Skip to main content
Accounting class

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting

Making financial decisions calls for expert advice. With an accounting degree, you’ll be that expert—ready to guide businesses and individuals, keep careful financial records, and ensure the numbers always add up. A bachelor’s degree in accounting is the most common entry-level requirement for accountant and auditor careers and will prepare you for rewarding opportunities in this growing area of business. 

 

What is an Accounting Degree?

A bachelor’s in accounting degree is typically a four-year program that teaches the theory and practice of working with, creating, and interpreting financial records. You’ll learn how both businesses and individuals use accounting to measure the results of their economic activities and plan for the future. Plus, you’ll build the knowledge and skills you need to launch a career that makes an important impact.

Many students wonder what it’s like to earn an accounting degree. Is accounting a hard major? Is it a rewarding field to study? Yes, studying accounting can be challenging, but if you’re adept at math and enjoy working with numbers, you’ll likely find your studies rewarding. Expect to take courses such as:

  • Theory of Accounting
  • Macroeconomics
  • Microeconomics
  • Business Statistics
  • Cost Accounting
  • Federal Taxation
  • Financial Management
  • And more

If these courses interest you and you’re eager to learn more about the principles of money management, analyzing financial records, and helping others gain a clearer picture of their economic performance, accounting may be a good major for you. 

Back to Top

Finance vs. Accounting Degree

Not sure whether you should major in accounting or finance—or just curious about the difference? Simply put, the field of finance focuses on planning and directing financial activities, while accounting is all about identifying and recording the results of these activities. Yes, the two fields share similarities and may call for some of the same skills. But in a finance program, you’ll prepare to directly advise organizations and individuals on how to invest and manage their money. In an accounting program, you’ll learn how to analyze the outcomes of financial decisions, such as expenditures, profits, and losses. 

Which is the right path for you? That depends on your interests and career goals. Finance programs tend to be more open-ended, with a focus on financial theory and math skills you could apply in diverse professional roles. Accounting programs tend to be more career-focused and process-oriented. Your courses will reflect that, covering the skills and procedures you’ll need to launch a career as an accountant or auditor.  

Back to Top

What Can You Do with an Accounting Degree?

With an accounting degree, many graduates go on to become accountants and auditors. These professionals prepare and review financial records, identifying areas of risk and opportunity. Accountants usually work on behalf of an individual or organization. Auditors, on the other hand, are typically appointed by a third party to review others’ financial records for accuracy. 

You could also consider a financial examiner career path. Examiners monitor banks and other financial institutions to ensure they are compliant with laws that protect consumers. They also assess risk to make sure financial institutions remain stable and ready to meet the future. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that this occupation will grow 7 percent over the next decade, a faster-than-average rate. 

Back to Top

Is an Accounting Degree Worth It?

For many students, earning a bachelor’s in accounting from an accredited school is a worthwhile investment for the following reasons:

  • Job opportunities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, accountant and auditor jobs are projected to increase over the next decade and should lead to good prospects for qualified candidates. Earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field is the first step.
  • A higher salary. Accountants and auditors earned a median annual salary of $83,980 in 2022, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s much higher than the mean annual salary for all occupations: $58,260 in 2022.
  • A rewarding career. Accounting professionals play an important role in the economy by helping businesses and individuals attain a clear view of their finances. With an accounting degree, you’ll be ready to pursue an impactful career in an essential field.

Back to Top

Curriculum and Degree Requirements

The Hutton School of Business at University of the Cumberlands offers one of the nation’s best bachelor’s degrees in accounting. In the Bachelor of Science (BS) program, you’ll take 66 credits of career-focused accounting coursework in addition to general education courses. The Bachelor of Arts (BA) program offers the same relevant accounting curriculum but includes the study of a world language. 

As you pursue your bachelor’s in accounting, you’ll study with faculty members who are actively involved in the business community as financial advisors, tax consultants, officers of professional organizations, and members of corporate boards of directors. Small class sizes keep every study session personal and relevant. You can also gain practical work experience and earn three to 15 credit hours through corporate internships.

Along with the accounting major and minor, UC’s business school offers a major and minor in business administration. Consider mixing and matching these areas of study, depending on your career goals. With your degree from the Hutton School of Business, you’ll be ready to pursue a position of leadership in the 21st-century global marketplace. 
 

Requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Accounting (66 semester hours)

NOTE: Students considering graduate studies are strongly encouraged to complete Math 140 and BADM 438 if they are not already a part of their program.

Residential students majoring in Business Administration, Accounting, or Management Information Systems may not take online business courses without permission of the chair of the Hutton School of Business. All requests by resident students to take online business courses will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting

Completion of the requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree plus a world language through the intermediate level.

Back to Top

Tuition

Costs for programs of study at University of the Cumberlands are competitive and affordable. Click here to view tuition rates and fees.

Back to Top

Admission Requirements

In order to be considered for admission to this program, click here to view the undergraduate, on-campus admissions information. 

Back to Top

Accreditation

Click here to view University of the Cumberlands' accreditation information. 

In addition to the overall institutional accreditation statement above, the Hutton School of Business at University of the Cumberlands has received specialized accreditations for its business programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) located at 11374 Strang Line Road in Lenexa, Kansas, USA. For a list of accredited programs please refer to our IACBE member status page. Please review our Public Disclosure of Student Achievement.

IACBE

Back to Top

Faculty

Click here to view a list of the faculty. 

Back to Top

Admissions Office

Contact Us

Phone:  606.539.4240
Toll-Free:  877.713.8767
Fax:  606.539.4303
Email:  admissions@ucumberlands.edu

Visit Us In Person

6178 College Station Drive
Williamsburg, KY 40769