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.
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 requirement | 4 | |
| English Composition requirement | 6-7 | |
| Mathematics requirement 1 | 3-4 | |
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 requirement | 3 | |
| Diverse Communities requirement | 3 | |
| Ethics requirement | 3 | |
MGT 313 | Business and Society | |
| Distributed Disciplinary Foundations | ||
| Science requirement 3 | 6-8 | |
CSC 112 | Programming & Data Science | |
or GEO 104 | Introduction to Geospatial Technology and Analytics | |
| Behavioral & Social Science requirement | 6 | |
ECO 111 | Principles of Economics (Macro) 1 | |
| Humanities requirement | 6 | |
PHI 101 | Introduction to Philosophy | |
or PHI 150 | Critical Thinking and Problem Solving | |
or PHI 180 | Introduction to Ethics | |
| Arts requirement | 3 | |
| ADDITIONAL BACCALAUREATE REQUIREMENTS | ||
| University Requirements | ||
| Writing Emphasis requirement | 9 | |
| Speaking Emphasis requirement 4 | 9 | |
| Degree Requirements | ||
| Capstone requirement | 1-15 | |
| MAJOR REQUIREMENTS | ||
| Pre-Business Requirements 1,5 | ||
| ECO 111 | Principles of Economics (Macro) 6 | 3 |
| ECO 112 | Principles of Economics (Micro) | 3 |
| ACC 201 | Financial Accounting | 3 |
| ECO 251 | Business Analytics I | 3 |
| MAT 143 | Brief Calculus 6 | 3-4 |
| or MAT 161 | Calculus I | |
| MGT 200 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| MKT 250 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| Business Core 1,7 | ||
| ACC 202 | Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| BLA 201 | Legal Environment of Business | 3 |
| ECO 351 | Business Analytics II | 3 |
| FIN 325 | Corporate Finance | 3 |
| MGT 313 | Business and Society 6 | 3 |
| MGT 341 | Production and Operations Management | 3 |
| Major Core Courses 1,7 | ||
| ACC 301 | Intermediate Accounting I | 3 |
| ACC 302 | Intermediate Accounting II | 3 |
| ACC 303 | Cost Accounting I | 3 |
| ACC 305 | Intermediate Accounting III | 3 |
| ACC 320 | Accounting Information Systems | 3 |
| ACC 401 | Auditing | 3 |
| ACC 403 | Federal Taxation I | 3 |
| ACC 404 | Federal Taxation II | 3 |
| ACC 405 | Advanced Accounting | 3 |
| ACC 407 | Not-For-Profit & Governmental Accounting | 3 |
| Student Electives | ||
| Complete additional credits as needed to reach 120 total. 8 | ||
| Capstone Requirement | ||
| MGT 499 | Business Policy and Strategy 1,7,9 | 3 |
| Total Minimum Credits Required | 120 | |
- 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 504 | Mathematical Statistics I with Calculus Review | 4 |
| STA 511 | Intro Stat Computing & Data Management | 3 |
| STA 506 | Mathematical Statistics II | 3 |
| STA 512 | Principles of Experimental Analysis | 4 |
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