Accounting

Overview

Accounting programs prepare people to work as accountants.

Accounting programs teach students various accounting methods and how to audit records to ensure they comply with tax laws and other standards. They also learn how to create and review financial records.

Accounting programs include topics such as:

Financial accounting
Managerial accounting
Tax accounting
Auditing
Reporting procedures
Professional standards and ethics

Concentrations

In accounting programs, students may be able to specialize in one or more of the following areas:

Accounting and business management
Accounting and computer science
Accounting and finance
Auditing

A master's degree program provides students an opportunity to specialize in auditing, computer science, or business management.

Schools

Most colleges and universities offer bachelor's degree programs in accounting. A bachelor's degree usually takes fours years of full-time study to complete. However, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification may require a fifth year of study in order to prepare for the exam.

Many schools offer graduate degree programs in accounting. One option is to get a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with a concentration in accounting. Typically, master's degree programs require two years of course work beyond the bachelor's degree.

Several schools offer doctoral (PhD) programs in accounting. These programs prepare people to do research or teach accounting at the college level. PhD programs usually require two or more years of courses beyond the master's degree.

See schools that offer this program.

Related Educational Programs

Related Careers

Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study

Other Careers Related to this Program of Study

Program Admission

You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.

Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:

Accounting
Basic Computer
Introduction to Business
Keyboarding
Pre-Calculus
Public Speaking

Graduate Admissions

Admission to graduate programs in accounting is competitive. You need a bachelor's degree, good grades, and good test scores. Your bachelor's degree should be in accounting or another business field. If your undergraduate major was not business-related, you should take several courses in accounting. Other recommended courses are economics, statistics, and business law. You should also take courses in management information systems and management.

Additional requirements at some schools include:

Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT)
Letters of recommendation
Interview

Typical Course Work

Program Courses

This program typically includes courses in the following subjects:

Auditing
Business Law
Business Management
Business Writing
Calculus for Business
Cost Accounting
Introduction to Accounting
Introduction to Marketing
Management Information Systems
Principles of Macroeconomics
Principles of Microeconomics
Statistics for Business
Taxation

Things to Know

You can work as an accountant without being a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). However, the CPA certification improves your job prospects in certain fields of accounting. Although a national organization gives the CPA exam, the requirements for who can take the exam vary from state to state. For example, some states require work experience in accounting or more education.

Certification is also available for those who specialize in management accounting or auditing.

Some business courses in high school can be useful preparation for a career in accounting. However, your high school transcript needs to show preparation for a demanding college-level program.

East Side Area

Big Bend Community College

Accounting

Central Washington University

Accounting

Walla Walla University

Business Administration--Accounting Concentration

Washington State University - Pullman

Accounting
Business Administration--Accounting

King-Snohomish Area

Bellevue College

Accounting--Applied Accounting
Associate in Arts and Sciences Transfer Degree
Associate in Business
Business Administration Online Bachelor's Degree

Central Washington University - Des Moines

Accounting

Central Washington University - Lynnwood

Accounting

City University of Seattle

Graduate Certificate--Accounting
MBA with Accounting Specialization
Professional Accounting

Edmonds Community College

Accounting
Business--Credit Management

Everett Community College

Associate in Business

Golden Gate University - Seattle

Estate Planning

North Seattle College

Accounting Fraud Certificate
Associate in Business

Northwest University

Accounting

Seattle Pacific University

Accounting

Seattle University

Business Administration--Accounting
Master of Professional Accounting/Master of Business Analytics Joint Degree Program
Master of Professional Accounting/Master of Science in Finance Joint Degree Program
Master of Professional Accounting/Professional Master of Business Administration Joint Degree Program
Professional Accounting