Accounting (B.S.)
Accountants provide investors and regulators with information essential for markets to operate smoothly. They’re more than auditors, they’re problem solvers, strategic thinkers and trusted advisors.
Lerner’s accounting major combines technical knowledge and critical thinking. It equips future accountants to navigate cutting-edge information systems while providing a broad foundation in all business disciplines. It provides preparation for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and other certifications.
Lerner’s program offers students opportunities to sharpen their skills and knowledge beyond the classroom. Students can gain practical experience through internships and externships, participate in the Accounting Student Association or engage in community outreach with programs like the Lerner Tax Clinic and Community Audits.
In this video, UD Lerner College students majoring in accounting discuss why they chose their major – why it is unique and opportunities they’ve had that will prepare them for their careers.
Program Highlights
Leadership and Engagement Opportunities
Gain practical experience through clubs and organizations, including:
- Accounting Students Association
- Blue Hen Investment Club
- Lerner College Trading Center
Accounting Certification Preparation
The accounting program provides foundational preparation for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and other certifications.
The UD accounting degree provides you with 123 credit hours and prepares you to take the CPA exam in almost all states. Requirements for sitting for the exam vary by state, and our faculty advisors will help guide you towards meeting specific state requirements. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants requires 150 hours for becoming a Certified Public Accountant. The Department of Accounting & MIS offers the opportunity to complete 150 credit hours through the accelerated bachelor’s and master’s in accounting degree, completing a dual major or through taking additional courses.
Honors in Accounting
The honors program at UD offers a scholarly and enriching community that extends well beyond graduation. You’ll enjoy smaller, more challenging classes and the opportunity to engage in research and assume leadership roles.
The honors degree requires:
- All courses and requirements for the B.S. in accounting
- All of the UD requirements for the honors baccalaureate degree
An ACCT course taken at the 600-level will count for honors credit.
Program Requirements
Suggested Course Sequence
All courses 3 credits unless stated otherwise.
Freshman Year
ECON 101 – Microeconomics
MATH 221 – Calculus I or MATH 241 – Analytic Geometry
Creative arts & humanities breadth course
History & cultural change breadth course
BUAD 110 – Basics of Business
Second semester
ACCT 207 – Accounting I (Financial)
ENGL 110 – First-Year Writing
ECON 103 – Macroeconomics
Creative arts & humanities, history & cultural change or foreign language course
Social & behavioral sciences breadth course
Free elective
Sophomore Year
ACCT 208 – Accounting II (Managerial)
MISY 160 – Business Computing
STAT 200 – Basic Statistical Practice
ECON 308 – Banking & Monetary Policy
Social & behavioral sciences breadth course
Free elective
Second semester
ACCT 315 – Intermediate Accounting I
ACCT 327 – Cost Accounting
MISY 262 – Fundamentals of Business Analytics
FINC 311 – Principles of Finance
MISY 261 – Business Information Systems
Free elective
Junior Year
ACCT 302 – Accounting Information Systems
BUAD 301 – Introduction to Marketing
ACCT 316 – Intermediate Accounting II
Mathematics, natural sciences & technology breadth course
Multicultural requirement
Second semester
ACCT 350 – Business Law I
ACCT 413 – Income Tax Accounting
BUAD 306 – Introduction to Service & Operations Management
ACCT, FINC or MISY elective, 300-level or above
BUAD 309 – Organizational Behavior
Senior Year
ACCT 351 – Business Law II
ACCT 415 – Advanced Accounting
ACCT 417 – Auditing
Communication requirement
Creative arts & humanities, history & cultural change or foreign language course
Second semester
ACCT 414 – Advanced Federal Taxation
ACCT, FINC or MISY elective
ACCT 425 – Strategic Information Systems & Accounting
Mathematics, natural sciences & technology breadth course
Free elective
Career Opportunities
Within 6 months of graduating, for the class of 2022, 98% of Lerner’s accounting graduates are employed (earning a mean starting salary of $66,249) or pursuing further education. For more information on career resources please visit the Lerner Career Services Center.
Top Employers
Some of the top employers of Lerner’s accounting graduates include:
- KPMG
- EY
- PwC
- Deloitte
- JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- RSM
Top Jobs
Job titles of recent graduates with an accounting degree include:
- Staff Accountant
- Staff Auditor
- Federal Tax Associate
- Corporate Accountant
- Financial Analyst
- Tax Advisor
Visit Career Outcomes of Lerner accounting students to see more top employers, job titles, salaries and locations.
Mission
The Accounting Program’s mission is to promote scholarship in accounting, to offer distinctive and innovative educational opportunities that contribute to professional success, and to advance ethical leadership in a rapidly changing business environment.
To that end, the AMIS department is committed to fostering a community that:
- Attracts, retains and cultivates excellent teachers and forward-thinking academic leaders.
- Challenges students with educational experiences and leading-edge technology to develop their passion for life-long learning.
- Empowers students to identify and understand ethical dilemmas and uphold their professional responsibilities.
- Collaborates to solve problems effectively and creatively with respect and understanding, promoting a transparent platform for diverse opinions and cultural perspectives.
- Promotes programs and opportunities designed for students to positively impact their organizations and communities, locally and globally.
- Partners with business entities and professional firms to explore emerging topics to enrich student experiences and strengthen the relevance of faculty scholarship.
News
- What is an Accelerated 4+1 Program? - 4+1 programs jumpstart the careers of undergraduates considering a graduate degree. Find out if a 4+1 is right for you.
- Lerner Professor Amanda Convery Discusses Award-Winning Paper on Stakeholder Engagement - Convery received the 2023 Accounting Horizons Best Paper Award for the paper she co-authored entitled “Stakeholder Engagement and Effective Standard Setting” which was published in the June 2022 issue.
- Lerner Accounting Students Help Local Churches With Audits - The churches have a need. The students have a skill. And a volunteer program at Lerner brings them together.
- Lifelong Lerner: Gabriella Cammarata - Gabriella Cammarata, honors accounting and finance double major with a minor in economics from Manalapan, New Jersey, is a member of the UD Lerner Class of 2023.
- Outstanding Lifelong Lerner Startup’s Medical Device Gains FDA Approval - UD Lerner Alumni Nick Delmonico’s company Strados Labs is making strides in the care of asthma and other respiratory conditions with new technology.
Admissions Information
Learn more about undergraduate admissions requirements, deadlines, tuition and financial aid available to you.
AACSB Accredited Accounting
Lerner is in an elite group of less than 200 schools that maintain separate accounting accreditation.
Accelerated Accounting Program
Earn a B.S. and M.S. in accounting in 5 years or less and enter the workforce a step ahead.
Undergraduate Advising
Our staff of professional advisors is available daily to help you plan your academic career and graduate on time.