Bachelor's Accounting Degree

Degree: BSBA Mode of study: On-Campus Location: Main Campus
Degree Type
Bachelor's Degree
Program Type
Undergraduate
Location
Main Campus - Cape
College
Business & Computing
Department
Accounting, Economics & Finance
Careers
<span class="TextRun BCX2 SCXW123758308" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW123758308"></span></span><span class="TextRun BCX2 SCXW123758308" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun BCX2 SCXW123758308">With an accounting degree, you&amp;#8217;ll be prepared to pass the CPA exam and start a career in finance.</span></span>
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Bachelor's accounting degree students sit together at a long table and work on assignments for their Accounting Degree

Do more than crunch the numbers. Advance your understanding of their meaning and their ability to impact a business.

Our Bachelor’s in Accounting program prepares you for success in a range of accounting fields. As an accounting major, you'll receive hands-on experience in financial reporting, auditing, tax planning, and more. This degree equips you with the expertise and practical skills needed to analyze financial information, solve problems, and provide valuable insights to businesses.

What You’ll Do  

As an accounting major, you'll take courses in financial and managerial accounting, business law, and auditing, while mastering tools and technology that drive modern accounting practices. You'll also have opportunities to apply your knowledge through internships, giving you real-world experience in corporate, nonprofit, and government settings.  

  • Engage with qualified, award-winning faculty in Robert A. Dempster Hall, a beautiful business building with the look and feel of a corporate environment. 
  • Chart your future toward any avenue of accounting, from tax examiner to auditor to financial analyst to certified public account (CPA). 
  • Explore the more than 30 study abroad programs offered around the globe — from Algeria to Uruguay and from Spain to South Korea.

What Can You Do with an Accounting Degree?

A bachelor's degree in accounting opens doors to a wide range of careers. Graduates often become accountants, financial analysts, or auditors in industries like finance, healthcare, and government. Many also choose to pursue certifications like CPA or CMA, which can enhance your career prospects and lead to leadership positions. With this degree, you'll be prepared for a successful and rewarding future in accounting.

Leverage your bachelor's degree in accounting to sit for and pass the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. Through a curriculum grounded in experiential learning, you will develop the skills and mindset needed to thrive in a dynamic career.  An advisory board of partners from St. Louis and the region provides curriculum guidance and industry insight. Many states, including Missouri, require 120 hours to sit for the CPA exam.  However, all states require 150 credit hours to obtain CPA licensure 30 hours beyond what the accounting program requires. Southeast offers the MBA with an Accounting Option to complete the remaining hours needed for licensure. You can enroll in fifteen graduate hours in accounting en route to completing the MBA and while preparing for the CPA Exam.

Accounting Degree Map

Explore the courses you'll need to complete your degree

View the Degree Map

Outcomes & Careers

  • $79k

    Accountant and Auditor 

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for an accountant/auditor is $79,880.

  • $99k

    Financial Analyst

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for a financial analyst is $99,890.  


     

  • $85k

    Budget Analyst

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for budget analysts is $84,940.  


     

What You'll Study

Degree Map

As an accounting major, you’ll learn the rules and procedures of financial, cost, tax, and governmental accounting. You’ll complete a minimum of 120 credit hours to complete this degree, including the general education requirements and at least 39 senior division hours. 

 

What will it cost?

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Get Funding for Your Education

Missouri’s opened the door to a more educated workforce. We want to help you walk through it. If you’re an adult learner and a Missouri resident returning to college, learn about the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant. It’s a statewide financial aid program that can be used to pursue a certificate, degree or industry-recognized credential in a high need area in Missouri. This major is eligible for the Fast Track grant.

Read More About Fast Track

Become a Redhawk.

Do more than dream about the future. Take the first steps to make it all happen.

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Explore Our Accounting BSBA

  • two students in a class for an accounting bachelor of science in business administration discuss their assignment together
  • two students in a class for a bachelors in accounting at southeast missouri state work with their instructor on a class assignment
  • a group of students are gathered around a table working on an assignment for their accounting bachelors degree class
  • the outside of the Dempster Hall building at Southeast Missouri State University. Dempster is home to the Harrison College of Business

Getting the Job

Your education is just one piece to launching an extraordinary career. Once you’ve mastered the material, you still have to find the job you want, make the right connections, sell your knowledge and experience—and if all this is giving you anxiety, don’t panic. SEMO’s Career Services office is here to help you with the next step. They’ll provide the expertise and support you need, so you’re landing your dream job in no time.

Career Services

Accreditations

  • AACSB Accreditation Logo
  • NIBS Accreditation Logo

What Can You Do with an Accounting Degree? 

At Southeast, an accounting education goes beyond preparing you to pass the CPA exam. We have amazing success stories to prove it. Southeast alumni are tackling remote consulting internships, conducting audits for the Big Four accounting firms, and managing corporate accounts across the country. 

And while most accounting graduates go into the field of accounting, the opportunities don’t end there. Typical jobs for accounting alumni include: 

  • Accountant 
  • Auditor 
  • Certified public accountant (CPA) 
  • Budget analyst 
  • Business consultant 
  • Financial analyst 
  • Finance manager 
  • Tax examiner 

Harrison College of Business & Computing

Explore all that we do here. You’re up for creating and innovating, digging deep into data and trends, applying skills to solve analytics problems, and for planning the next big thing. We believe in providing you with empowering opportunities to fine-tune your skill set needed in the global marketplace. If this sounds good to you, we should talk.

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Douglas C. Greene Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Come to campus with your fresh ideas and let’s chart a path to make them happen. At Southeast, our students gain access to one of the largest entrepreneurship programs in the Midwest, a place that fosters a culture of creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Learn More

Beta Alpha Psi

Meet other students in your major and connect with those looking to chart a course toward an accounting career. The Thomas K. McCain Mu Xi chapter of Beta Alpha Psi at Southeast, a professional accounting and financial information fraternity based on academics, professionalism and service.

Learn More

Additional Resources

Related Programs

View All Programs
Accounting, Economics, & Finance
Contact Us
Phone
(573) 651-2819
Location
Office
Dempster Hall 205A
Mailing Address
One University Plaza, MS 5845
Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63701

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