ACCOUNTING

The faculty of the Mason accounting program is committed to the teaching and learning mission of the school and university. The primary mission of the Mason accounting program is to be the preeminent accounting program in the metropolitan Washington, D.C., region. Our graduates receive a high quality professional education that develops the knowledge and skills to become successful contributors in a dynamic business environment. Toward this end, the curriculum emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to business that includes the: 

• Effective use and understanding of technology
• Enhancement of critical thinking and communication skills
• Conceptual foundations of accounting and its technical applications 

Consistent with this commitment, we recognize the importance of ongoing curriculum review and continuous program assessment.
 
Integral to the accounting program''s mission is advancing accounting knowledge, investing in the professional growth of our faculty and students, and maintaining partnerships with the accounting and financial information professions. Toward this end, we are committed to:

• Disseminating accounting knowledge and its application to business problems
• Supporting and encouraging student professional organizations
• Providing opportunities and incentives for the professional development of our faculty
• Fostering professional relationships between our students, our faculty, the Accounting Advisory Council, the accounting program patrons, and other constituencies

About the program
The accounting program prepares students for professional careers in public, private and governmental accounting. The Bachelor of Science in accounting provides a basic foundation of accounting and business knowledge in areas such as financial and managerial accounting, auditing, tax accounting and accounting information systems. The program emphasizes the accounting profession and its role in business, professional responsibilities and ethics, analytical abilities, communication skills and computer literacy.
 
The accounting program also prepares students for professional careers in the collection, management and use of financial information. The BS in accounting provides students with a framework for understanding why organizations exist, how they are organized, and how they create value. In particular, the accounting program emphasizes the role of information in planning and controlling the operations of these organizations.

For example, accounting majors learn how to identify and interpret relevant transactions, use sophisticated decision models to analyze information and choose between alternative courses of action, and implement decisions affecting the firm''s investment, financing, and operating policies. Students completing the accounting program will possess the fundamental knowledge that enables them to be financial professionals in both business and not-for-profit organizations.

Accounting Mission Statement