FAQ

Applicants to the Upper Division of the Culverhouse School of Accountancy must have completed at least 61 semester hours (see catalog) prior to admission to the School. The student must have an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher for all college-level coursework attempted, and must have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher for all University of Alabama coursework attempted in order to be admitted.

Meet with your academic advisor to develop a tentative 4-year plan.

Advisors are available in the Accounting School (312 Alston, 205-348-8997)) and in C&BA Student Services (10 Bidgood, 205-348-4537). You should visit with an advisor as often as needed.

Fill out a University-wide scholarship application. Send copies of the application to each area where applicable, such as UA-wide, college and department. You may want to visit the UA Scholarship Guide homepage at http://www.ua.edu/usguide.html. Check department and college display cases for announcements, especially those outside the University. Search the internet.

A listing of UA Student Organizations and Student Activity Contacts can be obtained from your advisor or the Office of Admissions (203 Student Services Building).

Beta Alpha Psi is the national honorary accounting fraternity. The purposes of the fraternity are to promote the study of accountancy and to introduce students to the accounting profession. Accounting majors who meet the high scholastic requirements of Beta Alpha Psi and who have completed six hours of accounting (AC 310 or above) at The University of Alabama are eligible for membership. Beta Alpha Psi holds periodic meetings, which feature visiting practitioners from various areas of the accounting profession as guest speakers. All interested students are welcome to attend these meetings.

Resumes should be prepared no later than the beginning of your junior year. For assistance in developing a resume you may see your advisor or utilize the Career Center's resume service (330 Ferguson Center).

Participating in an internship or cooperative education program during your junior and/or senior year greatly enhances your job opportunities. Register with the Career Center for on-campus recruiting. Mail cover letters and resumes to companies that do not recruit on campus but you are interested in. Follow through with phone calls or visits. You should network as much as possible in developing your business contacts. Tell family, friends, faculty members, and advisors what you are looking for. Utilize and use information available from professional and trade organizations. Explore the internet for company information, career hints, resumes on line and job announcements. Remember to keep a log of your interviews, contacts and follow-up activities. Be sure and attend Career Fairs.

Attend an Image Seminar (Career Dress & Etiquette) and a mock interview session sponsored by the Career Center (330 Ferguson Center). Research the companies you plan to interview with and have a list of questions prepared.

After each interview, you must take the time and write a brief thank-you note as soon as you get home. Do not put it off! It is too important. A simple thank you note will help potential employers remember you. It is not just "being polite".

All CPA candidates must pass the Uniform CPA Exam to qualify for a CPA certificate and license to practice public accounting. The exam is the same no matter which state it is taken in, but each state/jurisdiction has its own set of education and experience requirements. At least thirty-six states have adopted the 150-hour education requirement necessary to sit for the CPA Exam. I would encourage you to research any state you are considering locating to. The AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) has an excellent website which I encourage you to visit (http://www.aicpa.org). Here you may find such information as to, what states have the 150-hour education requirements to become a CPA, an general overview of the education and experience requirements for becoming a CPA by state/jurisdiction, addresses/phone number to The State Boards of Accountancy of the Untied States, and on accounting careers.

Assuming that the student has fulfilled the undergraduate prerequisite requirements for the program, the M.Acc. or M.T.A. degree can be earned in a calendar year.

The normal courseload is twelve hours in the fall semester, twelve hours in spring semester, and six hours in the summer semester.

Though students usually begin the program in the fall semester, it is possible for a student to start the program in the spring or summer semester as well.

The minimum admission requirements imposed by the Graduate School are that the student have at least a 3.0 overall undergraduate quality point average (QPA) or a 3.0 QPA in the most recent sixty semester hours attempted, and that the student score 500 or higher on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). However, the Graduate School permits each degree program to set more stringent admission requirements. Specifically, a three-person faculty review committee reviews each master's application. There are separate committees for the M.Acc. and M.T.A. programs. Each member of the Committee makes an accept or reject recommendation to the appropriate Coordinator. The Coordinator makes an accept or reject recommendation to the Dean of the Graduate School based on the Faculty Review Committee's input. In reviewing the applications, the Faculty Review Committee considers the applicant's overall and accounting undergraduate GPAs, GMAT score, Statement of Purpose, and letters of recommendation.

The Culverhouse School of Accountancy awards assistantships and scholarships to deserving students based on merit. The assistantship requires a ten-hour per week work commitment as either a teaching assistant or research assistant. Teaching assistants teach the lab sections of the School's introduction to accounting course. Research assistants are assigned to one or two faculty to assist them in the conduct of their research activities. Assistantships carry a stipend and are accompanied by tuition benefits for fall and spring semesters. Assistantships in the summer are not guaranteed but often are available. Scholarships are usually awarded for the academic year.

Your application to the Graduate School is used in determining who will receive an offer for an assistantship. You may also contact the appropriate Coordinator and make your interest known.

You may request a scholarship application in writing from The Culverhouse School of Accountancy, Box 870220, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 or by phone at 205/348-6131. Applications are available in September and have a January 15 deadline for the upcoming academic year. The University of Alabama Scholarship Guide can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.ua.edu/usguide.html.

The School holds accounting accreditation at both the undergraduate and graduate levels from AACSB International. The Culverhouse School of Accountancy is a charter member of the Federation of Schools of Accountancy.

Assuming that the student has fulfilled the undergraduate prerequisite requirements for the program, the M.Acc. or M.T.A. degree can be earned in a calendar year.

The normal courseload is twelve hours in the fall semester, twelve hours in spring semester, and six hours in the summer semester.

Though students usually begin the program in the fall semester, it is possible for a student to start the program in the spring or summer semester as well.

The minimum admission requirements imposed by the Graduate School are that the student have at least a 3.0 overall undergraduate quality point average (QPA) or a 3.0 QPA in the most recent sixty semester hours attempted, and that the student score 500 or higher on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). However, the Graduate School permits each degree program to set more stringent admission requirements. Specifically, a three-person faculty review committee reviews each master's application. There are separate committees for the M.Acc. and M.T.A. programs. Each member of the Committee makes an accept or reject recommendation to the appropriate Coordinator. The Coordinator makes an accept or reject recommendation to the Dean of the Graduate School based on the Faculty Review Committee's input. In reviewing the applications, the Faculty Review Committee considers the applicant's overall and accounting undergraduate, GPAs, GMAT score, Statement of Purpose, and letters of recommendations.

The Culverhouse School of Accountancy awards assistantships and scholarships to deserving students based on merit. The assistantship requires a ten-hour per week work commitment as either a teaching assistant or research assistant. Teaching assistants teach the lab sections of the School's introduction to accounting course. Research assistants are assigned to one or two faculty to assist them in the conduct of their research activities. Assistantships carry a stipend and are accompanied by tuition benefits for fall and spring semesters. Assistantships in the summer are not guaranteed but often are available. Scholarships are usually awarded for the academic year.

Your application to the Graduate School is used in determining who will receive an offer for an assistantship. You may also contact the appropriate Coordinator and make your interest known.

You may request a scholarship application in writing from The Culverhouse School of Accountancy, Box 870220, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 or by phone at 205/348-6131. Applications are available in September and have a January 15 deadline for the upcoming academic year. The University of Alabama Scholarship Guide can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.ua.edu/usguide.html.

The School holds accounting accreditation at both the undergraduate and graduate levels from AACSB International. The Culverhouse School of Accountancy is a charter member of the Federation of Schools of Accountancy.