Professional Accountancy Degree Program

Explore the Professional Accountancy degree program

If you are looking for a future in professional accounting, you can build a solid foundation in this field at Wayne State. The Professional Accountancy degree program will lead you to master a variety of accounting topics, helping you reach the top in the professional accounting career field.

You’ll learn how to use technology to analyze data and discover insights that businesses need to make good decisions. You’ll practice suggesting and implementing business and income tax strategies, learn how to recognize financial statement deficiencies, and discover how to identify accounting information system inefficiencies. You might even assess the risk of financial fraud.

At Wayne State, we strive to cultivate polished professionals of high integrity for placement in business, public accounting firms, governmental entities, or non-profit organizations. While this program does not provide all of the educational requirements necessary to become licensed as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), it is an effective pre-licensure program for those who decide to pursue this certification after completing their undergraduate degree.

View program courses Download program fact sheet (PDF)

Fast facts

Degree options:

B.A. or B.S. in Business Administration/Professional Accountancy
Minor in Business Administration

Delivery format: On campus (Wayne)

Program credit hours: 78

Business foundation (21 credit hours)
Business core (27 credit hours)
Professional accountancy concentration (30 credit hours)

Note: Students must also take 30 credit hours of General Studies courses. A total of 120 credit hours are needed to graduate from WSC. Additional majors or minors can be added to help meet graduation requirements.

School: Business and Technology

Department: Business and Economics

Prepare for your future

Opportunities and outcomes

Professional accountancy topics covered

Cost analysis, budgeting, and forecasting
Preparation of financial statements for business operations
Application of accounting standards for external financial reporting
Income tax laws and individual income tax returns
Federal income tax laws for businesses, fiduciaries, estates, and trusts
Tax research and planning methods
Fraud examination and forensic accounting
Auditing, attestation, and assurance services
Accounting and auditing for government and nonprofit organizations
Internal control, evaluation, and handling deficiencies
Computer literacy for accounting software

Student learning outcomes

Demonstrate an understanding of the core areas of business, which includes accounting, economics, management, quantitative business, finance, marketing, legal environment, information systems, and international
Demonstrate effective skills in written and oral communication in business settings
Work effectively in a team environment
Apply ethical frameworks to formulate management decision alternatives

Career Scholars Program

Students majoring in Professional Accountancy are eligible to take part in the Career Scholars Program. The Career Scholars Program offers a generous scholarship package while you embark on a unique cooperative education journey starting your freshman year at Wayne State. During your time here, you’ll participate in career readiness activities, job site visits, job shadowing, and more - all while learning the fundamentals of professional practice. After three years on campus, you’ll complete your senior year by working at a paid job in your chosen field. Job locations include Norfolk or Grand Island, Neb., where you'll live in community housing with fellow Career Scholars students.

Career Scholars Program

Professional accountancy internships

Our outstanding Career Services Office is available to help you find professional accountancy internships and career opportunities. Students recently completed internships at the following locations:

Cruise & Associates
HBE, LLP
Henjes, Conner & Williams, P.C.
Herley & Reinke Accounting, P.C.
Ketel Thorstenson, LLP
Sehi and Associates, P.C.
Williams & Company, P.C.

Career services and internships

Graduates work in their chosen field using the skills they learned while at Wayne State College. Each year, eager employers welcome WSC graduates into their organizations.

Jobs of recent graduates:

A&R Costing Senior – Cargill (Schuyler, Neb.)
Accountant – HBE (Lincoln, Neb.)
Associate Accountant – Bland & Associates (Omaha, Neb.)
High Risk Fraud Accountant – First National Bank of Omaha (Omaha, Neb.)
Revenue Auditor – Dept. of Revenue (Omaha, Neb.)
Staff Accountant – Sehi & Associations, P.C. (Norfolk, Neb.)
Staff Accountant – Wohlenberg Ritzman & Company, CPA’s LLC (Yankton, S.D.)
State Auditor – State of Nebraska (Lincoln, Neb.)
Tax Accountant – Sehi & Associates (Norfolk, Neb.)

Public disclosure of student achievement

job or grad school placement rate
within six months of graduation
Data based on most recent
employment outcomes survey

After graduating from Wayne State College, recent grads pursued advanced degrees at the following schools:

Business Administration (MBA) – Wayne State College (Wayne, Neb.)

Wayne State College’s Business Administration major with a Professional Accountancy concentration is considered a pre-licensure program. It does not include all of the educational requirements necessary to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). The courses in this program may be used in combination with other degree programs or individual courses to meet CPA licensing requirements.

Nebraska accountancy law requires that candidates seeking licensure as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) pass the CPA Exam, which can be taken near completion of a college degree with a minimum of 150 semester hours. For Nebraska, these 150 hours must include 30 semester hours in accounting beyond principles, 30 semester hours in general business, and 90 semester hours of additional courses.

For more information about CPA licensing requirements, visit the Nebraska Board of Public Accountancy website.

Cost of attendance

Most Affordable College in Nebraska

- College Affordability Guide, 2024

Wayne State is considered the most affordable four-year college or university in Nebraska. With same rates for in- and out-of-state students, our tuition guarantee, and our generous scholarship packages, it is clear to see how WSC earned the title. In fact, the average remaining annual cost of attendance for 2024-25 is $2,268 for undergraduate students after financial aid and scholarships.

Credits: 3
Description: Development of critical communication skills used in business and industry. Emphasis on assisting Business students to become more effective and efficient writers. Includes instructions, reports, memos, and letters.
Prerequisite: ENG 102 Composition Skills
Credits: 3
Description: Introduction to the study of law, the law of contracts, agency and employment, negotiable instruments, personal property and bailments, and the laws governing the sale of goods.
Credits: 3
Description: A study of the following statistical tools as applied to the business and economic milieu: collection and presentation of data, distributional measurements, probability and sampling, statistical inferences, linear regression and correlation, analysis of variance, and selected nonparametric statistics.
Prerequisite: MAT 105 Intermediate Algebra, or General Studies math requirement
Credits: 3
Description: A study of the role of accounting in the business environment. Emphasis is on applying basic terminology, concepts, processes, and outputs of the modern accounting system; development of an understanding of the nature and purpose of the major financial statements; and development of the ability to evaluate financial accounting information in problem-solving and decision making.
Credits: 3
Description: Continuation of BUS 240 Accounting I. Emphasis is on further study of items reported within major financial statements and development of the ability to evaluate managerial accounting information in problem-solving and decision making.
Prerequisite: BUS 240 Accounting I
Credits: 3
Description: In this course, the principal macroeconomic measurements of national production; unemployment and inflation will be introduced. Theories of how these measures interact and how they are influenced by activity in households, businesses, the federal government, and the Federal Reserve System, as well as the impact of international trade, will also be studied.
Credits: 3
Description: In this course, the principal microeconomic market model of supply and demand will be studied. Additional topics introduced to add to our understanding of the basic model will include resource allocation concepts, production and cost theory, consumer theory, and market structure conditions.

Business core courses (27 credits)

Credits: 3
Description: Develops the management art and science of planning, organizing, actuating, and controlling through people to make ideas materialize within economic constraints of a business enterprise. Develops ability to construct policy, to make scientifically sound decisions within that policy, and to establish ethical procedures to insure organized productive effort to intended objectives. Develops a management attitude, outlook, and ability.
Credits: 3
Description: Survey of the problems and opportunities involved in conducting business operations across national boundaries. Analysis of the concepts, tools, institutions, and environmental factors controlling international flows of money, personnel, information, goods, and services.
Credits: 3
Description: This course facilitates students in conquering the essential concepts of product, price, promotion, distribution, segmentation, ethics, and social responsibility, while addressing the evolving digital and social media influences. The fundamentals will be stressed allowing for useful decision processes by managers while encouraging the development of the marketing specialist as one of the key decision makers in a firm. Marketing is critical to implementing strategy, gaining competitive advantages, and ensuring positive organizational results.
Credits: 3
Description: A study of the financial function within a business enterprise. Areas addressed include financial analysis, working capital management, capital budgeting, sources and forms of long-term financing, financial structure, and cost of capital.
Prerequisites: BUS 226 Business Statistics, and BUS 241 Accounting II or BUS 142 Survey of Accounting
Credits: 3
Description: Successfully managing operations is vital to the long-term viability of every type of organization. This course provides a broad overview of issues in operations and supply chain management emphasizing a strategic orientation toward design and improvement issues. Specific topics include competitiveness; operations strategy; quality management; statistical process control; design of products, services, processes, and facilities; forecasting; supply chain management; logistics; project management; inventory management; lean production; and scheduling.
Credits: 3
Description: This course will examine theoretical structures that shape or influence Western thought and review specific professional codes of ethics relevant to business majors. Students will learn a decision-making framework for examining and articulating well-reasoned positions on ethical issues in business.
Credits: 3
Description: This course focuses on public, administrative, and regulatory law, and the relationship of business to the legal structure. Topics include employee and consumer protection, environmental regulation, labor law, monopolies, price-fixing, and the regulation of domestic and international trade.
Credits: 3
Description: Involves analysis of cases in which knowledge from basic courses in marketing, accounting, finance, management, and economics is integrated and applied. Demonstrated interrelationship between the functions of business, complexities of business problems, and strategic management models are addressed.
Prerequisites: BUS 270 Principles of Marketing, BUS 322 Managerial Finance, BUS 352 Operations and Supply Chain Management, or instructor approval; and completion of 105 semester credit hours
Credits: 0
Description: This course requires students to demonstrate or report their level of achievement of the student learning objectives developed for the Business Administration major foundation, core, and concentration courses. Various assessment measures such as surveys, comprehensive exams, and capstone projects will be used to gather student data. Completion of this course is a graduation requirement. Graded S/N.
Prerequisite: Completion of 100 semester credit hours
Credits: 3
Description: Emphasis is on providing breadth of knowledge in the organizational concepts and considerations surrounding the use of information systems technologies such as computer systems and communications systems. Topics include role of information systems in managerial functions, general systems theory, design and implementation of Management Information Systems (MIS), decision support systems, expert systems, and artificial intelligence.

Professional accountancy concentration courses (30 credit hours)

Credits: 3
Description: Study of cost management systems and how accounting information is used within organizations to solve problems, make decisions, and define organizational strategies. Topics include cost determination for products, services, processes, departments, and activities; budgeting; performance evaluation; situational analysis and decision making; and professional ethics.
Prerequisite: BUS 241 Accounting II
Credits: 3
Description: An analysis of the modern accounting system with emphasis on design, documentation, and implementation of an appropriate accounting system for a firm. The course includes a study of a firm’s information needs and internal control requirements, the use of microcomputer software packages, and the use of the case (or project) technique requiring both written and oral presentation of results.
Prerequisite: BUS 340 Internal Financial Reporting
Credits: 3
Description: In-depth study of accounting theory and practice with particular emphasis on reporting via the four financial statements. Extensive coverage of the statement of cash flows as well as reporting for cash; receivables; inventories; property, plant, and equipment; and intangibles. Includes an introduction to accounting standards research and an introduction to international accounting standards.
Prerequisite: BUS 241 Accounting II
Credits: 3
Description: In-depth study of accounting theory and practice with particular emphasis on researching and applying accounting standards to various business situations. Coverage of reporting for current liabilities, bonds, equity, leases, deferred income tax, and post-employment benefits. Includes application of international accounting standards.
Prerequisite: BUS 347 External Financial Reporting
Credits: 3
Description: Introduction to the concepts and practice of accounting professional services including audits, other attestation services, and other assurance services. Topics include independence standards, professional standards, materiality, the audit risk model, engagement planning, substantive tests and test of controls, evidence accumulation, and evaluation and results reporting.
Prerequisite: BUS 348 External Financial Reporting Standards
Credits: 3
Description: General knowledge of the principles of income tax laws and sufficient knowledge of the technical aspects thereof to acquire competency in the preparation of individual income tax returns.
Credits: 3
Description: General overview of income tax laws as they relate to partnerships, corporations, fiduciaries, estates and trusts, gifts, and tax research and planning.
Prerequisite: BUS 445 Federal Tax Accounting II
Credits: 3
Description: Focus is on further developing accounting and business skills that will add value to organizations. These include financial analysis skills, financial forecasting skills, research (of professional standards) skills, decision modeling skills, decision-making skills, communication skills, teamwork skills, and strategic thinking skills. Involves analysis of case situations in which knowledge from courses in financial accounting and cost accounting are integrated and applied.
Prerequisites: BUS 340 Internal Financial Reporting and BUS 348 External Financial Reporting
Choose two of the following courses:
- BUS 431 Accounting Analytics (3 credits) – Exploration of techniques applied to accounting data and big data to provide insights regarding key performance indicators, financial statement forecasting, business valuation, earnings management detection, and fraud detection. Prerequisite: BUS 348 External Financial Reporting Standards
- BUS 437 Fraud Examination and Forensic Accounting (3 credits) – Focuses on developing understanding of the types of fraud and why people commit fraud, preventing fraud, detecting fraud, conducting a fraud investigation, and the forensic accounting aspects of the litigation and recovery process. Prerequisite: BUS 348 External Financial Reporting Standards
- BUS 444 Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting and Auditing (3 credits) – A study of the accounting and auditing standards utilized for government and nonprofit organizations. Coverage includes state and local government units, nonprofit organizations, colleges and universities, health care organizations, voluntary health and welfare organizations, and governmental auditing standards. Prerequisite: BUS 348 External Financial Reporting Standard

Popular pairings

Many students at Wayne State will add a second major or a minor to complement their program of study or to focus their studies on a specific topic. Suggested pairings for Professional Accountancy include:

View all majors and minors

Related programs

Students interested in the Professional Accountancy program may also be interested in:

Accounting (B.A. or B.S.)
Finance (B.A. or B.S.)
Economics (B.A. or B.S.)
Accounting MBA

I am in the process of pursuing my CPA. This is something that I think WSC has prepared me well for. The courses offered here helped prepare me and developed my study skills to help me in the process of studying for the exam. I have accepted a job for after graduation where I will be auditing banks and hospitals. This job will require a lot of teamwork, communication, and critical thinking skills, all of which have been a focus in my coursework here at Wayne State College.

Faith Walton

O'Neill, Nebraska

Public Accounting (now Professional Accountancy)

Faith Walton

O'Neill, Nebraska

Public Accounting (now Professional Accountancy)

Meet the professors

Business and Economics Department faculty

Explore the Professional Accountancy degree program

Fast facts

Opportunities and outcomes

Professional accountancy topics covered

Student learning outcomes

Career Scholars Program

Professional accountancy internships

Jobs of recent graduates:

2024-25 Estimated Annual Cost of Attendance

Most Affordable College in Nebraska