What are the Most Important Accounting Courses?

Earning a degree in accounting from an accredited university will require a student to take courses in several different areas. Students who have majored in accounting can find careers in financial firms, tax preparation firms, business auditing offices and government institutions. Students can also be Certified Public Accountants (CPA) and work independently, without a boss.

Core Courses

Most colleges offer introductory courses in accounting as part of a business degree or liberal arts degree. Most 100 or 200 level university courses are available for any students to take, regardless of their majors. Classes such as English, Philosophy, Basic Science and College Math are core courses that accounting majors may take. Additionally, students wishing to major in accounting can take basic accounting courses open to all students.

Accounting Major Courses

Students majoring in accounting have to take approximately 30 college credits in accounting and business courses. These courses are more complex and involved than basic accounting courses. These courses include cost management, financial reporting, tax law and tax accounting. Most universities will require students to maintain a C average or higher in all their accounting courses (if accounting is your major). Some universities allow students to retake classes they score a D in.

Accounting Minor Classes

Minoring in accounting can be beneficial to students majoring in other similar areas of business, such as finance, economics or management. An accounting major is around 18 credits in the subject to constitute a minor. Accounting minor classes include basic accounting and electives chosen by the student and their accounting advisor.

Senior Seminar

Many universities require students to complete a senior seminar. Accounting students usually perform an internship at an accounting firm, complete a senior project or a thesis that shows all the information that the student has learned. The project or internship must be approved by their advisor before starting.