When Haley Edwards ’24 first arrived at Methodist University, she was undecided on her major. But after taking one class, Principles of Accounting, in the Accounting program, Edwards knew she found the perfect fit.
When Haley Edwards ’24 first arrived at Methodist University, she was undecided on her major – a not-too-uncommon occurrence for some incoming students.
But after taking one class, Principles of Accounting, in the Accounting program, Edwards knew she found the perfect fit.
“I remember the lessons clicking for me by the third week of class,” said Edwards. “Dr. Mary Kirchner made the class enjoyable, and I liked it enough to keep taking accounting classes. Eventually, I decided I actually enjoyed organizing numbers enough to turn it into my major and career.”
Fast forward to this past December and Edwards recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and minors in Business Administration, Business Analytics, and International Business. She is now pursuing a master’s degree in Accounting.
Edwards is one of many past and current students advocating for Methodist University’s well-regarded Accounting program, which is offered both on campus and online.
“Accounting is the language of business,” said assistant professor of Accounting at MU. “To put it in terms of a human body, accounting is the veins and the blood. It’s the system that keeps everything else going with a business or government agency.”
The Accounting program prepares students for a variety of career opportunities in tax, auditing, corporate, government, finance, business analytics, and more.
“Every business needs an accountant,” Akpan added. “This career gives you an opportunity to work in different areas from healthcare to banking to sports. You name it. You’ll always be able to find a job in the field or in an adjacent field.”
While there are Accounting programs across the region, it is difficult to find one that offers the same personal education as Methodist University, which features a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
“You get to build relationships with all of the faculty. We know all of our students by name,” Akpan added. “That’s important because when it comes time to look for a job, you’ll need a connection, reference, or letter of recommendation. When you actually know your professor, this becomes so much easier than if you’re in a large classroom setting.”
In fact, Akpan mentions that students have seen the fruit of the program’s focus on relationship building – many of them receiving internship and job opportunities through fellow Monarchs.
“We have a whole professional network here,” he said. “For example, we have an alumna who leads MU interns at her accounting job at TRP Sumner. We have multiple students who work for the U.S. Army Audit Agency together. It’s a great thing.”
One of those students working full-time at the U.S. Army Audit Agency is Evan Plant ’24, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Accounting in May. Now, he’s an auditor in the federal government, a job he finds rewarding (read his full story).
“Not only do I enjoy the feeling of bringing a beneficial service to the U.S. Army, but I get to enjoy a great work-life balance,” Plant said. “I appreciate everything Methodist University has done for me. I’m thankful that it only prepared me for a full-time job, but that it gave me a sense of community.”
Students are able to learn from faculty who boast a wealth of accounting knowledge with experience in comp trolling, economics, law, fraud, and more.
“It gives students different perspectives of accounting. You get a government perspective, a corporate perspective, and others. It lays a strong foundation for the students,” Akpan said.
Some students have also taken part in study abroad opportunities with the program, including Edwards.
“My absolute favorite classes have been the study abroad trips with Dr. Kirchner and Dr. Matt Dobra,” she said. “I’ve now traveled twice to Guatemala and once to Europe. Not only is it an amazing experience to learn more about different cultures, but it helped me better understand various business practices.”
The best part is the Accounting program is also offered online, maintaining the same quality of education through remote learning as in-person learning – an ideal option for the military, veterans, parents, and full-time workers.
Whether in-person or online, Methodist University’s Accounting program can help students better engage, enrich, and empower their lives.
“I’ve been blessed with multiple life-changing experiences and various opportunities that I would not have been able to enjoy, if not for MU,” Edwards said. “I’ve made lifelong friends and lasting connections with faculty and staff all across campus, traveled to three different countries as part of my education, and served in multiple leadership roles to help my peers enjoy their college experience. Without MU, I would have never been able to meet such amazing people or take advantage of the wonderful opportunities that MU has to offer.”
To learn more or apply to the Accounting program, visit the program webpage.