Accounting Major

• What is Accounting?
• What are Some Specializations Within this Broad Major?
• What Kinds of Students Major in Accounting?
• What Courses Do Accounting Majors Take?
• List of Accounting Jobs
• What is the Median Salary Range for Accounting Careers?
• College and University Departments to Consider

What is Accounting?

Accounting provides the means for organizing, summarizing and interpreting information about economic activities within companies and organizations. Managers, lenders, analysts, and investors use this information. Accountants play a critical and ever-changing role in this process by providing relevant information to decision-makers and by acting as advisors in its interpretation. Accountants are needed within business organizations to provide information to business managers and to control business operations. Accountants can also work independently of businesses as public accountants providing management services, taxation advice and independent audit service, which lend credibility to financial and other information.

top

What are Some Specializations Within this Broad Major?

Various specializations related to a major in Accounting may be offered by colleges and universities. These specializations may be of greater or lesser interest to you. A few of these specializations related to this field include, but are not limited to:

Auditor	Certified Financial Accountant
Certified Management Accountant	Certified Public Accounting
Governmental Accounting	Non-Profit Accounting
Public Accounting	Taxation

top

What Kinds of Students Major in Accounting?

Accounting majors enjoy business mathematics and the role accounting systems play in a modern business or governmental agency. Accounting requires an in-depth knowledge of how accounting systems are structured and implemented. Understanding these systems requires an ability to focus on details, remember the many federal and state laws that control such systems, and a broader view of how business organizations function. Accounting courses present an above average challenge in the amount of work they require. The accounting firms that hire many, but certainly not all of these majors, seek students with a high grade point averages. Accounting majors may enjoy reading business magazines or articles, politics, learn strategies for business success, and apply mathematics to practical problems.

Is Accounting the right major for you?
Take the MyMajors Quiz and find out if it is one of your top recommended majors!

What Courses Do Accounting Majors Take?

The required and elective courses you would take for Accounting majors vary considerably among institutions. Courses are listed here that are illustrative of the breadth of topics you are likely to experience were you to major in this field.

Accounting Info. Systems	Auditing
Computer Info. Systems	Cost Accounting
Economics	Finance
Government Accounting	Management
Marketing

top

List of Potential Jobs in Accounting

These professions and professional organizations illustrate the types of positions you might qualify for if you complete this major. Some majors are more directly related to employment than others, however. You should consider the likelihood of employment after graduation carefully, if you do not plan to go on for graduate work in a field. Even with the completion of graduate work in some fields, however, employment is difficult, so you should determine what the prospects are for this or any major. Employment possibilities are often enhanced by the selecting employment-related courses and by the enrollment in second major or in a minor.

Accountant	Certified Public Accountant
Computer Systems Analyst	Controller
Credit Manager	Economist
FBI Agent	IRS Agent
Purchasing Agent	Tax Accountant
Tax Attorney

top

What is the Median Salary Range for Accounting Careers?

U.S. Median Salary(starting):$46,500

U.S. Median Salary(mid-career):$77,600

Note: These numbers are national averages so you could make more or less than these amounts. Actual expected salaries will vary depending on your chosen career path, experience, and even your geographic location. Are you interested in detailed information about the forecasted demand for a particular profession? Are you interested in the estimated salaries such positions are likely to pay? This government Web site allows you to search on a particular job, whether listed here or not, to give you this information.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

top

Colleges and Universities offering majors in Accounting

MyMajors complete list has 2,376 schools in the USA with a major in Accounting.
-View the national listing!

top

For information on options available to campuses wishing to see their programs listed on MyMajors, contact for details.