Accounting Major

Undergraduate Program in New Brunswick

The Field

Accounting is an integral part of every business. Accounting professionals help to ensure that firms are run efficiently, public records are kept accurately, and taxes are paid properly and on time. They analyze and communicate financial information for various entities such as companies, individual clients, and federal, state and local governments. Beyond carrying out the fundamental tasks of the occupation—providing information to clients by preparing, analyzing, and verifying financial documents—many accountants also offer budget analysis, financial and investment planning, information technology consulting, and limited legal services.

Most accountants and auditors need at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field. Many accountants and auditors choose to obtain certification to help advance their careers, such as becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Any accountant filing a report with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is required by law to be a CPA. This may include senior level accountants working for or on behalf of public companies that are registered with the SEC. CPAs are licensed by their State Board of Accountancy.

Students can obtain a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Accounting at Rutgers Business School. Some major specializations include public accounting, tax accounting, cost accounting, government accounting, budget accounting and internal auditing. Additionally, students preparing for a career in public accounting, who meet specified academic requirements, have the opportunity to enroll in an accounting program at the master’s level. Many students continue on to take the CPA Exam after earning their BS in Accounting at RBS.

Key Facts

  • The “Big Four”Accounting agencies recruit from RBS
  • Students learn from world-class faculty in the Accounting & Information Systems department which was ranked #15 in the world for research productivity by Accounting and Finance
  • Approximately 20% of all accountants and auditors worked over 40 hours a week in 2010, but many worked longer hours
  • Many RBS accountants and auditors choose to obtain certification to help advance their careers, such as becoming a Certified Public Accountant

Career Paths

Public accountants perform a broad range of accounting, auditing, tax, and consulting activities for their clients, which may be corporations, governments, nonprofit organizations, or individuals. Some public accountants specialize in forensic accounting—investigating and interpreting white-collar crimes such as securities fraud and embezzlement, bankruptcies and contract disputes, and other complex and possibly criminal financial transactions, including money laundering by organized criminals. Management accountants—also called cost, managerial, industrial, corporate, or private accountants—record and analyze the financial information of the companies for which they work. Government Accountants may work as Internal Revenue Service agents or in financial management, financial institution examination, or budget analysis and administration. Internal auditors verify the effectiveness of their organization’s internal controls and check for mismanagement, waste, or fraud.

Rutgers Business School has become a valuable resource for the New York metropolitan corporate community. Students graduate from the Accounting program with a strong foundation, and are well prepared to enter the job market. Below is a list of occupations of some of our recent graduates:

Sample Occupations

  • Actuary
  • Collections Agent
  • Cost Accountant
  • Credit Analyst
  • FBI Agent
  • Financial Investment Analyst
  • Internal Auditor
  • IRS Investigator
  • Tax Accountant
  • Tax Auditor

Where Graduates are Working

  • Deloitte
  • Ernst & Young
  • Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • KPMG
  • New York Life
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers
  • Prudential Insurance

Compensation

According to the 2012 U.S. Bureau of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, bachelor’s degree candidates in accounting received offers with a median salary of $62,000.

How to Apply

Curriculum

RBS Core Courses

Business Core
Course CreditsNotes and Prerequisites
33:010:275 Intro. to Managerial Accounting3pre-req: 33:010:272
33:011:300 Business Forum2 
33:010:458 Accounting Information Systems3pre-req: 33:010:272
33:136:385 Statistical Methods in Business3 
33:136:386 Operations Management3 
33:140:320 Business Law I3 
33:390:300 Financial Management OR 33:390:310 Financial Management for Finance Majors333:390:310 required if double majoring in Finance or declaring a Finance Concentration
33:620:301 Intro to Management3 
33:620:302 Management Skills3 
33:620:492 Business Policy and Strategy3pre-reqs: 33:390:300 or 33:390:310, 33:620:301, 33:630:301; senior year only
33:630:301 Intro. to Marketing3 
33:799:301 Intro. to Supply Chain Management3 
Credit Total35 

Required Courses for students admitted after Fall 2022

Required Accounting Courses
Course Credits Notes and Prerequisites
33:010:325 Intermediate Accounting I 3 pre-req: 33:010:272
33:010:458 Accounting Information Systems (3) fulfilled in business core requirement, pre-req: 33:010:272
33:010:326 Intermediate Accounting II 3 pre-req: 33:010:325
33:010:451 Cost Accounting 3 pre-req: 33:010:275
33:010:415 Concepts of Auditing 3 pre-req: 33:010:325
33:010:421 Income Tax Accounting 3 pre-req: 33:010:325
33:010:401 Advanced Accounting 3 pre-req: 33:010:326
33:010:416 Audit Analytics 3 pre-req: 33:010:415
33:010:422 Topics in Income Taxation 3 pre-req: 33:010:326 and 33:010:421
Credit Total 24  

Required Courses for students admitted prior to Fall 2022

Required Accounting Courses
Course Credits Notes and Prerequisites
33:010:325 Intermediate Accounting I 3 pre-req: 33:010:272
33:010:458 Accounting Information Systems (3) fulfilled in business core requirement, pre-req: 33:010:272
33:010:326 Intermediate Accounting II 3 pre-req: 33:010:325
33:010:451 Cost Accounting 3 pre-req: 33:010:275
33:010:415 Concepts of Auditing 3 pre-req: 33:010:325
33:010:421 Income Tax Accounting 3 pre-req: 33:010:325
33:010:401 Advanced Accounting 3 pre-req: 33:010:326
33:010:416 Audit Analytics 3 pre-req: 33:010:415
Credit Total 21  

Accounting Major Special Notes

  • In order to declare Accounting as a major, you must earn a grade of B or better in Intro to Financial Accounting, 33:010:272.
  • Starting in Summer 2024, 33:390:310 Financial Management for Finance majors will not be offered. All RBS students will take 33:390:300 Financial Management regardless of major. A grade of B or higher will be required in 33:390:300 to declare the finance major or finance concentration and to take any additional courses in the finance department.
  • If you major in Accounting as your first, second or third major, you are required to take 33:010:458 Accounting Information System and 33:140:320 Business Law I. You will not earn credit for taking 33:136:370 Management Information System. You can earn credit towards graduation if you take 33:522:334 Business Ethics but it will not fulfill a major requirement.
  • Students with more than one Business School major may only double count one RBS course between those majors.