What types of career opportunities are available to graduates?
Accounting majors are among the most sought-after graduates every year, and their starting salaries are among the highest on campus. Our graduates work in public accounting, industry, government, and not-for-profit agencies. An accounting degree is also excellent preparation for law school and other graduate business programs. This demand has persisted for decades through boom times and weak economies. Check out any list of “hot” career choices and you will find accounting at or near the top.
How can I evaluate the quality of the program?
Accreditation is a key indicator of program quality. The undergraduate business programs at N.C. A&T were accredited by AACSB International – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business – in May 1979. The undergraduate accounting program was separately accredited in April 1986, making N.C. A&T the first undergraduate accounting program at a historically black university to be accredited and one of only four accredited accounting programs in North Carolina. Students in the N.C. A&T accounting program have also been well represented in national scholarship competitions.
Will I work directly with highly-qualified full-time faculty?
Our faculty is top notch, and our students get the full benefit of working closely with them in all accounting courses. The Department of Accounting and Finance has fourteen full-time faculty members, the majority of whom hold earned doctorates in accounting or the equivalent in their specialty area. Ten are Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) and several hold other professional certifications.
Accounting courses at N.C. A&T are taught by professors, not graduate students. Classes average between 20-30 students to insure that students receive individual attention. Faculty also maintain extensive office hours and are happy to schedule appointments with students. Serving student needs is our top priority.
Are scholarships available based on academic performance?
The Department of Accounting and Finance at North Carolina A&T is committed to attracting and retaining talented students. We offer merit-based, academic scholarships to highly-qualified students on a competitive basis. Academic performance in high school, SAT scores, class rank, and participation in extracurricular activities are all considered in scholarship decisions. Successful accounting majors have typically followed a strong college preparatory curriculum in high school focusing on language, mathematics, and analytical thinking skills.
Annually, as many as 20 entering freshmen accounting majors receive scholarship awards from the Department. Please contact the department chairperson, to inquire about scholarships.
Do students have internships and other professional development opportunities?
The ALOBEAEM Accounting Society at N.C. A&T has sponsored a Private Industry Workshop (PIW) for over 25 years. The “PIW” brings recruiters from America’s top employers to campus to recruit summer interns. Public accounting firms also recruit interns through the Office of Career Services.
Many accounting students intern after both their sophomore and junior years. Many accounting majors work as summer interns at some of the world’s largest accounting firms and industrial corporations each summer. Internship salaries are highly competitive, and students have opportunities to work locally or in locations throughout the United States. Occasionally, student internship experiences have incorporated overseas travel.