Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Accounting
Accounting is the bedrock upon which business is built. Documenting, storing, sorting, retrieving, summarizing, and presenting accurate information about financial transactions are essential functions for revenue-generating enterprises of all types and sizes.
Accountants analyze relationships between business decisions, operations, and bottom-line profitability. They provide answers to financial questions about when to expand a company, when to downsize, or when to invest more capital. They also know how to manage risk, maximize efficiency, and ensure compliance with state and federal laws.
Why choose a B.S. in accounting at Marian?
Expert accountants are at the heart of sound financial decision-making teams. Whether they work for start-up companies, government agencies, global corporations, or professional athletes and entertainers, well-prepared accountants are in demand.
- Marian University’s accounting curriculum emphasizes hands-on experiential learning.
- You’ll collaborate with your peers as well as local business leaders to solve real accounting problems.
- And you’ll develop the communication and critical thinking abilities that employers in Indiana and across the U.S. seek when hiring new staff.
Not only do 100 percent of the Byrum School’s accounting graduates land great jobs with competitive salaries right out of college, but they enjoy increasingly generous employment benefits, career stability, and opportunities for advancement, especially for those with state CPA licensure. Learn more about the educational, exam, and licensure requirements to become a CPA.
Marian University’s accounting credits are accepted by the Indiana Board of Accountancy for its Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam and the Institute of Management Accountants for its Certified Management Accountant (CMA) exam.
What makes Marian's accounting program unique?
- While licensure requirements vary by state, most boards of accountancy require first-time exam candidates to have at least 150 credit hours from an accredited college or university before completing the CPA Exam through the American Institute of CPAs.
- Our flexible curriculum enables you to choose whether you accumulate those 150 hours over eight, nine, or ten semesters. You’ll work with your academic advisor to develop a personal plan of study that fits your career goals and your schedule.
- The Becker CPA Exam Review is part of Marian’s accounting curriculum and is available at no additional cost to you. With focused content, integrated tools, and three study formats (live, live online, and self-study), Becker is trusted by thousands of accounting firms, corporations, government agencies, and universities to help future CPAs succeed.
- If you choose to take the CPA Exam, you can complete the Becker CPA Exam Review in your last semester so you’ll have peers and study partners who are also preparing for the exam.
- If you do not plan to pursue CPA certification and licensure, you’ll earn your B.S. in accounting degree upon completing all required general education, core, and elective credit hours.
Unlike other universities, Marian offers a full-time accounting internship during which you’ll earn 12 credit hours. With our full-time internship in accounting you will:
- Maintain your eligibility for financial aid, student health insurance, and living on campus. You won’t have to move or interrupt your living arrangements during the academic year. Many full-time internships for accounting majors exist in greater Indianapolis, so campus housing is convenient.
- Not take other courses. Instead, you can focus on developing your professional accounting skills, learning from experienced accountants, and building your professional network. And, if your internship requires it, you will have the time to travel or work overtime during peak periods like fiscal year ends and income tax season without worrying about keeping up with class assignments or studying for exams.
What will you study?
To earn the 128-credit Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree at Marian, you’ll complete at least 72 credits of business courses including 39 credits of business core courses and 33 credits of required accounting and finance courses.
If you want to complete the 150-hour accounting program, you will have a variety of options for completing the additional credits. You’ll work closely with your academic advisor to develop a personal plan of study. Among the required courses you’ll complete are:
- FIN 111: Personal Finance
- ACC 250: Intro to Financial and Managerial Accounting
- ACC 310: Advanced Managerial Accounting
- FIN 311: Advanced Managerial Finance
- ACC 320: Intermediate Financial Accounting I
- MIS 320: Business Decision Support Systems
- ACC 321: Intermediate Financial Accounting II
- ACC 430: Tax Accounting
- ACC 431: Advanced Tax Accounting
- ACC 440: Auditing
- ACC 455: Cases and Problems in Accounting and Finance
For more details, review our Undergraduate Course Catalog or download these sample four-year plan of study and course checklist.
Sample four-year plan and checklist
What are your career paths?
With an accounting degree, your career options are excellent. Accountants are needed in industries ranging from entertainment, sports, travel, food, and fashion to technology, government, nonprofit, education, law enforcement, agriculture, the environment, and corporate enterprises of all types.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for accountants is expected to grow by 10 percent through 2026.
| Occupation | Growth through 2026 | Median salary (2016) |
| Staff accountant | 10 percent | $68,150 |
| Internal or external auditor | 10 percent | $68,150 |
| Budget analyst | 11 percent | $73,840 |
| Financial analyst | 11 percent | $81,760 |
| Personal financial advisor | 15 percent | $90,530 |
| Financial manager | 19 percent | $121,750 |
In its 2018 salary guide for accountants and finance specialists, Robert Half International notes that the tightening labor market for accounting graduates is leading companies to offer salaries above market rates even before they begin negotiations with employment candidates.
- Robert Half reports accounting and finance salaries for over 100 different jobs by four percentiles, including the midpoint. A sample from their 2018 findings appears below.
| Occupation/job title | 25th percentile | 50th percentile (midpoint) | 75th percentile | 95th percentile |
| Director of accounting | $95,000 | $140,000 | $160,000 | $222,750 |
| Tax manager | $90,000 | $104,000 | $125,000 | $162,000 |
| Senior internal auditor | $74,000 | $85,000 | $102,250 | $118,000 |
| Accounting manager | $75,000 | $90,000 | $108,250 | $140,000 |
| Forensic accountant | $75,000 | $90,000 | $108.250 | $143,250 |
| Senior business analyst | $95,000 | $110,000 | $135,000 | $179,000 |
Students can join the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the Indiana CPA Society (INCPAS) for free. You can also find a variety of career information through these groups, including job postings and openings from employers.