Internal auditing-a checks-and-balances system that ensures an organization is following
its operations accurately and precisely-is a field currently in high demand. All majors are invited to pursue this minor. 
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA - This fall Winthrop University will debut a new internal audit minor program, the only academic program in internal audit in the Carolinas.
Internal auditing-a checks-and-balances system that ensures an organization is following
its operations accurately and precisely-is a field currently in high demand, said
Laura Ullrich, assistant dean for innovation and productivity in the College of Business Administration.
"We have a fair amount of alumni working in internal auditing, and they're doing well,"
she said. "As I did more research in the field, I found out that there are no programs
affiliated with the Institute of Internal Audit (IIA) in the Carolinas. My goal was
to identify some niche programs that Winthrop could be identified with, where we could
be well-known for our expertise. We're so close to Charlotte, so it makes sense."
Ullrich, who's also an associate professor of economics, began a conversation with
the Internal Auditing Education Partnership Program (IAEP) through the IIA about creating a foundational internal audit program at Winthrop.
A common misconception about internal auditing is that it's just for accountants or
deals solely with numbers, but it's actually interdisciplinary. Ullrich said industries
of all kinds, including banking, IT, health care and mortgage, are looking for people
with an internal auditing focus who can communicate, think critically, and are detail-oriented.
The minor is open to all students. For business majors, an additional three classes
are required; for majors in other fields, five classes are required. The course works
begins with two introduction to accounting classes, a class on accounting information
systems and then covers the specifics of internal auditing.
"It's a career where people can go and make good money but still have good work hours
and a good work-life balance," Ullrich said. "[In that role] you learn everything
about how a company works. There are a lot of opportunities to move up. It's a jumping
point."
For more information on the minor, contact Ullrich at 803/323-4813 or ullrichl@winthrop.edu.
