Build a foundation for career success and growth
- IACBE-accredited1
- 100% online classes you can take right at home
- Transfer up to 91 approved credits
- Typical program length: 36 months (3 years)
- Earn dual credit towards an MBA in Accounting and Finance
Your career in accounting IS possible with Herzing
Earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting with Herzing University and position yourself best to build a long, rewarding career.
Learn the fundamentals of business accounting and discover the leadership concepts and techniques necessary to qualify for a wide variety of career options and continue climbing the ladder.
- Learn online in Herzing’s Everywhere Classroom: on your schedule, at your pace
- Classes include topics in taxation, managerial cost accounting, advanced financial accounting, governmental and non-profit accounting, auditing and much more
- Small class sizes with experienced, accessible faculty (14:1 student/faculty ratio)
- Build an educational foundation to continue pursuing certification as a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) or Certified Public Accountant (CPA)2
- Graduate degree pathways: pursue the business side of accounting by working towards an MBA in Accounting and Finance, and earn further credentialing in a post-master’s certificate program.
Our many unique degree pathways in accounting and business provide you the opportunity to build a truly unique career path catered to your professional strengths.
With Herzing University you have a lifelong partner in learning dedicated to helping you reach your highest career goals. We’re here to help you take the next step.
Classes Start February 8th
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Curriculum
Bachelor’s degree in accounting classes & curriculum details
Our bachelor’s degree program prepares you for a challenging and rewarding career in accounting, including upper-level courses in financial accounting, auditing, taxation and cost accounting.
This program builds upon foundational accounting coursework from an associate degree curriculum. Additional classes emphasizing the decision-making skills required to support and manage accounting activities, including inventory tracking and the preparation of financial statements and tax returns.
All classes are delivered online in a virtual learning environment with a required research project or internship (if allowed in your state).
Program | Months* | Credits |
---|---|---|
Bachelor of Science in Accounting | 36 | 122 |
*Average number of months for students to complete program
Program availability varies by location
Required Business Core Courses
All courses, 36.00 semester credit hours, are required.
or BU 600 - Leadership and Organizational Behavior 3.00 semester credit hours.
or BU 630 - Project and Operations Management 3.00 semester credits
or BU 421 Operations Management 3.00 semester credit hours or BU 550 Research and Decision Making 3.00 semester credit hours
Required Courses in Accounting
All courses, 42.00 semester credit hours, are required.
Open Elective Courses
A minimum of 3.00 semester credit hours of open electives is required. Students who are qualified to take dual-credit courses may also take approved graduate courses. * Students in the state of Alabama must complete 3.00 additional semester credit hours in a special-topics course in advanced auditing and 3.00 semester credit hours in a special-topics course in advanced taxation. AC 221 - Taxation II satisfies the advanced taxation requirement. Students in the state of Alabama must take AC 435 - Advanced Auditing to satisfy the advanced auditing requirement.
Required Capstone or Internship
3.00 semester credit hours are required.
Required Courses in General Education
Students enrolled in this bachelor's degree must complete a minimum of 36.00 semester credit hours in general education distributed among the following disciplines. Refer to the General Education section of the catalog for specific information about courses within each discipline. 12.00 Semester Credit Hours in Communications 9.00 Semester Credit Hours in Humanities (must include 3 semester credit hours of cultural diversity) 6.00 Semester Credit Hours in Mathematics 3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Science 6.00 Semester Credit Hours in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Personal and Professional Development Courses
2.00 semester credit hours are required.
Dual Credit
Save time and money by earning dual credit
Students enrolled in Herzing University’s accounting bachelor’s degree program can get a head start on earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Qualifying undergraduate students who pursue a Herzing bachelor’s degree in accounting may apply up to 12 credits toward an MBA degree.
Graduates may choose one of several MBA concentrations including Accounting and Finance, or consider our Dual Concentration option to add additional emphasis to your MBA credential.

Requirements
Bachelor's degree program enrollment requirements
Prerequisites to enroll in the Herzing Accounting bachelor's degree program include:
- Completed high school diploma, GED or equivalent
- Meet and interview with a Herzing University admissions advisor
- Complete an enrollment application
Classes Start February 8th
Waived Enrollment FeeWhat can I do with an associate degree in accounting?
Earning a bachelor’s degree opens doors to many different types of career opportunities in the field of accounting in both the private and public sectors.
Possible jobs you can pursue with a bachelor’s degree include:
- Public Accountant
- Management Accountant
- Government Accountant
- Internal Auditor
- Budget Analyst
- Financial Examiner
- Tax Examiner
Job outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of accountants and auditors is projected to rise 6% from 2018-2028, slightly higher than the average of 5% across all U.S. occupations.
Now is a great time to begin working towards a degree to help you compete for jobs in a growing career field.
Note: to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), you will need to earn a bachelor’s degree and additional course credits, along often professional experience. State-specific requirements vary.2
How can I advance my career? After earning a bachelor’s degree you may consider pursuing an MBA in Accounting and Finance and additional business post-master’s certificates.
Frequently Asked Questions
A key difference between a diploma and a degree in accounting is required coursework.
Typically, an accounting diploma takes 6-8 months, while a degree may take two or more years. In a diploma program, you'll take classes specific to the field of accounting with no general education courses.
It's a cost-effective way to get foundational knowledge in a subject and can help you qualify for an entry-level job.
While you may not be required to hold a degree to qualify for jobs that include bookkeeping and accounting tasks, employers may prefer earning a degree if you plan to continue advancing your career in accounting and finance. It’s difficult to obtain senior-level roles in accounting without earning an accounting-specific undergraduate degree.
Many states require that you must have a bachelor’s degree plus additional credit hours to sit for the exam to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). State-specific requirements may vary.2
Yes! All of Herzing’s accounting programs can be completed online on your schedule, at your pace.
Herzing offers the following undergraduate accounting degree options:
- Associate of Science in Accounting/Associate of Applied Science in Accounting
- Bachelor of Science in Accounting
We also offer an online Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Accounting and Finance.
Accounting is much more specific to managing and analyzing money in and out of organizations. An accounting degree offers students in-depth knowledge to a range of advance accounting principles and processes.
Business administration is often limited to basic accounting principles. Instead, a degree in business administration focuses on many aspects of business, including operations, management, and business strategy.
Students choosing a business administration degree program with an emphasis on accounting and finance may learn big picture business principles while learning the fundamentals of day-to-day financial management and analysis.
We strive to make going back to school to begin your career in accounting as affordable as possible. Herzing offers several options for financial aid, including scholarships, grants, and loans.
You can use the Herzing University Tuition Wizard to find an estimate for tuition and expenses.
The difference between finance and accounting is that accounting focuses on tracking the day-to-day flow of money into or out of an organization, while finance is the general management of assets and liabilities and includes future growth planning. The curriculums of their respective degree programs follow suit.
Additionally, if you would like to pursue your CPA, a degree in accounting is often the more preferred choice.
According to 2019 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), accountants and auditors earn an average salary of $79,520 per year ($38.23 per hour).** Pay can vary based on many factors, including the education you’ve earned, experience in the field, specific responsibilities of the job, and state of employment.
Yes!
Earning a bachelor’s degree represents your opportunity to confidently enter a growing career field with excellent upward mobility. Investing in yourself is always worth it – and we exist to help you earn the education you need to continue advancing your career!
A Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting is four-year degree that requires more courses related to the accounting major to prepare students for entry-level positions in corporate, nonprofit, or government accounting.
A Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Accounting puts more emphasis on elective classes and a broader liberal arts education. This can be helpful for students who would like to pursue a double major or minor.
Herzing’s Bachelor of Science in Accounting (BS) represents a career-focused education designed to prepare you for a career in accounting. Our goal is to help you reach your highest career goals, and our curriculum is built to help you reach them.
Program Finder
Bachelor of Science in Accounting Degree Programs
Showing 1 program for the Online campus
This Bachelor of Science in Accounting program prepares students for challenging careers and positions of leadership in both private and public sectors. It offers upper-level courses in financial accounting, auditing, taxation and cost accounting and introduces students to multiple functional aspects of business in general. Upon completion of this program, students are able to apply computer, communication, and decision-making skills to management accounting techniques to support accounting activities. These activities include maintenance of accounting records, the preparation of financial statements, inventory tracking, valuation, and the preparation of tax returns.
This Bachelor of Science in Accounting program at Herzing University does not fulfill all of the requirements for a graduate to take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam or apply for licensure as a CPA in most states/jurisdictions. Most states/jurisdictions require a specific amount of study beyond a bachelor's degree (typically, a total of 150 semester credit hours, but this varies by jurisdiction) as well as several years of professional experience working in accounting to be eligible to apply for licensure. Some states (including, but not necessarily limited to, Texas) require the program to have specific programmatic accreditation for graduates to apply for licensure as a CPA, which this program does not have at this time, and no representation has been made as to when or if such an accreditation will be obtained. Applicants interested in becoming a CPA should check with their state board of accountancy regarding CPA eligibility requirements prior to enrolling in any accounting program. Students planning to pursue certifications other than the CPA exam should also contact the respective certifying organization to confirm requirements for certification prior to enrolling in any accounting program.
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Accreditation
Accreditation & Disclosures
1. Herzing University has received specialized accreditation for its business programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) located at 11374 Strang Line Road in Lenexa, Kansas, USA.
- View Herzing University Accreditation and Approvals
- View Programs Accredited by the IACBE
- Download the IACBE Public Disclosure of Student Achievement
2. This Bachelor of Science in Accounting program at Herzing University does not fulfill all of the requirements for a graduate to take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam or apply for licensure as a CPA in most states/jurisdictions. Most states/jurisdictions require a specific amount of study beyond a bachelor’s degree (typically, a total of 150 semester credit hours, but this varies by jurisdiction) as well as several years of professional experience working in accounting to be eligible to apply for licensure. Some states (including, but not necessarily limited to, Texas) require the program to have specific programmatic accreditation for graduates to apply for licensure as a CPA, which this program does not have at this time, and no representation has been made as to when or if such an accreditation will be obtained. Applicants interested in becoming a CPA should check with their state board of accountancy regarding CPA eligibility requirements prior to enrolling in any accounting program. Students planning to pursue certifications other than the CPA exam should also contact the respective certifying organization to confirm requirements for certification prior to enrolling in any accounting program.
** Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography and degree field, affect career outcomes. Herzing does not guarantee a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salary.