Accounting Major and Minor
Learn how to analyze and communicate complex financial information to help organizations grow. Develop an understanding of the mechanics of taxation, auditing, and financial reporting and use these skills to assess financial success.
Why Study Accounting at Albion?
As an accounting major, you will gain essential business skills, with a particular emphasis on critical thinking and problem-solving, in addition to financial expertise. These skills are crucial in the field of accounting, which offers numerous career opportunities in tax, audit, consulting, forensics, and many more.
Discover the exciting possibilities that an accounting degree from Albion College can provide you!
Careers in Accounting
A bachelor’s degree in accounting will provide you with many career opportunities to choose from. Whether you like to work closely with clients or behind the scenes, a degree in accounting provides you with an extensive range of options.
- Public accounting is a dynamic field that offers a diverse range of client services, including audit, tax, and advisory services. The fast-growing option of forensic accounting, which involves investigating fraud, is another excellent option.
- Corporate roles focus on financial management, internal auditing, building budgets, and analyzing costs.
- The government and nonprofit sectors emphasize financial compliance with standards and requirements, tracking costs, and ensuring accountability.
The large variety of positions and opportunities in accounting make this field an exciting field to explore.
Faculty
Emphasis
The large variety of positions and opportunities in accounting make this field an exciting field to explore. Our accounting major offers two different tracks so you can tailor your education to your intended professional path.
C.P.A. Emphasis
With a C.P.A. emphasis, you’ll be able to take every course you need to be eligible for the Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A.) Exam. You’ll receive hands-on experience as you learn the basics of accounting systems and working with financial information. You’ll understand accounting and economic theory and its practical applications, helping you learn to use accounting practices and tax strategies for businesses and organizations.
Corporate Emphasis
With a corporate emphasis, you’ll take a deeper dive into economic theory as it applies to government, policy, and procedures. You’ll learn the fundamentals of finance and key concepts of business administration, equipping you with the tools you’ll need to address real-world financial needs.
Employment
The average salary of account graduates in Michigan is $85,460 ($41.09 per hour), according to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
Alumni of the Albion College accounting program have found employment with many top firms, corporations, and government organizations such as:
Job Titles
- Certified Public Accountant
- Business Analyst
- Financial Institution Specialist
- Accounting Officer
- Financial Auditor
- Staff Accountant
Employers
- Plante Moran
- Baker Tilly
- PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
- Ernst & Young
- Deloitte
- Rehmann
- General Motors
- Detroit Lions
- State of Michigan
- Internal Revenue Service
Student Opportunities
Accounting students at Albion may take advantage of the following experiential learning opportunities:
Accounting Society
Accounting Society is a Registered Student Organization that sponsors professional speakers and workshops. Through the Accounting Society, students gain valuable professional skills, networking opportunities, and career planning.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program
Through the Volunteer Income Tax Association (VITA), an IRS-sponsored program, you can gain practical experience in tax preparation. Under the guidance of E&M faculty, you will be trained to complete tax returns for low-income residents of Albion and the surrounding community.
Internships
Internships are a crucial part of your college career as an accounting student. Not only do you earn while learning, but you can also receive credit for your participation. It’s a win-win situation that prepares you for your future career.
Undergraduate Research
Students at Albion College have the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research both through the department and Albion’s Foundation for Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity (FURSCA) program. The production of undergraduate research demonstrates to employers your dedication to problem-solving, critical thinking, data analysis, and your ability to develop effective solutions.
“I knew I wanted to be an accountant and be involved with audits,” says Brandon Luttig, describing his summer experience at the state Office of the Auditor General “very fulfilling.”
Becoming a Michigan CPA
To be a licensed CPA you need to complete a baccalaureate degree,150 credit hours or 37.5 units of qualified education, and 2000 qualifying hours of work experience.
You can sit for the CPA exam after earning a baccalaureate degree and completing the required curriculum consisting of not less than 120 semester hours or 30 units.
Required Curriculum:
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- 3 semester hours (.75 Units) in Auditing (Internal Auditing not accepted),
- 21 semester hours (5.25 Units) in accounting including study in each of the following:
- Financial Accounting and Accounting Theory
- Managerial Accounting, including Cost Accounting
- Accounting Systems and Controls
- Taxation
- Governmental/Fund Accounting
- 24 semester hours (6 Units) in general business subjects other than accounting. Courses may include business communications, business ethics, business law, economics, finance, management, marketing, information systems or technology other than AIS, quantitative methods/statistics, and other (E&M) department approved business courses.
Becker CPA Review
Becker CPA provides a discount to Albion students on their review products as well as free access during select classes.
