Students majoring in accounting develop competencies necessary for professional careers in:
Controllership and Financial Management in Industry, which may lead to careers as Certified Management Accountants (CMA). Managerial accountants perform tasks within a business, such as strategic cost management, performance measurement, budget analysis, and internal and operational auditing. The strategic managerial accountant generates and interprets operating and financial data that help management make decisions.
Internal Auditing, which may lead to careers as Certified Internal Auditors (CIA). Internal auditors are engaged within large corporations to provide independent, objective assurance and consulting activities designed to add value and improve an organization’s operations.
Public and Nonprofit Sector Accounting, which may lead to careers as Certified Government Financial Managers (CGFM). Government accountants work in federal, state, and local governmental entities to provide information and accountability to taxpayers and other resource providers. Accountants in nonprofit organizations provide similar information to donors, grantors, and other resource providers.
Through an optional internship program, students with good academic records have an opportunity to work in public accounting or industry. These paid (at market wages) internships provide education, exposure to professionals and opportunities to network.
Upon graduation, accounting majors who plan to become Certified Public Accountants (CPA), Certified Management Accountants (CMA) or Certified Internal Auditors (CIA) can qualify to sit for national certification examinations. In Michigan, CPA candidates can qualify to sit for the exam upon graduation, but they need 150 hours of education for licensure. However, many states require CPA candidates to have earned 150 hours of credit, or possibly a master’s degree, before sitting for the exam. Be sure you know the requirements for your state.
The general requirements for the bachelor of business administration degree, the academic major requirements below and sufficient electives to meet the minimum of 124 hours for graduation, must be completed.
Articulation Agreement | An articulation agreement exists between this program and at least one community college. See Articulation Agreements for additional details.
Learn
All business students at Eastern Michigan University are required to take a Business Core that provides basic knowledge in statistics, accounting and finance principles, information systems, law, management, marketing, operations management and business policy.
Accounting majors take advanced courses in financial accounting, managerial accounting, tax accounting, accounting information systems, governmental accounting, and internal auditing. The courses provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to identify, measure, collect, analyze and communicate economic information to permit informed judgments and decisions by managers in various organizations and outside users of accounting information.
Opportunities
An Accounting Major offers a diverse set of opportunities in all types of organizations: for-profit, non-profit, and local and government agencies. Accounting majors generally start their careers as an Accountant, Cost Accountant, Budget Analyst, Financial Analyst, Treasury Analyst, Management Accountant, Tax Accountant, IRS tax examiner, Internal Auditor and more. An accounting degree is a good opportunity to work one’s way up the corporate ladder, as many top officers have accounting backgrounds.
