Program Overview
Develop advanced accounting skills while pursuing your major in another field.
The School of Management is now offering an Accounting Minor open to all non-SOM students. The accounting minor gives non-SOM students the opportunity to grow their business acumen, prepare for accounting-related careers, and pursue advanced study in accounting or business.
It is anticipated undergraduate students interested in pursuing the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license will apply for the MS Accounting program. Completion of the minor (regardless of major) and an MS Accounting degree will provide students with the 150 credit hours of coursework necessary to sit for the CPA exam.
What is Accounting?
Accountants are integral to all business organizations. They help develop financial records and ensure their accuracy. They also interpret financial data and assist managers, investors, regulators, and other stakeholders with making strategic business decisions.
The accounting profession has evolved significantly in recent years away from traditional bookkeeping duties. They need to be well versed in technology and automation, have strong communication skills, and be able to work in teams. Today’s accountants thrive on their ability to maintain a broad business perspective.
You Might Like this Program If…
- You enjoy financial and numerical skill building, evaluation and problem solving.
- You enjoy working with technology.
- You enjoy interacting with people and helping them make strategic decisions.
- You’re driven to make things run efficiently.
- The idea of managing the financial health of an organization excites you.
- You’re looking for career opportunities spanning all industries.
- You enjoy the challenge of meeting deadlines (e.g. tax season and financial reporting timelines).
Applying for the Accounting Minor
All students who are NOT enrolled in the School of Management are eligible to apply for the minor in accounting if they meet the following criteria:
- Have completed statistics and microeconomics with a grade of B- or better.
- Have earned a 3.2 cumulative GPA.
Students can apply for the minor by completing the SOM Major/Minor/Concentration Declaration form.
* Students are strongly encouraged to apply for the accounting minor by the end of their sophomore year or a summer/winter session may be necessary to complete the required coursework within a traditional (Fall/Spring) your-year schedule.
Minor Coursework
The accounting minor consists of seven core courses covering key accounting principles, processes and applications. In order to complete all minor requirements prior to graduation, students should begin their coursework at the very latest during the Fall of their junior year. The accounting minor may be combined with any non-SOM major.
Note: All minor courses, except for BLS 111 and ACCT 211, must be taken at Binghamton University. Credit may be accepted from another regionally accredited institution for a course equivalent to BLS 111. Credit may be accepted for ACCT 211 from another regionally accredited US college or university as long as the credits are lesss than 2 years old prior to taking ACCT 311.
| Course | Credits |
| BLS 111: Business Law | 3 |
| ACCT 211: Financial Accounting | 4 |
| ACCT 305: Cost Accounting | 3 |
| ACCT 311: Intermediate Accounting I | 3 |
| ACCT 312: Intermediate Accounting II | 3 |
| ACCT 460: Audit | 4 |
| ACCT 476: Entity Taxation or ACCT 475: Survey of Taxation | 4 |
| TOTAL | 24 |
To complete the minor students must earn a letter grade of C- or better in each required course.
Career Outlook
Accounting is an evolving field. Our accounting students become effective problem-solvers and in-demand recruits for major organizations and companies.
Binghamton University is considered a leading source of new hires for the Big Four accounting firms (Ernst & Young, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte and KPMG).
The University also ranks among the nation’s top public colleges for graduates who secure high-paying jobs in accounting, in addition to finance and marketing.
Accounting graduates from Binghamton work in a wide variety of fields in different industries:
- Auditor (Mazars LLP)
- Tax Associate (PwC)
- Advisory Analyst (Deloitte)
- Treasury and Trade Solutions Analyst (Citi)
- Valuation Analyst (Houlihan Lokey)
- Transaction Advisory (Alvarez & Marsal)
- Deal Advisory Associate (KPMG)
- Tech Risk Associate (EY)
- Project Management Consultant (RSM)
Outside the Classroom
Practice what you learn, develop your leadership skills and network with alumni by getting involved with any one of the School of Management student clubs and organizations. The Accounting Association is a great way to find out more about what it takes to thrive in a career in accounting and build a network of supportive peers.
Questions About the Minor?
The SOM Undergraduate Academic Advising Office is open for walk-in advising in building Academic A (AA) room 142. Staff can also be reached by email at somadvis@binghamton.edu or by calling 607-777-2316.
Learn More About our Graduate Programs
Students pursuing a minor in accounting are often looking to continue their education in order to be eligible to sit for the CPA exam, or deepen their understanding of business.
Questions About Our Graduate Programs? The SOM Graduate Academic Advising Office can be reached by email at somgrad@binghamton.edu or by calling 607-777-4696.
CPA Licensure
If you are interested in working towards a CPA licensure, you should first contact the applicable state board to learn it’s particular requirements. A summary of each states’ requirements and links to more detailed information can be found at the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Web site. For a comprehensive overview of the CPA Exam, see the Uniform CPA Examination Web site.
