CWU-Yakima issued the following announcement on Feb. 17.
Starting this fall, Central Washington University will begin offering its Bachelor of Science degree program in Accounting at CWU-Yakima on the Yakima Valley College campus.
The hybrid schedule, with classes offered in-person and online, was created to meet the needs of the diverse communities in the Yakima area. The new program will offer a combination of in-person accounting classes one day a week and online business classes throughout the week.
The program, designed in collaboration with YVC, addresses a growing need in the Yakima Valley, according to CWU-Yakima Regional Director Melanie Palm.
“It’s something I and others have wanted to bring to Yakima for quite some time,” she said. “The timing is right, and accounting professionals from around the valley have reached out to our accounting department expressing interest in local, educated accountants.”
CWU Accounting Department Chair and Professor Han Donker initiated the project of bringing the university’s accounting program to CWU-Yakima, motivated by the demand in the market and the success enjoyed by students on the Ellensburg campus.
“The demand for accounting graduates has been booming,” Donker said. “We have never seen such a tight labor market for accounting majors. Most students have multiple offers before they even graduate. Sometimes, students get an offer immediately after the interview.”
YVC serves many non-traditional students, who often have work and family responsibilities in addition to academics. To provide more equitable access for these students, CWU-Yakima’s Accounting program will only meet in-person once a week, on Wednesdays from 6-9 p.m., and deliver all other classes and activities online. This hybrid design allows full-time students to finish their BS in Accounting in just two years, without adding travel time or making significant changes to their professional lives.
“Keep in mind, (during) good or bad economic times, you need accountants,” Donker said.
Interested students who have earned 60 credits or less can apply now via Early Transfer Admissions Plus(link is external), while all others can apply through Transfer Admissions(link is external).
About CWU College of Business
The CWU College of Business is ranked as one of the Top 40 Best Degrees in Accounting and has earned the prestigious AACSB accreditation, which signifies a business school’s commitment to strategic management, learner success, thought leadership, and societal impact.
Original source can be found here.
