Accounting Minor

Why Add a Minor in Accounting?

The Accounting Minor is designed to give students a deeper understanding of financial and cost accounting, as well as the fundamentals of individual income taxation. By adding Accounting to another major, students can strengthen their ability to understand financial information, evaluate costs, and navigate the broader tax environment. The minor is especially valuable for students majoring in areas such as Finance, Management Information Systems, Management, and other business disciplines, where the ability to understand and use accounting information can enhance career opportunities and decision-making skills.

Accounting plays a critical role in helping managers, investors, regulators, and other stakeholders make informed decisions. Accountants analyze and interpret financial information, work with both quantitative data and business concepts, and collaborate with colleagues across an organization. This broad interaction gives accounting professionals a unique perspective on how different parts of a business operate and how financial decisions affect organizational performance. Developing accounting knowledge can therefore help students become stronger business professionals, even when they do not intend to pursue accounting as their primary career.

For students interested in advancing their education or expanding their career options, an Accounting Minor can provide a valuable foundation for graduate study, professional certifications, and specialized careers. Additional education and credentials, such as a Master of Accountancy (MAcc) or certifications such as the CPA, CMA, or CIA, can further enhance professional opportunities. The minor alone does not generally satisfy the educational requirements for professional accounting licensure, but it can demonstrate to employers and graduate programs that you are committed to developing financial expertise, analytical skills, and interdisciplinary business knowledge.

Requirements for the Minor

The Accounting Minor requires 20-22 credits. A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor, as specified by Senate Policy 59-10. In addition, at least six credits of the minor must be unique from the prescribed courses required by a student's major(s). Consult with a business adviser before selecting courses.

For the Accounting Minor, students are required to take:

  • ACCTG 211* (Financial and Managerial Accounting for Decision Making) 

  • ACCTG 310* (Federal Taxation I)                                                                       

  • ACCTG 371* (Intermediate Accounting I)                                                          

  • ACCTG 472 (Intermediate Financial Accounting II)

Students must also complete six additional credits from supporting courses and related areas: 

  • Select 6 credits of additional ACCTG courses, at least 3 credits at the 400-level.

* Students in the University College can substitute ACCTG 201 and ACCTG 202 for ACCTG 211; ACCTG 405 for ACCTG 310; and ACCTG 471 for ACCTG 371. A student pursuing the accounting option in the B.S. in Business program can easily fulfill requirements for the accounting minor but should discuss course selection with their adviser.

COMPLEMENTARY MAJORS

Accounting is more than numbers—it is a business skill that can strengthen almost any major. An Accounting Minor gives students a practical understanding of financial and cost accounting, budgeting, financial information, and taxation. Whether you are majoring in Finance, Management Information Systems, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Healthcare Management, or another business-related field, understanding how money flows through an organization can help you make better decisions, evaluate opportunities, and communicate more effectively with business leaders. Adding accounting to your major can give you a valuable skill set that employers recognize across industries.

An Accounting Minor can also help you stand out when applying for internships, jobs, and graduate programs. It demonstrates that you have developed financial literacy, analytical skills, and an interdisciplinary understanding of business beyond your primary field of study.

Students from a wide range of disciplines can benefit from a management minor. Examples include:

  • Information Sciences and Technology
  • Information Technology
  • Engineering 
  • Biology
  • Communications
  • Psychology
  • Architecture
  • Agriculture
  • Environmental Science

For more information, contact Dr. Julie Stanton: 610-892-1450 or  [email protected]