Online Bachelor's Degree in Accounting
Want to turn your aptitude for numbers into a rewarding career? Earn your online accounting degree and unlock new opportunities in a growing area of business. You’ll be prepared to help individuals and organizations make informed financial choices and gain a clearer picture of their economic success. And with the option to study online, you can prepare for your future on a schedule that fits your life.
- What Is an Online Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting?
- What Can I Do with an Online Accounting Degree?
- Is an Online Accounting Degree Worth It?
- Curriculum and Degree Requirements
- Mission and Goals
- Pathways Information for KCTCS Students
- Tuition
- Admission Requirements
- Accreditation
- Faculty
What Is an Online Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting?
An online bachelor’s degree in accounting is an undergraduate program that covers key business and accounting skills. You’ll learn how to create and work with financial records, help organizations use accounting to inform their business decisions, and interpret laws and regulations that govern accounting practices. Generally, an online Bachelor of Accounting program is no different from a traditional accounting program, except that you’ll learn from the comfort of home.
Wondering what you’ll study in your undergraduate accounting program? Along with general education courses and electives, most programs feature a blend of accounting and general business courses, such as:
- Theory of Accounting
- Accounting Information Systems
- Macroeconomics
- Microeconomics
- Principles of Management
- Cost Accounting
- Federal Taxation
- Financial Management
- And more
What Can I Do with an Online Accounting Degree?
A traditional or online accounting degree is a typical entry-level requirement for accountants and auditors. These professionals prepare financial records and review them for accuracy, helping businesses and individuals understand the results of their economic activities. Accountants typically create and manage financial records, while auditors examine records to spot errors, risks, or room for improvement.
An online accounting degree could also prepare you for a career as a budget analyst. These professionals help organizations plan their finances and oversee spending to keep costs on track. And a financial examiner role may also be an option. Examiners monitor financial institutions such as banks to make sure they stay compliant with laws and best practices. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that this occupation will grow at a faster-than-average rate of 18 percent over the next decade.
Keep in mind that professional certification may be a requirement for some career paths, or may help you boost your job prospects. For example, becoming a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) may be an option in the future, but this path requires about 30 credits of additional coursework beyond a bachelor’s degree.
Is Getting an Accounting Bachelor Degree Online Worth It?
Earning an online accounting degree from an accredited school could be the first step to a rewarding career. For many students, the investment is worthwhile for the following reasons:
- Career opportunities. After graduation, you’ll be ready to launch your career in a growing field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, career paths such as accountant, auditor, budget analyst, and financial examiner are projected to increase over the next decade. With a Bachelor of Accounting degree, you’ll be ready to meet employer demand for skilled workers.
- A higher salary. Studying accounting could prepare you for careers that pay off. For example, financial examiners earned a median salary of $81,430 in 2020, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accountants and auditors earned $73,560. That’s significantly more than the mean annual earnings for all occupations in 2020: $56,310.
- Jobs in an essential field. Accounting professionals are essential to helping organizations across all industries run smoothly. After earning an online accounting degree, you’ll have the knowledge and skills you need to serve as a vital resource to businesses and public organizations that are shaping the economic landscape and changing the world.
- A convenient format. Accounting lends itself well to online study, which offers added flexibility for students who work full time in another field and wish to prepare for a career change. When you choose an online accounting program, it’s easier to fit your studies into a busy schedule.
Curriculum and Degree Requirements
The online Bachelor of Science in Accounting program at University of the Cumberlands offers a convenient and affordable path to earning your accounting degree. Studying in an online, small-class setting, you’ll gain in-depth understanding of fundamental accounting, auditing, and economic issues in this growing field. You’ll learn from a faculty of skilled business professionals—experts with experience as financial advisors, tax consultants, and corporate officers, who know how to help you successfully navigate the terrain. You could also gain practical work experience and earn three to 15 credit hours through corporate internships.
Curriculum for our accredited online accounting bachelor’s degree program matches the same skill-building coursework in our on-campus program, engaging you in the theories, strategies, and best practices involved in bookkeeping, accounting, auditing, and financial reporting. You’ll graduate ready to become the expert accountant your company needs.
Mission and Goals
The mission of the Hutton School of Business is to foster academic excellence and student achievement at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Students are provided with a strong academic foundation in business, and are prepared to become productive, competent, and ethical professionals. The Hutton School of Business provides a learning environment that is characterized by student-oriented instructional methodologies and the development of leadership and life-long learning skills in its students.
At the Hutton School of Business, the following broad-based goals for students have been developed:
- Students will acquire the relevant disciplinary knowledge and competencies appropriate to their program of study.
- Students will acquire effective business-related professional skills.
- Students will be challenged to assess their personal values and connect them to ethical behaviors appropriate to their intended endeavors.
Based upon these broad-based goals, the Hutton School of Business has identified the following general intended student learning outcomes (HSB ISLO) for bachelor’s-level students:
- Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the major concepts in the functional areas of accounting, finance, marketing, and management.
- Students will be able to evaluate the global, legal, social, and economic environments of business.
- Students will be able to examine the ethical obligations and responsibilities of the business decision-maker and the business.
- Students will be able to apply decision-support tools and resources for problem solving and business decision-making.
- Students will be able to demonstrate professional business communication skills.
- Students will be able to demonstrate analytical and critical-thinking skills in the context of organizational decision making.
- Students will be able to demonstrate effective teamwork skills.
- Students will be able to appraise their individual leadership abilities and limitations.
Pathways Information for KCTCS Students
University of the Cumberlands values and respects community college degrees. We want to recognize the dedication that community college students have demonstrated with their degree completion.
Under this pathway, UC will transfer your entire Accounting Degree Option from the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. We go above and beyond typical transfer agreements as we will transfer up to 92 credit hours from the community college system and we recognize your general education certification which means you will not be required to take additional general education courses at University of the Cumberlands.
The general requirements for graduation from University of the Cumberlands with the Bachelor of Science in Accounting is the completion of at least 120 semester hours including:
- General education - 37 hours
- Accounting major - 60 hours
- General electives - 25 hours
Specific degree requirements are accessible on the degree requirements page.
As a part of the requirements for the Bachelor’s degree, a minimum of 30 semester hours numbered 300 or above are required for graduation. As part of this agreement, several 200-level credit courses can be transferred and applied towards the 300-level business administration courses at UC. While these courses apply to the core classes, they will not be counted as 300/400 level coursework. Students pursuing the Accounting major will be able to earn these hours as a part of completing the 33 hours needed.
The academic advisor assigned to the student at the time of their admission to the Accounting Online Program will work with the student to develop a planned program that lists the courses completed/transferred and a list of courses to be completed. As a part of this process, the academic advisor will also develop the planned program to ensure that a minimum of 30 semester hours numbered 300 or above are identified. An approved copy of the planned program is forwarded to the student.
Click here to see a list of degree requirements and the articulation agreement between University of the Cumberlands and Somerset Community College. The Convocation requirement will be waived for students in the Online Program.
Contact information:
Online Admissions
649 South 10th Street
Williamsburg, KY 40769
Phone: 606.539.4390
Toll free: 800.343.1609 ext. 4372
Email: ucoadm@ucumberlands.edu
Tuition
Costs for programs of study at University of the Cumberlands are competitive and affordable. Click here to view tuition rates and fees.
Admission Requirements
In order to be considered for admission to this University of the Cumberlands online program students must complete the following:
- Apply online
- Submit official transcripts from all applicable colleges/universities attended; must be submitted directly to University of the Cumberlands from the issuing institution and must be sealed or unopened.
- If you have 0-11 hours of college credit, an official high school transcript must be submitted showing a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. GED students must provide official scores from the General Education Development Test (GED). Click here for the GED to GPA calculator.
- If you have 12+ hours of college credit, you must submit an official college transcript with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. High school transcripts are not required if you have obtained 12+ hours of college credit.
- Documentation of language fluency for non-native speakers of English, such as a score report from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the 8 International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or a report from Duolingo. This requirement is waived for students who have completed bachelor’s or master’s level coursework in the U.S. at an accredited institution. The minimum acceptable TOEFL or IELTS scores for admission are:
- Paper-based TOEFL (PBT) - 550
- Internet-based TOEFL (IBT) - 79
- IELTS - 6
- Duolingo - 95
All admissions materials should be submitted to:
University of the Cumberlands
Graduate & Online Admissions
649 S. 10th Street
Williamsburg, KY 40769
Phone: 606.539.4372
Toll Free: 800.343.1609
Email: ucoadm@ucumberlands.edu
Accreditation
Click here to view University of the Cumberlands' accreditation information.
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 11960 Quivira Road in Overland Park, Kansas, USA. For a list of accredited programs please refer to our IACBE member status page.
Please review our Public Disclosure of Student Achievement.
Faculty
Click here to view a list of the faculty.
Admissions Office
Visit Us In Person
649 S. 10th Street
Williamsburg, KY 40769