Accounting Emphasis

Accounting Emphasis

All in the numbers.

Students who earn a degree in accounting are prepared for careers in financial accounting, managerial accounting, accounting systems, taxation, and auditing. The emphasis is designed to prepare students to work in public accounting, business and industry, and not-for-profit and governmental organizations.

Why study Accounting at UCCS?

  1. Continued Educational Opportunities

    If you plan to become a licensed CPA, the Graduate School of Business Administration offers a Master of Science degree in Accounting. The MSA is the preferred degree for CPA's seeking to join large firms.

  2. AACSB Accredited

    The UCCS College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance College Schools of Business (AACSB) which ensures your professors, classes and fellow students are of the highest quality. Only 5% of business schools worldwide have achieved this distinction.

  3. Exceptional Faculty

    Our leading instructors are nationally and internationally recognized for their research and instruction. Receive personalized guidance from professors with real-world experience in their field. 

  4. Ethical Curriculum

    The Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Collegiate Program at UCCS instills principle-based ethics education throughout the business school, resulting in a high standard of ethics in our students and graduates.

  5. Real-World Experience

    The College of Business houses its own Career Development Center, dedicated to providing business students with assistance in career development, internship opportunities and job placement. 

  6. Global Perspectives

    The College of Business incorporates international business cases into the curriculum to ensure you are prepared for cross-cultural and international business opportunities. For those who wish to study abroad, the College of Business maintains partnerships with business schools across the world.

Accounting Courses

  • Intermediate Accounting

    Intermediate Accounting provides a comprehensive analysis of the practice of financial accounting and reporting by public corporations to investors, creditors and other users. The course includes an analysis of standard-setting, accounting theory and generally accepted accounting principles. Emphasis is on the purpose of financial statements with a focus on income determination and asset valuation.

  • Cost Accounting

    This course covers cost analysis for purposes of control and decision-making. Cost Accounting includes an analysis of cost behavior, the role of accounting in planning and control, and managerial uses of cost accounting data.

  • Individual Income Tax

    Individual Income Tax provides an analysis of basic concepts of federal income taxes such as income, exclusions, deductions and property transactions. The concepts learned in this course will be applied to actual situations by the use of tax return assignments. 

  • Introduction to Accounting Systems

    This course provides an introduction to the elements in an accounting information system - one of an organization’s central information systems. Introduction to Accounting Systems explores the newest technology and the accountant’s/financial analyst’s role in designing systems. The course includes hands-on projects designed to expose you to various software tools commonly used by accountants and financial analysts.

  • Auditing

    This course provides a study of generally accepted auditing standards. Specific focus is placed on concepts of the auditing function for financial audits, professional standards that guide audit performance and processes and formal procedures used to plan, perform and complete an audit.

  • The primary emphasis of this course is on C and S corporations and partnerships. Corporate and Partnership Taxation provides a basic analysis of planning and compliance of most forms of corporate and partnership organization, operations, mergers and dissolutions. 

  • Accounting for Governments and Not-for-Profit Organizations

    This course provides an introduction to financial reporting practices in governmental and not-for-profit organizations. Emphasis is placed on how financial reports created by governments and not-for-profit organizations are used by internal and external stakeholders. Accounting issues specific to governmental and not-for-profit organizations will also be covered in detail.

Potential Accounting Careers

Career
Average Salary
Outlook Through 2028
Number of New Jobs Through 2028

Certified Personal Accountant

$70,500

+6%

90,700

Accounting Consultant

$65,900

+6%

91,000

Personal Finance Planner

$61,300

+5%

88,800

Auditor

$56,400

+6%

90,700

Tax Planner

$57,000

+5%

86,500

Budget Analyst

$61,000

+4%

2,400

Controller

$83,000

+16%

104,700

Tax Attorney

$102,000

+10%

19,100

Please note, the above information was collected from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, therefore the proposed average salary ranges do not necessarily reflect entry level positions. For guidelines, insights and support regarding salary negotiation, please contact the Career Development Center

Accounting Faculty Spotlight
Assma Sawani, Ph.D.
Dr. Assma Sawani is an Assistant Professor of Accounting in the UCCS College of Business and has been teaching and researching as a professor of accounting for over 15 years. She has published articles in the Journal of Finance and Accountancy, International Journal of Accounting & Finance Review as well as the Journal of Case Research in Business and Economics. Additionally, Dr. Sawani has earned affiliations with the American Accounting Association, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society (the nation's oldest and largest honor society for first-year college and university students). Sawani received the KPMG Minority Doctoral Scholarship, an award granted to only 15 applicants a year. She has presented on the nature of accounting standards and comparison of US Accounting Standards and International Accounting Standards at the Annual Conference for the American Accounting Associations International Section, the European Accounting Association, and the Journal of International Accounting Research conference. Additionally, she has served as a reviewer for Journal of International Accounting Research.

What Our Students Are Saying

Astride Mukabagula
Accounting, Class of 2019
"Since I started school in the College of Business, I have had great teachers who care about my success as they have demonstrated by helping me network, helping me find new opportunities and by investing extra time in my education and goals. I am very thankful our business professors. They truly care. UCCS is a great school that has all the resources to help you achieve your goals."

Alexa Sprouse
Accounting, Class of 2016
"The accounting degree I earned from UCCS taught me several lessons: 1) hard work and dedication to studying really does pay off, 2) valuable career connections are created and maintained through networking and communication, and 3) continuous learning is key. Accounting has been challenging yet rewarding field, and the professors who have mentored me inspired me to follow my passion and pursue diverse opportunities."