decorative triad

Request Information

Loading...
 

Catapult Your Career With a Versatile Degree in Accounting From West Chester University

Interested in a challenging and rewarding business career? The Bachelor of Science in Accounting program from West Chester University will prepare you for a variety of careers in business, finance, and government. Graduates with a degree in accounting are needed in virtually every industry, from nonprofits and small businesses to large corporations and government agencies.

The Accounting program is housed within WCU's College of Business and Public Management, which is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). AACSB is the gold standard for business accreditation and is held by only 6 percent of business schools worldwide.

As an accounting major, you will learn the latest theories and practices taught by our experienced and highly qualified faculty, who are committed to your success. Our accounting majors also benefit from our convenient location just outside Philadelphia, a major financial center with access to many internship and job opportunities.

 

Tracks in the Accounting Major

B.S. in Accounting

WCU's degree in accounting features a broad curriculum to give you as many career options as possible in business, government, consulting, or public accounting. You'll receive a solid foundation to succeed on the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Management Accountant (CMA) examinations, or pursue advanced degrees in any business discipline.

Accelerated B.S. in Accounting to M.S. in Applied Statistics

Our Accounting program seamlessly pairs with our Master's Degree in Applied Statistics to give students a huge advantage in the competitive job market. Our M.S. in Applied Statistics includes tracks in Data Science, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, and Business and Marketing Analytics, cultivating even more specialized skills for your career advancement. The accelerated program option allows you to earn both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in five years rather than six by completing a portion of your graduate credits as an undergraduate student.

 

Benefits of Earning Your Bachelor of Science in Accounting at West Chester University

Best Possible Business Education

Our College of Business and Public Management is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the highest standard of achievement for business schools. This accreditation is only achieved by about 6 percent of business schools worldwide and means that your bachelor's degree in accounting is internationally recognized as meeting the highest possible academic standards.

Affordability

West Chester University offers financial aid options to help make your education affordable, as well as a number of department-specific scholarships for accounting students.

Expert Faculty

The faculty teaching in our bachelor's in accounting program are highly qualified and experienced professionals with real-world expertise in accounting, auditing, tax, and financial reporting. In addition to being practitioners, our faculty are committed to teaching excellence and helping you succeed in your career after graduation.

Unique Minor Opportunity

WCU offers an interdisciplinary minor in white collar crime that blends accounting with criminal justice to provide students with a basic understanding of financially motivated criminal activity. Emphasis in the program is placed on prevention, detection, investigation, and resolution of white-collar offenses, often perpetrated by businesses and government professionals.

 

What Can You Do With a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting?

WCU's Accounting program will give you the foundational knowledge necessary to pass the CPA and CMA, along with the depth, breadth, and flexibility to prepare you for a variety of business careers. Graduates with a bachelor's degree in accounting hold a variety of job titles, including staff accountant, financial analyst, controller, and chief financial officer.

Accounting majors can be found in nearly every organization, from small businesses to state and government agencies to Fortune 500 companies. Employment for accountants is projected to grow 4 percent through 2032, with the 2022 median accounting degree salary at $78,000 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Where are our graduates?

 

What Will You Study as a Bachelor's in Accounting Student?

In our Accounting program, you will study a wide array of topics to prepare you for careers in accounting and financial professions, as well as prepare you to take the CPA exam.

B.S. in Accounting


Code Title Credits
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Academic Foundations
First Year Experience requirement4
English Composition requirement6-7
Mathematics requirement 13-4
MAT 113
Algebra and Functions
MAT 115
Algebra, Functions, and Trigonometry
MAT 131
Precalculus
MAT 143
Brief Calculus 2
or MAT 161
Calculus I
Interdisciplinary requirement3
Diverse Communities requirement3
Ethics requirement3
MGT 313
Business and Society
Distributed Disciplinary Foundations
Science requirement 36-8
CSC 112
Programming & Data Science
or GEO 104
Introduction to Geospatial Technology and Analytics
Behavioral & Social Science requirement6
ECO 111
Principles of Economics (Macro) 1
Humanities requirement6
PHI 101
Introduction to Philosophy
or PHI 150
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
or PHI 180
Introduction to Ethics
Arts requirement3
ADDITIONAL BACCALAUREATE REQUIREMENTS
University Requirements
Writing Emphasis requirement9
Speaking Emphasis requirement 49
Degree Requirements
Capstone requirement1-15
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Pre-Business Requirements 1,5
ECO 111Principles of Economics (Macro) 63
ECO 112Principles of Economics (Micro)3
ACC 201Financial Accounting3
ECO 251Business Analytics I3
MAT 143Brief Calculus 63-4
or MAT 161 Calculus I
MGT 200Principles of Management3
MKT 250Principles of Marketing3
Business Core 1,7
ACC 202Managerial Accounting3
BLA 201Legal Environment of Business3
ECO 351Business Analytics II3
FIN 325Corporate Finance3
MGT 313Business and Society 63
MGT 341Production and Operations Management3
Major Core Courses 1,7
ACC 301Intermediate Accounting I3
ACC 302Intermediate Accounting II3
ACC 303Cost Accounting I3
ACC 305Intermediate Accounting III3
ACC 320Accounting Information Systems3
ACC 401Auditing3
ACC 403Federal Taxation I3
ACC 404Federal Taxation II3
ACC 405Advanced Accounting3
ACC 407Not-For-Profit & Governmental Accounting3
Student Electives
Complete additional credits as needed to reach 120 total. 8
Capstone Requirement
MGT 499Business Policy and Strategy 1,7,93
Total Minimum Credits Required120
1

A minimum grade of C must be attained in each of these courses.

2

If either of these MAT courses are completed with a grade of C or better to fulfill general requirements, then MAT 113 is not required.

3

Internal/external transfer students who have already taken two approved general education science classes are exempt from CSC 112 or GEO 104.

4

SPK 208 or SPK 230 is recommended.

5

Must be completed prior to applying to any business major.

6

Satisfies a General Education requirement.

7

A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required to register for 300- or 400-level business classes.

8

ACC 250 is recommended.

9

This course fulfills the Capstone requirement as well as the upper-level Writing Emphasis and Speaking Emphasis requirements.  

Accelerated B.S. in Accounting to M.S. in Applied Statistics Program

To be considered for the accelerated program students must have attained (completed) 60 credits and have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0. Students in the accelerated program can substitute up to 6 credits of graduate coursework for student electives that satisfy the B.S. program requirements. These courses are shown below. Students considering the accelerated program should also take MAT 243.

Code Title Credits
Elective Courses
Select from the courses below:
STA 504Mathematical Statistics I with Calculus Review4
STA 511Intro Stat Computing & Data Management3
STA 506Mathematical Statistics II3
STA 512Principles of Experimental Analysis4