Classes emphasize technical skills, written and oral communication, computer applications, and problem-solving. WIU's Zeta Beta Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, the national honorary fraternity for financial information professionals, has received a Superior Chapter Award every year for the last 12 years. In 1998, a team of WIU accounting majors won first place in the Institute of Management Accounting's National Case Competition. The WIU team placed second in the 2000 IMA competition. WIU accounting graduates have also received Elijah Watt Sells Awards for outstanding performance on the CPA Examination.
Some graduates choose to pursue graduate education in accounting, business or law.
Successful alumni from the WIU Accountancy program hold positions as partners with national Big Five accounting and consulting firms, as high executives with Fortune 500 companies, and as educators with leading colleges and universities. Study of a foreign language is strongly recommended. Applicants should submit an official ACT or SAT score and an official high school transcript. Upon completion of 60 hours with a GPA of 2.5 or better, and the business tool courses, students are admitted to the College of Business and Technology with junior standing, and complete course requirements for an Accountancy major. Transfer students applying for junior standing should submit official transcripts from all schools attended since graduation from high school.