Accredited accounting degree programs in South Carolina are growing in importance as businesses face growing need for transparency. In 2014, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that accounting professions were expected to grow by 13 percent over the next ten years throughout the country. In South Carolina, there were over 13,800 accountants employed throughout the state. The average annual salary for an accountant was $59,240, which averaged $28.48 per hour.
The increased focus on corporate scandals and with the publicity generated by recent financial crises, the need for qualified accountants in the business world has grown. Laws and regulations have grown more strict and companies need individuals who are able to help them comply with those standards. There is also speculation that tighter lending requirements may increase the importance of audits as a way of determining credit worthiness of an organization.
As business continues to become more globalized, there will also be a growing need for individuals who understand the accounting regulations for international trade as well as international mergers and acquisitions. These factors further indicate a growing need for individuals who have successfully completed accredited accounting degree programs in South Carolina and other states.
Clemson University
School of Accountancy
The School of Accountancy at Clemson University prepares students to begin careers in corporate accounting and auditing. A division of the College of Business and Behavioral Science, the School of Accountancy has been recognized for producing graduates with high educational standards that allow them to pursue advanced credentials in the accounting field.
MPAcc Graduate Program
The Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAcc) program through the School of Accountancy at Clemson University is a one-year, 30-credit hour program with an integrated CPA review. It is designed to provide students with graduate business education in a challenging atmosphere that prepares them for professional careers in the accounting field. Coursework is strategically spread over the fall, spring and summer sessions to allow students to learn in cohort groups in order to take each of the four sections of the Becker CPA review during the program. Students are then able to immediately sit for the CPA examination as they complete the respective section of review.
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Contact
School of Accountancy
Clemson University
300 Sirrine Hall
Clemson SC 29634-1303
Telephone: 864-656-3265
Website: http://www.clemson.edu/cbbs/departments/accountancy/graduate/
Coastal Carolina University
E. Craig Wall, Sr. College of Business Administration
The E. Craig Wall, Sr. College of Business Administration was named for one of Coastal Carolina University’s original founders. Mr. Wall was born in 1911 in Lilesville, North Carolina, referring to himself throughout his life as a “country boy.” He attended the University of North Carolina from 1928 to 1931, despite the fact that the economic collapse was hard on his family. He began his day at 3 AM with a seven-mile paper route, served boarding house meals and worked in the college reference library while attending college, sending money home when he could to help support the family. His entrepreneurial skill was evident even during his college years. He noticed other newspapers being delivered with his and added those papers to his route, hiring helpers to cover more area. He also sold football program advertisements, stadium cushions and concessions. After three years, he left the university and took a position with a steamship company. He returned to North Carolina after traveling the world with his company, accepting a position with a lumber company in Darlington County. In 1935, he began his own timber company, Canal Industries. Mr. Wall became a member of the Coastal Education Foundation and helped organize Coastal Carolina College where he received an honorary degree. He also received honorary degrees from Clemson University and the University of South Carolina. He died in 1985.
Master of Accountancy
The Master of Accountancy program at the Wall College of Business Administration at Coastal Carolina University is designed to meet the needs of both those who are seeking a career change and those who are already working in the accounting profession. The program is 30 hours and provides students with a broad-based business education. The curriculum focuses on developing critical thinking skills, written and oral communication skills as well as an understanding of the growing global nature of the accounting profession. Students who complete the program are qualified to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Management Accountant (CMA) examination.
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Contact
Coastal Carolina University
Wall College of Business Office of Graduate Programs
Wall 228
PO Box 261954
Conway SC 29528-6054
Telephone: 843-349-2761
Email: gradbus@coastal.edu
Website: http://www.coastal.edu/business/macc/index.html
College of Charleston
School of Business
The School of Business at the College of Charleston offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the business field. Approximately 2,000 students are enrolled in the school, which is ranked 15 among the top 30 business schools for global business and study abroad opportunities. The school prepares socially responsible students for career opportunities around the world with programs that cover the essential business disciplines taught at the local, national and international level.
M.S. in Accountancy
The Master of Science in Accountancy offered through the School of Business at the College of Charleston is designed for those with undergraduate degrees in accounting who wish to sharpen their professional skills and broaden their career opportunities. Students choose from two main tracks, Financial Reporting or Assurance and Taxation. Students may also elect the International Track that can be completed in conjunction with either of the other tracks. Students are provided a broadened perspective and attain the specialized skills and knowledge they will need to succeed in the accounting world. Students who successfully complete the program are qualified to sit for the Certified Public Accounting examination in most states. It is a 30-hour course that includes two required courses, Accounting Theory and Contemporary Accounting Issues. Students must meet with the Director in order to devise a plan of study to complete their track for their intended area of practice.
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Contact
Dr. Roger Daniels
Director, Accountancy Graduate Program
The Graduate School of the College of Charleston
66 George Street
Charleston SC 29424
Telephone: 843-953-8041
Email: danielsr@cofc.edu#accountancy_director
Website: http://sb.cofc.edu/academics/graduate/accountancy/index.php
University of South Carolina
Darla Moore College of Business
The Darla Moore College of Business is named for the former Vice-President of Rainwater, Inc., the only business school in the country named for a woman. She is also the founder and chairman of the Palmetto Institute, a nonprofit think tank that works to improve income in South Carolina. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and holds a master’s degree from George Washington University. Today, the school offers the number one undergraduate international business specialty according to U.S. News & World Report. It also offers the number one MBA program and the number one undergraduate program for international business according to U.S. News & World Report as well as Bloomberg Business Week.
Master of Accountancy
The Master of Accountancy program at the Darla Moore School of Business prepares students for a successful career in accounting. Students develop the skills necessary to analyze information, identify problems and provide solutions. They also learn to interact with a diverse population and communicate ideas effectively. Class sizes are small and the program has an impressive placement record for graduates. Students who complete the program are qualified to sit for the Certified Public Accountant examination.
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Contact
Jared W. Jones CPA
MACC Program Director
1014 Greene Street
Columbia SC 29208
Telephone: 803-777-4447
Email: macc@moore.sc.edu
Website: http://moore.sc.edu/academicprograms/masters/masterofaccountancy/programoverview.aspx
With the accounting industry changing as regulations require more transparency in the business world, individuals who have successfully completed accredited accounting degree programs in South Carolina will find themselves more in demand among employers than those who do not successfully complete such programs.
