UAlbany BS Accounting students at the PWC Challenge Case Competition.

Bachelor of Science in
Accounting

Get a Head Start in Your Accounting Career

Learn how to ensure the integrity of financial reporting to investors and other stakeholders while supporting the quality of business decisions that rely on financial information.

The AACSB-accredited bachelor’s in accounting program at UAlbany covers the latest best practices in accounting, auditing, taxation, and financial information systems.

In this program, you’ll master the generally accepted accounting practices set by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and learn how to produce financial reports that directly inform business decisions.

When you graduate, you’ll be ready to take on jobs at Big Four accounting firms (KPMG, Ernst & Young, Deloitte, and PricewaterhouseCoopers), professional services companies, international corporations, and fiscal departments of government offices.


AACSB Accreditation

The Massry School of Business maintains dual accreditation in business administration and accounting through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) – the hallmark of excellence in management education. As the highest achievement standard for business schools worldwide, it denotes top-quality teaching and meaningful student-faculty interactions.

Additional Program Information

Undergraduate Bulletin  |  Course Catalog  |  Four-Year Plan

Program of Study

programofstudy

Liberal Arts and Sciences

  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Introduction to Sociology OR Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
  • One writing intensive or writing and critical inquiry course


Economics and Quantitative Skills

  • Calculus
  • Statistics
  • Principles of Microeconomics
  • Principles of Macroeconomics
  • One upper-level economics elective


Management, Marketing, and Business Law

  • Behavioral Foundations of Management
  • Strategic Management
  • Marketing Principles
  • Business Law
  • Law of Business Organization


Accounting and Financial Management

  • Accounting and Communications
    This course is developed and delivered by experienced accounting experts at Ernst & Young.
  • Financial Accounting
  • Financial Accounting Theory I, II, and III
  • Cost Accounting Systems for Managerial Decisions
  • Financial Management

Business Information Technology

  • Accounting Information Systems
  • Information Technologies for Business
  • Improving Business Performance with Information Technologies


Auditing, Taxation, and Finance

  • Auditing
  • Survey of Taxation
  • Choose one of the following courses:
    • Corporate Financial Policy and Strategy
    • Money and Capital Markets
    • Money and Banking


Contact

For more information, contact the Massry Center for Business Office of Student Services at 518-956-8320.

"The reason why accounting at UAlbany is one of the best programs is because of the relationship UAlbany has with the big four accounting firms."

- Katherine Bencivenga, BS Accounting '23, MS Forensic Accounting '24

UAlbany Majors: Forensic Accounting

Applied Learning Opportunities

appliedlearning

Internships in Accounting

Get credit for hands-on learning at a financial services company, small business, government agency, or nonprofit.


Ernst & Young Trajectory Program

Gain experience working on real-world problems as part of an information technology risk consulting team mentored by UAlbany faculty and employees of the global professional services firm Ernst & Young.


Albany Accounting Association (AAA)

AAA is a student-run accounting organization that provides academic support and mentorship for accounting students. Through review sessions, study sessions and workshops, it equips students to master essential accounting skills for success.

Student Accounting Clubs

Join career-focused student accounting clubs such as the Association of Latino Professionals for America and the National Association of Black Accountants.
 

Beta Alpha Psi Honor Society

Showcase your scholastic excellence by gaining membership in the international honor society for accounting, finance, and information systems students attending universities accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
 

Leadership Education in Accounting and Diversity (LEAD) Scholars Program

Under-represented students majoring in accounting at UAlbany receive support and mentorship in this program.

Becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)


UAlbany’s undergraduate accounting curriculum prepares you for and qualifies you to take the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination® immediately upon graduation.

This eligibility status falls under what is called the “120 sit rule” – because the 120 credits that comprise this AACSB-accredited bachelor’s in accounting are recognized as being a CPA exam pathway.


 

National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)


American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)


New York State Office of the Professions: Public Accountancy

cpaexam

Popular Master’s Degree Pathway


After finishing their bachelor’s, many students in this program go on to earn their master’s in accounting, which fulfills the standard 150 credits required to take the CPA exam required to obtain professional licensure as a CPA.

Graduate coursework prepares these students to enter the accounting field with more advanced skills that give them a competitive edge in the job market and in the workplace.

 

Business presentation
masterspathway

Admissions Information


Most UAlbany students fulfill their general education requirements during their freshman and sophomore years, and then declare a major.

The accounting major is a competitive program that requires an overall GPA of 3.25 or higher and completion of certain prerequisite courses. You can work with your advisor to choose liberal arts and sciences courses that will enable you to be admitted to the program at the start of your junior year.

If you’re planning to transfer to UAlbany, you can apply for admission to the accounting program as long as you meet all of the academic coursework and GPA requirements.

PwC World of Accounting


You can sign up to live with other accounting majors in a single floor of a freshman residence hall. As a member of this living and learning community, you get to participate in special career seminars, business field trips, and leadership opportunities funded by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

There is also a Transfer Community for incoming transfer students who are planning to major in business or accounting.

admissions

Career Services

career

The Office of Career Services at the Massry School of Business offers valuable resources to help prepare you for life after graduation. You’ll learn how to create a strong resume and cover letter, develop confidence through mock interviews, and get weekly updates on job and internship opportunities.

The accounting department at the University at Albany also maintains close ties with alumni leaders at the Big Four firms that regularly recruit our graduates. This gives you a distinct advantage when seeking employment as an early career professional at these companies.

In addition, UAlbany accounting students are heavily recruited by regional and local accounting firms, global corporations, not-for-profit organizations, and government agencies such as the NYS Office of the Comptroller.

Alumni are commonly hired in fields such as auditing, tax preparation, cost analysis, accounts payable/receivable, regulatory compliance, financial risk assurance, fraud investigation, and economic dispute services.

Group of people attending a seminar

"The accounting program gives every student the opportunity for greatness. It gives you a place to interact and share success, and the faculty are always supporting your journey through the school. The thing I love most about the School of Business is the amazing support system among friends and faculty alike."

- Daniel Barkan, Current Student BS in Accounting and Business Administration Concentration in Finance/Information Systems and Business Analytics

Accounting as a Major for Students Interested in Law


If you’re interested in law school, accounting provides a powerful foundation. You’ll develop logical thinking, analytical reasoning and financial literacy while gaining a strong understanding of business, tax and financial concepts that are central to many areas of legal practice. An accounting background helps you stand out in law school and prepares you to analyze financial documents, valuation issues and regulatory matters with confidence.


 

A group of business students wearing suits and name tags attending a lecture.
law-school

How is an accounting degree helpful to the practice of law?
How is an accounting degree helpful to the practice of law?

Advantages of Accounting in Practice of Law

 

Business Dispute Litigation

  • Comprehensive understanding and literacy regarding business finances
  • Familiarity with financial documents exchanged in discovery

Matrimonial Litigation

  • Characterization of marital or separate property

Calculation of Damages in Litigation

  • Damages from breach of contract
  • Damages from breach of fiduciary duties
  • Damages to employees who are wrongfully terminated
  • Damages arising from breach of non-compete agreements

Estate & Trust Law

  • Estate / Tax planning
  • Trust / Medicaid planning
  • Estate and Trust litigation
  • Preparing Probate documents, such as accountings

Corporate Law / Forming & Advising Business Organizations

  • Knowledge of corporate tax law and tax laws relating to other types of business organizations
  • Knowledge of tax laws surrounding investments
  • Facilitates communications between lawyers and business, outside counsel or outside accountants
  • Knowledge of financial regulations

Transactional Law, Mergers & Acquisitions

  • Document literacy
  • Knowledge of valuation methods

What are the benefits of an accounting degree?
What are the benefits of an accounting degree?
  • Trains you to think logically
    • Crucial to argument formation, both written and verbal
  • Sets you apart in the hiring process
  • Excellent career alternative if you decide not to pursue a law degree

Notable UAlbany Accounting Alums
Notable UAlbany Accounting Alums

David Zimmerman

  • Senior Executive VP, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel of the National Hockey League
  • University at Albany, BA Accounting & Business Administration ‘82
  • Boston University School of Law, JD ‘84


Howard Dicker

  • Parnter, Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP
  • University at Albany, MS Accounting ‘84
  • George Washington University Law School, JD ‘89
     

My accounting degree was instrumental in preparing me for law school and my career as a corporate lawyer. It gave me a solid foundation in business, accounting and tax, which allowed me to approach advanced legal concepts with a deeper understanding. The background has been invaluable in my practice.

-Howard Dicker ‘84

Student Learning Objectives

Learning objectives that UAlbany students are expected to attain through their course of study within their academic program.

Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
  • Students will be able to show comprehension of five key concepts from Marketing, Organizational Behavior, Finance, Accounting, Law, and IT Management.
  • Be able to understand the importance of ethics and values in the field of accounting and in the world of business.
  • Be able to communicate complex technical auditing and accounting issues through effective writing and presentation skills.
  • Be able to demonstrate knowledge of the impact of the global business environment, diversity, and multiculturalism on company performance, management, employee behavior, and the practice of accounting.
  • Be able to understand accounting in an international context.
  • Be able to use database software to create a database that can be used to analyze management and financial data and to prepare professional reports.
  • Demonstrate the ability to utilize research databases in an audit or an accounting context.
  • Demonstrate how to analyze a business problem to arrive at an effective solution.
  • Be able to understand the legal and economic environment of business generally, and in particular as related to the practice of accounting. 
  • Understand the mechanics of financial reporting, the measurement of elements of financial    statements and demonstrate the ability to prepare financial statements.
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