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 Bachelor of Science in Accounting 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.
Degree in Three: Save time and tuition through our innovative Degree in Three program. Earn your bachelor's degree in 3 years - with no weekend, summer or evening courses required - and gain real world experience that employers want to see. You'll also have the option of using your fourth year to pursue a master's or MBA.
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.
Courses To Prepare You For Your Career
SNHU's bachelor's in accounting program includes:
- General education
- Business core
- Degree-specific courses
General Education Program
Our programs are designed to equip you with the skills and insights you need to move forward. In recent years, employers have stressed the need for graduates with higher order skills - the skills that go beyond technical knowledge - such as:
- Writing
- Communication
- Analysis
- Problem solving
All undergraduate students are required to take general education classes. Through foundation, exploration and integration courses, students learn to think critically, creatively and collaboratively, giving you the edge employers are looking for.
Business Core Program
Programs in the School of Business require learners to complete the business core program, which includes a variety of business-specific courses. This program focuses on 10 core competencies to prepare you for success wherever you go.
View Full Curriculum in the Catalog
Courses May Include
ACC
307
Intermediate Accounting I
Review introductory concepts including the accounting cycle, journal and adjusting entries. Learn to address more intricate accounting scenarios such as recording more complex financial statement elements. Apply theoretical frameworks and various accounting standards and regulations to the proper preparation of financial statements.
ACC
308
Intermediate Accounting II
Apply accounting rules and methodologies for increasingly complex transactions and elements to create more extensive financial statements. Assess a company's financial performance using appropriate ratio analysis to support informed decision making.
ACC
330
Federal Taxation I
Learn about current US tax laws and the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), as well as the relevant source documents, associated with federal tax returns for individuals. Apply the appropriate tax laws as required by law in relation to the specific circumstances and tax liabilities of individuals. Prepare federal tax returns and communicate various tax return information to individuals
ACC
405
Advanced Accounting
Explore advanced accounting concepts, including consolidations.
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
Explore the theories, tools, and techniques used to perform fundamental valuations and analyze publicly traded companies. Evaluate a corporation's future prospects through the computation of free cash flows, interpretation of notes to financial statements, and the integration of information provided in various SEC filings.
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.
Program Outcomes
- Analyze and apply the rules and regulations for financial accounting and reporting and how they are established in a global economy
- Generate financial records and financial statements for internal and external users in accordance with applicable governing rules and regulations
- Plan and prepare tax returns using knowledge of tax laws and regulations
- Analyze, interpret and communicate accounting information to various internal and external stakeholders
- Audit financial information and controls employing effective techniques and in accordance with professional standards
- Apply professional ethics to guide conduct and decision-making in the field of accounting
Our Manchester campus aims to keep tuition and related costs low for our students so that you can pursue your degree and your goals. More than 90% of our students receive some form of financial aid, and students who qualify could receive up to $20,000 in grants and scholarships.
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SNHU has provided additional information for programs that educationally prepare students for professional licensure or certification. Learn more about what that means for your program on our licensure and certification disclosure page.
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Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) as well as several other accrediting bodies.
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This program and its concentrations are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Student achievement data can be found on College Navigator.