

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.
Fulton Hall 520 | 617-552-3940
Mark Bradshaw, Chairperson
Maureen Chancey, Admin. Assistant
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The study of accounting is the study of a language that describes how capital is allocated and managed by organizations.
In our increasingly globalized economy, this language of business is becoming even more important as capital flows across borders.
Accountants play a central role in business management, performance assessment, and data reporting to investors, regulators, and other members of society.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
6 courses
2
Required Courses
Course # | Course Name | Notes |
---|---|---|
ACCT1021 | Financial Accounting | Prereq for all Accounting courses |
ACCT3321 | Intermediate Accounting for Finance & Consulting* |
Course # | Course Name | Notes |
---|---|---|
ACCT3307 | Managerial Cost Analysis | Prereq: ACCT1022 |
Course # | Course Name | Notes |
---|---|---|
ACCT3351 | Financial Statement Analysis | Prereq: MFIN1021 |
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:
Class of 2023
Professor Tone Svetelj told me to look just outside of Higgins Hall where vibrant flowers of all colors flowed in the warm spring air, telling me that the present is always precious and passing. While I still maintain structure to my flow, after that day I stopped wasting time. If there is anything I want to do, I go for it.
Hometown: Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY
Concentration/major: Concentrations in Finance and Accounting
Activities: Consumer Insights Panel Lab Research Assistant, Carroll School of Management Peer Advisor, and Non-Profit Board Member, Communications Chair for AguaClara Reach
Formative Experience at BC: After one philosophy class I wanted clarification on the Confessions of Augustine by Saint Augustine of Hippo and my professor, Tone Svetelj, ended up giving me a thirty minute lecture on how one must go with the flow. He told me to look just outside of Higgins Hall where vibrant flowers of all colors flowed in the warm spring air, telling me that the present is always precious and passing. While I still maintain structure to my flow, after that day I stopped wasting time. If there is anything I want to do, I go for it.
Favorite class?: Organizational Behavior with Professor Jacob Brown. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the way people carried out their lives altered dramatically. Understanding the dynamics of a changing environment while living in the midst of many, our class worked in teams to analyze shifting organizational structures and how they could be improved during uncertain times. Emphasizing psychological safety and wellbeing all throughout that semester, this class reminded me to stop and look back once in a while and appreciate the process rather than stumble forward. To play off of this analogy, this class helped me walk with greater confidence.
BC in three words: Tranquil, charismatic, and serendipitous
Class of 2023
Professor Salisbury created an inviting classroom atmosphere and empowered us to think critically.
Hometown: Cambridge, MA
Concentration/major: Concentration in Marketing with a double major in Philosophy
Activities: BC Big Brothers Big Sisters, APPA Volunteers, Kairos, Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC), Orientation Leader, and Student Admission Program (SAP).
Formative Experience at BC: My most formative experience at BC has been having the opportunity to lead a Kairos retreat. The retreat gave me the time and space to think about all the different relationships in my life. I got to form genuine connections with my peers. Kairos helped me learn how to find the good in everyone I come across.
Favorite class?: My favorite class has been Customer Research and Insights for Marketing Decisions with Professor Linda Salisbury. I really enjoyed the hands on approach of the class. I learned marketing research skills that I know will benefit me in my future career path. I also got the opportunity to work on a team with my classmates to research a potential opportunity for the company of our choice. Professor Salisbury created a inviting classroom atmosphere and empowered us to think critically.
BC in three words: Reflective, compassionate, and driven
Class of 2023
I feel comfortable going into the [Fulton Advising] office for anything. Whether it's help with course planning, career advice, or just life advice, I know I have people who care about me and who are looking out for me in the office.
Hometown: Farmington, CT
Concentration/major: Concentration Finance / Major: Studio Art
Activities: Investment Banking Association, Fulton Leadership Society
Formative Experience at BC: My most formative experience at BC has definitely been being a mentor for the IBA. As a mentee my sophomore year, this club, more specifically the seniors and alumni in this club made me realize the power of being a BC student. It made me realize how supported BC students are by their peers, their alumni, their professors, and overall the school. When I applied to be a mentor my junior year I knew I wanted to pay it forward, and it truly has been the most rewarding experience. It has not only
Favorite class?: My favorite class of all time at BC was Business Law with Professor Finucane. This class was by far one of the most engaging and formative academic experiences I have ever had. Not only did it change the way I approach learning, but also my confidence in voicing my opinions and beliefs in and out of the classroom. Professor Finucane employed real word examples to facilitate conversation and discussion. He encouraged equal participation in the class by prompting individual discussion topics. He also incorporated students into his stories and examples, which brought so much more energy to the three-hour-long night class. Overall, the class was beyond engaging and really shaped the student I am now.
BC in three words: Welcoming, Motivated, Supportive
Class of 2018
It was actually through conversations I had with those involved with BC—particularly young alumni—that I became inspired to look into BC more and more. I eventually chose BC not only because of what they were saying, but also because of the way they were saying it.
Hometown: Wilmington, DE
Major/Minor: Accounting / History
Activities: Student Admissions Program, Residence Hall Association, Appalachia Volunteers, Various Intramural Sports
What has been your most formative experience (so far)? When I came to Boston College, I was expecting to have very intense discussions about faith, spirituality, philosophy, and social justice in classroom settings, mostly through the core curriculum. However, something has surprised me greatly, and has absolutely been one of the most formative experiences I've had thus far, is that those conversations are not exclusive to classroom settings. It is not uncommon on campus to be asked questions that will challenge you and force you to be reflective during lunch or dinner with your friends in the dining hall, late at night with your roommates, or during one of your meetings for one of the clubs you're involved with. It's a really special community to be a part of.
Your BC experience in three words: challenging, reflective, energizing
Class of 2018
I had the opportunity to study abroad in Milan, Italy, through a partnership BC has with Università Bocconi. I’d never been to Europe before and I got to meet up with some classmates studying in Barcelona and Dublin—it was great to see the BC spirit, 3,000 miles away.
Hometown: Basking Ridge, NJ
Concentration/major: Information Systems, Computer Science
Activities: Women Innovators Network, Start@Shea, Computer Science Society, Smart Women Securities, intramural soccer
Favorite class?: TechTrek, where you travel to Silicon Valley and visit tech companies and experience that atmosphere—and what’s not to love about the free food? Just being there, I knew I definitely wanted to have a career in tech. And because of the great business skills and analytical skills I got from my other BC classes, I could easily see myself having a business role in one of those major tech companies.
Most formative experience: Serving on the executive boards of the Women Innovators Network and Start@Shea, which are pretty similar in that they’re trying to increase the reach of entrepreneurship on campus, to show that the tech business is not just a Carroll School thing and not just a male thing. Through both, I’ve gotten to host a lot of cool events, make connections with alumni, and find out what they’re doing in the real world.
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
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.