James Benjamin Department of Accounting

Department website: http://mays.tamu.edu/acct

The accounting profession continues to be recognized as one of the world’s leading professions and as one offering many opportunities for a challenging career. The major challenge confronting the accounting profession today is the continuous development of accounting and information systems that can be utilized by business firms operating in an increasingly complex global environment. Within this environment, business firms and government units are generating and utilizing information at an accelerating rate.

A Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree in accounting provides the opportunity for entry into a career offering a variety of different and challenging paths. Many accounting graduates are employed by public accounting firms that provide assurance, tax and other services to all types of organizations. Other accounting graduates pursue careers with business firms and financial institutions, within all levels of government, and as accounting educators. All of these careers provide an opportunity to earn the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license and to serve society by maintaining the highest levels of integrity.

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) recognizes the need for technically competent graduates entering the accounting profession. In response to the recommendations of the AICPA, other professional accounting organizations, and many professional accounting firms, the State of Texas requires candidates for the CPA examination to have a minimum of 150 semester hours of college coursework, including at least 30 hours of upper-division accounting courses. As a consequence, highly motivated students are encouraged to give serious consideration to pursuing advanced studies to enhance their potential for a successful accounting career. The BBA degree alone does not meet the requirements to sit for the CPA examination in Texas.

The James Benjamin Department of Accounting offers a 5-year combined professional program that students apply for admission to enter during their junior year. The Professional Program offers a curriculum integrating undergraduate and graduate education. Graduates receive a BBA and a Master of Science degree (MS) or receive a BBA and a Master of Financial Management (MFM). This program offers opportunities for successful and motivated students to pursue academic coursework that challenges both their interests and abilities. Courses are taught by experienced faculty with superior teaching and professional credentials and are limited in class size.

Objectives of the Professional Program include developing sound conceptual, technical, analytical and communication skills that are required for success in the accounting profession. The program develops decision making and teamwork skills through extensive use of discussions and case studies. Also, the program enables the student to select a coursework specialization in audit, non-profit, information systems, financial management, marketing, entrepreneurship, taxation, consulting, or human resource management. Each track offers the student an opportunity to participate in a professional accounting internship which can be taken for course credit, should the student elect to do so.

The department also offers a standalone traditional Master's Program (Master of Science in Accounting) that students enter after completion of the Bachelor’s degree. For more details about the Professional Program or the traditional Master’s Program, refer to the Texas A&M University Graduate and Professional Catalog or contact the director of the Professional Program in the James Benjamin Department of Accounting. Students must be able to complete the coursework of any of the aforementioned programs in College Station, TX.

Lastly, the department offers an Master of Science in Accounting degree in a fully online format. This program is designed for working professionals looking to advance a current accounting career or to move into accounting from another field. Refer to the Texas A&M University Graduate and Professional Catalog or contact the director for the online MS in Accounting Program in the James Benjamin Department of Accounting.

Please be advised that Texas A&M offers many programs that lead to an occupational license as defined under Texas Occupations Code 58.001. Licensing authorities may have guidelines concerning prior criminal convictions that would make an individual ineligible for issuance of a given license. Applicants are encouraged to review all eligibility requirements related to degrees resulting in a license. Note the following:

  • An individual who has been convicted of an offense may be ineligible for issuance of an occupational license.
  • Licensing authorities must establish and make available guidelines explaining why a particular offense is considered a basis for ineligibility for a particular license and other criterion that may affect the decision to grant or withhold a license.
  • An individual has the right to request a criminal history evaluation letter regarding their eligibility for a license issued under Texas Occupations Code 53.102.

Also, students should be advised that professional licensure/certification requirements vary from state to state, which may affect a student’s ability to apply for a professional license/certification upon the completion of the program. The U.S. Department of Education regulation, 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v), requires an institution to disclose whether the program will fulfill educational requirements for licensure or certification for each state. The James Benjamin Department of Accounting provides more details about state requirements on the website https://mays.tamu.edu/department-of-accounting/professional-licensure-and-certification-disclosure-statement/.

Questions related to eligibility requirements to take the CPA examination in Texas should be directed to the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy (or the licensing authority in other jurisdictions).

Ahmed, Anwer S, Professor
Accounting
PHD, University of Rochester, 1992

Allen, Natalie L, Senior Lecturer
Accounting
MS, Texas A&M University, 1988

Arnosky, Caroline, Lecturer
Accounting
MS, Texas A&M University, 2015

Barrett, Jeannie, Senior Lecturer
Accounting
MBA, Sam Houston State University, 2002

Bartoskewitz, Patricia, Executive Professor
Accounting
MS, Texas A&M University, 1991

Blasor, Tara N, Senior Lecturer
Accounting
MS, Texas A&M University, 2007

Blum, Emily, Assistant Professor
Accounting
PHD, University of Alabama, 2020

Cline, Kayla M, Clinical Assistant Professor
Accounting
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2017

Diaz, Michelle C, Clinical Associate Professor
Accounting
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2005

Ege, Matthew S, Associate Professor
Accounting
PHD, University of Texas, 2013

Farmer, Karen C, Senior Lecturer
Accounting
MS, Texas A&M University, 2009

Foster, Courtney E, Lecturer
Accounting
MS, Texas A&M University, 2008

Garza, Brent A, Assistant Professor
Accounting
PHD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2017

Green, Jeremiah, Associate Professor
Accounting
DBA, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2010

Grossman, Steven D, Associate Professor
Accounting
PHD, Tufts University, 1972

Harding, Michael, Executive Assistant Professor
Accounting
BBA, Texas A&M University, 2019

Head, Michael J, Executive Assistant Professor
Accounting
BS, University of Missouri at Columbia, 1980

Hepfer, Bradford F, Assistant Professor
Accounting
DBA, The University of Iowa, 2016

Hurta, Amy, Lecturer
Accounting
MS, Texas A&M University, 2008

Jin, Hengda, Assistant Professor
Accounting
PHD, University of Utah, 2022

Kartapanis, Antonis, Assistant Professor
Accounting
PHD, University of Texas, 2019

Kim, Eunjee, Assistant Professor
Accounting
PHD, Cornell University, 2021

Knoop, Jacqueline D, Lecturer
Accounting
MS, Texas A&M University, 1997

Larkin, Ryan E, Senior Lecturer
Accounting
MAC, University of Utah, 2002

Lassila, Dennis R, Professor
Accounting
PHD, University of Minnesota, 1981

Leonard, Mary Ellen, Lecturer
Accounting
BBA, Texas A&M University, 1986

McGowan, Annie L, Associate Professor
Accounting
PHD, University of North Texas, 1994

McGuire, Sean T, Professor
Accounting
PHD, University of Georgia, 2008

Ranzilla, Samuel, Executive Professor
Accounting
BS, University of Detroit, 1978

Ray, Korok, Associate Professor
Accounting
PHD, Stanford University Graduate School of Business, 2004

Rice, Sarah C, Associate Professor
Accounting
PHD, The Ohio State University, 2007

Robinson, John R, Professor
Accounting
JD, University of Michigan, 1979
PHD, University of Michigan, 1981

Sanders, Joan T, Senior Lecturer
Accounting
MS, Texas A&M University, 1990

Shafron, Emily, Assistant Professor
Accounting
PHD, The University of Georgia, 2019

Sharp, Nathan Y, Professor
Accounting
PHD, University of Texas, 2007

Shaub, Michael K, Clinical Professor
Accounting
PHD, Texas Tech University, 1989

Stasny, Mary A, Senior Lecturer
Accounting
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2010

Strawser, Jerry R, Professor
Accounting
PHD, Texas A&M University, 1985

Stuber, Sarah, Assistant Professor
Accounting
PHD, Michigan State University, 2019

Tse, Senyo Y, Professor
Accounting
PHD, University of California at Berkeley, 1983

Twedt, Brady, Professor
Accounting
PHD, Texas A&M University, 2013

Wang, Dechun, Professor
Accounting
PHD, University of Missouri at Columbia, 2004

Weaver, Constance D, Professor
Accounting
PHD, Arizona State University, 1997

Williams, Brian, Professor
Accounting

Yust, Christopher G, Associate Professor
Accounting
PHD, University of Texas, 2015