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, including second language, requirements 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
Courses Units
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
 Total 13-17   
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
Total 13-17   
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
Course

Units
BNAD 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
Total

16
2nd Semester
Course

Units
ACCT 210* Introduction to Managerial Accounting  
BNAD 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
Total

16
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.

Junior Year

1st Semester
Course

Units
MGMT 310A Organization Behavior and Management  
MKTG 361 Introduction to Marketing  
BCOM 314R Business Communication  
ACCT 420 Principles of Federal Taxation 
ACCT 400A Intermediate Financial Accounting (requires a grade of C or better)
    
Attend Eller Career Expo and UA Fall Career Days

3
3
3
3
3
Total

15
2nd Semester
Course

Units
FIN 360 Quantitative Finance Management  
FIN 360L Quantitative Financial Management Techniques (1 unit Excel lab) - required for students admitted Fall 2023 and beyond 
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
Total

15-16
Summer
Use summer to gain career-related experience through internships, study abroad or volunteering.

Senior Year

1st Semester
Course

Units

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 310 Cost and Managerial Accounting
ACCT Major Elective Course (ACCT 430 Information Quality and Assurance - A Management Perspective required for students admitted Fall 2023 and beyond) 
    
Attend Eller Career Expo and UA Fall Career Days

3
3
3
3
3
Total

15
2nd Semester
Course

Units
ECON 300 Microeconomic Analysis for Business Decisions  
ACCT 451 Analysis of Financial Statements  
General Education 
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
Total

12-15
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 Pre-Business students, 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 ALEKS Math Placement Exam; students who test lower than College Algebra should refer to the Pre-Business 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.

Accounting Cohort Schedules

View Accounting major cohort schedules by semester:

Accounting Sage Cohort

SAGE COHORT

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday
8:00-9:15   BCOM 314R*/ACCT 420**   BCOM 314R*/ACCT 420**

9:30-10:45

ACCT 400A

BCOM 314R*

 ACCT 400A

BCOM 314R*

11:00-12:15

MGMT 310A

 

MGMT 310A

 

12:30-1:45

MKTG 361

  

MKTG 361

  

Accounting Silver Cohort

SILVER COHORT

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday
11:00 - 12:15   ACCT 420**   ACCT 420**
12:30 - 1:45 ACCT 400A   ACCT 400A  

2:00-3:15

 MGMT 310A

BCOM 314R*

 MGMT 310A

BCOM 314R*

3:30-4:45

MKTG 361

BCOM 314R*

 MKTG 361

BCOM 314R*

* Students will take BCOM 314R at one but not both times.
** Students will not be automatically enrolled but can enroll through UAccess. 

Accounting Sage Cohort

sAge COHORT

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

8:00 - 9:15

 

BCOM 314R*

 

BCOM 314R*

9:30 - 10:45

 ACCT 400A

BCOM 314R*

 ACCT 400A

BCOM 314R*

11:00 - 12:15

MKTG 361

ACCT 420**

MKTG 361

ACCT 420**

12:30 - 1:45

MGMT 310A

  

MGMT 310A

  

Accounting Silver Cohort

silver COHORT

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

11:00 - 12:15

 ACCT 400A   ACCT 400A  
12:30 - 1:45   ACCT 420**   ACCT 420**

2:00 - 3:15

MKTG 361

BCOM 314R*

MKTG 361

BCOM 314R*

3:30 - 4:45

MGMT 310A

BCOM 314R*

MGMT 310A

BCOM 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 COHORT

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday
8:00 - 9:15  

OSCM 373

  

OSCM 373
9:30 - 10:45  

MIS 304

  

MIS 304
11:00 - 12:15

ACCT 461

  

ACCT 461

  
12:30 - 1:45

ACCT 400B

FIN 360*

ACCT 400B

FIN 360*

Accounting Silver Cohort

silver COHORT

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday
12:30 - 1:45  

FIN 360*

  

FIN 360*
2:00 - 3:15

ACCT 461

OSCM 373

ACCT 461

OSCM 373
3:30 - 4:45

ACCT 400B

MIS 304

ACCT 400B

MIS 304

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

Accounting Sage Cohort

Sage COHORT

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday
8:00-9:15 MGMT 402      

2:00 - 3:15

  

ECON 330

  

ECON 330

Accounting Silver Cohort

silver COHORT

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday
2:00 - 3:15  

ECON 330

  

ECON 330

5:00-6:15

 MGMT 402

 

  

 

  ** All third semester Accounting students will be required to take a ENTR 485 that will be held one day a week either Tuesday, or Thursday at 8 a.m. or 3:30 p.m. for a 2 and 1/2 hour period.

Accounting Sage Cohort

sage COHORT

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

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

Accounting Silver Cohort

silver COHORT

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

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

 *ECON 300 is pre-enrolled for all students 

Accounting Elective Course Options

The following Accounting electives are available:

Examination of the value of managerial accounting in organizational decision-making and control, addressing specific managerial accounting problems and their solutions.

Units: 3
Offered: Spring

Also known as: Audit

Emphasis is on information quality, in regards to assurance services and internal control systems.  Strategic orientation intended for future managers, bankers, analysts, investors, consultants, and practicing CPAs.

Units: 3
Offered: Fall, Spring

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

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

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 tatum rochin, Accounting Career Coach