The chief mission of the Elaine and Kenneth Leventhal School of Accounting is to offer educational programs which enable graduates to make a meaningful professional contribution to society. Not only does the Leventhal School of Accounting seek to develop individuals with entry-level competence to make independent and informed judgments, it also seeks to establish in each graduate a 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.

Currently the Leventhal School of Accounting offers the following degrees: a Bachelor of Science in Accounting with a Professional Accounting Track and an Accounting Information Systems Track, a Master of Accounting, a Master of Business Taxation and, in conjunction with the Law School, a Juris Doctor/Master of Business Taxation.

The Leventhal School of Accounting continues to rank as one of the premier AACSB-accredited accounting programs in the nation.

The Elaine and Kenneth Leventhal School of Accounting
Accounting 101
(213) 740-4838
FAX: (213) 747-2815
Email: graduate students, levgrad@sba.usc.edu;
undergraduate students, levugrad@sba.usc.edu
http://www.usc.edu/dept/accounting

Administration

Kenneth A. Merchant, Ph.D., C.P.A., Dean

Leslie R. Porter, Ph.D., Associate Dean

Chrislynn Freed, M.B.A., C.P.A., Director, Master’s and Professional Programs

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

Faculty

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

Accounting Circle Professorship in Accounting: Thomas W. Lin, Ph.D., C.M.A.

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

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

KPMG Peat Marwick Foundation Professorship in Accounting: S. Mark Young, Ph.D.

Price Waterhouse Professor of Auditing: Zoe-Vonna Palmrose, Ph.D., C.P.A.

USC Accounting Associates Professorship: Jerry L. Arnold, Ph.D., C.P.A.

Professors: Michael A. Diamond, Ph.D., C.P.A.; E. John Larsen, D.B.A., C.P.A.; Daniel E. O’Leary, Ph.D., C.P.A., C.M.A., C.I.S.A.; Charles W. Swenson, Ph.D., C.P.A.

Associate Professors: John J. Barcal, J.D., C.P.A.; Sarah E. Bonner, Ph.D., C.P.A.; Mark L. DeFond, Ph.D., C.P.A.; James G. Manegold, Ph.D.; Robert H. Trezevant, Ph.D.

Assistant Professors: Jennifer Reynolds-Mohrle, Ph.D., C.P.A.; Mandira R. Sankar, Ph.D.; K.R. Subramanyam, Ph.D.; Wim Van der Stede, Ph.D.; Shiing-Wu Wang, Ph.D.

Professors of Clinical Accounting: Michael L. Duffy, J.D., M.B.A.; Merle Hopkins, Ph.D.; Cecil W. Jackson, B.Com.; Leslie R. Porter, Ph.D.; Robert S. Roussey, B.S., C.P.A.

Associate Professors of Clinical Accounting: Ruben A. Davila, M.B.A., C.P.A.; Chrislynn Freed, M.B.A., C.P.A.; Glenn Freed, Ph.D., C.P.A.; Robert A. Scharlach, B.S., C.P.A.; Kendall Simmonds, M.B.A., C.P.A.

Assistant Professors of Clinical Accounting: Solomon Darwin, M.B.A.; Alan B. Grass, J.D.; Robert Kiddoo, M.B.A., C.P.A.; Rose M. Layton, M.Acc., C.P.A.; Elaine Price, M.B.T., C.P.A.

Executive-in-Residence: Keith W. Renken, M.S., C.P.A.

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

Degree Programs

Bachelor of Science in Accounting

The Elaine and Kenneth Leventhal School of Accounting offers the Bachelor of Science in 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 two tracks which students can choose: the Professional Accounting Track or the Accounting Information Systems Track.

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.

An undergraduate accounting or business major is not necessary, nor is work experience a requirement. For students with an undergraduate degree in accounting the program requires 33-36 units for completion; for non-accounting students the program requires 48-54 units.

Master of Business Taxation

This specialized 45-unit program in taxation is offered to full- or part-time students and leads to the Master of Business Taxation. 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 Law School and the Leventhal School of Accounting offer this dual degree. Applicants to this program must apply for admission to the J.D. program offered by the Law School and then 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 in this catalogue.

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 section of this catalogue, or contact the doctoral office at (213) 740-0670 or the director of doctoral studies in accounting at (213) 740-4838.