[Anonymous]

Hey everyone. I am an accounting student at George Mason University. I have a question that I need answered.

According to the Virginia Board of Accountancy you need 120 credits, 24 credit hours of accounting courses, 24 credit hours of business courses, and a bachelor’s degree to sit for the CPA exam. You need 150 credits to gain licensure when you pass the CPA.

My plan is to get the 150 credits as a student as soon as possible so I don’t have to go back to school after graduating college. My plan is to stay an additional year as an undergrad and graduate with a bachelor’s in accounting with 150 credits. I am not doing a masters degree because I am an average student at best and I don’t think I can handle the rigor of a masters. I’m sticking to my strengths.

And here is my problem. Which courses at George Mason counts towards the 24 credits accounting and 24 credits business classes?

These are the courses you must take regardless if you are an accounting, finance, management, information systems, or marketing major at George Mason.

ACCT 203 – Survey of Accounting Credits: 3

ACCT 301 – Financial Accounting and Managerial Decision Making Credits: 3

BULE 302 – Legal Environment of Business Credits: 3

FNAN 301 – Financial Management Credits: 3

MGMT 301 – People and Organizations Credits: 3

MIS 102 – Spreadsheet Applications for Business Credits: 1

MIS 301 – Introduction to Business Information Systems Credits: 3

MKTG 301 – Principles of Marketing Credits: 3

OM 210 – Statistical Analysis for Management Credits: 4

OM 301 – Operations Management Credits: 3

SOM 301 – Business Models: A Communication Approach Credits: 3

Satisfies the University General Education writing intensive requirement.

SOM 498 – Capstone Course: Advanced Business Models Credits: 3

Satisfies the University General Education synthesis requirement.

Once you declare your major (in this case accounting) and George Mason’s school of management accepts you. Here are the major courses you must take.

ACCT 311 – Managerial and Cost Accounting Credits: 3

ACCT 331 – Intermediate Financial Accounting I Credits: 3

ACCT 332 – Intermediate Financial Accounting II Credits: 3

ACCT 351 – Taxation and Managerial Decision Making Credits: 3

ACCT 361 – Accounting Information Systems Credits: 3

ACCT 461 – Assurance and Audit Services Credits: 3

Two career advisors at George Mason told me that acct 203 and acct 301 would not count towards the 24 credit hours of accounting courses. But both are not entirely sure. I did not bother to ask them about which courses would count towards the 24 credit hours of business courses. 🙁 I should have though.

I also talked to Nicholas and Krystal who are online help agents on the VBOA website. They could not tell me which courses would count towards the 24 accounting and 24 business courses. They told me I would have to pay $25 for a pre-evaluation. However they did tell me that my plan to obtain 150 credits as an undergrad is allowed. Once I complete the 24 credit hours of accounting and 24 credit hours business classes, and reach 120 credits the remaining 30 to get to 150 credits can be in whatever courses I choose. Krystal also told me I could take the courses needed to meet 150 credits at any time.

So basically I guess it means I could take those courses to meet the 150 credits as electives and take them at the same time along with my accounting major courses. (this is another question I have)

Right now I am guessing that only acct 311, acct 331, acct 332, acct 351, acct 361, and acct 461 would count towards the 24 credit hours. So I would have to take two more accounting courses. Which means 6/30 credits to meet 150 credits must be accounting. 24/30 credits are whatever I choose and can be taken at the same time with my major courses and I can treat them as an elective.

Right now I am guessing that acct 203, acct 301, bule 301, finan 301, mgmt 301, mis 102, mis 301, mktg 301, om 210, and om 301 would all count towards the 24 credit hours for business classes.

Problem is I am not sure if my guesses are correct.

So here are my questions:

Which courses at George Mason counts towards the 24 credits accounting and 24 credits business classes?

Am I correct that 6/30 credits to meet 150 credits must be accounting and the 24/30 credits to meet 150 credits are essentially whatever classes I want?

Does Krystal’s answer mean that I can take those 6/30 extra accounting and 24/30 whatever classes I want at the same time while still completing my accounting major courses?

I am trying to get this sorted out without having to pay the $25 for a pre-evaluation.

[Anonymous]

I would suggest that you just pay the $25 and get them evaluated. The best that we can give you here is our best guess. In my state, basically it was anything started with “ACCT” or “ACC” counted towards our accounting requirements, but it's pretty clear that your state is different! So, as much as I know that funds are tight when you're in college, I'd strongly urge you to pay the pre-evaluation fee. They can change their rules, too, and I would think that having something on paper from the VA Board saying that you qualify would help you to still count even if their criteria changes, whereas something from one of us telling you that they accepted it in the past wouldn't help much. (If they made changes to their published criteria, then you'd still have to follow them, but if say the ACCT 301 is a “gray area”, then if they'd told you it counts, you'd probably be more able to hold them to it.)

Sorry I can't help more – since KY's rules are pretty clearly different, my knowledge won't apply to your situation. 🙂

[Anonymous]

I would suggest that you just pay the $25 and get them evaluated. The best that we can give you here is our best guess. In my state, basically it was anything started with “ACCT” or “ACC” counted towards our accounting requirements, but it's pretty clear that your state is different! So, as much as I know that funds are tight when you're in college, I'd strongly urge you to pay the pre-evaluation fee. They can change their rules, too, and I would think that having something on paper from the VA Board saying that you qualify would help you to still count even if their criteria changes, whereas something from one of us telling you that they accepted it in the past wouldn't help much. (If they made changes to their published criteria, then you'd still have to follow them, but if say the ACCT 301 is a “gray area”, then if they'd told you it counts, you'd probably be more able to hold them to it.)

Sorry I can't help more – since KY's rules are pretty clearly different, my knowledge won't apply to your situation. 🙂

[Anonymous]

Is there anyone else who can provide me with some help on my questions and the dilemma I am facing?

[Anonymous]

Is there anyone else who can provide me with some help on my questions and the dilemma I am facing?

[kkimi05]

I was actually in the same boat as you when i was in college…I went to college knowing I wanted to be a CPA, so I planned out my 4 years to ensure I graduated with 150 credit hours. You are correct about the additional 24 credits for whatever you want. I took some easy courses when I was in college to meet that 150. But I do believe that the 2 Actg 203 and Actg 301 wouldn't count towards your 24. So you will need 6 credit hours toward accounting electives. I took Advanced Accounting and International Accounting at Radford University.

I am not sure if you are a freshman or senior at GMU, but if you are a freshman getting that 150 credit hours is doable. You will have to take some summer courses, and pretty much have a full course load every semester (16-18 credit hours). But if I can do it, you can do it. It would also save you money not having to go to school that extra year. Also I know you don't want to get your masters, but at Radford they had a program which you would just stay for another whole year or so and you would graduate with a MBA. Not sure if you want to do that road, you would at least get a masters.

Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions! I actually live right down the road from GMU, in Centreville.

REG - 2/27/2013 - 78!!!!
AUD - 5/17/2013 - 72...Retake July 12th - 79!!!!
BEC - 8/29/2013 - 77!!!!
FAR - 11/14/2013- 72....Retake February 28th - 80!!! DONE!!!!

AICPA Ethics - 98!

[kkimi05]

I was actually in the same boat as you when i was in college…I went to college knowing I wanted to be a CPA, so I planned out my 4 years to ensure I graduated with 150 credit hours. You are correct about the additional 24 credits for whatever you want. I took some easy courses when I was in college to meet that 150. But I do believe that the 2 Actg 203 and Actg 301 wouldn't count towards your 24. So you will need 6 credit hours toward accounting electives. I took Advanced Accounting and International Accounting at Radford University.

I am not sure if you are a freshman or senior at GMU, but if you are a freshman getting that 150 credit hours is doable. You will have to take some summer courses, and pretty much have a full course load every semester (16-18 credit hours). But if I can do it, you can do it. It would also save you money not having to go to school that extra year. Also I know you don't want to get your masters, but at Radford they had a program which you would just stay for another whole year or so and you would graduate with a MBA. Not sure if you want to do that road, you would at least get a masters.

Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions! I actually live right down the road from GMU, in Centreville.

REG - 2/27/2013 - 78!!!!
AUD - 5/17/2013 - 72...Retake July 12th - 79!!!!
BEC - 8/29/2013 - 77!!!!
FAR - 11/14/2013- 72....Retake February 28th - 80!!! DONE!!!!

AICPA Ethics - 98!

[Anonymous]

Hey kkimi05 thank you so much! Can you tell me which courses would count into the 24 credit hours for business courses. I appreciate verifying the 24 credit hours accounting for me and how acct 203, and acct 301 would not count. Please answer this for me.

Which courses at George Mason (the ones I posted above) would count towards the 24 credit hours of business courses?

[Anonymous]

Hey kkimi05 thank you so much! Can you tell me which courses would count into the 24 credit hours for business courses. I appreciate verifying the 24 credit hours accounting for me and how acct 203, and acct 301 would not count. Please answer this for me.

Which courses at George Mason (the ones I posted above) would count towards the 24 credit hours of business courses?

[kkimi05]

I believe all your core business courses would count towards the 24 credit hours for the business courses, except the two accounting courses. That you shouldn't worry about, just make sure you get the 24 accounting courses. I think you should be fine with the courses you listed though.

I am not a VBOA employee though, so I am only giving you my opinion on the matter. When do you plan to graduate from GMU?

REG - 2/27/2013 - 78!!!!
AUD - 5/17/2013 - 72...Retake July 12th - 79!!!!
BEC - 8/29/2013 - 77!!!!
FAR - 11/14/2013- 72....Retake February 28th - 80!!! DONE!!!!

AICPA Ethics - 98!

[kkimi05]

I believe all your core business courses would count towards the 24 credit hours for the business courses, except the two accounting courses. That you shouldn't worry about, just make sure you get the 24 accounting courses. I think you should be fine with the courses you listed though.

I am not a VBOA employee though, so I am only giving you my opinion on the matter. When do you plan to graduate from GMU?

REG - 2/27/2013 - 78!!!!
AUD - 5/17/2013 - 72...Retake July 12th - 79!!!!
BEC - 8/29/2013 - 77!!!!
FAR - 11/14/2013- 72....Retake February 28th - 80!!! DONE!!!!

AICPA Ethics - 98!

[AOCI]

Hey 933137!

I also went GMU.

Since you went to SOM, don't worry about business credits.

However, you need to take ACCT 472 and 433 from Mason. You can also take them from NVCC.

Your six core acct classes are not enough.

FAR-82!
REG-82 Again!
BEC-78!
AUD-84!

Done with the exam and LICENSED in VA as of 11/17/2015.

[AOCI]

Hey 933137!

I also went GMU.

Since you went to SOM, don't worry about business credits.

However, you need to take ACCT 472 and 433 from Mason. You can also take them from NVCC.

Your six core acct classes are not enough.

FAR-82!
REG-82 Again!
BEC-78!
AUD-84!

Done with the exam and LICENSED in VA as of 11/17/2015.

[Anonymous]

AOCI,

I know that I need 24 credit hours accounting. I had a gut feeling only my six core accounting classes would count. So in total 18/24 would be checked off.

What do you mean by you need to take ACCT 472 and 433 from Mason?

Are you saying Acct 472 and 433 the ones you recommend to me to take becuase they are interesting classes and relatively easier than acct 331, 332, and 351?

Or are you saying these are the only two accounting courses I can take that will be approved by the Virginia Board of Accountancy and be the 6 credit hours I need to add to my 18 credits once I complete the six core classes?

Please answer me back as soon as possible. Glad to hear from another GMU student. Please help me, I will appreciate your help greatly.

[Anonymous]

AOCI,

I know that I need 24 credit hours accounting. I had a gut feeling only my six core accounting classes would count. So in total 18/24 would be checked off.

What do you mean by you need to take ACCT 472 and 433 from Mason?

Are you saying Acct 472 and 433 the ones you recommend to me to take becuase they are interesting classes and relatively easier than acct 331, 332, and 351?

Or are you saying these are the only two accounting courses I can take that will be approved by the Virginia Board of Accountancy and be the 6 credit hours I need to add to my 18 credits once I complete the six core classes?

Please answer me back as soon as possible. Glad to hear from another GMU student. Please help me, I will appreciate your help greatly.

[AOCI]

I meant your only options are ACCT 433 (Advanced Financial Accounting by Ingram) and ACCT 472 (Governmental Accounting by Hasan). Back in the old days, SOM used to offer other accounting electives like Advanced Managerial Accounting but Mason now only offers them to MSA students. They still let you do 433 and 472 because these are classes are scope for FAR. If you just want to graduate on time, take accounting classes at NVCC. I only took 472 at Mason and took another accounting elective at NVCC, computerized accounting. All my classes were approved by VBOA and I took FAR this January.

FAR-82!
REG-82 Again!
BEC-78!
AUD-84!

Done with the exam and LICENSED in VA as of 11/17/2015.

[Author]

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