Bachelor of Science in Accounting

Description and Outcomes

The Bachelor of Science in Accounting program is designed to prepare you for entry into the accounting profession. Students who complete the degree will be on their way to meeting the educational requirements to be eligible to sit for the Uniform CPA Examination. Refer to the Certification, State Board, and National Board Exams section for important program disclosure information.

Concentrations

In addition to the required core and major courses, you can further specialize your degree by choosing one of four concentrations: public accountancy, managerial accountancy, tax accountancy, or auditing/forensic accountancy.

Accelerated CPA Track Option

If you are interested in earning both a bachelor's and master's degree in accounting, consider the Accelerated CPA Track option. Refer to the Progression Requirements section for details.

Program Length

The Bachelor of Science in Accounting program consists of a minimum of 180 quarter credit hours. Upon successful completion of the program, you will be awarded a bachelor of science degree.

Program Outcomes

Discipline-Specific Outcomes

  1. GAAP Application: Apply the conceptual framework of the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles to business applications.
  2. Management Tools: Formulate information for assets, liabilities, equities, revenues, and expenses of business entities.
  3. Taxation: Categorize taxation of individuals and businesses.
  4. Financial Reports: Evaluate financial reports.
  5. Communication: Compose communications required for accounting professionals.

General Education Literacies and Professional Competencies

In addition to the discipline-specific outcomes, general education literacies and professional competencies are integrated throughout your academic program. You can review the general education literacies and professional competencies associated with your academic program in the General Education and Professional Competency Requirements section of this Catalog.

Program Availability

For program availability, please refer to the U.S. State and Other Approvals section and Program Availability Information.

Policies

Progression Requirements

Accelerated CPA Track Option

The Accelerated CPA Track Option is designed to offer you an accelerated path to complete the required coursework to sit for the CPA Exam. If you graduate from the Bachelor of Science in Accounting program, apply for entry and are accepted into Master of Science in Accounting program, and enroll within 7 weeks of completing the bachelor’s degree, GB512 will be waived from your master’s degree requirements. 

To sit for the CPA Exam in most states, there is an educational requirement of 150 semester credit hours (225 quarter credit hours). The Bachelor of Science in Accounting program is 180 quarter credit hours. The Master of Science in Accounting program is 52 quarter credit hours. You may need to complete both Purdue Global's Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Master of Science in Accounting, or their equivalents, to meet eligibility requirements. Licensing requirements to sit for the CPA exam vary from state to state. You should review your state's educational requirements by visiting the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy website, as well as your state's CPA licensing requirements, which can be found at the Accountancy Licensing Library.

Certification, State Board, and National Board Exams

Certain state certification and licensure boards have specific educational requirements for programs to lead to a license or nongovernmental certification that is a precondition for employment in a recognized occupation.

Unless otherwise specified, Purdue Global's programs are not designed to meet any specific state’s licensure or certification requirements. If certain licensed occupations, vocations, or professions are not explicitly listed, Purdue Global has not reviewed the licensure or certification requirements of those occupations, vocations, or professions, nor intended the program to meet such requirements. Licensure-track programs may limit enrollment to students in certain states; please see Purdue Global’s Program Availability Information to determine enrollment eligibility.

You are responsible for understanding the requirements of optional certification exams. Such requirements may change during the course of your program. You are not automatically certified in any way upon program completion. Although certain programs are designed to prepare you to take various optional certification exams, Purdue Global cannot guarantee you will be eligible to take these exams or become certified. Your eligibility may depend on your work experience, completion of education and/or degree requirements, not having a criminal record, meeting other certification requirements, or the program or the University itself having appropriate accreditation or licensure.