Accounting
Explore the business world and the accounting profession. Put your penchant for numbers into practice. Benefit from unique volunteer opportunities and student groups. Challenge your skills with national competition. These opportunities and more are available when you choose accounting in the Edwards School of Business at the Univeristy of Saskatchewan.
What is Accounting?
Accounting is the art of measuring, communicating and interpreting financial activity, and is sometimes referred to as "the language of business." Managers, investors, tax authorities and other decision makers count on accurate financial information in order to make strategic business decisions. Accounting is not just number crunching–it is an exciting and lucrative career.
Accounting is the one degree that can help you to succeed at just about anything in the business world. It truly opens doors ... to prestigious careers as financial experts, corporate managers, government advisers and systems professionals.—Fred Phillips, Ph.D., C.A.,
Professor of Accounting,
George C. Baxter Chartered Accountants of Saskatchewan Scholar
The U of S Advantage
Business Co-operative Education Program
Co-op education allows you to take what you've learned in the classroom and apply it in real life work situations.
The Cameco Business Co-operative Education Program provides students with eight months of relevant work experience and the opportunity to develop relationships with influential business contacts. You will also receive coaching and skill building sessions in the areas of networking, etiquette, and interview success prior to going out on your co-op term.
Third year students from all majors are welcome to apply. The number of participants and companies continues to grow every year, with the ultimate goal of being able to accommodate up to 200 students.
Career Development Goodspeed Career Services manages the co-op program and offers many career development services exclusive to Edwards School of Business students.
Employability Edwards School of Business accounting students are recruited by some of the largest organizations in Canada. There is extensive on-campus recruiting of students who plan to pursue a professional accounting designation after graduation. This is attributed to the solid reputation alumni and current accounting majors have built in the local and international business community. In 2008, over 87% of accounting graduates were employed within six months of graduation (based on a survey response rate of 78%).
Career Opportunities
Students who major in accounting may continue their professional development with careers like the following:
- accountant
- auditor
- budget analyst
- investment analyst
- taxation specialist
I think that the accounting major creates outstanding opportunities for students when they graduate. A person who majors in accounting can specialize in many different areas, whether they want to work in the industry, work for a private firm, start their own business, or become a professor.
—Jared Anuik, accounting student
Get Involved!
Accounting Club
The
Accounting Club is a student-run organization under the umbrella of the
Edwards Business Students' Society. Every year, they organize academic events including an etiquette night to prepare for recruitment and an information session on choosing a post-degree professional accounting designation. They also organize social events such as the annual slo-pitch tournament.
ESB Income Tax Preparation Program Every year, the Department of Accounting coordinates the preparation of tax returns for seniors and low-income individuals who need help preparing their tax returns. Most of these individuals would not be able to have their returns prepared without this program.
In 2009, over 1,100 tax returns were prepared by students, reviewed by Chartered Accountants and filed with CRA by faculty members. Over 135 students volunteered their time to prepare returns. The program's success is credited to the volunteers who give of their time and provide this important service to the Saskatoon community.
JDC West Accounting students have the opportunity to participate in the JDC (Jeux du Commerce) West Business Competition or informally, JDC West, which is the largest undergraduate business competition featuring top business schools and students from across Western Canada.
SIFE Saskatchewan Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) Saskatchewan is a non-profit student organization that develops impactful economic development programs. They are an affiliate of the national organization Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship
ACE and the international
SIFE organization.
AIESEC AIESEC (Association Internationale des Étudiants en Sciences Économiques et Commerciales), the world's largest student-run organization, is an international platform for young people to discover and develop their potential to have a positive impact on society. Through active participation in internship programs and national conferences, students have the opportunity to develop their professional skills and develop an international perspective while making many friends and memories. Student members have an opportunity to network with alumni and business partners, and become a global citizen.
A Major in Accounting
The accounting major is designed to provide students with the business and accounting knowledge necessary for them to succeed as professional accountants. Since accounting is a dynamic field, all accounting majors will learn how to keep their knowledge up-to-date so they can continue to grow throughout their professional careers. Accounting majors will also acquire the communication, computer and interpersonal skills necessary to successfully resolve complex problems in unstructured settings.
Accounting is one of six majors you can choose within the Bachelor of Commerce degree program. Students choose a major in their second year, and access to the accounting major is based on academic performance. The average to be admitted to this major has ranged from 72 to 76% in recent years.
Sample Courses
The accounting major includes courses from a variety of areas, including financial reporting, auditing and management skills.
- Comm 321 - Corporate Financial Reporting - an intensive examination of professional pronouncements and practices regarding concepts, principles, and procedures for recognizing, measuring, and disclosing assets and related revenues and expenses which are presented in financial statements prepared for third parties.
- Comm 405 - Taxation and Business Decisions - students acquire an understanding of the fundamentals of the Canadian tax system and its impact on business and personal decision-making.
- Comm 413 - Contemporary Issues in Accounting - examines various contemporary issues facing the accounting profession. These issues are drawn from both academic and professional accounting literatures.
- Comm 438 - Management Planning - based primarily on the case method of instruction, this course provides students with a conceptual framework, an exposure to the component parts and a systematic procedure so that they can begin to evaluate, design and implement management planning and control systems.
A Stepping Stone
Students in the accounting major have the opportunity to take major and elective courses that also work towards a professional designation program. There are several accounting designations with accredited course available at the Edwards School of Business:
There are also other designations that students can attain after completing their undergraduate business degree, including:
Admission Requirements
The following is a list of high school subjects required for admission. Please select the province/territory where you completed high school.
Additional Information
Related Interests
If you are interested in Accounting,
you might also be interested in:
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