Fisher School of Accounting General Statement The School of Accounting was established July 1, 1977 and named the Fisher School of Accounting in 1985. The objective of the Fisher School is to provide the technical and general education necessary for graduates to enter the accounting profession and progress rapidly through levels of increasing responsibility. The field of accounting offers outstanding opportu- nities in such areas as public accounting, indus- trial accounting, nonprofit accounting, and tax accounting. The accountant deals with complex prob- lems in the business world. This requires a thor- ough knowledge of business operations and the environment of business as well as accounting knowledge. In addition to the technical account- ing skills, an ability to communicate clearly in both verbal and written forms is essential. Inter- personal skills and professional judgment are important elements in the practice of account- ing. Although accounting is demanding and requires high motivation in order to succeed, the rewards are high. Scholarships Information about general financial aid can be obtained from the Director of Student Finan- cial Aid, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611. Students who wish to be consid- ered for scholarships awarded to fifth-year accounting students should obtain application forms from the Fisher School of Accounting offices and complete them early in the spring term of their fourth year. Honorary and Professional Organizations BETA ALPHA PSI This honorary accounting fraternity has 170 chapters nationally. Upsilon Chapter was the 18th chapter to be founded (in 1938) and is rec- ognized as one of the leading chapters in the country. An active professional program is con- ducted each year including guest speakers, panel discussions, field trips, and other activi- ties designed to promote professional aware- ness. Beta Alpha Psi co-sponsors the FICPA/UF Accounting Conference which annually attracts more than 220 accounting practitioners. Mem- bership requirements include high ethical stan- dards and a minimum grade point average. Additional information concerning these requirements may be obtained from the Fisher School of Accounting. BETA GAMMA SIGMA Election to this national business honorary society is based on scholarship and character. For additional information, apply to the Office of the Dean, College of Business Administra- tion. FLORIDA ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATION The FAA is a professional/social organiza- tion that is open to all accounting students. Its aims are to facilitate communication between accounting students and the accounting profes- sion and to encourage greater interaction between students and faculty. FISHER SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTING STUDENT COUNCIL Members of the Fisher School of Accounting Student Council are elected by the students of the school. The Council performs a leadership role in a variety of school activities (student newsletter, Career Expo., Teacher of the Year Award, orientation sessions) and provides stu- dent representation on faculty committees. Center for Accounting Research and Professional Education The Center for Accounting Research and Professional Education provides an umbrella for both research and professional education activi- ties of the Fisher School. The research compo- nent of the center aims to encourage and facilitate theoretical and applied research by accounting faculty and students. The center publishes the Journal of Accounting Literature, sponsors research seminars and a biannual con- ference, produces a working paper series, and serves as a research information source for fac- ulty and students. The professional education component of the center aims to serve the busi- ness and professional communities, and to heighten the school's visibility in those commu- nities through quality professional education offerings. A CPA review program is offered through the center, but the primary emphasis is on one- and two-day programs that address issues of national interest. Program of Study The recommended curriculum to prepare for a professional career in accounting is the 3/2 five-year program with a joint awarding of the Bachelor of Science in Accounting and the Mas- ter of Accounting upon satifactory completion of the 156-hour program. The recommended entry point into the 3/2 program is the begin- ning of the senior year. Interested students are encouraged to take the GMAT in their junior year. Information on the GMAT and other requirements for admission into the 3/2 pro- gram can be obtained at the Fisher School of Accounting office. The 3/2 program allows the student to concentrate in an accounting special- ty; it also provides knowledge of both the basic accounting framework and the underlying busi- ness and related disciplines. Details concerning the 3/2 program, including the specialization areas of financial/auditing, systems, and tax, are included in the Graduate School catalog which can be obtained by writing the Office of Admissions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-2058. Additional information can also be obtained by contacting the Fisher School of Accounting, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611. Students who choose to complete the four- year undergraduate program will receive the Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree. These graduates will have the requisite accounting, business, and general education to pursue a variety of career opportunities in accounting and business and to apply to graduate and pro- fessional degree programs in accounting, busi- ness, or law. Students wishing to specialize in professional accounting should plan to com- plete the 3/2 program. Prospective students are cautioned to become familiar with the five-year requirement to sit for the Certified Public Accountants Exam- ination in the State of Florida. Information may be obtained by contacting the Florida Board of Accountancy at 4001 NW 43rd Street, Gainesville, FL 32606. Requirements for Admission The University of Florida and the Fisher School of Accounting encourage applications from qualified students of both sexes and from all cultural, racial, religious, and ethnic groups. The Fisher School of Accounting expects all students admitted into their program to have a basic knowledge of microcomputers, including familiarity with DOS, electronic spreadsheets and wordprocessing. Students who are not com- puter literate are encouraged to take a micro- computer applications course as an elective. Additionally, all transfer applicants must have completed two sequential courses of for- eign language in secondary school or the equiv- alent of such at the post secondary level. Admission Protocols: The Fisher School of Accounting has established benchmark stan- dards that prospective accounting students attending a Florida public community college or a Florida SUS institution (including UF) should attempt to meet at the 30- and 60-hour levels. These benchmarks should be used by those stu- dents to determine if they are following an appropriate academic plan and performing at an appropriate academic level to gain admission into the Fisher School of Accounting. Two sets of standards have been'developed to assist students in monitoring their progress towards admission into the Fisher School of Accounting a "minimum" standard and an "ideal" standard. Community college students who transfer to Florida SUS institutions who have complet- ed their AA and CLAST, and who apply for admission at the 60-hour level, and meet the "ideal" standard for that level, will be admit- ted into the Fisher School of Accounting. Stu- dents who meet only the "minimum" standard will be considered for admission, but are not guaranteed admission into the school. In addi- tion to space availability, the student's entire