Program Website

The Accounting Department, the M.E. Rinker, Sr. Institute of Tax and Accountancy, offers an undergraduate major and minor in accounting as well as a master of accountancy degree. The Institute also houses the family enterprise major and minor and the business law minor. Our mission is to provide our students with an intellectually challenging education resulting from our focus on excellence in teaching. The educational experience of our students is marked by high involvement, experiential learning, small classes, and an orientation toward real-world applicability.

Accounting is often referred to as the "language of business." Accurate and timely accounting information is critical for quality business decision-making. Accountants not only prepare tax returns, assemble (or audit) financial statements, or develop accounting information systems, but serve as financial, technological, and tax advisers to businesses and individuals. Accountants often leverage their expertise to secure executive positions. According to Ali Velshi, chief business correspondent for CNN (Money, January/February, 2011), "…the beauty of accounting as a profession is its flexibility."

Successful accountants are not only knowledgeable in accounting, information systems, and business, but are also strong communicators.  Interpersonal skills are a must, as is the ability to think and reason. Self-motivation and organization skills are also important. Not everyone has the skills necessary to be a great accountant, but for those who do, the rewards can be substantial.

Our program is focused on developing students to become successful accounting, financial, or management professionals serving a variety of organizations, including public accounting and consulting firms, public and privately-held corporations, governmental entities, and not-for-profit entities. Students completing the necessary coursework are academically qualified to take the Certified Public Accountants examination. Some students complete the CPA examination while enrolled in our master of accountancy program.

Undergraduate accounting majors must complete seven required major courses (including financial and managerial accounting, auditing, tax, and information systems) as well as two major elective classes. Students with interest in accounting information systems will take management information systems classes as electives. Students with interest in accounting will take electives in financial accounting and taxation. Students who plan to take the CPA exam will also take two courses in business law as general electives. Master of accountancy students must complete 30 credits, 15 of which are in graduate level accounting courses in financial accounting theory, tax, governmental/not-for-profit accounting, and auditing. The remaining coursework is chosen from a list of electives, which includes select undergraduate and graduate business courses.

Faculty

The Institute is staffed by eight full-time faculty members teaching accounting and taxation, business law, family enterprise, and business ethics. Four of them are certified public accountants. Strong teachers and experts in their fields, the faculty members in the Institute include the following:

• James R. Beasley, Ph.D., Tufts University; Professor of Business Administration; business ethics; former Vice President for Administration and Chief Operating Officer for Stetson University.
• Michael E. Bitter, Ph.D., University of Mississippi; Rinker Distinguished Professor of Accounting and Chair, M.E. Rinker, Sr. Institute of Tax and Accountancy; CPA; financial accounting/theory and auditing; School of Business Administration (SOBA) Professor of the Year (2001, 2006); SOBA research award winner (1999); six-time SOBA Service Award winner.
• Vincent C. Brenner, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University; David M. Beights Professor of Accounting; CPA; financial accounting and reporting, accounting education; FICPA Educator of the Year (2007); Hand Award for Research (2009). 
• Richard W. Copeland, LL.M., Taxation, University of Miami; J.D., University of Florida; Associate Professor of Business Law and Tax; business law, family enterprise, estate planning, estate taxation; SOBA Teacher of the Year (2010).
• Monica M. Jeancola, Ph.D., University of Florida; Assistant Professor of Accounting; cost/managerial accounting, accounting information systems; SOBA Teacher of the Year (2008); SOBA service award (2010).
• Gregory K. McCann, J.D., University of Florida; Professor of Family Business and Business Law; business law and family enterprise; SOBA Professor of the Year (2000); SOBA Teacher of the Year (1999); SOBA Research Award (2009); SOBA Service Award (1999, 2010).  
• Maria F. Rickling, M.Acc., Florida International University; Assistant Professor of Accounting; financial accounting, auditing.
• Judson P. Stryker, D.B.A., Mississippi State University; Professor of Accounting and Eugene M. Lynn Chair; CPA;  financial accounting, individual, estate/gift, and corporate taxation, and tax research; SOBA Teacher of the Year (2003).  

Internship Opportunities

A number of our students complete one or more internships during their time at Stetson. In fact, internships are highly recommended. Internships may be part-time or full-time, paid or unpaid, and taken during the academic year or the summer. Academic credit can be earned for internships meeting certain requirements. In recent years, our students have interned with "Big 4" and local accounting firms, corporations (such as Siemens, Brown & Brown, and Disney), and governmental entities (such as the County of Volusia).

Career Opportunities

Graduates of our accounting program are expected to continue to be in high demand by employers at attractive salaries. In fact, accounting jobs are expected to increase by 22% from 2008 to 2018 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). With an undergraduate degree in accounting, employment opportunities exist in accounting and related fields (many employers like to hire accounting majors for positions in finance and management) with corporations, consulting firms, governments, and not-for-profit entities. Some of our graduates choose instead to pursue a master of accountancy, an MBA, or a law degree (the accounting major provides a solid foundation for law school, particularly for students who are interested in tax, business, or securities law). Graduates who complete 150 hours of coursework and qualify to take the CPA examination (usually by completing our master of accountancy program) typically accept employment with a local, regional, national, or international CPA firm, primarily in the audit/assurance area. More recently, we have also had students begin careers with other organizations such as the Internal Revenue Service. Through the University Career Services office, we continue to host recruiting visits from some of the Big 4 firms and strong regional CPA firms as well as from corporations and government agencies. Historically, the Institute has achieved 100% placement within three months of graduation. 

Alumni Highlights

The Institute has, for decades, enjoyed a strong reputation for producing accounting graduates who have gone on to successful careers in public accounting, business, government, and higher education. Some have remained in public accounting and have achieved partner status in their CPA firm. Others have attained positions at the executive level in corporations. Yet others have chosen to pursue a career in higher education. Four of the Institute’s faculty have one or more degrees from Stetson.

Organizations

Beta Alpha Psi is an international accounting honorary. Membership is open to junior and seniors with a grade point average of at least 3.0. Beta Alpha Psi meets regularly during the academic year, hosts speakers and participates in community service activities.

Scholarships

A limited number of merit-based scholarships are available to accounting seniors and graduate students through the Business School Foundation, the university’s endowment, and the FICPA.

Contact:
Dr. Mike Bitter
386-822-7415
mbitter@stetson.edu

Full Time Faculty: 8

Degrees Offered:

• Bachelor of Business Administration
• Master of Accountancy

Our Students Intern at:

• Deloitte
• Various local CPA firms
• Siemens
• Pricewaterhouse Coopers