Earn a business degree with a concentration in accounting.
Penn State’s Bachelor of Science in Business is a professionally oriented business degree program that combines the core business disciplines of management, marketing, finance, accounting, management information systems, and supply chain management, with areas of concentration, including an accounting option.
Why choose the accounting option in your Business major?
The Bachelor of Science in Business degree with the accounting option emphasizes the areas of financial and managerial accounting, systems and controls, auditing, and taxation. It prepares graduates for abundant career opportunities in accounting and financial analysis.
Accountants play a crucial role in financial management and reporting by interpreting data required for decision making by managers, investors, regulators, and other stakeholders.
To perform their functions, accountants work with both numerical information and concepts; they must function effectively as individuals and in teams.
Accountants work with people in their own specialized departments and with users of financial information throughout their organization. Because of this close association with other parts of the organization, the accountant is in a unique position to develop a broad business perspective.
- Financial Records: They maintain accurate financial records for organizations. Think of them as the guardians of balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
- Analysis & Insights: Accountants analyze financial data to provide insights. They help managers make informed decisions, identify trends, and plan for the future.
- Taxes: Accountants handle tax preparation, ensuring compliance with tax laws and maximizing deductions.
- Auditing: They examine financial statements to verify accuracy and adherence to regulations.
- Budgeting & Forecasting: They create budgets and forecasts, helping businesses allocate resources wisely.
- Consulting: Accountants advise on financial strategies, risk management, and cost-saving measures.
- Ethical Guardians: They uphold ethical standards, ensuring transparency and honesty in financial reporting.
What is it like to work in an accounting field?
- Accountants are like financial detectives. They dive into numbers, spreadsheets, and reports to uncover hidden gems.
- It’s not just about crunching numbers; they also juggle concepts. Think of it as a mix of math and storytelling.
- Accountants collaborate with colleagues and function effectively as individuals and in teams.
- Because they’re in the thick of things, accountants get a panoramic view of the business. They see how all the puzzle pieces fit together.
Prepare for a career with an accounting option.
The Bachelor of Science in Business accounting option prepares students to pursue careers in the business accounting field. Graduates with this business degree often obtain jobs in the areas of financial and managerial accounting, systems and controls, auditing, and taxation.
Additionally, when business majors enrolled in the accounting option complete the BSB degree, they will have at least 120 of the 150 college credits required to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination. Learn how to become a CPA.
Graduates of the BSB degree with the accounting option may also pursue other professional certifications, such as Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA).
Continuing your education.
In addition, earning your Business degree at Penn State can lead to a master's degree in Accounting or Taxation.
Smeal Conditional Early Acceptance Program
Are you interested in partnering with the Penn State Smeal College of Business to pursue a master's degree in Accounting or Taxation?
Smeal's Conditional Early Acceptance (CEA) program is a two-year pathway to earning an accounting-related graduate degree immediately following your post-baccalaureate studies. The program does not require a deposit and is open to Penn State undergraduates who are currently in their junior year and are majoring in accounting at either the University Park campus or at a Commonwealth campus location.
Accounting Option Courses (18 credits)
Students choosing the accounting option begin with introductory accounting course(s) in financial and managerial accounting, then take core accounting courses in intermediate financial accounting, advanced managerial accounting, federal income taxation and auditing.
Review THE Business B.S. courses
Penn State Scranton’s Business major also offers areas of concentration in financial services, business analytics, individualized option and management and marketing.