Why Elms for your Accounting degree?

  • Exceptional academics — our accounting program is IACBE accredited.
  • Find the internship that’s right for you — our students gain experience at Big Four firms and local mid-sized firms.
  • Pursue an accelerated BA/MBA in accounting and gain 150 hours toward CPA exam prep.
  • Volunteer with our income tax assistance program.

Learn the Essentials of Accounting

Accounting majors at Elms College study everything from auditing and tax law to financial management. In our program you will master these skills, cultivate analytical thinking, and develop an in-depth understanding of business economics.

But, Elms accounting majors go beyond the numbers, too. You’ll learn to put financial data into context. You’ll know how to speak about sales and marketing in relation to cash flow. You’ll take an interdisciplinary look at business, which will strengthen your creative problem solving.

As an accounting major you will also gain proficiency in accounting information systems and computer applications, which will prepare you to excel in the increasingly technology-dependent business environment.

Whether you want to work in corporate setting, for a government agency, or as part of a nonprofit organization, our program equips you with the skills and knowledge you need to get hired.

Partner with Expert Faculty

Personalized instruction is a hallmark of our accounting program. Your professors teach the major concepts, theories, and practices of accounting to ensure that you can secure — and succeed in — internships. But they also serve as a professional development resource. Through networking events hosted by the Division of Business, you will be introduced to a diverse network of business professionals based in the Western Massachusetts and New England regions.

Ethical Decision-Making

Accountants are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and transparency of financial statements. In this day and age, this work is more important than ever, with stories about financial fraud appearing on the news day after day.

Our faculty teach you how to navigate financial grey areas by emphasizing ethical thinking and decision-making in the classroom. By analyzing case studies and discussing real-world business practices, you will learn how to perform accounting duties with professional integrity.

100% Internship Placement

Prior to graduating, accounting majors at Elms complete an internship. Past graduates have applied their skills in a variety of professional settings, including working for certified public accountants (CPAs), Big Four accounting firms, and businesses within our network of regional and national accounting firms. Our placements have included:

  • Deloitte, LLP (a Big Four firm)
  • Price Waterhouse Coopers (a Big Four firm)
  • KPMG, LLP (a Big Four firm)
  • Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.
  • Moriarty and Primack, P.C.
  • Whittlesey & Hadley, P.C.
  • Burkhart Pizzanelli, P.C.
  • Waste Management
  • Savage Arms Inc.

Job Success

Our graduates are prepared to successfully complete professional licensure exams, such as the certified public accounting (CPA) and certified management accounting exams.

If you’re interested in earning your CPA license, a minimum of 150 credit hours is required before taking the exam. This typically means that you will need a graduate degree prior to becoming licensed. If you decide this is the route you want to take with your career, Elms offers an accelerated BA/MBA program that can be completed in only 4.5 years.

The Elms College undergraduate business program is fully accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education.

Quick Info

Required Credits

64

Degree Option

Bachelor of arts (B.A.) degree in accounting

  • Accounting students interested in working with Big 4 public accounting firms have the option to complete our 4.5-year accelerated BA/MBA degree. Students complete both degrees along with a paid full-semester internship.
  • BA/MBA accounting majors from the classes of 2014, 2015, and 2016 are employed in their field – many had job offers before graduating.

Jonathan Lester ’19

Photo of Jonathan Lester '19, accounting major

As a student athlete, Jonathan spends much of his time perfecting his long jump and triple jump. He also volunteers in the community with the track & field team. What really makes the Dallas, TX, resident a triple threat, though, is his pursuit of academic excellence. Read Jonathan’s story.

Curriculum

Click to view course requirements for the Accounting (B.A.).

Minimum at Elms College: 27 credits/Minimum GPA: 2.25

Business Core Requirements (43 credits)

Course #Course Name# of Credit Hours
ACC 2001Accounting I3
ACC 2002Accounting II3
BUS 2201Computer Applications3
BUS 2402Principles of Management3
BUS 2502Principles of Marketing3
BUS 2600Legal Environment of Business3
BUS 3101Principles of Financial Management3
BUS 3402Managerial Communications3
BUS 4800Business Strategy3
ACC 4801Career Development3
ACC 4802Internship4
ECN 2102Economics II3
BUS 2409Operations Management3
ENT 1001Intro to Entrepreneurship3

Accounting Courses (24 credits)

Course #Course Name# of Credit Hours
ACC 3001Intermediate Accounting I3
ACC 3002Intermediate Accounting II3
ACC 3006Cost and Managerial Accounting3
ACC 3500Accounting Information Systems3
ACC 4001Auditing3
ACC 4100Personal Taxes3
ACC 4200Advanced Accounting or Internship3
ACC 4705Accounting Capstone3

Required courses that also satisfy college core requirements (6 credits)

Course #Course Name# of Credit Hours
ECN 2101Economics I3
MAT 1009Statistics3

Click to view course requirements for the Accounting minor.

Minor in Accounting (21 credits)

Course #Course Name# of Credit Hours
ACC 2001Accounting I3
ACC 2002Accounting II3
ACC 3001Intermediate I3
ACC 3002Intermediate II3
ACC 3006Cost Accounting3
ACC 3500Accounting Information Systems3
ACC 4001Auditing3