Undergraduate Major Accounting (BS)

Gain Real-World Experience with an Accounting BS

If you're detail-oriented, like working with numbers and enjoy structure-based problems, you're an ideal candidate for an accounting major. Earn your undergraduate degree as an accounting major at Southern New Hampshire University and enjoy a wide range of employment opportunities. The demand for accounting professionals continues to outpace the number of graduates in this field – and the potential for long-term job security continues to look good.

Receive a solid foundation in accounting principles and practices at SNHU as you prepare for a career in public accounting, corporate accounting, taxation, banking, financial analysis, auditing, government services with the IRS or FBI, or scores of other accounting-related careers. Your career opportunities are unlimited.

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See Yourself Succeed as an Accounting Major

Earn your BS in Accounting at SNHU and take advantage of high-quality instruction from an accounting department faculty that includes certified public accountants and certified management accountants with extensive professional experience in public accounting, corporate accounting, executive management and consulting. Our faculty bring real-world experience into the classroom and are actively involved in overseeing students' success.

Your accounting major core curriculum studies will help you develop knowledge and skills that will allow you to make an immediate contribution in the workplace. Your coursework and its real-world applications will give you an understanding of and expertise in:

Accounting procedures
Accounting regulations and ethics
Information technology
Written and oral communication
Teamwork
Problem-solving

As a private, nonprofit university, SNHU has one mission - to help you see yourself succeed. The benefits of majoring in accounting at SNHU include:

Supportive community. Join the SNHU campus community of students who are closely connected with faculty and staff dedicated to your success
Affordability. SNHU is one of the most affordable private, nonprofit universities in New Hampshire, and students who qualify could receive up to $20,000 in grants and scholarships. (This scholarship amount is only for students who do not need a visa to study in the U.S.)
Innovative programs. Save time and tuition with our three-year degree programs, or study abroad at little or no extra cost
Accessible faculty. Learn from highly credentialed faculty who are experts in their fields and interact with you in the classroom, dining hall, fitness center and the stands
Opportunity. Tap into our nationwide network of alumni and strong connections with employers for internship and career opportunities
Campus experience. Enjoy more than 50 student clubs, champion Division II athletics and fun events on our 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH, named a "Best Place to Live" by Money magazine

Internships & Outcomes

Complete your BS in Accounting at Southern New Hampshire University and be well-equipped for accounting and accounting-related careers. All students in the program are required to complete an accounting internship, gaining a minimum of 150 hours of public accounting or corporate accounting work experience, which enhances both their skills and their resumes. Students also gain real-life tax preparation and assistance experience, in addition to earning an IRS certification by participating in the IRS Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

In addition to positions in public accounting and private industry, your training can lead to career opportunities at government agencies, hospitals, social service agencies, and education systems, to name a few. You'll also build the knowledge base you'll need if you choose to pursue certified public accountant (CPA) or certified management accountant (CMA) certifications after graduation.

Requirements to sit for the CPA exam vary from state to state, as do requirements for state CPA licensing. SNHU's Accounting program meets the educational requirements to sit for the exam and apply for licensing in each of the New England states; however, students are encouraged to review their state specific requirements. State-by-state educational requirements to sit for the CPA exam can be found on the website of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), while state-by-state CPA licensing requirements can be found through the Accounting Licensing Library, powered by the NASBA.

Your background in accounting principles and practices can give you professional opportunities in:

Public accounting: auditing, taxation
Corporate accounting: budget analysis, cost accounting, financial reporting and management, internal auditing
Government agencies: auditing, budget analysis, financial reporting and management, research
Nonprofit institutions: accounting, budgeting, financial planning, internal auditing

Curriculum

Enroll as an accounting major at SNHU, and you’ll be exposed to a curriculum that provides a solid foundation in accounting principles and practices. Building on a strong base of core bachelor's degree courses designed to expand your academic skills and knowledge, you'll also take twelve required accounting courses.

SNHU’s Bachelor of Science in Accounting programs align closely with the educational Content and Skill Specifications for the Uniform CPA Examination. The curriculum also covers the educational content tested in the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) exam. For students who go directly into corporate or other non-public accounting positions, and those who do not pursue the CPA or CMA designation, the curriculum also covers the foundational knowledge expected of new accounting graduates in these entry-level positions. Students planning to pursue a CPA certification can consider continuing on to our +1, 12-month, MS in Professional Accountancy. This program is designed specifically for students wishing to prepare for the educational requirements of the CPA exam while gaining 150 hours of college credit now required by most states for certification.

Required Core Courses
General Education Program
Integrated Core
Note: students in this program take ACC 302 Professional Communication in Accounting in place of ACC 105 Free elective Credits: 12

Required Core Courses

General Education Program

Integrated Core

Note: students in this program take ACC 302 Professional Communication in Accounting in place of ACC 105

Free elective Credits: 12

Degree Courses
ACC 307 Intermediate Accounting I This is the first of three courses in intermediate accounting. These courses are designed to extend a student's knowledge of financial accounting practices. The first course focuses on understanding the theoretical framework that provides the foundations for the development of various accounting standards, regulations and practices. This followed by a review of the accounting cycle, including adjusting, correcting, reversing, and closing entries. Students will learn how to prepare accurate and complex financial statements including required disclosures that must accompany an organization's income statement, balance sheet and statement of cash flows; and how time value of money impacts the recording of various transactions. The course concludes with a presentation of techniques to analyze income measurement and profitability analysis.
ACC 308 Intermediate Accounting II This is the last of two courses in intermediate accounting. Intermediate Accounting is at the core of professional accounting work as well as CPA Exam financial accounting and reporting skills tested. These courses are designed to extend a student's knowledge of financial accounting practices. The second course increases a student's understanding of how to account for a company's plant and intangible assets, investments, long-term debt, income taxes, stockholders' equity and more complex cash flow statement transactions. Other financial reporting issues discussed include the evolving GAAP on leases, accounting for post-retirement benefits and pensions, SEC reporting, and using the FASB Codification database. Throughout the course, students will develop greater technical knowledge of accounting transactions and techniques, and will learn how to record complex financial transactions and prepare financial statements and disclosures.
ACC 330 Federal Taxation I A detailed presentation is made of the theory and practice applicable to the preparation of federal income tax returns for individuals.
ACC 405 Advanced Accounting Advanced Accounting includes a comprehensive examination and analysis of the accounting principles and procedures that are applicable to special areas of business. The topics covered are partnerships, consignments, installment sales, branches, business combinations, consolidations, bankruptcy, foreign exchange, and estates and trusts. Particular emphasis is placed on problem solving.
BUS 303 Foundations of Business Law II Business Law II continues the studies from Business Law I, and acquaints the business-oriented student with the principles of the law of sales, agency, bankruptcy, creditor's rights and business organizations. This course is intended to develop an awareness of, and a logical approach to the legal factors that affect business decisions.
ACC 215 Fundamentals of Financial Accounting This course is designed to give students an introduction to financial accounting and reporting techniques and concepts including an overview of the accounting cycle, financial statements and ethical responsibilities of accountants in business.
ACC 225 Foundations of QuickBooks This course will provide an introduction to QuickBooks which is one of the most popular accounting systems used by small businesses. This course will take you through the fundamentals of how this software works. You will learn how to apply the accounting cycle using this software and produce various reports that can be used to provide valuable information to a business.
ACC 345 Financial Statement Analysis/ Business Valuation Accountants and other business professionals are often called upon to evaluate the financial health and market value of their company and of other companies under consideration for acquisition. This course presents theory, tools and techniques that are later applied to the actual analysis of a publicly traded company, as well as an introduction to fundamental valuation techniques. It will extend prior analysis to include the computation of free cash flows, the interpretation of notes to financial statements and the integration of information provided in various SEC filings to evaluate a corporation's future prospects. This is a team intensive course.
ACC 350 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance The IRS mission, which is to provide America's taxpayers top quality service by helping them understand and meet their responsibilities as well as by applying the tax law with integrity and fairness to all, will be followed in this course. The course will entail becoming certified, by the IRS to work as a volunteer, setting up the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program site and then marketing the site to the general public. The certification includes passing an IRS test. The program would include you in the 93 million Americans who each year helps to make our world a better place to live by volunteering. This course will not entail the preparation of any complicated income tax returns; as such it does not require any prior extensive tax knowledge.
ACC 490 Accounting Internship This program provides an opportunity for a student to work in public, private or governmental accounting in a supervised and structured work experience.
Select one of the following:
ACC 207 Cost Accounting This course examines the accounting concepts and practices used in the recording, classifying and reporting of cost data. An analysis is made of the behavior of costs and its use to management in the planning and control process. Budgeting, standard cost, job order and process are examined, along with special problems in cost accounting.
ACC 550 Cost Accounting This course provides a comprehensive study of the concepts, procedures, and practices of accounting systems that record, classify, and report cost data. These systems are designed to aid in the cost-effective operation of for-profit and non- profit organizations. This course focuses on cost behaviors, alternative cost systems, and accounting tools for planning and control. Additional topics studied would include relevant cost analysis for management decisions, cost/ revenue allocation methods, inventory management, and transfer pricing.
Select one of the following:
ACC 411 Auditing Principles This course presents an in-depth examination of audit programs and procedures. It emphasizes the review of internal controls as required during an audit engagement, as well as the considerations pertaining to both clients and auditors.
ACC 640 Auditing This course is a study of the concepts and methods of professional auditing.

Program Outcomes

Earn Your Degree in Three Years

You also have the option of earning your bachelor’s degree in Accounting in just three years through our innovative Degree in Three program. Combining traditional classroom studies with unique out-of-classroom learning experiences, Degree in Three lets you:

Graduate in three years (six semesters) without taking weekend, summer or extra courses.
Jumpstart your graduate studies.
Start earning a living a year before your peers.
Use your “fourth year” to pursue your passions, study abroad, complete an international internship, get involved in campus activities, or continue to participate in Division II athletics as a graduate student.
Potentially save over $40,000 in tuition and room and board.

Campus Undergraduate Costs

Undergraduate Day Students Tuition Financial Aid Teaser Image

We believe that college should change your life, not break the bank. That's why more than 90 percent of our students receive some form of financial aid, and students who qualify could receive up to $20,000 in grants and scholarships.

University Accreditation

Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges as well as several other accrediting bodies. More...

This program is accredited by both NEASC and ACBSP. Consumer information is available on the College Navigator.

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