Accounting

B.S. in Accounting Overview

Accountants work in the corporate world, government and private sector in positions that range from CFO to budget analyst, comptroller and international trade specialist. The employment outlook for accountants is expected to increase by 13 percent between now and 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, making it a sound career choice.

As an accounting major at Alvernia University, you’ll develop professional skills that prepare you for a career in management accounting or public accounting. You’ll learn far more than what is contained in textbooks, because you’ll experience “real-life learning” that enables you to link your classroom experiences to the larger community and, indeed, the world.
 

Faculty members at Alvernia teach about business from both practical and ethical standpoints. This gives you the knowledge you’ll need to succeed professionally because it develops supervisory and managerial skills that are necessary to advance in your career.

Careers in Accounting

Accounting professionals require a blend of problem-solving, analysis and communication skills, along with an exceptional understanding of the language of numbers. Alvernia’s Accounting Program develops these skills and more.

Accountants work in a variety of fields. You might want to be a partner in an accounting firm, the chief financial officer of a corporation or an investigator for the Internal Revenue Service. Perhaps you’re interested in a career as an international trade specialist or international business manager. Accountants also work as budget analysts, comptrollers and certified management accountants.

Accounting graduates who earn Certified Public Accountant or Certified Management Accountant designations in addition to their degrees can further improve their job prospects, as the demand for accounting services has grown due to new financial regulations.

A sampling of employers of Alvernia accounting graduates:

• Herbein + Company
• RKL
• Penske
• Wells Fargo
• The Diocese of Allentown
• Risk Advisory Services (RAS) - Philadelphia, PA
• Maillie, LLP - West Chester, PA
• Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Berks
• Naden/Lean LLC - Maryland

Curriculum

All Alvernia students must successfully complete a minimum of 123 semester credits to receive a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree.  You’ll need to complete 54-55 liberal arts core credits and complete community service hours.

In addition, Accounting majors must complete 61 credits in the major.  View all business course descriptions here.

Required Courses for Accounting Degree

Business Core (33 credits)

• BUS 101 Financial Accounting*
• BUS 206 Management Principles*
• BUS 207 Marketing Principles*
• BUS 250 Accounting Principles
• BUS 315 Data Analytics & Information Systems
• BUS 342 Business Law
• BUS 410 Financial Markets
• BUS 411 Financial Decision Making
• BUS 426 Strategic Management
• BUS 441 Cooperative Education in Business I (enrolled for at least 3 credits)
• MAT 208 Introductory Statistics or MAT 209 Probability and Statistics

* must earn a grade of "C" or better

Related Area (6 credits)

• ECON 248 Macroeconomics
• ECON 249 Microeconomics

High Performer Development Series (3 credits)

• BUS 251 High Performer Development Series I
• BUS 351 High Performer Development Series II
• BUS 451 High Performer Development Series III

Professional Readiness (1 credit)

• UNIV 200 Career & Internship Preparation

 

Accounting Courses (18 credits)

• BUS 252 Intermediate Accounting I
• BUS 253 Intermediate Accounting II
• BUS 301 Advanced Accounting
• BUS 304 Federal Taxation
• BUS 400 Cost Accounting
• BUS 402 Auditing

Recommended Courses (Optional)

• BUS 442 Cooperative Education in Business II

Accounting majors also can complete a 12-credit concentration in fraud examination. This concentration includes courses necessary to provide you with the core competencies needed to excel in fraud examination. By completing the courses necessary for this concentration, you’ll be prepared to sit for the Certified Fraud Examiner exam.

Attaining fraud examiner certification can be extremely useful if you’re pursuing a career in a field such as accounting, human resources, management, criminal justice or insurance.

Required courses in the fraud examination concentration are:

• BUS 101 Financial Accounting
• BUS 200 Managerial Accounting OR BUS 250 Accounting Principles
• BUS 205 Fraud Examination
• MBA 555 Forensic Accounting (Please check with your advisor for more details.)

Business Minor

Students who major in another area can minor in business by earning 21 credits. Required courses for a business minor are:

• BUS 101 Financial Accounting
• BUS 200 Managerial Accounting
• BUS 206 Management Principles
• BUS 207 Marketing Principles
• BUS 342 Business Law
• BUS 410 Financial Markets
• ECON 248 Macroeconomics OR ECON 249 Microeconomics

Experiential Learning 

Through internships, students have opportunities to apply theories and knowledge learned in the classroom in a variety of professional settings. In addition to providing exposure to the activities and expectations of a real-world workplace, internship experiences help students develop their network of professional contacts.

Alvernia believes that real-world experience is extremely important, as it can improve your confidence and introduce you to professionals in your intended field of employment.

You will not only benefit from experienced faculty members who have extensive experience in the business world, you’ll also get the opportunity to participate in learning opportunities in real business settings through internships and cooperative experiences.

Some of the organizations with which Alvernia business majors have had internships include:

• The Camden Riversharks
• Citizens Bank
• Cott Beverage
• Ernst & Young
• Four Seasons Produce
• Haines & Kibblehouse
• InRoads
• Morgan Stanley
• The Philadelphia Eagles
• The Reading Royals
• Service And Access Management (SAM)
• Superior Oxygen
• U.S. Department of Finance
• U.S. Department of Treasury
• Walt Disney World
• Webb Insurance

 

Research Opportunities

Research is a valuable aspect of any education. Business faculty at Alvernia conduct research in a variety of areas, including leadership, management, organizational development, strategy, market research, international marketing, time management, conflict resolution, international leadership and hiring of part-time employees.

As a business major, there may be an opportunity for you to assist in faculty research, and to benefit from the knowledge gained through faculty research.

Tuition

To determine the cost of this program, please visit our Tuition page.  For a personalized estimate, please contact an admissions counselor at 610-790-8269 or at admissions@alvernia.edu.

Financial Aid

Alvernia offers loan, grants, scholarships, and payment plans. Our admissions counselors can help you identify the aid that is available to you and for your program. For more information, visit our Financial Aid page.

Accreditation

Alvernia University’s Business Department programs – including Accounting – are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business School and Programs (ACBSP) and by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

All programs offered by Alvernia University are approved by the Department of Education of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

Learn More

For more information about Alvernia’s Accounting program, contact the Admissions Office at 1-888-ALVERNIA or 610-796-8269 or admissions@alvernia.edu, or reach out directly to:

Dr. Tufan Tiglioglu
Chair of Business Department
tufan.tiglioglu@alvernia.edu
610-796-8278