Finance & Accounting at West Texas A&M University
West Texas A&M University appears in our ranking of the 50 Best Online Master of Finance Degree Programs.
There are four accounting and finance programs offered within the Department of Accounting, Economics, and Finance at West Texas A&M University including the undergraduate programs of Accounting and Finance and the graduate programs of Accounting (M.P.A.) and Finance and Economics (M.S.F.E.). Within each degree option are different plans of study that lead to possible careers as accountants, auditors, budget analysts, and credit analysts. Students may also seek work as financial managers, tax examiners, revenue agents, and treasurers or controllers. Students in all programs may participate in the Accounting and Finance Association, which helps students with networking opportunities within finance and accounting. Students may also benefit from participating in Enactus, which is a special student organization within the West Texas A&M University School of Business that focuses on fostering an entrepreneurial spirit within students, as well as the drive to maintain profitability in business.
Students who enroll in the Bachelor of Business Administration with a Major in Accounting will take a variety of business courses, as well as several courses for their accounting major. Some of the business courses offered to students include Accounting Communications, Cross-Cultural Issues in Business Communication, and Current Issues in Management Communication. Accounting classes students will take include Cost Accounting, Federal Tax Accounting I, and Accounting Information Systems. In all, students must complete at least 120 credits to graduate and receive their degree. To enter any program within the College of Business, students must satisfactorily complete all required pre-admission courses, as well as complete 30 credits of undergraduate work. The Bachelor of Business Administration with a Major in Finance requires a similar plan of study for business courses, as well as several finance-centric classes that include International Finance, Investments, Financial Management, and Corporate Governance and Ethics.
Students interested in studying at the graduate level will choose from the Master of Professional Accounting (M.P.A.) degree or the Master of Science in Finance and Economics (M.S.F.E.) degree. Students who wish to gain acceptance into the M.P.A. program will be graded on their undergraduate GPA, GMAT score, resume, statement of goals, and three letters of recommendation. For the Master of Professional Accounting degree, students may choose a thesis or non-thesis plan. Students must demonstrate proficiency in many areas like economics, statistics, and finance before they are allowed to complete their degree. Admissions requirements for the Master of Science in Finance and Economics are similar, and this degree is also available entirely online. Courses include Economics of Health and Medical Care, Seminar in Money and Banking, and Seminar in Financial Planning.
About West Texas A&M University
West Texas A&M University was established in 1910 and has grown alongside the town of Canyon, Texas, which is a suburb of Amarillo. Once known as West Texas State Normal College, the university was first designated as a location for teacher training and would emerge as a part of the Texas A&M University system in later years. Around 10,100 students attend the university with more than 2,500 of those students enrolled in graduate-level or above classes. At its inception, the school enrolled just 152 students with less than 20 faculty members. The suburban campus in Canyon covers 176 acres, and the school’s official colors are maroon and white. Students who participate in sports do so in NCAA Division II games as the Buffaloes. The school’s mascot is the Buffalo, and the teams are sometimes called the Buffs by sportscasters and fans.
West Texas A&M University Accreditation Details
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College is the regional accrediting agency for West Texas A&M University. Regional accreditation ensures students who attend the university can transfer to other colleges if they wish, as well as continue into advanced degree programs in other areas if they wish once they earn a degree from West Texas A&M University. The school’s business programs are also accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, which is an accreditation maintained by just ten percent of business schools across the world. Also accredited within the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business is the Computer Information Systems (CIS) program, which is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
West Texas A&M University Application Requirements
Freshmen application requirements for West Texas A&M University include a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA from the student’s high school work, as well as an appropriate SAT or ACT score. The student’s graduating class rank determines the minimum standardized test score required. For example, a student in the top 25 percent of his or her graduating class does not need to meet a minimum test score. However, a student in the bottom 25 percent will need to earn a 23 on the ACT or 1130 on the SAT. Students must also submit a one-time application fee of $55, as well as the school’s official application. Transcripts must be delivered directly from the student’s high school to the West Texas A&M University Office of Admissions. Graduate student admissions vary with the program to which a student wishes to enter, and the university has more than 40 programs available to students interested in earning a graduate degree.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Texas residents and residents of border counties pay $4,242.59 per semester for undergraduate study, non-residents pay $5,016.69 per semester, and international students pay $11,111.59 per semester. Some undergraduate majors require additional fees beyond the standard tuition rate. The music program requires an extra $250.00 fee, the voice program requires an extra $250.00 fee, and the programs in social work require extra fees varying from $55.76 to $97.12. Tuition rates for West Texas A&M University graduate school vary depending on the student’s residency status. Texas residents pay $3,366.30 per semester, non-residents from outside Texas pay $3,779.67 per semester, and non-residents from international locations pay $7,326.66 per semester.
Most students will qualify for financial aid when they attend West Texas A&M University, and the university offers a special program known as the Buff Promise, which helps students with an annual family income of $40,000 or less pay for college. Other financial aid options include federally-backed student loans, grants, and Work Study scholarships. Students may also apply for private funding like private student loans and scholarships through non-government affiliated organizations. Even if a student doesn’t qualify for a grant through the Buff Promise program, a future student may still qualify for grants and scholarship programs through West Texas A&M University that are merit-based. Students may wish to check with the administration of the Department of Accounting, Economics, and Finance at West Texas A&M University for possible scholarship and grant opportunities.
