Get CPA Ready

The C. T. Bauer College of Business is now preparing undergraduate students to sit for the CPA exam with fewer credit hours through new electives.

The move is in response to changes from the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy, approving an alternate pathway to licensure with a bachelor’s degree and two years of relevant work experience starting Aug. 1. This is in addition to the existing pathway to licensure with 150 hours of education and one year of work experience.

Bauer College leaders have been anticipating and planning for these changes for more than a year. This fall, the college's accountancy BBA degree plan will include Introduction to Data Analytics, and undergraduate students can also take electives Advanced Accounting and Corporate Tax, previously only offered at the graduate level, to meet CPA exam requirements.

“It's important for current and prospective students to know about these changes and to plan to take the courses they'll need to sit for the CPA exam,” Director of Accounting Advising and Career Development Tiffany Woods said. "The new curriculum will help students be prepared for the three core parts of the exam but for the CPA exam's fourth part, students have to choose one of three specialty areas, requiring knowledge to be gained beyond a traditional BBA degree."

She added: “The new electives will not only help our students meet the exam eligibility requirements but also enhance what they're learning to be even better prepared to pass its core areas.”

Additionally, the department will launch a new seminar course this fall. Open to students as early as their freshmen year, Accounting, Business and the World (ACCT 2304) will meet twice a week. Each week, one class will focus on teaching soft skills and the breadth of the accounting profession, and the other will bring in a industry expert.

“Not only will students have the opportunity to network, but they'll be learning more about different career paths in accounting,” Woods said. “We'll have representatives from the Big Four accounting firms, smaller CPA firms and industry. By taking this class, our students will be able to make more informed decisions earlier on and have direct contact with prospective employers at a very early stage in their educational journey.”

If accounting students plan to take the CPA exam, Woods recommends submitting an application of intent at least one year prior to graduation. If students have any questions about accounting requirements, they should contact their academic adviser.

“With these changes, we're not just adapting, but innovating,” Woods said. “Bauer is committed to student success, and we're positioning our students to be among the most sought-after accounting professionals.”