WILLIAMSBURG, Va., Nov. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The accounting programs at The Mason School of Business at The College of William and Mary continue to be regarded as some of the best in the country. The Public Accounting Report's 2008 Annual Survey of Accounting Professors ranked the undergraduate program 17th among all accounting programs, moving up four spots from it 2007 ranking of 21st. The Master of Accounting program, celebrating only its 10th birthday this year, tied for 27th.

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In the school-ranking section of the Annual Survey of Accounting Professors, accounting professors, department heads and department chairs were asked to name the undergraduate and graduate programs that offer degrees in accounting they feel most consistently turn out students capable of some day attaining partner status.

The survey had its largest voter turnout and the highest professor participation level to date. Since 2005 when it was not ranked, the undergraduate accounting program has improved steadily over the last three years. Its appearance in the top 20 represents one of the survey's biggest gainers over this time period.

"We are delighted with this strong showing by our accounting programs," said Dean Larry Pulley. "That we are so highly regarded by professors at other schools is gratifying, especially given our size. Most of the schools ranked ahead of us have much larger programs."

Assistant Dean Kim Smith credits this success to the outstanding faculty and students at The Mason School. "Our faculty members invest in our programs to ensure that our students are ahead of the game in terms of critical knowledge such as fair value accounting, accounting for derivatives & securitizations, and international financial reporting standards (IFRS). And our students are both tremendously talented and extremely eager to learn. It's a wonderful combination!"

The Mason School of Business is an AACSB-accredited school of business. Students are immersed in real business situations throughout the undergraduate and graduate business education programs. The Undergraduate Accounting Program is built in the tradition of the William and Mary undergraduate experience, delivering a highly personalized program, rich in program knowledge and crafted by scholar-teachers. Students are exposed to accounting scholars and professionals through the Wayne F. Gibbs Accounting Society and the annual "Meet the Firms Friday" brings industry and career options to the campus. The Master of Accounting Program is the only program of its kind to build a week-long trip to the top U.S. regulatory agencies into the curriculum. Sponsored by Veris Consulting, LLC, the Veris CPATrek takes students in the MAcc program to the key players in the U.S. financial markets. The school was named for William and Mary alumnus, Raymond A. "Chip" Mason in November 2005. It will move into its new state-of-art building, Alan B. Miller Hall, in Fall 2009. Miller Hall was named for William and Mary alumnus, Alan B. Miller.

The College of William and Mary, located in Williamsburg, Virginia is one of the nation's premier public, liberal arts universities and believes that excellence in teaching is the key to unlocking intellectual and personal possibilities for students. Dedicated to this philosophy, the College provides high-quality undergraduate, graduate and professional education that prepares students to make significant contributions to the Commonwealth of Virginia and the nation. As the second-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and educational home to many early American leaders, The College is revered as the "alma mater of a nation."

For more on The Mason School of Business:

The Mason School of Business: http://mason.wm.edu/

Accounting Program: http://mason.wm.edu/Mason/Programs/Accounting+Programs/

Master of Accounting Program: http://mason.wm.edu/Mason/Programs/Master+of+Accounting/

Alan B. Miller Hall: http://mason.wm.edu/Mason/Our+School/Alan+B.+Miller+Hall/

CONTACT: Andrea Sardone

Marketing Communications Director

757-221-2043

andrea.sardone@mason.wm.edu

SOURCE The Mason School of Business at The College of William and Mary