MSU President's Column for Traill County Tribune
March 14, 2020
New degrees in accounting and agribusiness will be offered soon
Mayville State University has been given North Dakota University System approval to offer two new business degree programs! This is something we’ve been working toward for some time, and I couldn’t be happier to officially announce that we will soon be offering Bachelor of Science degrees in accounting and agribusiness.
Mayville State University’s Bachelor of Science in accounting degree program provides the foundational coursework necessary for students who are preparing for careers in accounting, finance, auditing, and related fields; and/or those who plan to take many of the professional accounting certification exams. This degree does not guarantee any licensure. However, the degree will help graduates prepare for taking professional exams or working in accounting and finance careers.
Completion of the accounting degree program does not award students the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation. However, it has been designed to prepare students for CPA licensure exams in North Dakota. North Dakota law requires that individuals who sit for the CPA professional exam must complete 150 semester hours of college education. On-campus and online/distance students living in or moving to a state other than North Dakota should be aware of the unique CPA licensure requirements for that location.
Mayville State associate professor of business, Dustin Olson, will lead the new accounting degree program as the program coordinator. We plan to start offering the accounting program in the fall semester of 2020. The degree will be available to students on campus and at a distance, which will allow students to stay close to home while continuing their education.
Mayville State’s B.S. in agribusiness program will provide coursework, career field experience, and a degree to prepare students for careers in agriculture and business-related fields. All members of today’s agribusiness industry, including farmers and ranchers, need to know more than how to provide for the world’s food supply from the land. The B.S. in agribusiness will provide students with an enhanced skill set and expand their knowledge, allowing them to excel in all aspects of business related to farming, ranching, producing, and marketing of agricultural commodities. Students will be prepared to work in sales, cooperatives, banking, finance, and other agribusiness fields.
Ted Stoa, MSU assistant professor of business, will serve as program coordinator for the university’s new agribusiness degree. A search to hire an additional full-time faculty member to assist with program development and support is underway. The planned start for the program is the spring semester of 2021 and will be available on campus and at a distance for students wanting to continue their education from home.
The agribusiness degree will teach students the business side of farming and provide insight into other jobs which support the agricultural industries. At least half of today’s farmers have a second job or another source of income. This degree will assist students with finding the opportunities to diversify their career options in the future. The new degree will introduce students to the new technologies and the many facets of agriculture-related businesses found in North Dakota and beyond.
We already know of a number of students who will be enrolling in these programs as soon as they are available. I am delighted that offering a program such as the agribusiness program at Mayville State University is giving us an opportunity to keep several local young people in the area and studying at Mayville State University, rather than heading off to other states and institutions to pursue their educational goals.
I thank all Mayville State faculty and staff, especially those in the Division of Business, who have worked very hard to develop the programs and prepare a solid plan that will serve future students well.
If you or someone you know is interested in pursuing the Bachelor of Science degrees in accounting or agribusiness, please contact the Mayville State Office of Admissions, 1-800-437-4104 or askus@mayvillestate.edu.