Accounting

Introduction

Accounting is an important tool used by managers of economic organizations to plan, control and report financial activity. A thorough knowledge of accounting is, therefore, necessary to understand the operation and financial condition of any business, nonprofit organization or governmental agency.

The Department of Accounting offers a broad program of accounting courses that, coupled with required and elective courses in economics and business administration, provides the graduate with a sound educational foundation for an accounting career or post-graduate studies.

The accounting graduate can expect to find employment in a number of areas including private business, public accounting, not-for-profit organizations or governmental units. An accountant in private business or governmental service will typically work in such areas as cost analysis, taxation, auditing, accounting systems or cash management. Careers in public accounting typically involve work in taxation, auditing, or management advisory services.

The accounting curriculum also provides a theoretical foundation for students who plan to take examinations to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or a Certified Management Accountant (CMA). Students are encouraged to consider the variety and breadth of career opportunities available to the accounting graduate when they select their accounting elective courses.

Faculty

AUDREY G. TAYLOR (2002) Chair and Professor. BA, Smith College; MBA, University of Tennessee; MIE, PhD, Wayne State University.
HANMEI CHEN (2015) Associate Professor. BS, MS Tsinghua University; PhD, Arizona State University.
BURAK DOLAR (2012) Professor. BA, Istanbul University; MBA, Troy University; PhD, University of Mississippi.
DAWNA DRUM (2016) Professor. BBA, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; MBA, Edgewood College, Madison, WI; PhD, Indiana State University.
YAMIN HAO (2018) Associate Professor. BS, Tsinghua University; PhD, University of Miami.
SHUO LI (2017) Professor. BSc, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics; MSc, Indiana University; PhD, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
ZANDER (ZENGHUI) LIU (2015) Professor. BS, Jilin University; MS, Jilin University; PhD, Drexel University.
JARED MOORE (2019) Professor. BS, Arizona State University; Master of Taxation, Arizona State University; PhD, Arizona State University.
WILLIAM R. SINGLETON (1975) Professor. BBA, Memphis State University; MBA, University of Portland; PhD, University of Hawaii; CPA, state of Washington.
STEVEN H. SMITH (2001) Associate Dean and Professor. BBA, Iowa State University; MS, Oklahoma State University; PhD, Arizona State University.

Other Departmental Information

Contact information

Harry Werber, Academic Department Manager, Parks Hall 451, 360-650-2195, werberh@wwu.edu

Student Advising

After declaring a major, each student will be assigned a faculty advisor whom they can consult about required and elective courses in their chosen major, as well as career objectives and opportunities.

For answers to routine questions concerning preparation and progress through the major, students can review the Accounting department website or contact the department. Non-routine questions can be directed to the department chair or the department manager. Questions concerning individual areas of study should be directed to faculty who teach in that area.

Programs

Undergraduate Major

Undergraduate Combined Major

Economics/Accounting, BA (see Economics Department)

Undergraduate Minor

Accounting Minor

Graduate

Professional Accounting, Non-Thesis, MPAcc

Courses

Accounting

Courses numbered X37; X97; 300, 400 are described in the University Academic Policies section of this catalog.

Business

Courses numbered X37; X97; 300, 400 are described in the University Academic Policies section of this catalog.

Master of Professional Accounting

Courses numbered X37; X97; 300, 400, 500 are described in the University Academic Policies section of this catalog.