Program Objectives

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
  • 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 take 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, including job placement services.

Skills that the Accounting major develops

Accounting requires a variety of skills. As an accounting major at Albers, you will develop the following skills:

  • analytical skills
  • vision and constructive ability
  • creativity
  • communication skills
  • problem-solving
  • interpersonal skills
  • global thinking

Accounting work is team-oriented, requires frequent updating of your technology skills as new advances are made, and you need to develop a good network of potential customers if you are going to be in the consulting field.

Accounting Undergraduate Learning Outcomes

  • LO1: Recommend a course of action in an external reporting situation using accounting standards to justify your rationale.
  • LO2: Propose alternatives in a managerial decision context using cost analysis to support your reasoning.
  • LO3: Evaluate the tax implications of an economic transaction by researching and applying authoritative tax codes.
  • LO4: Assess how business risks relate to risks in internal controls, financial reporting, and/or audit.
  • LO5: Weigh the ethical, stakeholder, and stewardship implications of an accounting decision.

Accounting Graduate Learning Outcomes

  • LO1: Recommend a course of action to a prospective client by using a framework or model to analyze financial statements and other relevant data.
  • LO2: Evaluate the accounting implications of an economic event by applying the principles, standards, and practices of financial accounting.
  • LO3: Advise stakeholders of how strategic business risks relate to internal controls, financial reporting, tax, and/or audit using authoritative literature, fieldwork, surveys, archival, or other research data.
  • LO4: Synthesize accounting information within the context of other business functions to inform the business decision-making process.
  • LO5: Construct arguments for and against alternative accounting decisions by weighing the ethical, stakeholder, and stewardship implications of each.