Students in accounting programs such as the one at Boise State University get a thorough introduction to the finance field; required classes include introduction to financial accounting, introduction to managerial accounting, cost accounting, financial statement auditing and a survey of federal income taxation. Students at Pace University receive training in financial, managerial, intermediate and cost accounting, along with an introduction to accounting information systems, which may include spreadsheets and other proprietary software that accounting businesses use. At Saint Joseph's University, classes include concepts of financial accounting and essentials of organizational behavior.
Whether prospective accountants plan to join a firm or hang out their own shingle, academic programs prepare them for entry into the business world. Boise State University's roster includes courses in principles of marketing, leadership skills and principles of operations management. Pace University covers legal pitfalls in its education coursework, including business law and advanced business law. Business statistics, principles of marketing and quantitative methods for business are offered at Saint Joseph's University.
Students choosing a specialized path of study, especially at the master's level or beyond, will have more in-depth coursework. Pace University's master of science in accounting program requires studies of macroeconomics in the global environment, modeling of information systems, accounting for planning and control, advanced auditing practice, corporate taxation for accountants, contemporary accounting issues and data analysis and decision making. Some undergraduate programs offer specialization tracks as well. At Saint Joseph's University, bachelor's candidates may narrow their focus to public accounting, financial services, information systems, international accounting and general accounting.
Nearly every school offering an accountant bachelor's program requires students to take a number of general education courses to round out their education. This may include a foreign language, physical education and art. Students in the accounting program at Saint Joseph's University must take finite mathematics, calculus and a behavioral science course along with their accounting curriculum.