The University of Cincinnati (UC) has pulled rank again, this time in its accounting program.
For the first time UC's accounting program, housed in the College of Business (CoB), has made it into the top 10 nationally in BusinessWeek.
This list is formed from responses to a survey sent to thousands of business majors at over 100 schools around the country. The students are asked to judge their schools' programs in 12 areas: ethics, corporate strategy, business law and sustainability.
"The strength of our accounting program is in providing students a comprehensive, practical and results-based educational experience," says CoB Dean Will McIntosh. "BusinessWeek’s ranking of our program as one of the top 10 in the nation is evidence that the UC College of Business continues to focus on delivering a business education that is relevant to the marketplace by integrating real industry experience with state-of-the-art curriculum."
Some of the schools scoring high in these rankings have surprised many. But not UC accounting professor Tim Sale.
"I’m not surprised — we’ve worked really hard to build a successful program," Sale says. "We’re trying to prepare our people for the CPA profession. This is a good indication that we’re doing the right thing. We also hear from firms that have hired our students that they like the good work ethic and technical preparation of our students."
Ultimately, the connection to the real world of accounting practice is what accounting students at UC value most.
For professors, the feeling is mutual.
"We appreciate our students’ confidence in us and their understanding that we’re preparing them for their careers," says Associate Professor Jens Stephan, head of the CoB Department of Accounting. "We go out of our way to provide professional developmental opportunities for them, for example, by partnering with our friends in the accounting profession."
Another distinguishing trait of UC's accounting program is its support of special student groups and activities. A good example is the National Association of Black Accountants, Inc.
Tosha Moorer, president of the NABA's UC chapter says,
"I was in a cooperative business education program as a high-school senior, and began my first brush with accounting there," Moorer says. "I looked at schools in Ohio for their accounting programs and applied for various scholarships. I got attracted to UC in particular because of the strong faculty and courses offered. I saw that many of the courses offered prepare students for the CPA exam, and that was very important to me."
Writer: Jonathan DeHart
Source: Wendy Beckman, Tosha Moorer, University of Cincinnati
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