Undergraduate Accounting Major

Undergraduate Accounting Major

Build a future you can count on.

Eller prepares you to lead in a rapidly changing business world, so you can help organizations transform their decision-making processes and their bottom-line profits.

As an accounting major, you’ll hone your ability to collect, organize and present financial information that is crucial to the success of any business.

Accounting Major Overview

Accounting involves the collection, organization, and presentation of financial information for effective decision making. Accounting services often include independent auditing, tax advice and tax return preparation, financial and management consulting and entrepreneurial services.

All accounting is characterized by compiling, analyzing and reporting on the financial conditions of the many functions for companies, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and individuals.

Accounting Advising

Work with your Accounting academic advisor to get questions answered and plan for your goals.

Meet Julio Pena, Accounting Advisor

School of Accountancy

The Accounting major falls within the School of Accountancy, where highly respected, research-active faculty push their field further while preparing students for real-world careers in accounting.

Explore the School of Accountancy

Why Choose Eller Accounting?

Interested in pursing a degree in accounting? Some of our undergraduate students share what they enjoy most about the program, what they plan to do after graduation and why the career opportunities with an accounting degree are endless.

Accounting Sample Coursework Plan

How your Eller Accounting experience can play out:

This sample plan is based on 14-17 credits per semester, but each student and their academic plan is unique. Please meet with your Academic Advisor to create a custom plan for you.  Please note that your General Education requirements, including second language, are determined by when you were admitted to the university.  Your Academic Advisor can help you navigate the requirements relevant for you. For a full list of official degree requirements, check out the University General Catalog. 

First Year

First Semester
CoursesUnits
ENGL 101* First Year Composition      
MIS 111* Computers and Internetworked Society
MIS 112* Computers and Internetworked Society Lab 
MATH 112 College Algebra Concepts and Applications 
General Education and/or Second Language
 
Attend Eller Career Expo and UA Fall Career Days		3
3
1
3
3-7
 Total13-17   
Second Semester 
 Course Units
ENGL 102* First Year Composition 
MATH 116* Calculus Concepts for Business Majors 
General Education 
General Education and/or Second Language
BNAD 100 Language and Context of Business 
   
Attend Career Showcase and UA Spring Career Days 		3
3
3
3-7
1
Total13-17   
Summer
Use summer to catch up on math if behind in sequencing based on placement results prior to your first year.

Sophomore Year

1st Semester
CourseUnits
BNAN 276* Statistical Inference in Management 
ACCT 200* Introduction to Financial Accounting  
ECON 200* Basic Economic Issues  
General Education  
General Education
BNAD 200 Career Management in Business  
    
Attend Eller Career Expo and UA Fall Career Days		3
3
3
3
3
1
Total16
2nd Semester
CourseUnits
ACCT 210* Introduction to Managerial Accounting  
BNAN 277* Analytical Methods for Business 
BCOM 214* Fundamentals of Business Communication
General Education
General Education or Ethics**  
   
Attend Career Showcase and apply for Professional Admissions in February, and attend UA Spring Career Days		3
4
3
3
3
Total16
Summer
We highly recommend that students participate in a study abroad and career-related experience.

In order to take the following upper-division courses, students must be admitted to the major through a competitive and selective Professional Admission process. Once admitted into the upper division, students must maintain at least a 2.0 major GPA to continue in the Accounting major. 

Professional Phase

ACCT 400A First Semester Track 

1st Semester
CourseUnits
MGMT 310A Organization Behavior and Management  
MKTG 361 Introduction to Marketing  
BCOM 314R Business Communication  
ACCT 400A Intermediate Financial Accounting 
ACCT 310 Cost and Managerial Accounting OR ACCT 430 Information Quality and Assurance (Optional 5th course)
    
Attend Eller Career Expo and UA Fall Career Days		3
3
3
3
3
Total12-15
2nd Semester
CourseUnits
FIN 360 Quantitative Finance Management  
FIN 360L Quantitative Financial Management Techniques  
OSCM 373 Basic Operations Management  
MIS 304 Using and Managing Information Systems  
ACCT 400B Intermediate Financial Accounting  
ACCT 461 Accounting Information Systems  
    
Attend Career Showcase and UA Spring Career Days		3
1
3
3
3
3
Total16
Summer
Use summer to gain career-related experience through internships, study abroad or volunteering.

ACCT 420 First Semester Track 

1st Semester
CourseUnits
MGMT 310A Organization Behavior and Management  
MKTG 361 Introduction to Marketing  
BCOM 314R Business Communication  
ACCT 420 Principles of Federal Taxation  
ACCT 310 Cost and Managerial Accounting OR ACCT 430 Information Quality and Assurance (Optional 5th course)
    
Attend Eller Career Expo and UA Fall Career Days		3
3
3
3
3
Total12-15
2nd Semester
CourseUnits
FIN 360 Quantitative Finance Management  
FIN 360L Quantitative Financial Management Techniques 
OSCM 373 Basic Operations Management  
MIS 304 Using and Managing Information Systems  
ACCT 400A Intermediate Financial Accounting 
ACCT 310 Cost and Managerial Accounting OR ACCT 430 Information Quality and Assurance
    
Attend Career Showcase and UA Spring Career Days		3
1
3
3
3
3
Total16
Summer
Use summer to gain career-related experience through internships, study abroad or volunteering.

Professional Phase

400A First Semester Track 

3rd Semester
CourseUnits
MGMT 402 Integrating Business Fundamentals with Ethics and Law in Management  
ECON 330 Macroeconomic and Global Institutions and Policy  
ENTR 485 Innovating: Creating the Future  
ACCT 420 Principles of Federal Taxation
ACCT 310 Cost and Managerial Accounting OR ACCT 430 Information Quality and Assurance

    
Attend Eller Career Expo and UA Fall Career Days		3
3
3
3
3
Total15
4th Semester
CourseUnits
ECON 300 Microeconomic Analysis for Business Decisions  
ACCT 451 Analysis of Financial Statements  
ACCT 310 Cost and Managerial Accounting OR ACCT 430 Information Quality and Assurance (If not previously taken)
General Education
Minor, Electives, or remaining General Education requirements
     
Attend Career Showcase and UA Spring Career Days, and Graduation in May		3
3
3
3
0-3
Total12-15
Summer
Enjoy your summer and continue the job search if necessary!

ACCT 420 First Semester Track 
(beginning Fall 2024)

3rd Semester
CourseUnits
MGMT 402 Integrating Business Fundamentals with Ethics and Law in Management  
ECON 330 Macroeconomic and Global Institutions and Policy  
ENTR 485 Innovating: Creating the Future  
ACCT 400B Intermediate Financial Accounting  
ACCT 461 Accounting Information Systems
    
Attend Eller Career Expo and UA Fall Career Days		3
3
3
3
3
Total15

 

4th Semester
CourseUnits
ECON 300 Microeconomic Analysis for Business Decisions  
ACCT 451 Analysis of Financial Statements  
ACCT 310 Cost and Managerial Accounting OR ACCT 430 Information Quality and Assurance (If not previously taken)
General Education
Minor, Electives, or remaining General Education requirements
     
Attend Career Showcase and UA Spring Career Days, and Graduation in May		3
3
3
3
0-3
Total12-15
Summer
Enjoy your summer and continue the job search if necessary!

Note: This is only a sample plan and requirements are subject to change and may vary based on catalog year, placement tests, AP/CLEP credit, transfer work, summer school, etc.

All students enter as Foundational Business Managements majors, and must go through a competitive and selective Professional Admission process to gain entry to the upper-division professional majors. The above plan is designed on the assumption that a student tests into College Algebra on the PPL Math Placement Exam; students who test lower than College Algebra should refer to the Five-Semester Plan and work with their academic advisor to learn how they can adjust their schedule to meet their educational goals.

* Eller Foundation Courses: You need to take these classes before you apply for admission into the professional program. Professional Admission is required before enrolling in 300- and 400-level core and major courses. Students transferring directly into the upper division who do not have a BCOM 214 equivalent completed will be required to take BCOM 315 before graduation instead.

** Business Emphasis Areas: You must take one ethics course to complete your degree. This class does not need to be completed before applying for Professional Admission.

Students can meet the Second Language requirement by demonstrating second semester proficiency through examination or taking any of a variety of second semester language courses. Each student needs to meet a minimum of 120 total credits. Students are strongly encouraged to take BNAD 100 and BNAD 200 to develop their professional knowledge and competencies required for success in the upper division. Please consult with your Advisement Report and your academic advisor.

Accounting Cohort Schedules

View Accounting major cohort schedules by semester:

Accounting Sage Cohort

Sage CohortMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursday
8:00 - 9:15 

BCOM 314R* / 

ACCT 420**

 

BCOM 314R* /

ACCT 420**

9:30 - 10:45 ACCT 400ABCOM 314R* ACCT 400ABCOM 314R*
11:00 - 12:15MKTG 361ACCT 420**MKTG 361ACCT 420**
12:30 - 1:45MGMT 310A MGMT 310A 

Accounting Silver Cohort

Silver CohortMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursday
11:00 - 12:15ACCT 400A ACCT 400A 
12:30 - 1:45 ACCT 420** ACCT 420**
2:00 - 3:15MKTG 361BCOM 314R*MKTG 361 BCOM 314R*
3:30 - 4:45MGMT 310ABCOM 314R*MGMT 310ABCOM 314R*

* Students will take BCOM 314R at one but not both times.
** Students will not be automatically enrolled but can enroll through UAccess. A T/R 8:00 - 9:15am section is also available for students that do not have BCOM during that time.

Accounting Sage Cohort

Sage CohortMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursday
8:00 - 9:15ACCT 400BOSCM 373ACCT 400BOSCM 373
9:30 - 10:45ACCT 461MIS 304ACCT 461MIS 304
11:00 - 12:15 FIN 360* FIN 360*

Accounting Silver Cohort

Silver CohortMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursday
11:00 - 12:15ACCT 400B ACCT 400B 
12:30 - 1:45ACCT 461FIN 360*ACCT 461FIN 360*
2:00 - 3:15 OSCM 373 OSCM 373
3:30 - 4:45 MIS 304 MIS 304

 *A required lab for FIN 360 will be offered on Wednesdays. Please contact your advisor for more information.

Accounting Sage Cohort

Sage CohortMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursday
12:30 - 1:45 ECON 330 ECON 330

Accounting Silver Cohort

Silver CohortMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursday
12:30 - 1:45 ECON 330 ECON 330
  •  

 ** All third semester Accounting students will be required to take a ENTR 485 course that will be held one day a week either Tuesday, or Thursday at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m, 3:30 p.m. or 5:00 p.m for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Additionally, students will need to take MGMT 402, which will be held fully online. 

Prior to graduation Accounting Majors will take ACCT430 and ACCT310 

Accounting Sage Cohort

Sage CohortMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursday
9:30 -10:45ACCT 451 ACCT 451 
11:00-12:15 ECON 300 ECON 300

Accounting Silver Cohort

Silver CohortMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursday
11:00-12:15 ECON 300 ECON 300
2:00-3:15ACCT 451 ACCT 451 
  • ECON 300 is pre-enrolled for all students
  • Prior to graduation Accounting Majors will take ACCT430 and ACCT310 

 

 

Accounting Elective Course Options

The following Accounting electives may be available:

This course covers financial and managerial accounting topics relevant to the healthcare industry. Concepts covered include the financial and operational implications of changes in healthcare reimbursement; understanding and analyzing external financial statements for taxable and tax-exempt healthcare entities; usefulness of capital and operating budgets; practical applications of managerial accounting; and decision making tools for managers within healthcare enterprises.

Units: 3
Offered: Spring (when resources are available)

Accounting concepts and procedures for governmental and other not-for-profit entities, including financial analysis and reconciliation to for-profit accounting principles.

Units: 3
Offered: Fall (when resources are available)

View All Undergraduate Accounting Courses

Accounting Major Career Resources

Accounting Careers

Your Accounting degree translates to in-demand roles in the field of accounting, whether you want to pursue your Master’s in Accounting, CPA license or go on to work as a financial consultant, tax accountant or CFO.

View Accounting Career Possibilities

Meet the Accounting Career Coach

Eller students have a world of options in front of them—which is why a dedicated career coach is so valuable. Get professional coaching on internship and job opportunities awaiting you.

Meet the Accounting Career Coach

Honors Opportunities 

Learn more about the Eller Undergraduate Honors Program.