/filters:quality(90)/prod01/production-cdn-pxl/media/umassdartmouth/programs/ccb/mclucas-capri-IMG_0189-1600X400.jpg)
Accounting
BS, Minor
The language of business
Accounting isn’t just about numbers — it’s about insight, influence, and impact.
At the Charlton College of Business, you’ll build technical expertise in financial reporting, auditing, and taxation while developing in-demand skills in data analytics, financial modeling, and technology-enabled accounting systems.
Graduates are prepared to pursue CPA licensure, launch careers at leading firms, and step into roles that drive ethical leadership, regulatory compliance, and long-term value creation.
Program curriculum and details
Turn numbers into insight. Turn insight into impact.
Accounting is one of the most stable and versatile business degrees. Career paths include:
- public accounting
- corporate and management accounting
- forensic accounting and fraud examination
- auditing and risk management
- government and nonprofit accounting
- tax strategy and advisory services
With growing demand for expertise in compliance, analytics, and financial transparency, accountants play a critical role in responsible business leadership.
Student success
Accounting BS median starting salary
Salary range: $73,000 NACE Data Collection of Class of 2024 Undergraduate AlumniAdvance your career — many accounting undergrads enroll in 4+1 MBA or MS in Accounting programs to earn the additional 30 credits needed to sit for CPA exams. Charlton College of Business graduate students in the class of 2024 earned a mean starting salary of $90,700.
Student spotlight
Accounting and MBA 4+1 student starts career at Ernst & Young's Boston Office after making the most of the resources Charlton had to offer.
Internship placements
- KPMG
- PwC
- IRS
- Brown University
- Ocean Spray
- State Street Bank
- Amica Insurance
- BayCoast Bank
Career placements
- Deloitte
- KPMG
- PwC
- KLR CPA
- Fernandes and Charest CPA
- State Street Bank
- Providence Equity Partners
- Covidien
- City of Fall River
Charlton’s accounting curriculum blends technical mastery with strategic thinking.
You’ll complete 120 credit hours, including business foundations and advanced accounting coursework designed to help you:
- analyze and interpret financial data
- apply accounting standards and regulatory frameworks
- evaluate internal controls and audit systems
- use accounting software, Excel, and data tools
- communicate financial insights clearly and professionally
You won’t just prepare financial statements — you’ll learn how to use financial information to guide high-level business decisions.
A minor in accounting strengthens any business major by building financial literacy and analytical capability.
You’ll gain foundational knowledge in accounting principles and learn how financial data supports strategy, operations, and performance — skills valued in management, marketing, entrepreneurship, and finance.
4+1 Accelerated bachelor’s to master’s option
Qualified students in this program may be eligible to pursue an accelerated bachelor’s-to-master’s pathway at UMass Dartmouth. This option allows you to begin graduate coursework while completing your undergraduate degree and transition directly into a master's program. Learn how the accelerated program works.
3+3 with UMass Law: a fast track to a law degree
Enrollment in the 3+3 joint degree program with UMass Law offers an accelerated pathway to an undergraduate and law degree, enabling qualifying students to substitute the first year of law school for the final year of their undergraduate program, thereby earning both a bachelor’s degree from UMass Dartmouth and a Juris Doctor from UMass Law in six rather than seven years.
- AACSB-accredited business school (top 6% worldwide)
- Ranked among the top public undergraduate business programs in Massachusetts (U.S. News & World Report)
- Strong internship pipeline with national and regional firms
- Active Beta Alpha Psi chapter
- Personalized faculty mentorship and career advising
- 4+1 and dual-major pathways to meet CPA 150-credit requirements
- The Master of Science in Accounting provides a convenient way for students to get the extra courses needed to meet the 150-credit requirement for the CPA certification.
- Benefit from advanced management and leadership education through Charlton's 30-credit MBA program for business majors.
- Integrate advanced business study with legal education through the accelerated 3+3 pathway with UMass Dartmouth’s School of Law.
Study online
- Full time undergraduate—for traditional, undergraduate degree seekers.
- Degree completion—for adult learners with some college credits. Learn more about our degree completion program.
Frequently asked questions
Have questions about the Accounting BS program? Below are answers to common questions about admissions, curriculum, career outcomes, and student experience.
Yes. The accounting curriculum provides the academic foundation required to pursue CPA licensure. Many students complete Charlton’s accelerated 4+1 MBA or MS in accounting programs to meet the 150-credit requirement needed to sit for the CPA exam.
Yes. Students interested in tax law, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, or forensic accounting can add pre-law advising to their studies and/or pursue an accelerated 3+3 pathway with UMass Dartmouth’s School of Law. An accounting background provides strong preparation for legal careers involving taxation, contracts, mergers, auditing, and financial regulation.
Yes. Students regularly intern with firms such as Deloitte, KPMG, PwC, IRS, and regional accounting firms — often leading to full-time offers.
Students develop proficiency in accounting systems, Excel, data analysis tools, and audit technologies used by modern firms.
Accounting remains one of the most recession-resilient business careers, offering strong demand across industries.