Accounting
We prepare students to thrive as ethical leaders by focusing on the fundamentals of informed and ethical decision-making in the accounting profession. Whether you plan to become Certified Public Accountant or pursue a career in a related field, we believe all Carroll School students benefit from understanding how capital is managed and allocated.
Contact
Fulton Hall 520 | 617-552-3940
Mark Bradshaw, Chairperson
Maureen Chancey, Admin. Assistant
.
Why Accounting?
Undergraduate Programs
Accounting Concentration
Designed for those who plan on becoming Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), the accounting concentration prepares students for careers in public accounting, industry, financial institutions, government, information systems, law, or not-for-profit organizations.
Curriculum
6 courses
4
Required Courses
| Course # | Course Name |
|---|---|
| ACCT3301 | Financial Accounting Standards and Theory I* |
| ACCT3302 | Financial Accounting Standards and Theory II |
| ACCT3307 | Managerial Cost Analysis |
| ACCT4405 | Federal Taxation |
*After taking ACCT3301, students desiring to switch to the Accounting for Finance and Consulting concentration may do so by supplementing ACCT3301 with a one credit independent study that together will satisfy the ACCT3321 requirement for that concentration. For students wanting to switch to the Accounting concentratio after takig ACCT3321, FAST I (3301) is fulfilled by taking 3321. The request should be processed through the undergrad Dean's office by completing the course subsitution form Degree Audit Course form.
1
Additional Course from this list
| Course # | Course Name |
|---|---|
| ACCT6601 | Financial Accounting Standards and Theory III (available Spring only) |
| ACCT6615 | Advanced Federal Taxation |
| ACCT6618 | Accounting Information System (AIS)* |
Note: these three classes correspond to the discipline choices of the CPA.
*AIS will be a requirement to sit for the CPA exam in NY state starting in 2027.
Most states require between eight and eleven accounting classes (24 to 33 accounting credit hours) in order to be qualified as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Because the accounting concentration requires only six accounting classes (18 credits), in addition to ACCT1021 Financial Accounting (3 credit hours) included in the CSOM core, a student must take additional accounting classes. The department offers a number of accounting electives that students can take to satisfy their CPA requirements.
| Course # | Course Name |
|---|---|
| ACCT3309 | Audit & Other Assurance Services* |
| ACCT3330 | ESG Reporting and Analysis: Accounting for a Changing World (available Fall only) |
| ACCT3351 | Financial Statement Analysis |
| ACCT3399 | Directed Readings and Research |
| ACCT6601 | Financial Accounting Standards and Theory III (available Spring only) |
| ACCT6615 | Advanced Federal Taxation |
| ACCT6618 | Accounting Information Systems |
| ACCT6626 | Taxes & Management Decisions (available Spring only) |
| ACCT6635 | Forensic Accounting |
Please check with the state where you plan to practice to see if this course will count towards your required Accounting credits.
*Auditing is a requirement to sit for the CPA exam in all states and a requirement for admission to the Boston College Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) Program.
Accounting for Finance and Consulting Concentration
Building on the CSOM core curriculum, this concentration is designed to teach users of financial statements (rather than preparers of financial statements) how accounting information, shaped by regulation, has advantages and limitations in assessing the economics of an underlying business. Provides critical skills for a wide variety of careers in business, including financial analysis, investment banking, consulting, marketing, and management training programs.
Curriculum
4 courses
1
Required Course
| Course # | Course Name |
|---|---|
| ACCT3321 | Intermediate Accounting for Finance & Consulting* |
1
Course from this list
| Course # | Course Name |
|---|---|
| ACCT3307 | Managerial Cost Analysis |
| ACCT3351 | Financial Statement Analysis |
2
Courses from this list
| Course # | Course Name |
|---|---|
| ACCT3307 OR ACCT3351 | Managerial Cost Analysis OR Financial Statement Analysis** |
| ACCT3309 | Audit & Other Assurance Services |
| ACCT3330 | ESG Reporting and Analysis: Accounting for a Changing World (available Fall only) |
| ACCT3340 | AI Applications in Business: Insights from Corporate Data (available Spring only) |
| ACCT4405 | Federal Taxation |
| ACCT6601 | Financial Accounting Standards and Theory III (available Spring only) |
| ACCT6615 | Advanced Federal Taxation |
| ACCT6618 | Accounting Information Systems |
| ACCT6626 | Taxes & Management Decisions (available Spring only) |
| ACCT6635 | Forensic Accounting |
| BZAN3307 | Machine Learning |
| BZAN3375 | Operations Strategy & Consulting |
| ECON2228 | Econometric Methods |
| MFIN2235 | Investment Banking (fulfills Finance ‘Bucket’ elective) |
| MFIN6616 | Intro to the Investment Banking Industry (fulfills Finance ‘Other’ elective) |
*Students desiring to switch from the Accounting concentration after taking ACCT3301 (FAST I) have two options. You may take a one credit independent study which, together with ACCT3301, will satisfy the ACCT3321 requirement. Alternatively, you may take ACCT3302 as one of your electives. Both courses together will satisfy the ACCT3321 requirement. For students wanting to switch to the Accounting concentration after taking ACCT3321, FAST I (3301) is fulfilled by taking 3321. The request should be processed through the undergraduate dean's office by completing the course substitution form Degree Audit Course Substitution form.
**Both classes may be taken, and the second one will count as an elective.
- Expand and deepen your knowledge of external financial reporting and choices that managers make in preparing information for SEC filings. This knowledge is critical for both those who plan to use financial statements to analyze or value companies and those whose jobs require an understanding of how business decisions affect financial statements.
- Provide an understanding of the accounting data and information managers use for internal decision-making. For students interested in marketing or consulting, this knowledge enables you to accurately assess the true costs of producing a product or service and to identify the relevant information for make-versus-buy decisions. You will develop skills needed to accurately forecast revenues, expenses and product demand. You will also understand how to set important organizational controls.
- Provide students with the financial tools and accounting savvy needed to converse with upper level management about the operations of the firm.
Accounting for CPAs Minor
Designed for those who are interested in working in public accounting, the accounting curriculum sequence is designed to prepare a student for a professional career in public accounting, industry, financial institutions, government, information systems, law, or not-for-profit organizations.
Curriculum
6 courses
This MCAS minor does not ensure that a student meets all requirements for sitting for the CPA exam. Most states require a signifigant number of general business classes to sit for the CPA exam. This minor is only meant to give an MCAS student a start on meeting the many requirements. Interested students can work with faculty to construct a sequence of courses that will satisfy the requirements to sit for the CPA exam.
6
Required Courses
| Course # | Course Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT1021 | Financial Accounting | Prereq for all courses |
| ACCT3301 | Financial Accounting Standards and Theory I | |
| ACCT3302 | Financial Accounting Standards and Theory II | Prereq: ACCT3301 |
| ACCT3307 | Managerial Cost Analysis | |
| ACCT3309 | Auditing & Other Assurance Services* | |
| ACCT4405 | Federal Taxation |
*Auditing is a requirement to sit for the CPA exam in all states and a requirement for admission to the Boston College Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) Program.
After taking ACCT3301, students desiring to switch to the Accounting for Finance and Consulting minor may do so by supplementing ACCT3301 with a one credit independent study that together will satisfy the ACCT3321 requirement for that minor. Alternatively, you may take AACT3302 as one of your electives. Both courses together will satisfy the ACCT3321 requirement. For students wanting to switch to the Accounting for CPA minor after taking ACCT3321, FAST I (3301) is fulfilled by taking ACCT3321. The request should be processed through the undergraduate dean's office by completing the course substitution form Degree Audit Course Substitution form.
Most states require between eight and eleven accounting classes (24 to 33 accounting credit hours) in order to be qualified as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Because the accounting concentration requires only six accounting classes (18 credit hours), in addition to ACCT1021 Financial Accounting (3 credit hours) included in the CSOM core, a student must take additional accounting classes. The department offers a number of accounting electives that students can take to satisfy their CPA requirements.
| Course # | Course Name |
|---|---|
| ACCT3309 | Audit & Other Assurance Services* |
| ACCT3330 | ESG Reporting and Analysis: Accounting for a Changing World (available Fall only) |
| ACCT3351 | Financial Statement Analysis |
| ACCT3399 | Directed Readings and Research |
| ACCT6601 | Financial Accounting Standards and Theory III (available Spring only) |
| ACCT6615 | Advanced Federal Taxation |
| ACCT6618 | Accounting Information Systems |
| ACCT6626 | Taxes & Management Decisions (available Spring only) |
| ACCT6635 | Forensic Accounting |
*Auditing is a requirement for the CPA exam in all states.
Accounting for Finance and Consulting Minor
The Accounting for Finance and Consulting minor leverages the critical thinking and communication skills developed in the MCAS curriculum, providing students with key skills that distinguish them from other new hires in financial services or consulting. It also provides students with an advantage in graduate business programs.
Curriculum
6 courses
2
Required Courses
| Course # | Course Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT1021 | Financial Accounting | Prereq for all Accounting courses |
| ACCT3321 | Intermediate Accounting for Finance & Consulting* |
Then, students must choose either the consulting or finance track.
Consulting:
| Course # | Course Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT3307 | Managerial Cost Analysis | Prereq: ACCT1022 |
or
Finance:
| Course # | Course Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT3351 | Financial Statement Analysis | Prereq: MFIN1021 |
All students must choose three electives (check prerequisites for each course)**:
3
Electives from this list
| Course # | Course Name |
|---|---|
| ACCT1022 | Managerial Accounting (not offered after Spring 2025) |
| ACCT3307 | Managerial Cost Analysis |
| ACCT3309 | Audit & Other Assurance Services |
| ACCT3340 | AI Applications in Business: Insights from Corporate Data (available Spring only) |
| ACCT3330 | ESG Reporting and Analysis: Accounting for a Changing World (available Fall only) |
| ACCT3351 | Financial Statement Analysis |
| ACCT4405 | Federal Tax |
| ACCT6601 | Financial Accounting Standards and Theory III (available Spring only) |
| ACCT6615 | Advanced Federal Taxation |
| ACCT6618 | Accounting Information Systems |
| ACCT6626 | Taxes & Management Decisions (available Spring only) |
| ACCT6635 | Forensic Accounting |
| BZAN3307 | Machine Learning |
| BZAN3375 | Operations Strategy & Consulting |
| ECON2228 | Econometric Methods |
| MFIN1021 | Fundamentals of Finance*** |
| MFIN2235 | Investment Banking |
| MFIN6616 | Intro to the Investment Banking Industry |
*Students wishing to switch from the Accounting for CPA minor after taking ACCT3301 (FAST I) have two options. You may take a one credit independent study which, together with ACCT3301, will satisfy the ACCT3321 requirement. Alternatively, you may take ACCT3302 as one of your electives. Both courses together will satisfy the ACCT3321 requirement.
For students wanting to swicth to the Accounting for CPA minor after taking ACCT3321, FAST I (3301) is fulfilled by taking 3321. The request should be processed through the undergraduate dean's office by completing the course substitution form Degree Audit Course Substitution form.
**Electives may also include both courses from the other track. A maximum of one elective can count towards the requirements of two different minors/concentrations.
***MFIN1021 Fundamentals of Finance is a prerequisite for ACCT3351 and will count as an elective.
The objectives of the Accounting for Finance and Consulting minor are:
- Develop your knowledge of external financial reporting and choices that managers make in preparing information for SEC filings. This knowledge is critical for both those who plan to use financial statements to analyze or value companies and those whose jobs require an understanding of how business decisions affect financial statements.
- Provide an understanding of the accounting data and information managers use for internal decision-making. For students interested in consulting, this knowledge enables you to accurately assess the true costs of producing a product or service and to identify the relevant information for make-versus-buy decisions. You will develop skills needed to accurately forecast revenues, expenses and product demand. You will also understand how to set important organizational controls.
- Provide students with the financial tools and accounting savvy needed to converse with upper level management about the operations of the firm.
Full-Time Faculty
Our Students
Careers
BC accounting graduates are among the best in the world, as evidenced not only by their superior job placements and CPA exam pass rates, but also their solid grounding in a liberal arts core that is infused with the Jesuit tradition of service and high ethical standards.
163,000
Job openings in the accounting field each year
U.S. Department of Labor
Sample List of Employers
Deloitte
Binder Dijker Otte
Ernst and Young (EY)
EisnerAmper LLP
FORVIS
Goldman Sachs
JP Morgan Chase
KPMG
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Study Abroad
Immerse yourself in a different culture, discover aspects of your discipline and yourself, gain new perspective, and cultivate important contacts.
Given the international scope of the profession, Accounting concentrators or minors are encouraged to study abroad. The Accounting Department will endeavor to recognize elective courses for transfer to BC when appropriate. Prior approval is required in every case. All Accounting concentrators or minors should meet with the department assistant or department chair to plan their study abroad programs and to obtain definitive course approvals.