Why Accounting?

Accounting is the language of business.  Accountants provide the financial information critical to the successful management of business and government enterprises and to the proper functioning of financial markets.

Accountants work inside business organizations in the design, operation and maintenance of accounting information systems; in the provision of accounting reports for managers and for outsiders - shareholders, creditors, various governmental agencies; in the management of the financial resources of the business; and in advising business managers on the likely financial impact of their operating decisions.

Accountants also work as outside consultants to business and government enterprises, primarily in the design of accounting information systems, and as auditors, attesting to the fairness of the financial reports presented to various stakeholders outside of the enterprise.

The accounting program at Seattle University takes a two-pronged approach to accounting education:

a thorough and rigorous academic program of accounting studies in the classroom, with a strong grounding in computer applications, and

a broad mix of voluntary activities outside of the classroom designed to augment development of the student's skills in team work, organization and communication.

The Seattle University accounting programs takes an active role in the placement of accounting students into their chosen profession by general exposure to the profession through student accounting organizations - the Accounting Society and Beta Alpha Psi, the accounting internship program, and formal career counseling and job placement services.

Skills that the Accounting major develops:

Analytical skills, vision and constructive ability, creativity, communication skills, problem-solving, interpersonal skills and global thinking.