Accounting
The accounting major prepares you for a career in accounting, auditing, finance and other business fields.
Preparing You for Success
Accounting is a flexible major that gives you knowledge to pass the Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor exams. Courses introduce you to accounting principles, as well as business and technology concepts. You have the option to earn a bachelor’s degree or continue your education for the 150 credit hours needed to take the CPA exam. You can earn the remaining CPA hours by completing Bradley’s integrated 3:2 M.S. in accounting, another graduate degree (such as an MBA) or a double major.
By the time you graduate, your experiences may include:
- Professional development, networking and community service through the Beta Alpha Psi honor society
- Internships and co-ops with private and public organizations such as RSM, CliftonLarsonAllen or Caterpillar
- A senior capstone project for a local business or nonprofit
Making Your Mark
Accountants are valued in almost any business, public or private, regardless of size. In recent years, almost all Bradley accounting majors found jobs or continued to graduate school within six months of graduation. They are working for nationally recognized firms such as Deloitte and PricewaterhouseCoopers, Fortune 100 companies such as Archer Daniels Midland and State Farm, as well as regional firms such as Baker Tilly and Sikich.
Major Requirements
Required Courses - 35 hrs.
- ATG 201: Accounting Principles—Accounting Techniques - 1 hr.
- ATG 268: Business Ethics - 3 hrs.
- ATG 290: Accounting Careers Exploration - 1 hr.
- ATG 301: Intermediate Accounting I - 3 hrs.
- ATG 302: Intermediate Accounting II - 3 hrs.
- ATG 314: Cost Accounting - 3 hrs.
- ATG 383: Accounting Systems and Control - 3 hrs.
- ATG 401: Advanced Accounting I - 3 hrs.
- ATG 447: Internal Auditing - 3 hrs.
- ATG 457: Auditing - 3 hrs.
- ATG 470: Data Analytics for Accounting - 2 hrs.
- ATG 471: Advanced Accounting Techniques - 1 hr.
- ATG 477: Federal Taxes I - 3 hrs.
- ATG 478: Federal Taxes II - 3 hrs.
Optional Elective Courses (choose one) - 3 hrs.
- ATG 200: VITA – Volunteer Income Tax Assistance - 1 hr.
- ATG 426: Fraud Examination - 3 hrs.
- ATG 430: Professional Interviewing Skills - 3 hrs.
- ATG 448: Computer Assisted Audit Techniques - 3 hrs.
- ATG 461: International Accounting Issues - 3 hrs.
- ATG 485: Special Topics in Accounting - 1-3 hrs.
- BLW 345: Law of Business - 3 hrs.
Additional Requirements
- ENG 306: Business Communications - 3 hrs. (fulfills W2 Core Curriculum)
- A minimum of 9 semester hours of upper-level accounting course work in residence.
Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA in all accounting courses beyond ATG 157, 158 and 201.
Students must also complete Foster College's business core.
Course Sequence
Sample program plan information is provided for sample purposes only. Students should consult with their academic advisor about their individual plan for course registration and completion of program requirements.
| First Year - Fall Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
| ATG 157 | Accounting Principles-Financial | 3 hours |
| MTH 114 | Applied Finite Mathematics (QR) | 3 hours |
| ENG 101 | English Composition (WI) | 3 hours |
| BUS 100 | Contemporary Business | 3 hours |
| FA, HUM or NS | University Core | 3 hours |
| EHS 120 | University Experience | 1 hour |
| Total | 16 hours | |
| First Year - Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
| ATG 158 | Accounting Principles-Managerial | 3 hours |
| MIS 173 | Introduction to Business Analytics | 3 hours |
| COM 103 | Speech (OC) | 3 hours |
| FA, HUM or NS | Core Electives | 6 hours |
| Total | 15 hours | |
| Sophomore - Fall Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
| ATG 201 | Accounting Principles-Accounting Techniques | 1 hour |
| ATG 268 | Business Ethics (WI) | 3 hours |
| ECO 221 | Microeconomics | 3 hours |
| Q M 262 | Quantitative Analysis I | 3 hours |
| Core Elective | 3 hours | |
| IB 206 | Introduction to International Business | 3 hours |
| Total | 15 hours | |
| Sophomore - Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
| ATG 290 | Accounting Careers Exploration | 1 hour |
| ATG 301 | Intermediate Accounting I | 3 hours |
| ECO 222 | Macroeconomics/td> | 3 hours |
| Core Elective | 6 hours | |
| M L 350 | Managing for Results in Organizations | 3 hours |
| Total | 16 hours | |
| Junior - Fall Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
| ATG 302 | Intermediate Accounting II | 3 hours |
| ATG 314 | Cost Accounting | 3 hours |
| FIN 322 | Business Finance | 3 hours |
| ENG 306 | Business Communication (W2) | 3 hours |
| MTG 315 | Principles of Marketing | 3 hours |
| BUS 220 | Career Strategies | 1 hour |
| Total | 16 hours | |
| Junior - Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
| ATG 383 | Accounting Systems and Controls | 3 hours |
| ATG 401 | Advanced Accounting | 3 hours |
| ATG 477 | Federal Taxes | 3 hours |
| BLW 342 | Legal Environment of Business | 3 hours |
| M L 353 or QM 263 or ECO 335 | Operations Management in Organizations OR Quantitative Analysis II OR Managerial Economics |
3 hours |
| Total | 15 hours | |
| Senior - Fall Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
| ATG 447 | Internal Auditing | 3 hours |
| ATG 457 | Auditing | 3 hours |
| ATG 470 | Data Analytics for Accounting | 2 hours |
| FCB | Elective | 3 hours |
| M L 452 | Strategic Management in Organizations | 2 hours |
| BUS 400 | Business Capstone Client Consulting Project | 2 hours |
| Total | 16 hours | |
| Senior - Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|
| ATG 478 | Federal Taxes II | 3 hours |
| ATG 471 | Advanced Accounting Techniques | 3 hours |
| Electives | 9 hours | |
| Total | 15 hours | |