by both a representative from the organization and a faculty mentor, students have interned with entities such as public accounting firms, corporations, financial institutions and governmental agencies.

A chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, the national honor society for financial professionals, provides a link between students and the accounting profession, offering students opportunities to establish networking relationships with potential employers.

Careers

In a survey of the most recent accounting graduates, 100 percent reported they were satisfactorily occupied. They join a global network of nearly 20,000 alumni from the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business.

Possible career paths include:

• Auditor
• Budget analyst
• Financial planner
• IRS agent
• FBI agent
• Risk management consultant
• Forensic accountant

Admission Requirements

Freshman

All applications are thoroughly and carefully reviewed. Solid academic performance in college preparatory course work is a primary criterion in reviewing a freshman applicant’s file. College admission test scores (ACT or SAT) are used as an additional indicator of the student’s ability to meet the University’s academic requirements and to qualify the student for certain University scholarship programs. To be considered for admission to any Saint Louis University undergraduate program, the applicant must be approaching graduation from an accredited high school or have an acceptable score on the General Education Development (GED) test.

Transfer

Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited high school or have an acceptable score on the GED. An official high school transcript and official test scores are required only of those students who have attempted fewer than 24 transferable semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit. Those having completed 24 credits or more of college credit need only submit a transcript from previously attended college(s). Transfer students must have a cumulative 2.70 GPA to be admitted to the accounting program and a 2.50 GPA for all other majors. In reviewing a transfer applicant’s file, the office of admission holistically examines the student’s academic performance in college-level coursework as an indicator of the student’s ability to meet the academic rigors of Saint Louis University.

International Applicants

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
• Proof of financial support must include:
  • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the time at Saint Louis University
  • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of study at the University
• Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:

• Scholarships: awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need.
• Financial Aid: provided in the form of grants and loans, some of which require repayment.

For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, applicants should apply for admission by Dec. 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1.

For information on other scholarships and financial aid, visit the student financial services office online at http://finaid.slu.edu.

Accreditation

The Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business is accredited by AACSB, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the world’s largest business education alliance and accrediting body of business schools, ensuring continuous quality improvement in terms of curriculum, instructional resources, student selection, career placement and intellectual contributions and qualifications of the faculty.    Less than 10% of business schools worldwide have achieved AACSB accreditation. 

The accounting program is also separately accredited by the AACSB, one of only 186 schools to have earned this distinction.

• Graduates will be able to demonstrate fundamental technical competency and possess appropriate professional knowledge.  Specifically:
  • Apply knowledge of US GAAP to financial reporting issues in problem solving.
  • Apply knowledge of tax laws in solving problems.
  • Apply recognize and evaluate areas of potential risks in an entity’s planning, operations, decision making, and information technology environment.
  • Apply knowledge of information technology to extract and analyze information useful for decision making purposes from large data sets.
• Graduates will be able to demonstrate problem solving and critical thinking skills.  Specifically:
  • Analyze real or simulated cases of financial reporting or related issues by applying analytical and quantitative skills.
  • Communicate in a professional manner, orally and in written form, the results of the financial reporting analysis/tasks.
• Graduates will be able to demonstrate interpersonal skills.  Specifically:
  • Work effectively in a team setting toward a common goal.
• Graduates will be able to demonstrate the ability to recognize and appropriately respond to ethical issues in the practice of accounting. Specifically:
  • Demonstrate ability to make professional and ethical judgment (e.g. in cases, examples, problem solving)
  • Demonstrate professional conduct and demeanor in business settings.

Twenty-one credits in addition to ACCT 2200 Financial Accounting (3 cr) and ACCT 2220 Accounting for Decision Making (3 cr), which are taken as business CBK requirements. Accounting students must earn a grade of “C” or higher in all courses used to fulfill major requirements and a minimum 2.70 cumulative SLU GPA is a prerequisite for all 3000 and 4000 level accounting courses. (All courses are three credits.) 

Continuation Standards

Accounting students will be on program probation if the cumulative SLU grade point average (GPA) falls below a 2.70. Students will have one semester to increase their cumulative SLU GPA to a 2.70; if not, students will not be allowed to register for 3000 or 4000 level accounting courses.

Students whose cumulative grade point average falls below 2.00 are required to apply for probationary status, which allows for no more than two consecutive semesters to improve scholastically and to demonstrate the ability to make progress toward a degree.

During the probationary period, advisors help students achieve academic success by closely monitoring their academic performance. Students on probation may not register for more than 15 credits of coursework as defined by the terms of the probation.

The conditions under which a student is dismissed from the school include:

1. inability to eliminate probationary status within the two semesters subsequent to the assignment of probation or
2. a total grade point deficit of more than 15 points.

For more information, see section under University Academic Policies and Procedures.

Business Common Body of Knowledge (CBK) 

Arts and Sciences Core Requirements 

Graduation Requirements

To be certified for graduation, a student must complete all course requirements and meet all of the following conditions:

• apply to graduate;
• earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in all SLU coursework; Accounting students must earn a minimum 2.70 cumulative grade point average (GPA) in all SLU coursework and earn grades of “C” or higher in all courses that fulfill the major requirements; for all other majors, students must earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in all major courses that fulfill the major requirements;
• earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in all business coursework taken at Saint Louis University;
• complete the Arts and Sciences core as specified in the business school curriculum;
• complete 30 of the final 36 credits at the St. Louis campus or an approved Study Abroad program;*
• complete at least 50% of business coursework in residence at the St. Louis campus;*
• complete major course requirements in residence at the St. Louis campus;*
• Students transferring from the Madrid campus must complete a minimum of 40 credits of coursework, including a minimum of 30 credits of business coursework in residence at the St. Louis campus.*

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester.  Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.