Accounting (BSBA)

About

The Accounting (BSBA) degree at Appalachian State University introduces and further develops skills in various areas of accounting, including the recording and reporting of financial performance, tax return preparation, cost accounting, information systems and auditing. Knowledge and skills in these areas prepare you to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and pursue a career in public accounting, industry or government.

Major selling points of the program include employability and faculty/student interaction. Faculty members in the Department of Accounting are known for giving personal attention to their students, and their connections with employers foster networking opportunities that lead to career-starting internships and full-time jobs. Accounting students are strongly encouraged to participate in an internship, for which they will receive academic credit and gain valuable experience in the accounting profession (most internships are also well paid). The majority of internships lead to permanent employment for students after graduation.

After Graduation

Employment: Students find jobs in public accounting, industry, non-profit organizations, and government. Firms that consistently hire App State accounting graduates include: PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte, KPMG, Ernst & Young, Grant Thornton, McGladrey, BDO, Dixon Hughes Goodman, CohnReznick, Cherry Bekaert, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and a number of other smaller firms in and around North Carolina.

Graduate school: Many graduates stay at App State for the one-year Master of Science in Accounting degree. This degree provides advanced education for people pursuing careers in accounting at the professional level.

Career Exploration website

Professional Licensure

This is a program that can lead to licensure or certification in North Carolina. Appalachian State University cannot confirm whether this program will meet the requirements for professional licensure in other states or territories.

If this applies to you, check the Professional Licensure webpage for information on licensure requirements and licensing agencies in other states. Or, you may address questions to State Authorization at App State at stateauthorization@appstate.edu or 828-262-7559.

People

Alumna Profile: Rachel Foutz ’19

A leadership institute guided Foutz in finding her passion: helping veterans fulfill their dreams. Why accounting? “You can’t make your dreams happen if you aren’t budgeting correctly,” she explained. Read about Foutz’s experience as an App State student.
Alumnus Profile: Luke Eggers ’17

Eggers returned home to Ashe County after graduation, accepting a staff accountant position at SkyLine Membership Corp., a telecommunications corporation headquartered in West Jefferson.
Alumna Profile: Elizabeth Hinson ’16 ’17
Her interest in helping friends save money drew Elizabeth Hinson to major in accounting. She now works for PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Alumnus Profile: Nicholas Gilliam ’17
“As a whole, Appalachian sets its students up for success at the caliber they desire, without letting them get lost in the shuffle.”

- Dr. Nicholas Gilliam, graduate student at the University of Notre Dame
Alumnus Profile: Brad Sparks '97 '98
Brad Sparks is a director with the accounting firm KPMG LLP, working in KPMG Corporate Responsibility, a division of KPMG Forensic, in Los Angeles.
Alumnus Profile: Marshal Croom '86
It’s quite likely you’ll run into the chief risk officer for Lowe’s Companies Inc. while you’re an accounting student.

Courses

Minors

A minor is not required. A popular choice, however, is Computer Information Systems.

View all minors

Engagement Outside the Classroom

Beta Alpha Psi (BAP): International honorary organization for financial information students and professionals. The App State chapter of Beta Alpha Psi has consistently earned superior chapter status from the national organization throughout the past 25 years.

Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society: Membership in this group is the highest international recognition a student in business can receive in an undergraduate or master’s program at an AACSB accredited school.

Institute of Management Accountants (IMA): IMA is a community dedicated to connecting accounting, finance and business students on college campuses. App State’s student IMA chapter engages in hosting and sponsoring talks with local business leaders, helps students find opportunities and make career decisions, and provides community service opportunities.

Global Learning

App State is committed to introducing students to different cultures and teaching them how to live and interact in a global society.

All business students fulfill an international requirement, and an increasing number choose to study abroad through a wide variety of exchange programs. The college maintains partnerships with universities across the globe and continues to expand groundbreaking opportunities in emerging markets.

Admission Requirements

Requirements for declaring a major within the Walker College of Business are detailed here.

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Degrees

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Costs and Aid

Why Appalachian?

App State accounting majors have a CPA pass rate that exceeds the national and North Carolina averages.
The department hosts an annual “Meet the Firms” event, which brings approximately 25 accounting firms looking for interns and full-time employees to campus to meet and connect with students.
Prior to participating in the internship recruiting process, junior-level students are encouraged to attend a series of seminars on career opportunities, resume preparation, interviewing skills and other areas of career development.
Many students stay for App State’s one-year Master of Science in Accounting degree, which provides additional preparation for students’ future careers as well as support for preparing for the CPA exam.
The Department of Accounting awards more than 50 scholarships each year, with amounts ranging from $500 to $5,000.

Location

Boone and Hickory*

*The Hickory Campus location is pending accreditation from SACSCOC for this program. Accreditation is expected in summer 2023.

Careers

Starting salaries average between $45,000 and $55,000. Career possibilities include the following:

Auditor
Bank Examiner
Chief Financial Officer
Controller
Cost Accountant
FBI Agent
Financial Analyst
Forensic Accountant
Fraud Examiner
Governmental Accountant
Internal Auditor
IRS Investigator
Management Consultant
Systems Analyst
Tax Specialist

View more career possibilities

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Contacts

Walker College of Business

Department of Accounting

Dr. Pennie Bagley
Chair
bagleypl@appstate.edu
828-262-6213

Department of Accounting
The Department of Accounting has built a strong reputation for excellence in accounting education, and is highly regarded by accounting employers in North Carolina and throughout the Southeast.

Walker College of Business
Accredited and well ranked
- Accredited by AACSB International – the premier global accrediting body for schools of business – since 1976. It is among only one-third of U.S. business schools and 15% of business programs worldwide that hold this accreditation.
- Consistently named one of “The Best Business Schools” by The Princeton Review.
Global Emphasis
- An international requirement of all business majors, which can include study abroad in traditional and emerging markets.
- Opportunities to participate in a variety of short-term international programs in locations throughout the world, which are open to all business majors and designed to develop international business skills and intercultural knowledge — including the Holland Fellows Program for Business Study in Asia, which provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for selected students to gain global business acumen through a semesterlong international sustainable business consulting project, alumni mentorship, career coaching and a uniquely curated business study abroad experience.
- The annual Global Opportunities Conference, which highlights innovative and entrepreneurial ways of addressing global challenges.
Highlighting Sustainability
- Leaders in creating a world where environmental, societal and economic qualities exist in balance to meet the resource needs of today and of future generations.
Outstanding Academics
- Small classes and easy access to faculty, who are focused on teaching and learning and engaged in research.
- An emphasis on practical experience and interaction with professionals through the Boyles Lecture Series, McLeod Entrepreneur Summit, Global Opportunities Conference, Business for Good conference and other annual events.
- Accelerated Admission for select MBA programs
Student Support Services
- Student Support Services that include academic advising, scholarships, the Truist Student Leadership Center, which provides opportunities for business students to build job and life skills through professional and leadership development training, and the Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship, which aims to help students and recent alumni launch successful businesses and enhance Western North Carolina’s economy.