Undergraduate Overview
Accounting
Professionals with an accounting degree can work in almost any industry imaginable. Not only is the field of accounting experiencing significant growth, but regulation changes and technology advancements ensure there is no shortage of opportunities and challenges. The major is a good fit for individuals that are detail-orientated, enjoy working with numbers and have an aptitude for technology.
The accounting program at UW-Whitewater is designed to prepare its majors to begin a career in various parts of the profession — public accounting, corporate accounting, not-for-profit and government accounting. Beyond the principles of accounting, students gain knowledge of tax law, financial and managerial accounting, cost management, auditing, accounting information systems and advanced applications of technology such as data analysis and visualization programs.
Accounting graduates can be licensed as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with a satisfactory performance on the CPA exam and completion of 150 credit hours. Many graduates of the BBA in Accounting program continue on to the MBA program to meet the credit requirements for CPA licensure, specialize in a focus area, and enhance their future career options. Students can also complete a 150-credit BBA with majors in accounting and another business discipline. A 120-credit non-CPA BBA in Accounting is also available.
The College of Business and Economics offers a rich breadth of co-curricular activities to enhance student development and learning outcomes, including award-winning student organizations and applied learning experiences through internships and the UW-Whitewater Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. These efforts, as well as the college's outstanding reputation for its accounting program, have resulted in a 100 percent placement rate for accounting majors within six months of graduation.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater College of Business and Economics has earned accounting accreditation from AACSB International, also known as The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. With this achievement, UW-Whitewater joined the top 2 percent of the world's business schools that have earned AACSB accounting accreditation in addition to AACSB business accreditation.
The UW-Whitewater Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting requires a minimum of 120 credits, including:
- General education requirements
- Business requirements
- Major requirements
- Electives (to bring the total to at least 120 credits)
Information on the requirements specific to the accounting major can be found in the Course Catalog. Major video guides and course planning sheets are also available in Four Year Planning Resources.
Accounting is also available as a minor for both business and non-business students. Requirements can be found in the Course Catalog, or in the College of Business and Economics listing of minors and certificates.
Job Outlook
National employment growth for accountants and auditors is expected to be 6 percent1 from 2018 to 2028, and projected growth in Wisconsin is 13 percent2 for 2016 to 2026. Most employers require a bachelor's degree in accounting or related field for entry-level positions.
National Median Pay (2019)1
$71,550 per year
Number of Jobs in United States (2018)1
1,424,000
Number of Jobs in Wisconsin (2016)2
23,480
Annual Projected Job Openings in Wisconsin2
2,470
UW-Whitewater Placement Information
Placement Rate3
100%
UW-Whitewater Salary Estimate (6 months or less after graduation)4
$53,472
Highlighted Employers3
Deloitte, Ernst & Young LLP, Johnson Controls, Kohler, PwC, Schenck, U.S. Bank, WisDOT
Common Titles3
Assurance Associate, Audit Associate, Financial Analyst, Mutual Fund Associate, Staff Accountant, Tax Associate
Impact of Professional Certifications and Advanced Degrees
Robert Half estimates that accounting professionals with a certification or master's degree make an average of 5 to 15 percent more than accountants that do not have a certification or advanced degree.5 Other sources estimate the wage premium for an advanced degree is 32 percent or $22,000.6 Common certifications are featured below.
Certified Public Accountant
Certified Management Accountant
Certified Internal Auditor
1 Bureau of Labor and Statistics - Occupational Handbook: Accountants and Auditors
2 CareerOneStop (U.S. Dept. of Labor) - Occupation Profiles: Accountants - Wisconsin
3 Based on survey responses from the 2019-20 UW-Whitewater graduating class
4 Based on survey responses from 2017 - 2019 UW-Whitewater graduates
5 Robert Half 2017 Salary Guide: Accounting and Finance
6 Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce Analysis of U.S. Census Bureau, 2015 (p. 62)