News: Graduate Accounting Emphasis

CCU Announces MBA with Accounting Emphasis

Colorado Christian University will be adding a new emphasis to their already popular MBA degree starting in the fall of 2012. The accounting emphasis will prepare graduates for a range of nonprofit, for-profit, and public accounting positions, and it will meet increased Colorado state standards for certified public accountants, which will be instituted in 2015.

The new standards, requiring 150 credit hours of work for CPAs, will align Colorado's requirements with the national norm. Instead of a bachelor's degree fulfilling CPA schooling, students currently entering their undergraduate programs will need additional credits upon graduation.

The MBA with an emphasis in accounting will help meet this demand while offering the broad job opportunities that come with an MBA. "This is a very multi-purpose degree," said Dr. Mellani Day, dean of CCU's Business and Technology Division within its College of Adult and Graduate Studies. "It will be applicable in a variety of ways, from auditing and accounting systems for small businesses to major organizations and CPA firms."

The 39-credit degree, which has already undergone feedback from stakeholders and professors across the country, will continue the trend of CCU's College of Adults and Graduate Studies by drawing experienced, working professionals who are highly motivated to continue their schooling. Professors are working professionals in the fields in which they teach, which in the accounting emphasis means licensed CPAs with advanced degrees in accounting. They teach because they believe in the mission of CCU.

Colorado Christian University integrates biblical and ethical components in its adult classes, training students to not only act ethically but to make a difference in the business world. As Dr. Day iterated, "Ethics in accounting has taken a hit the past few years in the public square. We have a need for ethical behavior and believe that CCU offers a solution to train well-qualified students who go into the world and perform with high ethical standards."

The job outlook for CPAs with graduate degrees is expected to be particularly favorable over the next decade, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. With growing scrutiny of company finances, CPA growth is projected to be much faster than average.