Augustana's highly respected accounting program is designed to meet the professional requirements of accountants in public, private and non-profit environments. Every accounting major studies principles of accounting, accounting theory, macro- and micro-economics, and business statistics. Each student then shapes his or her curriculum depending on career goals, through coursework that might include such areas as economics, business administration, mathematics, English, psychology, sociology or speech communication. The accounting department focuses on strengthening skills in communication, both spoken and written — a focus further sharpened through the strong liberal arts foundation of an Augustana education. To reinforce ethical behavior and practice in the field, the accounting department stresses business ethics and teaches the subject as a transitional course for students as they progress toward their more specialized accounting curriculum. All students complete Senior Inquiry, a capstone project in which students draw from their comprehensive learning experience to create a topical project that demonstrates benefit to a community. Each student develops his or her Senior Inquiry in partnership with a faculty mentor. The three full-time faculty have about a dozen terminal and professional degrees among them, including Ph.D., D.B.A., J.D., C.P.A., C.M.A., C.F.M. and C.F.E. The chair of the department holds the position of S. James Galley Professor in Accounting, an endowed position that supports her work as teacher and mentor to accounting students. In fall 2008, the newly renovated Emmy Carlsson Evald Hall opened as a spectacular academic building for the departments of accounting, business administration and economics, as well as education and psychology. The building houses classrooms [including smart classrooms], offices, computer labs and study areas, as well as the impressive Great Room for gatherings and a large veranda with a view toward the Mississippi River. Outside the classroom Many accounting majors take a full-term internship for a term of academic credit, gaining firsthand experience on the staff of a major public accounting firm. Recent placements include Deere & Company, Deloitte & Touche, McGladrey & Pullen and the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. The department also finds internship placements ranging from internal auditing and budgeting to government contract bidding. Each year, 25-30 accounting students lend a hand, gain experience and find great satisfaction doing service work through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, a federally approved program designed to help people who cannot afford professional tax assistance. During the annual Business Day, students take a day out of the classroom to job-shadow and spend one-on-one time with Quad-City employers, giving them valuable insight into possible future careers. On campus, accounting majors choose from a number of extra-curricular clubs and groups to suit their particular interests, such as Business Club and the Augustana Accounting Association. The college now has more than 150 departmental, professional and student organizations.

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