Bachelor of Accounting: Degree Overview

Read about types of bachelor's degree programs offering studies in accounting. Learn about degrees awarded, course topics explored, further education options and career choices for graduates. Projected employment growth rates and salary figures for accounting professionals are also presented.

Essential Information

A bachelor's degree in accounting may be most commonly offered as a Bachelor of Accounting or a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy. An undergraduate accounting program is designed for students with strong analytical skills, who are detail-oriented and enjoy working with numbers. This type of program explores concepts in financial management, income tax planning and auditing. Within the program, students learn to analyze financial information, audit information, maintain records and scrutinize budgets. Course topics may include fraud investigations, cost management, accounting ethics and financial management. Students also receive technical training in spreadsheets and databases. Applicants are generally required to have a high school diploma in order to be admitted into an undergraduate accounting program. Graduates may find employment as corporate, government or public accountants. Certification requirements could apply to some positions.

Course Topics

General education courses, such as speech, logic, macroeconomics and communication, provide students with a solid liberal arts foundation. Core coursework delves into marketing, business law, financial management and statistics. Sample courses that students may encounter include:

• Financial accounting
• Management principles
• Cost management
• Income taxation
• Fraud examination
• Accounting theory
• Accounting systems and controls

Popular Career Options

A Bachelor of Accounting can prepare students for employment in non-profit organizations or government agencies, such as the FBI or IRS. Graduates may become self-employed accountants or work in an accounting firm or corporate finance department. Graduates are qualified to work as:

• Public accountants
• Forensic accountants
• Tax examiners
• Internal auditors
• Government accountants

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projected a 13% increase in employment of accountants and auditors from 2012 to 2022, which represents average employment growth compared to all occupations. In 2012, these financial professionals earned a yearly median salary of $65,080, as reported by the BLS.

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