What will I Learn in an Accounting Bachelor Degree Program?
Majors Overview April 30, 2014Concepts in income tax planning, auditing, and financial management are explored in bachelor’s degree programs in Accounting. Employment as a government, public, or corporate accountant are available to graduates.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree Programs in Accounting
Schools may offer a bachelor’s degree in Accounting either as a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Accountancy or as a Bachelor of Accounting (B.Acc.). Coursework in an undergraduate Accounting program is devised to assist students who like to work with numbers, are detail-oriented, and have strong analytical skills. The program teaches students about analyzing business information, auditing information, maintaining records and scrutinizing budgets. Coursework may include business management, accounting ethics, cost management and fraud investigation.
Admission criteria require incoming students to hold a GED certificate or high school diploma.
Coursework
Coursework is designed to arm students with a solid liberal arts foundation through general education courses, such as communication, macroeconomics, logic and speech. Core coursework includes subject areas such as statistics, financial management, business law and marketing. Technical training in databases and spreadsheets is also received by students. Students may also encounter topic areas such as:
•Income taxation
•Cost management
•Fraud examination
•Accounting systems and controls
•Management principles
•Financial accounting
•Accounting theory
Career Choices
Armed with a Bachelor of Accounting (B.Acc.), students can seek entry-level careers in government agencies, such as the IRS or FBI, as well as in non-profit organizations. Graduates may choose to be self-employed or seek employment in an accounting firm. Graduates can aim to work as:
•Tax examiners
•Government accountants
•Forensic accountants
•Public accountants
•Internal auditors
Continuing Education Choices
Students pursuing continued education in taxation and auditing could enroll in a Master of Accounting (M.Acc.) program, an intensive course devised to equip students with comprehensive knowledge of tax reporting, cost accounting, financial reporting and accounting information systems.
With this training, graduates may be able to take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. Accountants aspiring to work with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission are expected to be CPAs (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Aspiring CPA’s are required to complete the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ 4-part CPA examination.
