Department of Accounting and Finance

252 East Business Building,
(307) 766‑3807
FAX: (307) 766-3802
Web site: www.uwyo.edu/acct-fin
Department Chair: Mitchell Oler

Professor:

ERIC N. JOHNSON, B.A. Whittier College 1978; M.B.A. Arizona State University 1982; Ph.D. 1989; Clara R. Toppan Professor of Accounting 2011; Professor of Accounting 2013, 2011. MS Accounting Graduate Director.

ALI NEJADMALAYERI, B.Sc. University of Tehran 1993; M.B.A. Texas A&M University-Kingsville 1997; Ph.D. University of Arizona 2001; John A. Guthrie Endowed Chair in Banking and Financial Services; Professor of Finance 2018.

Associate Professors:

NICOLE CHOI, B.A. Chungbuk National University 2002; M.B.A. Washington State University 2004; Ph.D. 2009; Associate Professor of Finance 2015, 2009. MS Finance Graduate Director.

MITCHELL OLER, Bachelors of Commerce, University of Alberta 1997; M.S. Brigham Young University 1998; Ph.D. University of Washington 2006. Associate Professor of Accounting 2019, 2015.

KENNETH ZHENG, B.A. Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, China; M.S. University of Texas at Dallas 2007; Ph.D. University of Texas at Dallas, 2011; Associate Professor of Accounting 2021, 2015.

Assistant Professors:

TA-TUNG (STEPHANIE) CHENG, B.S. National Chengchi University 2010; M.S. Michigan State University 2013; Ph.D. Georgia State University 2020; Assistant Professor of Accounting 2020.

MACKENZIE FESTA, B.S. West Virginia University 2010; M.P.A. 2013; Ph.D. 2017; Assistant Professor of Accounting 2017.

AARON ROSENBLUM, B.A. University of Central Florida 2010; M.S. Florida State University 2013; Ph.D. 2018; Assistant Professor of Finance 2018.

PATRICK WITZ, B.B.A. University of Massachusetts at Amherst 2012; Ph.D. Cornell University 2020; Assistant Professor of Accounting 2020.

TENG (TIM) ZHANG, B.S. Shandong University 2010; M.S. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 2012; Ph.D. Georgia Institute of Technology 2015; Assistant Professor of Finance 2018.

Academic Professionals:

EVEN BRANDE, B.S. University of Wyoming 1991; M.B.A. 1993.

JENN KOZA, B.S. Chadron State College 2004; M.S. 2007; D.B.A. Walden University 2016; Assistant Lecturer of Finance 2019.

JAMES GUNDERSON, B.A. University of Nebraska 1977; Ph.D. University of Minnesota 2004; Assistant Lecturer of Finance 2014.

JENNIFER A. KREISER, B.S. University of Alabama 2001; M.S. 2002; Senior Lecturer of Accounting 2019.

ANDREW MCKAMEY, B.S. Colorado State University; M.S. Colorado State University; Assistant Lecturer of Accounting 2020.

AMBER MERCIL, B.S. University of Wyoming 2004; M.S. University of Oregon 2006; Associate Lecturer of Accounting 2021, 2014.

PHILIP W. TREICK, B.S. University of South Florida 1987; Assistant Lecturer of Finance 2016.

Emeriti:

Penne L. Ainsworth
Richard G. Elmendorf
George R. McGrail
Suzanne S. Roe
Frederic P. Sterbenz
Kenton B. Walker
Stuart K. Webster

Accounting Major

The basic objectives of the accounting program are twofold: to provide students who do not intend to major in accounting with the basis for understanding the role accounting plays in business today and to provide those students who desire to major in accounting with the educational background necessary for lifelong learning and a rewarding career in the accounting profession. The curriculum offered by the department attempts to blend the conceptual with the practical. Exposure to the underlying conceptual framework of accounting provides a basis for dealing with emerging accounting issues, while examination of technical pronouncements enables students to gain insight into practical issues encountered in an accounting environment.

Accounting majors may enter the professional world of accounting from a variety of directions. Choices available in the form of elective courses enable students to chart a course that leads them toward public accounting, private accounting, governmental or not-for-profit accounting, as well as other specialties that rely on a strong accounting background. Those students seeking professional certification, such as the CPA, CMA or CIA, are able to satisfy requirements to sit for these professional examinations by completing the undergraduate accounting degree.

All accounting majors must comply with requirements of the advanced business prerequisites for enrollment in upper-division courses and must complete the common body of knowledge courses as listed previously. All accounting courses for the major require a minimum grade of C.

A complete curriculum sheet is available from the College of Business Peter M. and Paula Green Johnson Student Success Center in the College of Business Building.

Please Note:

Students who anticipate taking the CPA examination should be aware of the Wyoming statute governing eligibility to sit for the exam. Please see the state board’s web site for information: cpaboard.state.wy.us. The current combined curricula (B.S. and M.S.) enable students to satisfy the educational requirements to sit for the CPA exam in Wyoming and other jurisdictions.

Graduate Study

Accounting is an integral part of the College of Business degree programs. The department offers courses in support of college graduate degree programs, as well as a master of science in accounting (MS in Accounting) degree. The MS in Accounting degree was developed in response to emerging needs of the accounting profession. Those students who wish to become professional accountants, whether that be in a corporate setting, a not-for-profit setting, or public accounting, will find the MS in Accounting degree to be one that enables them to develop both the personal and professional skills needed to enjoy a productive career.

The MS in Accounting program satisfies the Wyoming requirements for individuals to take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam and it further develops students’ professional skills. The MS in Accounting program focuses on the two main areas of development: 1) advanced accounting and business education, and 2) professional skills development-including written, oral, interpersonal communication, computer applications, critical thinking, and adaptability.

The MS in Accounting degree is designed for students who have completed an undergraduate degree in accounting in the United States. However, it is possible to be admitted to the program once deficiency courses are successfully completed. Those holding a bachelor’s degree from within the U.S., but not in accounting, and international applicants can still apply for admission once the deficiency courses are successfully completed. We do not provisionally or conditionally admit students to our program.

Program Specific Admission Requirements

Admission to the Master of Science in Accounting program generally requires:

• Completed University of Wyoming Graduate Admissions Application and non-refundable application fee.

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university or college. For more information on accredited institutions, please visit the U. S. Department of Education site.

• A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or a 3.0 GPA in the last 60 credit hours of college or university coursework, preferred. Based on a 4.0 scale. If you do not meet this minimum preferred GPA, professional work experience in a related field may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

• GRE or GMAT optional. A strong GRE or GMAT score may be considered to offset deficiencies in other areas of your application (such as a GPA below 3.0, limited work experience, etc.).

• Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework (post-secondary) must be sent directly from the issuing institution to the University of Wyoming Office of Admissions at 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071-2000. Official University of Wyoming transcripts do not need to be sent to the department Office of Admissions, but copies of all transcripts must also be uploaded into the UW Graduate Admissions Application.

• Letters of recommendation (min. of 1, max. of 3). Professional (i.e. supervisor, employer, team lead, etc.) or education-related (i.e. advisor, mentor, faculty member, program director, etc.) letter(s) of recommendation provided directly by the reference via the UW Graduate Admissions Application.

Letters of recommendation (min. of 1, max. of 3). Professional (i.e. supervisor, employer, team lead, etc.) or education-related (i.e. advisor, mentor, faculty member, program director, etc.) letter(s) of recommendation provided directly by the reference via the UW Graduate Admissions Application. •Interview. You will be contacted by our program office to participate in a virtual interview that can be completed at your convenience. Letters of recommendation (min. of 1, max. of 3). Professional (i.e. supervisor, employer, team lead, etc.) or education-related (i.e. advisor, mentor, faculty member, program director, etc.) letter(s) of recommendation provided directly by the reference via the UW Graduate Admissions Application. •Interview. You will be contacted by our program office to participate in a virtual interview that can be completed at your convenience. • Interview. You will be contacted by our program office to participate in a virtual interview that can be completed at your convenience.

NOTE: These are the minimum requirements and do not guarantee admisson or funding. The University of Wyoming MS in Accounting program does not personally or conditionally admit students.

*Please refer to the AICPA Site (www.aicpa.org) to check on the requirements you will need to fulfill in your state if you plan to sit for the CPA Exam.

Additional requirements for International Applicants:

• Provide proof of satisfactory English ability if native language is not English by completing the TOEFL or IELTS examm, or another approved Enlish proficiency exam. The minimum acceptable TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score is 540 on the paper-based test (TOEFL PBT) or a score of 76 on the internet-based test (TOEFL iBT). The minimum acceptable IELTS score is 6.5. An applicant whose native language is English and is a citizen of one of the following countries or who has earned a university level degree from a school in one of the following countries may be exempt from providing additional proof of English proficiency. Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia Dominica, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Australia, Bermuda, Canada (all provinces except Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

• On-Campus Education Only: International students must also prove sufficient financial resources as established by the University of Wyoming (Graduate International Student Admissions). (not applicable for distance education students).

• Distance Education Only: An applicant whoe native language is English or who has earned a university level degree from an English speaking university may be exempt from providing proof of English proficiency.

Additionally, to be admitted to the Master of Science in Accounting program, a student demonstrate competency in the following subject matters/courses:

• ACCT 3230 Intermediate I & ACCT 3430 Intermediate II (External Financial Reporting)

• ACCT 3240 Cost I (Advanced Managerial Accounting)

• ACCT 3070 Tax I (Tax Accounting, must cover US income taxation for individuals)

• ACCT 4060 Audit I (must cover US Generally Accepted Auditing Standards and/or International Standards on Auditing)

*These courses may be completed through any regionally accredited university or college. A minimum grade of B (a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale) is considered evidence of proficiency.

*Evidence of proficiency in these areas can also be demonstrated by relevant professional experience on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the program office for additional information.

Each candidate who applies to the University of Wyoming Master of Science in Accounting or Finance program is evaluated individually by our faculty and program directors. We consider each part of the application in a holistic assessment, including the candidate’s reasons for pursuing the degree, interview responses, prior academic performance, work experience, and letters of recommendation.

Students are admitted on a rolling basis with applications evaluated as soon as they are completed. It typically takes no more than two weeks to receive an admission decision.

Application Deadlines

Fall Admission

Block 1 Final Deadline: June 30
Block 2 Final Deadline: October 1
Priority Deadline: May 1

Spring Admission

Block 1 Final Deadline: December 1
Block 2 Final Deadline: February 1
Priority Deadline: October 1

Summer Admission

Final Deadline: April 1
Priority Deadline: February 1

International applicants: Please be advised that there are additional university requirements that may take additional processing time - you are encouraged to apply prior to the application deadline if possible to ensure that if admitted, all required documentation can be provided prior to the term of entry.

Program Specific Degree Requirements

Master of Science in Accounting

The objectives of the master of science in accounting degree program are:

To provide students with an advanced understanding of the field of accounting,
To provide students with specific advanced knowledge of the sub-topics within accounting,
To provide students with professional skills that will enable them to enjoy productive and rewarding careers in accounting and other accounting-related areas.

The program consists of a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate coursework. Students must complete coursework in accounting and elective business and/or non-business areas. Eighty percent of the student’s total coursework must consist of 5000-level courses; the remaining 20 percent may be 4000-level non-accounting courses (approximately six hours). Non-accounting courses should be selected in consultation with the student’s graduate adviser. Non-accounting courses at the 4000-level may be taken during the senior year of undergraduate study and applied to the master’s program, but they must be reserved for graduate credit and approved by the graduate program director, prior to the first day of such classes.

Students must take these 5 core accounting courses (minimum 15 credit hours):

ACCT 5030. Advanced Financial Accounting

ACCT 5040. Seminar in Managerial Accounting

ACCT 5060. Auditing II

ACCT 5070 Tax II Accounting Elective

ACCT 5065 Fraud Examination or ACCT 5066 Seminar on Mangement Fraud

A maximum of six hours may come from 4000- level courses offered in the College of Business or in other colleges at the University of Wyoming.

NOTE: ACCT 4010, 4020, 4050, 4060, 4100, 4600, 4900, and 5000 are not applicable for M.S. accounting students’ programs of study.

The student must complete the required coursework (both graduate and prerequisite) with a minimum GPA of 3.000 (on a 4.000 scale).

Any student falling below a cumulative GPA of 3.000 is automatically placed on probation for the following semester and must raise their GPA to 3.000 to avoid dismissal.

Students must maintain good academic standing at the program and university level and receive no letter grade of D or F. If a letter grade of D or F is received, the student will be immediately dismissed from the program.

Finance Major

Modern business is characterized by its emphasis upon finance. The application of sound financial management principles often will be the difference between success and failure in business.

Courses prescribed for those who wish to major in finance are designed to provide a background for financial management of business concerns and, if students desire, to specialize in bank management, corporation finances and investment management. Since financial policies of business enterprises are subject to economic principles which make all businesses financially interdependent and sensitive to disturbances in the economic structure, students in this field should study the economic, as well as the technical, administrative aspects of finance and accounting. Prescribed work in this area attempts to emphasize all three phases of the subject.

All finance majors must comply with requirements of the advanced business prerequisites for enrollment in upper-division courses and must complete the common body of knowledge courses as listed previously. All finance courses for the major require a minimum grade of C.

A complete curriculum sheet is available from the Academic Advising unit of the GJSSC of the College of Business Building.

Graduate Study

The Master of Finance program will allow students to obtain advanced training built on the foundations of principles and practices of modern finance. The MS in Finance is a rigorous, yet practical program that encompasses the fundamentals as well as cutting-edge topics in investment analysis, portfolio management, financial modeling, risk management, and fixed income securities. The MS in Finance program aims to make you well prepared to evaluate and react to change with confidence and to develop effective solutions to meet the needs of markets and industries.

The objectives of the master of science in finance are:

To provide students with an advanced understanding of the field of finance.

To provide students with specific advanced knowledge of the subtopics within finance.

To provide students with professional skills that will enable them to enjoy productive and rewarding careers in finance and other finance-related areas.

Program Specific Admission Requirements

Admission to the Master of Science in Finance program generally requires:

Completed University of Wyoming Graduate Admissions Application and nonrefundable application fee.
Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university or college. For more information on accredited institutions, please visit the U.S. Department of Education site.
A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or a 3.0 GPA in the last 60 credit hours of college or university coursework, preferred. Based on a 4.000 scale.
GRE/GMAT Optional. A strong GRE or GMAT score may be considered to offset deficiencies in other areas of your application (such as a GPA below 3.0, limited work experience, etc.).
Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework (post-secondary) must be sent directly from the issuing institution to the University of Wyoming Office of Admissions Office of Admissions Office at 1000 E.University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071-2000. Official University of Wyoming transcripts do not need to be sent to the Office of Admissions, but copies of all transcripts must also be uploaded into the UW Graduate Admissions Application.
Letters of recommendation (min. of 1, max. of 3). Professional (i.e. supervisor, employer, team lead, etc.) or education-related (i.e. advisor, mentor, faculty member, program director, etc.) letter(s) of recommendation provided directly by the reference via the UW Graduate Admissions Application.
Interview. You will be contacted by our program office to participate in a virtual interview that can be completed at your convenience.

Note: These are the minimum requirements and do not guarantee admission or funding. The University of Wyoming MS in Finance program does not provisionally or conditionally admit students.

Additional Requirements for International Applicants:

Provide proof of satisfactory English ability if native language is not English by completing the TOEFL or IELTS exam, or another approved English proficiency exam. The minimum acceptable TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score is 540 on the paper-based test (TOEFL PBT) or a score of 76 on the internet-based test (TOEFL iBT). The minimum acceptable IELTS score is 6.5. An applicant whose native language is English and is a citizen of one of the following countries or has earned a university level degree from a school in one of the following countries may be exempt from providing additional proof of English proficiency: Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia Dominica, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Australia, Bermuda, Canada (all provinces except Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
On-Campus Education Only: International students must also prove sufficient financial resources as established by the University of Wyoming (Graduate International Student Admissions). (not applicable for distance education students)
Distance Education Only: An applicant whose native language is English or who has earned a university level degree from an English speaking university may be exempt from providing proof of English proficiency.

Prerequisites

No prerequisite courses will be required if you have completed a business or STEM bachelors or masters degree from a regionally accredited college or university with the minimum preferred 3.0 GPA (based on a 4.0 scale).

Applicants without a businessor STEM related undergraduate or graduate degree owith a minimum 3.0 GPA must provide evidence of proficiency in the following areas:

Business Math and Statistics

Financial Management

Application Deadlines

Students are admitted on a rolling basis with applications evaluated as soon as they are completed. It typically takes no more than two weeks to receive an admission decision.

Fall Admission
• Block 1 Final Deadline: June 30
• Block 2 Final Deadline: October 1
• Priority Deadline: May 1

Spring Admission
• Block 1 Final Deadline: December 1
• Block 2 Final Deadline: February 1
• Priority Deadline: October 1

Summer Admission
• Final Deadline: April 1
• Priority Deadline: February 1

International Applicants: Please be advised that there are additional university requirements that may take additional processing time - you are encouraged to apply prior to the application deadline if possible to ensure that if admitted, all required documentation can be provided prior to the term of entry.

Program Specific Degree Requirements

Master of Science in Finance

The program consists of a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate coursework. Students must complete coursework in finance and elective business and/or non-business areas. Eighty percent of the student’s total coursework must consist of 5000-level courses; the remaining 20 percent may be 4000-level non-finance courses (approximately six hours). Non-finance courses should be selected in consultation with the student’s graduate advisor. Non-finance courses at the 4000-level may be taken during the senior year of undergraduate study and applied to the master’s program, but they must be reserved for graduate credit and approved by the graduate program director, prior to the first day of such class.

General Finance Track

• FIN 5310: Investment Management (3)

• FIN 5400: Financial Modeling (3)

• 15 credit hours Finance electives + 9 credit hours other business electives (maximum 6 credit hours can be 4000 level).

MS in Finance (CFP Track) Core - Required Courses

• FIN 5310: Investment Management (3)

• FIN 5070: Tax Planning for Financial Planners (3)

• FIN 5720: Retirement/ Insurance Planning (3)

• FIN 5750: Fundamentals of Financial Planning (3

• FIN 5780: Estate Planning (3)

• FIN 5800: CFP Capstone (3)

• FIN 5400: Financial Modeling (3)

• Finance Electives (9ch) (maximum 6 credit hours can be 4000 level).

The student must complete the required coursework with a minimum GPA of 3.000 (on a 4.000 scale).

Student must maintain good academic standing at the program and university level and receive no letter grade of D or F. If a letter grade of D or F is received, student will be immediately dismissed from the program.

Any student falling below a cumulative GPA of 3.000 is automatically placed on probation for the following semester and must raise their GPA to 3.000 to avoid dismissal.

Programs

Major

Minor

Graduate

Certificate

Certified Financial Planning Certificate (Graduate)