Connections
Department of Accounting
225 Sutliff Hall
Phone: (570) 389-4125
FAX: (570) 389-5555
Resources
Chairperson
Richard L. Baker, Professor - B.S., MBA, Bloomsburg State College; Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University; CPA, CMA, CIA
Secretary - Veronica Breisch
Faculty
William E. Bealing, Jr., Professor - B.S.B.A., Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania; MBA, University of Montana; Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University; CPA, CFE
Nancy E. Coulmas, Professor - B.S., New York Institute of Technology; MBA, St. Bonaventure University; Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University
Mark D. Law, Associate Professor - B.S.B.A (Accounting), Bloomsburg University; MBA, Wilkes University; Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University; CPA
Dennis B. K. Hwang, Professor - B.A., Chengchi University; M.A., Ph.D., University of Oklahoma; CPA, CMA
Gary S. Robson, Associate Professor - BA, M.Ed., Ph.D., University of Arizona
John A. Rude, Associate Professor - B.B.A., M.A., Western Illinois University; Ph.D., Kent State University; CPA
Mike Shapeero, Professor - B.S., MBA, California State University, Chico; Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; CPA, CMA
Andrew Blair Staley, Associate Professor - B.A., Western Connecticut State University; MPA, University of Texas at Austin; M.S. (Taxation), American University; DBA, Nova Southeastern University; CPA, CMA, CIA, CFM, CGFM, AAP
Department of Accounting
About the Department
The accounting department includes 10 faculty, all of whom have doctoral degrees and eight of whom are professionally certified. Collectively, they possess diverse work experience in public and private accounting with major companies and small businesses, government agencies and not-for-profit organizations.
Mission - Accounting
The Department of Accounting will continuously strive to provide the best accounting education in our competitive environment.
Goals to accomplish this mission:
- To enhance the enthusiasm and capability of our students for lifelong learning.
- To develop student ability in applying the critical thinking to problem solving.
- To strive to provide our students the opportunities to develop the necessary academic and social skills to enter the accounting profession.
- To strive to continuously improve the excellence of our teaching.
- To continue to vigorously integrate technology into teaching and learning.
- To support faculty efforts leading to regional recognition of faculty excellence in teaching, scholarly growth and service.
- To create a continuous cycle of student, faculty, alumni and business community involvement in our programs.
To provide students with strong technical background for entry into the profession.
The program is fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
The College of Business has two student computer labs with Windows-based microcomputer applications dedicated to serving business students. Among other services, both labs provide stand-alone software, network software and direct access to the Harvey A. Andruss Library, e-mail and the Internet. Students also have complete access to all campus computer facilities via the campus network from residence halls and labs throughout the campus.
The department has enjoyed a nearly 100 percent job placement rate for the past 10 years. Four of the world's leading accounting firms, along with many public and private organizations, recruit at Bloomsburg.
Accounting (B.S.B.A.)
The accounting program curriculum is tailored to address the demands confronted by today's professional accountant. Students learn how to accumulate and summarize information, to analyze and interpret results and to present information that often becomes key to decision making. The program emphasizes the importance of communication skills, both written and oral, because successful accountants spend more time working with people than with numbers and more time helping others to reach decisions than tabulating figures.
While approximately one-half of the students entering this program have completed an accounting course in high school, prior exposure to accountancy is not required for admission. Students are expected to develop a level of proficiency in the general use of computer software programs dealing with database management, electronic spreadsheets and word processing.
CPA Requirements
Effective January 1, 2012, individuals wishing to become a licensed CPA in the State of Pennsylvania will have to complete 150 hours of post-secondary education at an accredited college or university. Students who complete the undergraduate accounting program at Bloomsburg University may fulfill all CPA educational requirements by staying for an additional twelve months and completing either the Masters of Accounting or MBA graduate program.
Many graduates become certified public accountants (CPAs), join corporations or enroll in graduate school, including the Master of Accounting program at Bloomsburg University.
Minor in Accounting
A minor in accounting provides students in disciplines outside of the College of Business with a broad background in accounting and its functional areas. The minor is designed so students can have the background necessary to apply their major discipline in the business environment. The minor consists of 18 semester hours, 12 of which must be taken at Bloomsburg University.
Career Concentration in Fraud Examination
The concentration provides in-depth coverage of fraud examination and forensic accounting. This interdisciplinary program is designed to prepare students for entry into the field of fraud examination. The concentration consists of 18 credits, 12 of which must be taken at Bloomsburg University.
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) program offers management education designed to impart business expertise and strengthen leadership skills. Successful students will demonstrate mastery of knowledge in management, marketing, accounting, finance, and information systems. The program provides the theoretical, analytical and operational expertise managers need to meet the challenges of managing human and material resources in dynamic, competitive environments. The curriculum consists of 36 graduate credit hours delivered in 8 required and 4 elective courses. Students without sufficient preparation also complete prerequisite foundation courses.
Most on-campus courses meet one evening each week for 15 weeks in spring and fall semesters. Summer semester courses meet two evenings for 6 weeks. Courses are described in the graduate catalog. Classes meet on the Bloomsburg campus and at convenient Williamsport sites. Most students are part-time and take 1 or 2 courses each semester.
The course schedule requires a minimum of one year of full-time study to complete. Most part-time students finish in 3 years. Students must comply with Graduate School and MBA program policies and procedures, completing all requirements for graduation with an average grade of B (3.00/4.00 G.P.A.) within six years.