Dec 12, 2024  
2024-2025 University Catalog 
    
2024-2025 University Catalog

Accounting, BS

Location(s): West Lafayette


Accounting

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    

 

Degree Requirements


120 Credits Required

Department/Program Major Courses (74-75 credits)


Cultural Competency Selectives (3 credits)


Other Departmental/Program Course Requirements (23-35 credits)


Electives (10-23 credits)


  • Electives - Credit 10.00-23.00

 

School of Business Requirements


MAI Requirements


  • To be admitted to upper level, a student must complete all Management Admissions Index (MAI) courses with a 3.00 or above MAI GPA AND a 2.50 cumulative GPA, have a C- or higher in all MAI AND any Management, Economics, and OBHR courses (M/E/O), and not be on academic notice.
  • University Policy states students may only attempt a course 3 times and grades of W are included in this limit. Per the School of Business, no more than three different MAI courses, or their equivalents, may be taken two times for a grade. Students are responsible for consulting their advisor about re-take options available to them.
  • Previous enrollments in MA 16100, 16200, 16500, 16600 do not count against the retake policy for the MAI.

The following are Management Admissions Index courses:

  • ECON 25100
  • MGMT 20000
  • MA 16100 or MA 16010 or MA 16500
  • SCLA 10100 or ENGL 10600 or ENGL 10800 or HONR 19903
  • SCLA 10200 or COM 11400 or COM 21700 or EDPS 31500

GPA Requirements


  • Graduation Index: 2.00 minimum
  • Major Index: 2.00 minimum

Course Requirements and Notes


  • MGMT, OBHR and ECON courses numbered 30000-level or higher can only be taken after being admitted to Upper Division, with the exception of OBHR 33300. Students may take this course during their sophomore year.
  • The following gateway courses (listed by major) should be taken soon after you are admitted to Upper Division as they are pre-requisites for all Major Selectives:

    Accounting, BS - MGMT 35000
    Business Analytics & Information Management, BS- MGMT 30500 & MGMT 38200
    Economics, BS - ECON 34000 & ECON 35200
    Finance, BS - MGMT 31000
    General Management, BS - OBHR 33000 & MGMT 44428
    Marketing  - MGMT 32400
    Supply Chain & Operations Managment, BS - MGMT 30500 & MGMT 36100
  • Courses taken on approved School of Business study abroad programs may be used to satisfy degree requirements. Students participating in a Purdue approved study abroad program are registered as full-time Purdue students during their semester abroad. Schedule an appointment with your advisor to discuss study abroad opportunities.

Pass/No Pass Policy


  • The pass/no pass option MAY NOT be selected for MAI, EAI, MGMT, ECON or OBHR (MEO) courses (even if selected as a general elective) required for a major, required minor or concentration, or core requirements.
  • Only courses taken for general electives that are not required major, minor or concentration courses may be taken pass/no pass.
  • The total credit hours selected under the pass/no pass option in the student’s baccalaureate program may not exceed 15.
  • The option cannot be adopted for more than one course per semester.
  • A student who elects this option must be classified as at least a sophomore 45-59 credits or higher.
  • Students who are repeating a course must repeat it using the same grade mode as the original attempt.
  • Students on academic notice must complete at least 12 hours of coursework for a letter grade during the semester. Those students on academic notice for a second consecutive semester may not elect the pass/no pass option until they are removed from academic notice.
  • See your advisor for Study Abroad Pass/No Pass Policy

Transfer Credit Policy


  • The number of general electives will vary for each student and can include AP credit, transfer credit, and/or Credit by Exam.
  • Transfer credit for upper level MGMT, OBHR and ECON will only be considered if taken at a 4-year AACSB accredited school.
  • More information can be found at Transfer Credit Guidlines

Summer Courses


Information on summer courses is available here.

University Requirements


University Core Requirements


For a complete listing of University Core Course Selectives, visit the University Senate Website.
  • Human Cultures: Behavioral/Social Science (BSS)
  • Human Cultures: Humanities (HUM)
  • Information Literacy (IL)
  • Oral Communication (OC)
  • Quantitative Reasoning (QR)
  • Science #1 (SCI)
  • Science #2 (SCI)
  • Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
  • Written Communication (WC) 

Civics Literacy Proficiency Requirement


The Civics Literacy Proficiency activities are designed to develop civic knowledge of Purdue students in an effort to graduate a more informed citizenry. For more information visit the Civics Literacy Proficiency website.

To obtain the Civics Literacy Proficiency, students will complete an educational activity as part of their chosen Civics Literacy Pathway and pass the Purdue Civics knowledge test.  The knowledge test can be completed at any time while the pathway is being perused.  There are three different pathways:

  • Civics Event pathway - Attend six approved civics-related events and pass the required exam; or
  • Civics Literacy Podcast pathway - Complete 12 podcasts created by the Purdue Center for C-SPAN Scholarship & Engagement that use C-SPAN material and pass the required exam; or
  • Approved course pathway - Complete  one of the following approved courses and pass the required exam.

More details about each pathway and how to complete the requirement can be found on the Civics Literacy Student Dashboard in myPurdue.

Upper Level Requirement


  • Resident study at Purdue University for at least two semesters and the enrollment in and completion of at least 32 semester hours of coursework required and approved for the completion of the degree. These courses are expected to be at least junior-level (30000+) courses.
  • Students should be able to fulfill most, if not all, of these credits within their major requirements; there should be a clear pathway for students to complete any credits not completed within their major.

Sample 4-Year Plan


Fall 1st Year


13-21 Credits


Spring 1st Year


16-20 Credits


15 Credits


15 Credits


Fall 3rd Year


15 Credits


Spring 3rd Year


15 Credits


Fall 4th Year


12-16 Credits


Spring 4th Year


*Taking an internship in this semester is highly recommended - if you are interested in this option please discuss with your advisor. Financial Aid & Visa status may be impacted.

  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Elective - Credit Hours: 0.00-3.00

12-15 Credits


Pre-Requisite Information


For pre-requisite information, log in to mypurdue.purdue.edu and click here.

World Language Courses


World Language proficiency requirements vary by program. The following list is inclusive of all world languages PWL offers for credit; for acceptable languages and proficiency levels, see your advisor. (ASL-American Sign Language; ARAB-Arabic; CHNS-Chinese; FR-French; GER-German; GREK-Greek(Ancient); HEBR-Hebrew(Biblical); HEBR-Hebrew(Modern); ITAL-Italian; JPNS-Japanese; KOR-Korean; LATN-Latin; PTGS=Portuguese; RUSS-Russian; SPAN-Spanish)

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.