Curriculum

The accounting program enables students to develop an understanding of, and proficiency in, accounting concepts and techniques. Building on the principles of accounting, students study financial reporting, auditing, taxation, income determination, account valuation, accounting systems, and the role of accounting in the allocation and use of resources. The program offers several career options leading to employment in business, government, and public accounting. 

CPA Certificate Tracks

To sit for the CPA examination, Washington state requires candidates to obtain 150 semester credit hours of acceptable educational preparation. Gonzaga offers a Masters of Accountancy (MAcc) degree tailored for students who desire to fulfill the 150-hour requirement and earn a graduate degree at the same time. A student pursuing this track will, during the junior, senior, and graduate years, acquire the technical competence in the 300- and 400-level accounting courses, while more fully developing research, communication, and presentation skills in graduate classes. A student planning to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees should work closely with a faculty advisor and the accounting coordinator for proper course sequencing.

Gonzaga's accounting majors may apply for the MAcc program during the second semester of the junior year. If accepted into the program, a limited number of graduate-level courses may be taken during the senior year with the permission of the Graduate Advisor. Before applying for admission, a student should have completed 75 credit hours (including ACCT 360) with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 and no grade less than 2.0 in any upper-division accounting course. The student must be admitted to the Graduate School and the MAcc program before enrolling in any graduate courses.

In addition to the BBA/MAcc program, a student can choose to complete an undergraduate accounting degree with 150 credit hours of undergraduate course work. In order to fulfill the 150-hour requirement, a student pursuing this track would take 22 credit hours of undergraduate course work beyond the 128 credit hours required to earn a bachelor's degree at Gonzaga. A student could use these additional hours to add a second major in business administration or to take courses or a minor from other departments of the University.

Non-CPA Track

A student who does not wish to obtain CPA certification can earn the BBA degree in accounting. With this degree, a student might find employment in governmental agencies, financial institutions, and industrial firms such as Boeing and Avista. The student pursuing this track is encouraged to obtain an accounting major accompanied by elective course work in information systems. Both the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and Certified Managerial Accountant (CMA) designations are available to students with this degree.

B.B.A. Major in Accounting: 21 credits

Upper Division Required Classes (SIX in Total):

Upper Division Elective Classes (Choose at least ONE):

*Check with your advisor or refer to the applicable course catalogue for available electives and eligibility.