Accounting and Public Accounting
Bachelor of Science
Overview
From filing taxes and auditing to combatting fraud and managing accounts, BJU’s accounting program will prepare you to excel in the corporate world. Through the merging of Bible principles and real-world experiences in your courses, you’ll not only learn the essentials of business and accountancy, but also how to use them well for God’s glory.
Program
You’ll be equipped with the vast knowledge needed for success in the highly competitive accounting field. Through coursework designed to prepare you for real life situations, you’ll gain exposure to both traditional and cutting-edge business practices. And you’ll learn the essentials of auditing, managerial and financial accounting, taxation and general business.
Whether you want to enter public, corporate, government or not-for-profit accounting, you’ll learn how to work with people from different backgrounds and skill levels, create reports and lead your team to success. Yet you’ll also study the importance of biblical ethics, faithfulness and dependability in your field and develop them as a Christian accountant.
Upon completing this program, you’ll be prepared to sit for the national CPA exam, enter the workforce or gain admittance into grad schools.
BJU Core
In your liberal arts and Bible courses, you’ll learn to think critically, solve complex problems and be prepared to excel as a business professional in challenging work situations. Plus, you’ll learn how to view people as image bearers of God who need a Savior and be a vibrant witness for Christ.
Electives
Because the best accountants communicate clearly and concisely in any setting, oral and written communication courses prepare you well for your career. Completing technology courses such as computer science and business systems will also boost your accounting credentials.
Success
Marshall Franklin, ’87
BJU’s outcomes in developing leaders for business are stellar. The “national championship” level academic expectations, delivered by professional caring faculty, and experienced in an environment that facilitates spiritual growth produce strong but humble leaders. God then uses these graduates to advance the kingdom of Christ.
I arrived at the BJU campus in a state of rebellion and left equipped in my profession and committed to Christ. God used BJU to facilitate that change.
BJU’s strong graduates attract the interest of both international and regional firms. Through this interest, I started at EY Birmingham in audit, then transferred to the risk practice when we first incubated that business, and finally to a markets role in business development. In addition to Birmingham, I have lived in Bristol England, Atlanta, Paris, France, and Greenville.
God developed and then used my business talent to support my local churches, a Christian camp, an outreach to NASCAR fans, and most recently to scale a ministry serving recovering addicts. I am a skinny boy from Alabama and stand amazed that God finds a way to use me. He can do the same for you.
Your Future
Jobs
The accounting program unlocks many career possibilities.
- Accountants
- Auditors
- Consultants
- Attorneys
- FBI Agents
- Professors
- Chief Financial Officers (CFOs)
- Chief Executive Officers (CEOs)
Graduate Schools
Our accounting grads have been admitted into notable grad schools.
- Yale University
- Duke University
- Harvard University
- Cambridge University
- Dartmouth College
- University of Georgia
- University of South Carolina
- University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign)
Graduate Experience
God has allowed our accounting grads to excel in a wide range of business and ministry settings.
- Deloitte
- PwC
- Ernst & Young
- KPMG
- Michelin
- Amazon
- Ford
- Answers in Genesis
Career Support
Beginning your freshman year, accounting faculty will help you build and strengthen your resume. In addition to our Center for Career & Calling job resources, we’ll prepare you for the interview process.
To prepare you for ministry in accounting, we invite our accounting grads to speak about their real-world experiences and perspectives in your classes every semester.
CPA Status
Our accounting grads have consistently outperformed state and national CPA Exam pass rates for all 4 sections taken and hold CPA certification in over 25 states.
Learning Experience
University Business Association
In the University Business Association (UBA), you’ll connect with successful Christian business professionals. Using a forum setting, they’ll discuss how they’ve served Jesus in their careers and used their profession as a ministry platform. You’ll have the opportunity to become a leader in the UBA and organize various events, including a yearly Bible Conference offering fundraiser.
Internships
You’ll have the opportunity to complete both part- and full-time internships at prestigious accounting firms, businesses and ministries to learn from industry professionals in your area of interest. You’ll apply your book knowledge to real-world business environments, network with other people in accounting and even receive job offers before graduation.
Accounting Recruiting Event
Each winter our students attend a recruiting event where over 20 accounting firms and companies from Greenville, Charlotte and Atlanta come to hire them for full-time jobs and internships.
Faculty
Division of Accounting
Our accounting faculty have all earned advanced degrees and pursued careers in public and private accounting with notable companies. Their expertise in clearly teaching broad subject knowledge receives high student ratings.
They also have over 50 years of combined teaching experience and over 80 years of combined business experience, largely at the executive level.
Courses & Objectives
Sample Course Outline
1st Year
2nd Year
3rd Year
- Economics for the Professional
- Bible Doctrines
- Legal Environment & Ethics of Business
- Applied Statistics-EXP
- Accounting Elective
(3 credits)
4th Year
- Worldview & Apologetics
- Advanced Accounting
- Cost Accounting
- Business Elective (300/400-level)
(3 credits) - English or Writing Elective
(3 credits)
- Essential Science
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Finance Elective (300/400-level)
(3 credits) - Business Elective (300/400-level)
(3 credits) - Accounting Elective
(3 credits)
- Program
- BJU Core
- Elective
Program Objectives
Each student will:
- Analyze financial principles and techniques using basic data, accumulated knowledge, and innovative insights from a variety of disciplines.
- Create solutions to business problems while working in a team composed of individuals with a variety of roles and different levels of commitment.
- Communicate with appropriate delivery -in both spoken and written form -the scope and results of work completed.
- Acquire skills necessary to use technology tools effectively and efficiently [and apply those skills] to develop the other learning outcomes.
- Effectively lead in appropriate circumstances, recognizing the need for a variety of leadership styles.
- Demonstrate ethical behavior (integrity, objectivity) in business settings based on a biblical worldview.
Sample Course Outline
1st Year
2nd Year
3rd Year
- Economics for the Professional
- Bible Doctrines
- Legal Environment & Ethics of Business
- Applied Statistics-EXP
- Accounting Elective
(3 credits) - Electives
(4 credits)
4th Year
- Worldview & Apologetics
- Advanced Accounting
- Cost Accounting
- English or Writing Elective
(3 credits) - Business Elective (300/400-level)
(3 credits) - Electives
(4 credits)
- Essential Science
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Finance Elective (300/400-level)
(3 credits) - Business Elective (300/400-level)
(3 credits) - Accounting Elective
(3 credits) - Electives
(4 credits)
- Program
- BJU Core
- Elective
Program Objectives
Each student will:
- Analyze financial principles and techniques using basic data, accumulated knowledge, and innovative insights from a variety of disciplines.
- Create solutions to business problems while working in a team composed of individuals with a variety of roles and different levels of commitment.
- Communicate with appropriate delivery--in both spoken and written form--the scope and results of work completed.
- Acquire skills necessary to use technology tools effectively and efficiently (and apply those skills) to develop the other learning outcomes.
- Effectively lead in appropriate circumstances, recognizing the need for a variety of leadership styles.
- Demonstrate ethical behavior (integrity, objectivity) in business settings based on a biblical worldview.