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Business (Corporate Accounting) ,BA

Business (Corporate Accounting), BA

Academic programs / Undergraduate degrees / Business (Corporate Accounting)

CMA, Certified Management Accountant, Corporate Accountant, Financial Manager, Management Accounting

Program description

The BA program in business with a concentration in corporate accounting addresses the educational needs of many students who have an interest in accounting but do not plan to enter public accounting.

The emphasis of this program is managerial accounting. The six major courses in the concentration prepare students for corporate accounting positions by helping them develop skills in strategic financial planning, control, corporate compliance and decision-making.

Upon completion of the program, students may take the Certified Management Accountant exam.

At a glance
  • Second language requirement: No
  • First required math course: MAT 210 - Brief Calculus
    or MAT 117 College Algebra
  • Math intensity: Moderateprogram math intensity moderate

Required courses (Major Map)
Concurrent program options
Students pursuing concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”) earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with their academic advisors, students can create their own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.
Admission requirements

General university admission requirements:

All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
First-year | Transfer | International | Readmission

Additional requirements:

First-year admission requirements for this program are the same as the university's first-year admission requirements.

This program is not available to students with BA, BS or MS degrees in accountancy.

Readmission requirements: Students must have a transfer GPA of 3.00 (if applicable) and a cumulative ASU GPA of 3.00.

Transfer admission requirements:

Transfer applicants must have a GPA of 3.00 for all transfer work and meet university transfer admission requirements. Transfer students should select an additional major, which must be outside the W. P. Carey School of Business, when applying for admission.

Students who are admissible to the university but do not meet admission requirements for this program and did not select a second major or are not admissible to their second major choice are placed in the BA program in applied business and technology solutions in W. P. Carey School of Business, which is offered via ASU Online as well as at the Polytechnic and West Valley campus locations. Students not interested in that program or campus location may reach out to wpcareyug@asu.edu for assistance in selecting another degree program.

Tuition information
When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.
Change of Major requirements

Students should visit the W. P. Carey School of Business website to determine if they meet change of major requirements. Students who are ready to change their major should submit their request through the advising website. This program is not available to students who already hold a BA, BS or MS degree in accountancy.

Students should visit the Change of Major form for information about how to change a major to this program.

Attend online
ASU Online

ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.

ASU Local

It is now possible to earn an ASU degree with ASU Local, an integrated college experience in which students take advantage of in-person success coaching and programming experiences on site while completing one of 130+ undergraduate online degree programs, all of which come with online faculty interaction and tutoring support.

Transfer options

ASU is committed to helping students thrive by offering tools that allow personalization of the transfer path to ASU. Students may use MyPath2ASU® to outline a list of recommended courses to take prior to transfer.

ASU has transfer partnerships in Arizona and across the country to create a simplified transfer experience for students. These pathway programs include exclusive benefits, tools and resources, and they help students save time and money in their college journey.

Global opportunities
Global experience

As globalization continues to impact the way the world lives and works, international experiences have become vital to success in corporate accounting. Through international study and internships, students can gain valuable skills that employers are looking for: communication and interpersonal skills, flexibility, motivation and a real-life perspective on business applications worldwide. International experiences help students understand international accounting methods and grow their portfolio of marketable business skills that make them a competitive candidate in the corporate accounting industry. A Global Education program contributes to students' success by enabling them to improve their interpersonal and language skills while broadening their understandings of international business practices.

The W. P. Carey School of Business recommends these programs for students majoring in corporate accounting.

Career opportunities

Career opportunities are generally substantive, and graduates are in high demand. Senior management roles for corporate accountants include chief financial officer. Currently, more than half of CFOs at larger corporations have formal accounting training. The longer term projected trend is for CFOs to have extensive corporate accounting training, particularly given that CFOs at public U.S. corporations personally sign financial statements.

Typical early- to mid-career positions held by corporate accountants include controller, treasurer and vice president in areas such as financial planning, divisional controlling, cost accounting directing, senior financial analysis and senior accounting. Individuals in these positions typically report to the CFO.

Career example titles and salaries listed below are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience, geographical location, and required advanced degrees or certifications may affect pay scales.


Career *Growth *Median salary
4.4%
$78,000
7.6%
$95,080
16.0%
$139,790
16.0%
$139,790
* Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).

Bright OutlookBright Outlook

Professional licensure

ASU programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare students for potential licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. For more information, students should visit the ASU professional licensure webpage.

Contact information
What are accelerated programs?
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.

3 year programs

These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.

Accelerated master's

These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).

Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
What are concurrent programs?
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
What are joint programs?
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.

What constitutes a new program?
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the “New Programs” option.
What are online programs?
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
What is the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)?
The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is a program in which residents of western states (other than Arizona) may be eligible for reduced nonresident tuition. See more information and eligibility requirements on the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program.

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