Accounting

About the Concentration

Concentration: 24.0 quarter credits

The accounting concentration is designed to provide basic conceptual accounting and business knowledge for careers in accounting and taxation.

Accounting produces information for making decisions about organizations. The LeBow College of Business's accounting coursework is designed to provide basic conceptual accounting and business knowledge for careers in accounting and taxation in many settings. Courses cover accounting, auditing, tax preparation, and related topics.

The greatest range of career opportunities are in public, private and government accounting. Professional accountants are normally certified as public accountants (CPA) or managerial accountants (CMA) after passing professional examinations. The University's co-op program provides an advantage to accounting students who plan to practice locally. Time spent working in co-op internship positions as a student is often accepted as part of the two years of accounting experience required for the Certified Public Accountant certificate in Pennsylvania and many other states.

Students planning to take the CPA exam must take additional accounting coursework. Interested students should contact the Department of Accounting at the beginning of the third year to ensure ample time to fulfill such requirements.

Students interested in pursuing a dual concentration in accounting and finance should contact the department heads.

Concentration Requirements

A minimum of 28 ELEC (BUSN/ Non BUSN) credits are required to fulfill degree completion. Students planning to take the CPA exam should review the educational requirements established by the State Board of Accountancy in the state in which they plan to sit for the examination. Students are qualified to sit for the examination in Pennsylvania by meeting the degree requirements above. However, candidates planning to apply for a license on or after January 1, 2012 have to obtain the equivalent of 150 semester credit hours, including 36 semester credit hours in accounting subjects.

Sample Plan of Study

Co-op/Career Opportunities

Public, private, and government accounting provide the greatest range of career possibilities. Professional accountants are normally certified as public accountants (CPA) or managerial accountants (CMA) after passing the appropriate professional examinations.

Drexel’s co-op program provides an added advantage to accounting students who plan to practice locally; time spent working in co-op positions as a student is often accepted as part of the two years of accounting experience needed for CPA certification in Pennsylvania.

Drexel’s accounting graduates accept positions in public accounting, private industry, government, and nonprofit organizations. Many also choose to continue their studies in graduate schools, pursuing such degrees as the MBA, master’s in taxation, or the PhD

Overall, Drexel’s graduates enjoy a high placement rate. International business graduates are employed in a variety of corporate settings, including the pharmaceutical, banking and telecommunication industries. Some students pursue graduate studies or find employment in multilateral governmental organizations.

Visit the Drexel Steinbright Career Development Center page for more detailed information on co-op and post-graduate opportunities.

Minor in Accounting  

• No more than 2 courses or 8 credits (or 3 courses and 9 credits if classes were taken under the “old curriculum”) required by a student’s major may be counted towards this minor.
• A grade of “C” (2.0) or better must be earned for each course in this minor for it to be counted.
• No more than two transfer courses may be used to complete this minor. Transfer credits must be taken before matriculated at Drexel.
• Students in the process of completing a degree granting program out of the Goodwin College of Evening and Professional Studies, (BS or BSCOEPS), may enroll in 700 sections of the courses they choose that meet the minor requirements. All other students in the process of completing a degree granting program from other colleges/schools within Drexel University must enroll in the 500 sections of the courses they choose that meet the minor requirements.
• Students should check the pre-requisites of all classes when selecting electives. It is the responsibility of the student to know pre-requisites
• Business Administration and Business & Engineering majors may not minor in Accounting, Business, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, International Economics, Legal Studies, Management Information Systems, Marketing and/or Operations Management.

All prospective students should meet with an advisor from the College as soon as possible. Call 215-895-2110 to set up an appointment.

Facilities

So that Drexel business students gain the most up-to-date access to both hardware and software used in professional settings, major advances in the technologies used in the corporate world are constantly being matched by upgrades on campus.

Beginning in summer 2011, construction will begin on a 12-story, $92 million academic center for the LeBow College of Business, replacing Matheson Hall. The new state-of-the-art will continue strengthening faculty research, student learning and the nourishment of a community consisting of faculty, students, alumni and business leaders. The building will help unite faculty, students and staff now housed in four locations throughout Drexel's main campus and is expected to open in 2014.

The Leonard Perlstein Business Learning Center houses state-of-the-art classrooms, labs, and tiered mock boardrooms, as well as the LeBow College Business Executive Education Center.

Accounting and Tax Faculty