Accounting provides the means for organizing, summarizing and interpreting information about economic activities that is used by managers, leaders, analysts, and investors. Accountants play a critical and ever-changing role in this process by serving as providers of relevant information to decision makers and acting as advisors in its interpretation. Accountants are needed within business organizations to provide information to business managers and to control business operations. Accountants also work independently of businesses as public accountants providing management services, taxation advice and independent audit services that lend credibility to financial and other information.
Contact
Department of Accounting and Information Systems/0026
College of Business Administration
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno, NV 89557-0026
Phone: 775-784-4028
Fax: 775-784-8044
Chair: Richard Mason | mason@unr.edu | 775-784-6886
Requirements
Accounting and Information Systems Major Requirements
Advisory Board
The Accounting Department Advisory Board serves as a bridge between the Department and the business community, offering advice, collaboration and support to enhance the mission of the Department. The Accounting Department is dedicated to developing and sustaining long-term relationships with members of the business community to ensure the ongoing relevancy and vitality of our programs.
Advisory Board Members and More Informaiton
Career Opportunities
An accounting education opens up an extremely diverse range of careers for students. Typical professions that our students embark on with their undergraduate degree as a basis are:
- Certified Public Accountant
- Tax attorney
- Management accountant
- Financial analyst
- Internal auditor
- Controller
- Systems designer and analyst
- FBI agent
- Government financial officer
- IRS agent
- Tax accountant
- Fraud investigator
Many senior executives progress through an accounting route to become leaders in industry, finance and government.
Accountants are well paid. As a new graduate you might expect to earn about $30,000 at the present time. This rises rapidly as you gain experience and demonstrate competence. Corporate controllers earn anywhere from $50,000 to $150,000 and up dependent on the size of the organization. Partners in professional accounting firms start at about $70,000 and go up from there. The compensation of the partners in large accounting firms is a closely guarded secret but you can be assured that it is substantial.
For additional information regarding the accounting profession, visit the following web sites:
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
Institute of Management Accountants (IMA)
Nevada Society of CPAs
The 150 Hour State Board Requirements
The Nevada State Board of Accountancy has imposed the 150 Hour Education Rule on all students wanting to get certification as a CPA in Nevada. Some neighboring states such as California do not have a similar requirement. It is very important to remember that if you qualify in a non-150 Hour state, you will not be allowed to practice in a 150 Hour state. If you qualify in Nevada, you can get a California state license but if you qualify in California, you do not automatically get a Nevada state license. This non-reciprocity holds for many states throughout the nation. For specific information review each state’s board of accountancy web site.
In order to satisfy the Nevada State Board of Accountancy 150 Hour requirements you must include the following courses at a minimum:
You must have 30 semester (45 quarter) hours in Accounting courses above the introductory level that must include:
| Credit Hours | UNR Course which satisfy the requirement: |
| 9 - financial accounting | ACC 401, 402 and 403 or ACC 601, 602, 603* |
| 3 - cost accounting | ACC 405 or 605* |
| 3 - auditing | ACC 470 or 670* |
| 3 - federal income tax | ACC 410 or 610* |
| 12 - accounting electives | Accounting Electives |
AND
3 credit hours of commercial law ACC 460
AND
24 credit hours in business courses other than in accounting
For detailed information regarding the licensing requirements for Nevada CPAs:
Nevada State Board of Accountancy
*600 level classes are graduate classes. To enroll for these classes you would have to be admitted to the Master of Accountancy program.