Bachelor of Science in Accounting
If you’re looking for a challenging career that offers great potential for growth and personal fulfillment, earning a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Hilbert College can start you on a rewarding path.
You’ll gain a strong foundation in accounting principles and practices as you prepare for diverse employment opportunities, professional certification and graduate study. A choice of three program tracks, internship opportunities and on-site learning visits to local businesses and organizations make our Bachelor of Science in Accounting program an ideal place to prepare for your entry into the world of business and finance.
What Can You Do With an Accounting Degree?
Hilbert’s Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree can be the credential you need to get your start in the fast-growing financial world, opening doors to a wide range of career paths with better-than-average salaries and opportunities for growth.
For example, U.S. News & World Report ranks accountant at #11 on its list of Best Business Jobs and #42 in its 100 Best Jobs overall. And this is just one of the many career paths available to bachelor’s in accounting degree-holders. Accounting degree graduates go on to build careers in banking, finance, insurance, investment services and other specialties.
Earning a Bachelor of Science in Accounting can also pave the way for advanced study leading to a master’s degree or higher, which can open up even more opportunities for career success and satisfaction.
Bachelor of Science in Accounting Benefits
If you are wondering if a bachelor's in accounting degree is worth it, the answer is a resounding yes. Here are just a few of the benefits of earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting:
-
In-demand skills. Beyond learning hard accounting skills in areas such as tax law and financial statement preparation, accounting degree students gain valuable transferable skills such as technical competence, critical thinking skills and ethical awareness.
- Job security. The business world runs on numbers. Whatever the state of the economy, businesses and organizations will always need skilled accounting professionals with the ability to inform strategic decisions.
- Growth potential. Earning your bachelor’s degree in accounting can be a great way to increase your upward mobility. Many accounting majors go on to attain executive-level positions, including that of CEO, with additional education and experience.
- Personal and professional satisfaction. Accounting and financial services professionals play important roles in the business world. The work they do is highly respected, and their day-to-day jobs are both intellectually engaging and fulfilling.
Contact Us
Have a question for Accounting? Contact us.
John D'Amico
Chair, Professional Studies Professor
716-926-8842, ext. 350
Bogel Hall 108
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Accounting Degree Curriculum
The Bachelor of Science in Accounting program at Hilbert College has the flexibility for both the CPA and non-CPA track students to attain their goals. For those who wish to pursue their CPA licensure, we will provide the proper courses to get you on your way. If you would rather work in the private or governmental sectors, you can decide which courses will best suit your goals. And we make sure to offer you the most recent courses recommended by the industry.
The accounting degree curriculum at Hilbert is designed to provide students with a broad overview of the accounting profession and promote a diverse set of skills, including technical competence, critical thinking skills and ethical awareness. We offer courses tailored to your program in areas such as:
- Auditing
- Individual and corporate tax
- Forensic accounting
- Accounting information systems
Internship/Capstone Opportunities
In the classroom, students are exposed to accounting principles, accounting practice sets, computer-based activities and tax-related work. Outside of the classroom, students can put that knowledge to use and gain invaluable hands-on experience by participating in one of a number of
internship opportunities.
Potential employers are increasingly interested in hiring graduates who have had meaningful real-world experience. Hilbert prepares its students with practical work experience while providing a valuable resource to organizations.
Offered your senior year, an internship earns you course credit. This is your chance to make contributions to an organization and demonstrate your potential value as a full-time employee after graduation.
Accounting, BS Curriculum
| Freshman Year: Semester One |
| ACC 205 |
Financial Accounting |
| BUS 200 |
Introduction to Business Management |
| EN 101 |
College Writing |
| GS 101 |
Foundations Seminar |
| MA 145 |
College Mathematics |
| Freshman Year: Semester Two |
| ACC 206 |
Managerial Accounting |
| COM 151 |
Public Speaking |
| EN 102 |
Writing in the Humanities |
| Gen Ed |
General Education Module 1 |
| |
Religious Studies |
| Sophomore Year: Semester Three |
| ACC 320 |
Intermediate Accounting 1 |
| ECO 203 |
Contemporary Macroeconomics |
| GS 201 |
Service Learning |
| Gen Ed |
General Education Module 2 |
| MIS 205 |
Spreadsheet Software: Microsoft Excel |
| Sophomore Year: Semester Four |
| ACC 321 |
Intermediate Accounting 2 |
| BUS 203 |
Business Statistics |
| ECO 204 |
Contemporary Microeconomics |
| Gen Ed |
General Education Module 3 |
| Gen Ed |
General Education Module 4 |
| Junior Year: Semester Five |
| ACC 270 |
Income Tax Theory & Practice |
| BUS 217 |
Business Law 1 |
| MA 304 |
Data Analytics |
| Liberal Arts |
Liberal Arts Elective (Upper) |
| PS 402 |
Junior Symposium |
| Junior Year: Semester Six |
| ACC 380 |
Cost Accounting |
| BUS 317 |
Business Law 2 |
| BUS 346 |
Managerial Finance |
| EN 340 |
Professional and Technical Writing |
| Liberal Arts |
Liberal Arts Elective |
| Senior Year: Semester Seven |
| ACC 420 |
Auditing |
| ACC 335 |
Accounting Information Systems |
| Gen Ed |
General Education Module 5 |
| ACC/BUS |
Accounting or Business Elective |
| ACC/BUS |
Accounting or Business Elective |
| Senior Year: Semester Eight |
| ACC 410 |
Advanced Accounting |
| ACC 404 |
Accounting Internship |
| MGT 490 |
Strategic Management |
| ACC/BUS |
Accounting or Business Elective |
| ACC/BUS |
Accounting or Business Elective |
Printable Major Maps
Grab printable versions of our courses, concentrations, and curriculums through our academic advising page.
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Accounting Degree Careers
Careers with an accounting degree are many and varied, and include:
-
Accountant
- Personal financial adviser
- Financial analyst
- Forensic accountant
Internal auditor
- Budget analyst
- Management analyst
- Business and financial consultant
Additional studies at the graduate level can open up pathways to the most senior positions—and highest salaries—these fields have to offer.
What Is the Typical Accounting Degree Salary?
The median annual salary for professionals holding a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from a U.S. higher education institution was approximately $75,000 as of October 2022, according to Payscale.
By earning your accounting degree from Hilbert College, you can build a foundation to pursue any of the following roles*:
Accountant
Median Salary: $77,250
Number of Jobs: 1,449,800
Projected Growth: 6%
Financial Manager
Median Salary: $131,710
Number of Jobs: 730,800
Projected Growth: 17%
Personal Financial Advisor
Median Salary: $94,170
Number of Jobs: 330,300
Projected Growth: 15%
Financial Analyst
Median Salary: $95,570
Number of Jobs: 373,800
Projected Growth: 9%
Budget Analyst
Median Salary: $79,940
Number of Jobs: 50,400
Projected Growth: 3%
Management Analyst
Median Salary: $93,000
Number of Jobs: 950,600
Projected Growth: 11%
*Salary info based on 2021 data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; growth based on 2021–2031 projections.
Bachelor of Science in Accounting Job Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of accountants and auditors will grow 6% between 2021 and 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Overall, this field will see about 136,400 job openings each year, on average, over the decade.
Why Choose Hilbert for Your Bachelor of Science in Accounting Degree?
At Hilbert, we embrace our students as family and do everything we can to propel them to success academically and socially. As a student in our Bachelor of Science in Accounting program, you will enjoy:
- Expert faculty, including Professor Daniel J. Roland, MBA, a highly credentialed professor with over 30 years of experience in the accounting and business field
- Small class sizes that guarantee you face time and a personal connection with your professor
- Peer support, mentoring and on-site learning visits to local businesses and organizations provided by Hilbert’s Student Business and Accounting Association
- A dedicated Office of Career Development providing resources, knowledge and strategies to help you achieve your career potential—for life
- More than 30 student organizations, clubs and honor societies, plus intramural and club sports
- Full immersion in a culture of giving back to the community through service learning
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I do with an accounting degree?
Graduates of Hilbert’s Bachelor of Science in Accounting program pursue a wide variety of careers and opportunities beyond traditional accountant and auditor roles. The analytical and critical thinking skills you’ll learn in our accounting program can prepare you for a career in banking, financial planning, sales, product development, procurement, business and financial consulting or general management.
Find out more about career opportunities for accounting degree graduates.
What is the average accounting degree salary?
Professionals who hold a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from a U.S. higher education institution earned a median annual salary of about $75,000 as of October 2022, according to Payscale.
How long is the Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree program?
Most students complete our Bachelor of Science in Accounting program in four years or less. Full-time students with eligible transfer credits may be able to complete the program sooner.
What are the benefits of earning a Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree?
Students in our accounting program gain a solid foundation for successful careers in public or private accounting, banking and finance, and other business specialties. They learn valuable, transferable skills that enhance their job security and growth potential. Perhaps most importantly, students in our Bachelor of Science in Accounting program enjoy a path to personal and professional satisfaction in roles that are respected around the globe.
Apply to the Bachelor of Science in Accounting Program at Hilbert College