FAQs (Frequently asked questions) for the Department of Accounting and MIS
Q. What is a CPA?
A. CPA stands for Certified Public Accountant. Professionals with this designation have various state requirements for education, exam and experience. Each state has its own licensing requirements. A student wishing to obtain this highly coveted certification should check the of the state in which they plan to work or reside.
Q. Who/ what is the Big Four?
A. The Big Four are the four largest international accountancy and professional services firms, which handle the vast majority of audits for publicly traded companies as well as many private companies. In addition to assurance services (audit), they provide tax service, and business and technology consulting. The Big Four firms have service revenue in excess of $20 billion annually. They are Deliotte, Ernst and Young (E&Y), KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). There are thousands of global, regional and local accounting firms. Many of these firms recruit UD accounting and MIS students.
Q. When does recruiting start for internships and full-time career opportunities?
A. Although recruiting takes place throughout the year, the big push starts the first week of September. Students are strongly encouraged to utilize the Bank of America Career Services Center. It has a satellite office in Lerner College of Business and Economics, 113 Alfred Lerner Hall.
Q. What is the 150 hours requirement?
A. Due to the complex nature of accounting and information technology as well as the need for interpersonal skills, many states require candidates for the CPA to have 150 credit hours of college education. To determine a state’s requirement, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants maintain a website at Be A CPA.
Q. What is the 4+1 program?
A. Currently the state of Delaware does not have a 150 requirement. However, many of our students leave the state to go New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, among others, the Department of Accounting & MIS has a program where a student could complete 150 credit hours and receive a Master’s in Accounting. Other ways to reach 150 hours include double majors and minors.
Q. Do MIS majors have something similar to the CPA exam?
A. Yes. The ISACA (formerly the Information Systems Audit and Control Association) manages the various certification programs for information technology careers. There is the CISA, CRIM, CGEIT, and CRISC. For more information visit the ISACA website.
Q. What is the GET minor? How does this compare to a MIS minor?
A. GET Minor Information here.
Q. Is there scholarship money available?
A. The Department of Accounting and MIS has several awards that are given yearly some with stipends for students already at the UD. John: link to student award on this site. All students should review the UD financial services at http://www.udel.edu/admissions/finance/ Additionally, there are national programs that offer scholarship help. Visit http://www.accounting majors.com/accountingmajors/scholarship.
Q. Who are my advisors?
A. Freshmen and Sophomores are advised through the College Advising Office. Junior and Senior accounting majors are advised by gillespj
udel [dot] edu (Jeff Gillespie), 220 Purnell Hall, 831-1790. Junior and Senior MIS majors are advised by wrightdudel [dot] edu (Diane Wright), 006 Purnell Hall, 831-6515. Have more questions? Contact the lberryudel [dot] edu (Accounting & MIS Department) at (302) 831-2961, Room 206 Purnell Hall.
Q. Where does a business go to get student help on a project?
A. The Department offers an IT project course in student activities that begins in February and ends in May. Please contact project coordinator, wrightdudel [dot] edu (Diane Wright), 006 Purnell Hall, 831-6515.
Q. Where does a business go to hire UD students for an internship or part-time or full-time position?
A. Potential employers for all part-time and full-time jobs as well as internships should contact the Bank of America Career Services Center. If you would like to talk with a faculty member, please contact gillespjudel [dot] edu (Jeff Gillespie) for accounting internships or Diane Wright for MIS internships.
Q. Where does a student go to get transfer credit information?
A. The UD maintains a listing previously approved courses through the registrar office. The Department also maintains its own listing. If the course that you wish to transfer to UD is not listed then you must follow the UD policies. The Department of Accounting & MIS requires the submission of a complete copy of the other institution’s syllabus.
Q. Where does a student go for tutoring help?
A. The Office of Academic Enrichment (OAE) provides free group tutoring for Acct 207 and Acct 208. They need at least five students to request the free service. Students should go to their offices at 148-150 S. College Ave. (It is the corner of Amstel and S. College Ave (Rt 896). Phone: (302) 831-4555. The Office also maintains a list of tutors that will tutor individually. The student is then responsible to pay the tutor. There is also a new on-line tutoring service called nfoshare.
Q. Need more help?
A. Please contact the department office manager eileensudel [dot] edu (Eileen Sklodowski) at 831-2961.
