What do you learn in a bachelor's in accounting?
By: Samantha Lord, Edited by: Arthur McMahon
Published: February 13, 2025
If you're thinking about becoming an accountant, you should consider a bachelor's in accounting. Keep reading to learn what you can expect from an accounting bachelor's program, including curriculum details and graduation requirements.
What to expect from an accounting bachelor's program
If you enroll in a bachelor's program in accounting, you can expect to learn everything you need to know to become an accountant or work in a related field. Many bachelor's programs in accounting include courses in accounting information systems, financial accounting, management accounting, auditing, cost accounting, and taxation.
In a bachelor's program in accounting, you may learn about how financial information is evaluated and why it is so important for organizations to do this kind of evaluation. You'll likely also learn about economics and business in general.
Bachelor's degree programs in accounting typically take four years to complete. However, if you're studying on a part-time basis, it may take longer for you to complete all the program requirements.
Bachelor's in accounting curriculum
A bachelor's in accounting program often includes coursework that covers all the information and practices you need for a career as an accountant.
- Accounting information systems: Discover what you need to know about the systems for storing, organizing, and processing accounting information.
- Auditing: Learn about the theory and practice of different kinds of auditing.
- Taxation: Build foundational knowledge in various aspects of taxation structures.
Specializations and concentrations
Bachelor's in accounting programs offer different specializations and concentrations. Make sure that the accounting program you enroll in offers the specializations and courses that interest you and support your career goals. Below are some common concentrations:
- Financial accounting: Companies need financial accountants to assess and report their financial information. In this concentration, you focus on the specific accounting principles necessary for fulfilling this role.
- Management accounting: Management accountants play a pivotal role in a company, providing key financial information to leadership for optimal decision-making.
- Auditing: Auditing is the process of evaluating financial documents to verify that they are accurate and comply with relevant regulations.
- Cost accounting: Cost accounting focuses on streamlining and reducing a company's operating and production costs. In cost accounting, you learn how to find inefficiencies that management can eliminate.
Graduation requirements for an accounting degree
Many bachelor's degree programs require you to complete at least 120 credits to graduate. Schools may also set specific GPA requirements. Many programs require students to maintain a GPA of at least 2.0, although some more rigorous programs may set this requirement at 3.0. Your accounting degree program may also require you to complete an internship before you graduate.