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USC Leventhal School of Accounting

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The USC Leventhal School of Accounting’s graduate programs have been ranked among the top five in the country by Public Accounting Report each year since the rankings were established 20 years ago.

The Leventhal School of Accounting is dedicated to maintaining a leadership position in accounting education and research. We are committed to educational programs that seek to establish in each graduate the potential for career development into the highest executive levels of public accounting, controllership, financial management and management of accounting information systems. The accounting curriculum explores not only the state of the art but also seeks to explore the accounting discipline’s future structures and directions. Relevant concepts and techniques from other academic disciplines are drawn upon and integrated into all accounting programs.

Accounting education has been an integral part of the School of Business Administration since its establishment in 1920. With the inception of the School of Business Administration, the Department of Accounting offered a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting. The Leventhal School of Accounting was established in 1979, joining less than a dozen other leading institutions in the nation emphasizing formal professional accounting education. The Leventhal School of Accounting continues to rank as one of the premier AACSB-accredited accounting programs in the nation.

Currently the Leventhal School of Accounting undergraduate program offers a Bachelor of Science, Accounting degree within which a student may choose the accounting track, the accounting information systems track or the early-admitted track designed to allow early admission to our graduate programs. The graduate programs include a Master of Accounting, a Master of Business Taxation and, in conjunction with the Law School, a Juris Doctor/Master of Business Taxation. A Ph.D. degree with an accounting major is offered through the doctoral program in the Marshall School of Business.

USC Leventhal School of Accounting

Accounting 101
(213) 740-4838
FAX: (213) 747-2815
Email (graduate students): levgrad@usc.edu;
(undergraduate students): levugrad@usc.edu
www.marshall.usc.edu/lsoa

Administration

Randolph P. Beatty, Ph.D., C.P.A., Dean

James G. Manegold, Ph.D., Associate Dean, Academic Affairs

Shirley Maxey, M.A., Associate Dean, Master’s Programs

Mildred G. Penner, M.A., Director, Student Services

Faculty

Alan Casden Dean’s Chair at the Leventhal School of Accounting: Randolph P. Beatty, Ph.D., C.P.A.

George Bozanic and Holman C. Hurt Chair in Sports and Entertainment Business: S. Mark Young, Ph.D.*

Deloitte & Touche LLP Chair in Accountancy: Kenneth A. Merchant, Ph.D., C.P.A.

Arthur Andersen & Co. Alumni Professorship in Accounting: Theodore J. Mock, Ph.D.

Joseph A. DeBell Professorship in Business Administration: Mark L. DeFond, Ph.D., C.P.A.

Ernst & Young Professorship in Accounting: William W. Holder, D.B.A., C.P.A.

Pricewaterhouse Coopers Auditing Professorship: Zoe-Vonna Palmrose, Ph.D., C.P.A.

USC Accounting Associates Professorship in Accounting: Sarah E. Bonner, Ph.D., C.P.A.

Leventhal International Faculty Fellow: Thomas W. Lin, Ph.D.

Professors: Jerry L. Arnold, Ph.D., C.P.A.; Randolph P. Beatty, Ph.D., C.P.A.; Sarah E. Bonner, Ph.D., C.P.A.; Mark L. DeFond, Ph.D., C.P.A.; Michael A. Diamond, Ph.D., C.P.A.; William W. Holder, D.B.A., C.P.A.; E. John Larsen, D.B.A., C.P.A.; Thomas W. Lin, Ph.D.; Kenneth A. Merchant, Ph.D., C.P.A.; Theodore J. Mock, Ph.D.; Daniel E. O’Leary, Ph.D., C.P.A., C.I.S.A.; Zoe-Vonna Palmrose, Ph.D., C.P.A.; Charles W. Swenson, Ph.D., C.P.A.; S. Mark Young, Ph.D.

Associate Professors: John J. Barcal, J.D., C.P.A.; James G. Manegold, Ph.D.; K.R. Subramanyam, Ph.D.; Robert H. Trezevant, Ph.D.; Shiing-Wu Wang, Ph.D.

Assistant Professors: Nerissa Brown, Ph.D.; Rebecca Hann, Ph.D.; MingYi Hung, Ph.D.; Emre Karaoglu, Ph.D.; Yvonne Lu, Ph.D.; Tatiana Sandino, Ph.D.; Wim Van der Stede, Ph.D.; Jieying Zhang, Ph.D.

Professors of Clinical Accounting: Rubin A. Davila, M.B.A., C.P.A.; Brenda Flores, M.B.A., C.P.A.; Chrislynn Freed, M.B.A., C.P.A.; Merle Hopkins, Ph.D.; Cecil W. Jackson, Ph.D.; Joseph L. Keller, M.S.; Shirley Maxey, M.A.; Leslie R. Porter, Ph.D.; Robert S. Roussey, B.S., C.P.A.; Robert Scharlach, B.S., C.P.A.; Bob Shames, M.B.A., C.P.A.; Kendall Simmonds, M.B.A., C.P.A.*

Associate Professors of Clinical Accounting: Rose M. Layton, M.Acc., C.P.A.; Patricia Mills, J.D., L.L.M.

Emeritus Professors: Anelise N. Mosich, Ph.D., C.P.A.; Rodolph H. Redmond, J.D.

*Recipient of university-wide or school teaching award.

Degree Programs

Undergraduate Degree

Bachelor of Science, Accounting
The USC Leventhal School of Accounting offers the Bachelor of Science, Accounting (B.S.) degree designed to prepare students for entry into the professional program leading to a Master of Accounting degree. The undergraduate curriculum also provides a general background in business necessary for entry into the accounting profession. There are three tracks from which students can choose: the accounting track, the accounting information systems track or the early admitted graduate track. The early admitted graduate track is for USC B.S., Accounting students who apply, and are accepted, for early admission to the Leventhal School of Accounting’s Master of Accounting or Master of Business Taxation programs.

Progressive Degrees

B.S., Accounting/Master of Accounting B.S., Accounting/Master of Business Taxation
Students who have demonstrated high academic performance in the required undergraduate accounting courses may be eligible for admission into a progressive degree program to complete their undergraduate and graduate degrees simultaneously. See pages here and here.

Graduate Degrees

Master of Accounting
The Master of Accounting (M.Acc.) program provides an integrated curriculum designed to prepare graduates for careers in professional accounting, public accounting, industry and government. Students have the opportunity to study accounting in greater depth than is typically provided in an undergraduate accounting program or an M.B.A. program with a concentration in accounting.

Admission does not require an undergraduate degree in accounting or business, nor is work experience a requirement. For students with an undergraduate degree in accounting the program requires 30-36 units for completion; for non-accounting students the program requires 45-54 units.

Master of Business Taxation
This specialized program in taxation requires 30-51 units (depending on undergraduate background) and is offered to full- or part-time students and leads to the Master of Business Taxation (M.B.T.). The program is designed for accountants, attorneys and others who wish to learn or improve skills and knowledge through participation in advanced tax study. This group may be engaged in tax practice, in business management or in government administration.

Juris Doctor/Master of Business Taxation
The USC Gould School of Law and the Leventhal School of Accounting offer this dual degree program. Admission to the J.D. program offered by the Law School is required before applying to the M.B.T. program offered by the Leventhal School of Accounting.

Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) with an optional accounting concentration, offered by the Marshall School of Business is also serviced by the Leventhal School of Accounting. For additional information, consult the Marshall School of Business section.

Doctor of Philosophy
The Marshall School of Business offers the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in conjunction with the Graduate School. A student electing to major in accounting may design a research program that emphasizes auditing, financial accounting, information systems, management accounting and taxation. More information on the doctoral program is available in the Marshall School of Business or contact the doctoral office at (213) 740-0674 or the director of doctoral studies in accounting at (213) 740-4838.