Bachelor of Science in Accountancy
Overview
The Bachelor of Science in Accountancy (BS-Accy) program, also known as the accountancy major, offers both specialized knowledge in accounting and a general education leading to a broad understanding of the business world. The program is designed to prepare students for a professional career in accounting as well as graduate study in business, finance, information systems, or law.
Accounting is the management of financial information. Accountants design and implement systems that capture relevant information from the transactions in which an organization engages. The accountant analyzes that information and communicates it to others, answering questions such as: How profitable is this business? How solvent? How risky?
Career Options in Accountancy
Every organization with financial records needs accountants. In some cases, students with an accountancy major may be able to begin working immediately upon graduation in accounting, but some employers require a CPA certification for hiring or promotion and, in most states, taking the CPA exam requires 150 credit hours. Public accountants audit financial statements and provide tax planning and financial advisory services to their clients. Some accountants who work for corporations are responsible for preparing and maintaining the financial records of the business; others use accounting and other information to help evaluate potential and existing products and projects in order to aid in managerial decision-making. Governmental accountants help to prepare and administer the budgets under which their agencies operate.
Study Abroad Opportunities
BS-Accy students have the opportunity to study abroad, but it may require more planning for the student as many BS-Accy major courses are offered only in the fall and spring semester.
Fall Junior Year:
Study Abroad
Spring Junior Year:
ACCY 3102 Intermediate Accounting II*
ACCY 6401 Federal Income Taxation*
Fall Senior Year:
ACCY 3101 Intermediate Accounting I
ACCY 3601 Business Law: Contracts, Torts, and Property
ACCY 4107 Advanced Accounting
ACCY 4301 Auditing
Spring Senior Year:
ACCY 3403 Advanced Tax
ACCY 4501 Accounting Systems
ACCY 4601 Business Law: Enterprise Organization
ACCY 4801 Financial Accounting Capstone
* Indicates a course that a student will not have the necessary prerequisite and/or is a graduate level course. Students may only be added to the class by permission of the instructor, who must sign the RTF or give written permission over email to enroll in the course. The student will need to submit the signed RTF or forward the email granting permission to the Undergraduate Advising Center.
Fall Junior Year:
ACCY 3101 Intermediate Accounting I
ACCY 3401 Federal Income Tax: Individuals
ACCY 3601 Business Law: Contracts, Torts, and Property
Spring Junior Year:
Study Abroad
Fall Senior Year:
ACCY 4107 Advanced Accounting*
ACCY 4301 Auditing*
ACCY 6105 Intermediate Accounting II
Spring Senior Year:
ACCY 3403 Advanced Tax
ACCY 4501 Accounting Systems*
ACCY 4601 Business Law: Enterprise Organization
ACCY 4801 Financial Accounting Capstone
* Indicates a course that a student will not have the necessary prerequisite and/or is a graduate level course. Students may only be added to the class by permission of the instructor, who must sign the RTF or give written permission over email to enroll in the course. The student will need to submit the signed RTF or forward the email granting permission to the Undergraduate Advising Center.
Financial Accounting Capstone
ACCY 4801 is a 3-credit course that provides GWSB Accountancy majors with an opportunity to synthesize and apply their learning to tackle complex real world accountancy-based business challenges including tax, auditing, internal financial control and marketing projects.
Through the perspective of the preparer and user of financial statements, teams of three to five students (under the mentorship of Dr. Yun Zhang and with support from Global & Experiential Education) work together to develop and deliver substantive recommendations to their Partner Organization. This course provides an integral skill-building experience to students, pro-bono business insights to Partner Organizations, as well as a connection between employers and future talent.
Companies interested in learning more about the benefits of hosting a GWSB Financial Accounting Capstone project can visit our Partner with Us page, where they can learn more and submit a partner project proposal form. Interested parties are also welcome to email any questions directly to the Global & Experiential Education team at [email protected].
Accountancy Major Requirements
The following requirements must be fulfilled: a minimum of 120 credits, including University General Education, pre-business, business core, and accountancy major course requirements.
The following requirements must be fulfilled: a minimum of 120 credits, including University General Education, pre-business, business core, and accountancy major courses.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
General Education courses | ||
UW 1020 | University Writing | |
Six credits in a combination of Writing in the Disciplines (WID) courses 1 | ||
One critical analysis in the humanities course. 2 | ||
One scientific reasoning with lab course. 2 | ||
Pre-business courses | ||
BADM 1001 & BADM 1002 | Business Leader Foundations I and Business Leader Foundations II 3 | |
or BADM 1003 | Business Leader Foundations for Transfer Students | |
BADM 3001 | Business Leader Career Strategy | |
BADM 4001 | Business Leader Launch | |
DNSC 1001 | Business Analytics I: Statistics for Descriptive and Predictive Analytics | |
or STAT 1051 | Introduction to Business and Economic Statistics | |
or STAT 1053 | Introduction to Statistics in Social Science | |
or STAT 1111 | Business and Economic Statistics I | |
or APSC 3115 | Engineering Analysis III | |
DNSC 2001 | Business Analytics II: Predictive and Prescriptive Analytics | |
or STAT 2112 | Business and Economic Statistics II | |
or STAT 2118 | Regression Analysis | |
or STAT 2123 | Introduction to Econometrics | |
ECON 1011 | Principles of Economics I | |
ECON 1012 | Principles of Economics II | |
One of the following sequences in mathematics: 4 | ||
MATH 1231 & MATH 1232 | Single-Variable Calculus I and Single-Variable Calculus II | |
or MATH 1051 & MATH 1252 | Finite Mathematics for the Social and Management Sciences and Calculus for the Social and Management Sciences | |
Business core courses | ||
ACCY 2001 | Introduction to Financial Accounting | |
ACCY 2002 | Introductory Managerial Accounting | |
BADM 2001 | Markets and Politics | |
or BADM 2001W | Markets and Politics | |
BADM 2301 | Management Information Systems Technology | |
BADM 3103 | Human Capital in Organizations | |
BADM 3401 | Contemporary Marketing Management | |
or BADM 3401W | Contemporary Marketing Management | |
BADM 3501 | Financial Management and Markets | |
BADM 4801 | Strategy Formulation and Implementation | |
IBUS 3001 | Introduction to International Business | |
Accountancy major courses | ||
ACCY 3101 | Intermediate Accounting I | |
ACCY 3102 | Intermediate Accounting II | |
ACCY 3401 | Federal Income Tax: Individuals | |
ACCY 3403 | Advanced Tax | |
ACCY 3601 | Business Law: Contracts, Torts, and Property | |
ACCY 4107 | Advanced Accounting | |
ACCY 4301 | Auditing | |
ACCY 4501 | Accounting Systems | |
ACCY 4601 | Business Law: Enterprise Organization | |
ACCY 4801 | Financial Accounting Capstone | |
Electives | ||
In general, students complete 31 credits in elective courses to reach the 120 credits required for the degree. Elective courses may be applied to a GWSB concentration, a non-GWSB minor, or a GWSB or non-GWSB second major. Reference the GWSB undergraduate policies section for course restrictions. |
1Courses must be taken after completion of UW 1020 and in separate semesters.
2See Undergraduate Education at GW for additional information regarding approved courses for this requirement.
3First-Year students take BADM 1001 and BADM 1002; transfer students take BADM 1003.
4Students should meet with a GWSB academic advisor to discuss other options for fulfilling the mathematics requirement.
Note: Students who intend to take the CPA examination should be aware that the coursework required for admission to the examination varies from state to state. Students are advised to consult the Board of Accountancy for the state in which they plan to take the examination and choose courses that meet that state’s requirements.
Double majors
Students in the BS in accountancy program who wish to pursue a double major must declare accountancy as their first major; the second major cannot be business. See GWSB Regulations and University Regulations for additional information. Students should consult with a GWSB academic advisor for assistance and additional information.
GW SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Duquès Hall
2201 G Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20052