Accounting Major

Important Links

For a list of all the courses required to complete this 120 credit hour Acounting degree, please see the Student Self-Tracking Accounting Degree Requirements Sheet (PDF File - 74KB).

For a description of the Accounting courses, please see the Accounting Course Descriptions.

For a list of the faculty in the Accounting and Finance Department, please see our Faculty - Accounting and Finance Department.

Overview of the Accounting Profession

The accounting profession plays an essential role in a modern economy by providing a flow of financial information necessary for problem solving and decision-making by managers within an organization and by investors, leaders, and government agencies. Accountants are important members of an organization’s decisionmaking team. Managers rely on accountants for financial planning, budgeting, and interpretation of financial results. Students learn how to provide information that is relevant and appropriate for a variety of decisions that managers must make.

Investors, lenders, government agencies, and other external parties also rely on accountants and auditors to provide accurate and reliable financial statements about an organization. Students learn how to apply accounting concepts, standards, and regulations in preparing, auditing, and analyzing financial statements.

Because accounting is an information system, there is substantial emphasis in the program on computer and information technology skills, including the use of accounting, spreadsheet, and database applications as well as the use of technology for accounting and tax research.

The accounting program provides a strong foundation for pursuit of a career in private or public accounting, or for further education in graduate school. In private accounting, students may prepare for certification as a Certified Management Accountant (CMA). Preparation for a career as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) has been enhanced by state regulations that now require 150 hours of education prior to certification. Students interested in a public accounting career should talk with a faculty member to consider ways of achieving the 150-hour requirement.