About the Program
Accountants help businesses and organizations solve problems and succeed in a rapidly changing, globally competitive environment. Accountants prepare and interpret financial information that is used in a variety of settings. Companies use accounting information in strategic planning and performance evaluation. Investors, lenders and venture capitalists use accounting information when deciding whether and where to invest their funds. Government regulators, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission and even the FBI, use accounting information to detect fraud.
With a Daniels School accounting degree, you can pursue a career in public, corporate, tax, non-profit or government accounting. Our graduates join a network of Purdue alumni who hold important positions in organizations around the world.Our graduates place nationally with Big 4 accounting firms, regional public accounting firms, Fortune 1000 companies, consulting firms, small corporations, not-for-profits and government agencies across the U.S. and internationally.
You can also prepare for the highly valued Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Management Accounting (CMA) professional certifications. The Accounting Area offers specialized courses in forensic and international accounting, two of the most important growth areas in accounting today.
In addition to your accounting classes, you will take courses in other management areas, such as operations management, finance, marketing and human resource management as you complete your accounting degree. As a result, you will leave the business school with a solid understanding of both accounting and overall business operations.
Not majoring in Accounting? You can develop valuable accounting skills by concentrating or minoring in Accounting in conjunction with other majors by taking 12 credit hours of upper division accounting classes. For more information, please check with an undergraduate advisor.
While studying at Purdue, accounting students have ample opportunities for professional development and networking. Check out our undergraduate accounting clubs (Beta Alpha Psi and the Purdue Accounting Association). There are lots of ways to get involved!
For Purdue undergraduates interested in pursuing a career in accounting, our MSA Pathway Program offers an optimal route to completing the 150 hours of college credit work required to sit for the CPA exam. With conditional admission starting as early as sophomore year, eligible students can streamline their undergraduate experience and transition seamlessly into our master’s program.
The Accounting Area is committed to Purdue’s mission of creating and disseminating knowledge. Over the last several years, our faculty members and recent PhD graduates published their research in top academic journals and presented at conferences around the world.
Two Outstanding Programs:
- Our undergraduate accounting major is a 120 credit hour program that provides students with the foundation for successful careers in accounting and business or for graduate study.
- Our Masters of Science (Accounting) degree is a two-semester, 30 credit hour program that features a flexible curriculum with field consulting opportunities with start-ups and non-profits. Students tailor their coursework to their career goals while becoming CPA-exam ready.
Accounting Website
Accounting Major Change (CODO) Requirements
Critical Course
The ♦ course is considered critical.
In alignment with the Degree Map Guidance for Indiana’s Public Colleges and Universities, published by the Commission for Higher Education (pursuant to HEA 1348-2013), a Critical Course is identified as “one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major. Students who want to be nurses, for example, should know that they are expected to be proficient in courses like biology in order to be successful. These would be identified by the institutions for each degree program.”
Disclaimer
The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements. Consultation with an advisor may result in an altered plan customized for an individual student. The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.
Comparative information about Purdue University and other U.S. educational institutions is also available through the College Navigator tool, provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, and through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.