Accounting
Students are prepared to develop, interpret and communicate financial data for business reporting and decision-making. The focus is on analysis and problem-solving applications to business where students develop into financial leaders for all types of business.

Double Your Expertise
BVU's accounting students graduate as double majors in accounting and business. This provides students with strong technical accounting skills and a solid business foundation. Students can also choose an additional concentration, such as agricultural business, financial decision making, management, marketing, and sport business.
Our courses also prepare students for all sections of the CPA exam. From day one, faculty help students plan how to meet CPA requirements. In fact, most students meet the 150-hour CPA requirement in just four years.
At BVU, students learn accounting through focused instruction, internships, managing a portfolio of stocks, or participating in our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.
Students who graduate with this major can pursue careers in:
- Auditing
- Income tax planning and preparation
- Management consulting services
- Corporate accounting
- Government accounting
TALK TO US
Accounting jobs are projected to grow 11 percent from 2014 to 2024, faster than average.
Accounting is on virtually every "top ten" list for college majors and, more often than not, at the top.
In 2019, U.S. News & World Report ranked accounting in its annual list of "Best Jobs."

Count On It
Our Students Get Involved!
- Each year, students and faculty attend valuable sessions and network with accounting professionals from across the state at the CPA Career Awareness Conference.
- Students work face-to-face with real tax clients, prepare tax returns, and give back to the community through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA). Funded by the Internal Revenue Service, VITA provides free income tax preparation assistance to people who are lower-income, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and limited English-speaking taxpayers.
- Students who participate in Accounting Interview Day, hosted by the Iowa College Recruiting Network, have the opportunity to interview a variety of accounting employers in one day, including Big Four firms, regional CPA firms, and corporations.
- Up to $5,000 is awarded annually to support three qualified, high-performing BVU business or accounting majors through the Clifford A. Rae Academic Achievements Awards.
- Students are selected to join other young entrepreneurs from across the state at the Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute (OEI) for a six-day academic experience. This advanced study includes an entrepreneurial simulation and seminars with successful entrepreneurs and business and community leaders.
Internships
- Deloitte
- TD&T CPAs and Advisors
- Minnesota Vikings
- Principal Financial Group
- Schwan Food Company
Careers
- Deloitte, Tax Consultant
- KPMG, Audit Associate
- Iowa Auditor Office, State Auditor
- Iowa Division of Banking, Bank Examiner
- Principal Financial Group, Investment Accountant
Dedicated Career Help
Interest discovery, application assistance, internship/job connections and more.
Business foundation courses
-
ACCT
205
Financial Accounting
-
ACCT
206
Managerial Accounting
-
ACCT
210
Basic Excel Spreadsheets
-
ECON
205
Principles of Microeconomics
-
ECON
206
Principles of Macroeconomics
-
FNBK
306
Managerial Finance
-
MATH
140
Elementary Applied Statistics
-
MGMT
302
Decision Science
-
MGMT
306
Principles of Management
-
MGMT
315
Business Law I
-
MGMT
465
Production and Operations Management
-
MGMT
492
Business Policy and Strategy
-
MRKT
306
Principles of Marketing
-
BUSN
496
Business Practicum
- ACCT 300 Accounting Information Systems
- ACCT 301 Intermediate Accounting I
- ACCT 302 Intermediate Accounting II
- ACCT 309 Cost Accounting
- ACCT 405 Auditing
- ACCT 415 Individual Taxation
- ACCT 416 Business Taxation
Other elective and/or experiential courses
-
ACCT
211
Intermediate Excel Spreadsheets
-
ACCT
212
Advanced Excel Spreadsheets
-
ACCT
390
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
-
ACCT
413
Advanced Accounting I
-
ACCT
428
Governmental/Nonprofit Accounting
-
ACCT
495
Accounting Internship
-
COMM
230
Business and Professional Communication
-
FNBK
450
Portfolio Management
Accounting professional licensure emphasis
(150 credit hours)
Three courses and a minimum of 150 credit hours overall must be completed for the emphasis.
Three courses and a minimum of 150 credit hours overall must be completed for the emphasis.
Recommended courses for CPA exam
-
ACCT
413
Advanced Accounting I
-
ACCT
428
Governmental/Nonprofit Accounting
-
COMM
230
Business and Professional Communication
Nebraska CPA candidates should plan to take COMM 230.
Nebraska CPA candidates should plan to take COMM 230.
Recommended additional courses for CMA exam
-
FNBK
316
Corporate Finance
-
FNBK 430 Investments or FNBK 450 Portfolio Management
-
FNBK
460
Enterprise Risk Management
- ACCT 205 Financial Accounting
- ACCT 206 Managerial Accounting
- ACCT 301 Intermediate Accounting I
- ACCT 302 Intermediate Accounting II