Department of Accounting

The field of accounting is moving rapidly toward a greater emphasis in the areas of information systems, management consulting, and leadership in organizational change.

Mission

The Accounting Department at MSU Denver provides high quality, accessible, enriching undergraduate and master’s accounting education in an urban setting appropriate to a diverse student population enrolled under modified open admission standards. The baccalaureate program prepares students for careers, graduate education, and lifelong learning in a global and technological society. The department is committed to ethical values, continuous improvement, and mutual respect within a diverse campus community.

The Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAcc) develops in-depth competence of accounting skills and practices within a student’s chosen concentration: taxation, fraud and forensic audit, or accounting. It emphasizes the development of written and oral communication skills, teamwork and critical thinking skills, and provides a sound understanding of the legal and regulatory environments. The goal of this program is to prepare students for professional leadership positions.

The Accounting Department pursues excellence in teaching and learning as its primary purpose. Intellectual contributions in accounting and related fields that enhance teaching and learning and contribute to scholarship through both applied research and other avenues of professional development are secondary though fundamental to the mission of the Accounting Department. Service to MSU Denver, the accounting profession, and the community and society in general is also secondary albeit fundamental to the mission of the Accounting Department.

Successful accounting students possess these skills and attributes:

ability to organize, analyze, and interpret numerical data;
strategic and critical thinking skills;
proficiency in oral and written communications with the ability to explain complex financial data to others;
ability to apply current technology;
knowledge of financial and economic history, practices, and trends;
ability to work collaboratively as well as independently;
understanding of the methods for creating, leading, and managing change in organizations.

The accounting program prepares students for entry into careers in public accounting, industry, tax, and the government sector, as well as graduate education and lifelong learning.

Accountants can obtain a variety of professional certifications, including Certified Public Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Information Systems Auditor, and Certified Management Accountant. Each professional certification program includes rigorous education, examination, experience, and ethics requirements.

Students majoring in accounting and interested in pursuing an International Business concentration should see an advisor. Students interested in the MPAcc program should refer to the Graduate Catalog for details.

Click on the links below for degree and program requirements.

Academic Programs

Accounting Major, B.S.