The Field
Accounting is an integral part of every business. Accounting professionals help to ensure that firms are run efficiently, public records are kept accurately, and taxes are paid properly and on time. They analyze and communicate financial information for various entities such as companies, individual clients, and federal, state, and local governments. Beyond carrying out the fundamental tasks of the occupation—providing information to clients by preparing, analyzing, and verifying financial documents—many accountants also offer budget analysis, financial and investment planning, information technology consulting, and limited legal services.
Most accountants and auditors need at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field. Many accountants and auditors choose to obtain certification to help advance their careers, such as becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Any accountant filing a report with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is required by law to be a CPA. This may include senior level accountants working for or on behalf of public companies that are registered with the SEC. CPAs are licensed by their State Board of Accountancy.
Students can obtain a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Accounting at Rutgers Business School. Some major specializations include public accounting, tax accounting, cost accounting, government accounting, budget accounting and internal auditing. Additionally, students preparing for a career in public accounting, who meet specified academic requirements, have the opportunity to enroll in an accounting program at the master’s level. Many students continue on to take the CPA Exam after earning their BS in Accounting at RBS.
Career Paths
Public accountants perform a broad range of accounting, auditing, tax, and consulting activities for their clients, which may be corporations, governments, nonprofit organizations, or individuals. Some public accountants specialize in forensic accounting—investigating and interpreting white-collar crimes such as securities fraud and embezzlement, bankruptcies and contract disputes, and other complex and possibly criminal financial transactions, including money laundering by organized criminals. Management accountants—also called cost, managerial, industrial, corporate, or private accountants—record and analyze the financial information of the companies for which they work. Government Accountants may work as Internal Revenue Service agents or in financial management, financial institution examination, or budget analysis and administration. Internal auditors verify the effectiveness of their organization’s internal controls and check for mismanagement, waste, or fraud.
Rutgers Business School has become a valuable resource for the New York metropolitan corporate community. Students graduate from the Accounting program with a strong foundation, and are well prepared to enter the job market. Below is a list of occupations of some of our recent graduates:
Sample Occupations
- Actuary
- Collections Agent
- Cost Accountant
- Credit Analyst
- FBI Agent
- Financial Investment Analyst
- Internal Auditor
- IRS Investigator
- Tax Accountant
- Tax Auditor
Where Graduates are Working
- Deloitte
- Ernst & Young
- Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ
- Johnson & Johnson
- KPMG
- New York Life
- PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Prudential Insurance
Compensation
According to the 2012 U.S. Bureau of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, bachelor’s degree candidates in accounting received offers with a median salary of $62,000.
How to Apply
Curriculum
RBS Core Courses (42 Credits)
Course | Credits | Notes and Prerequisites |
29:010:203 Financial Accounting | 3 | |
29:010:204 Managerial Accounting | 3 | Prereq: 29:010:203 |
29:011:301 Foundations for Your Career Journey | 1 | |
29:011:302 Building Your Brand | 1 | Prereq: 29:011:301 |
29:011:303 Conquering Your Transition | 1 | Prereq: 29:011:302 |
29:623:220 Management Information Systems | 3 | |
29:623:340 Business Research Methods | 3 | MIS and Statistics |
29:623:311 Production & Operations Management | 3 | MIS and Statistics |
29:010:319 Business Law | 3 | Prereqs: 355:102, 220:101&102 & 29:010:204 |
29:390:329 Finance | 3 | Prereqs: All Business Foundations Courses Including Calculus |
29:620:301 Intro to Management | 3 | |
29:620:302 Management Skills | 3 | |
29:620:368 International Business | 3 | Prereq: 29:620:301 |
29:630:301 Intro. to Marketing | 3 | |
29:799:301 Intro. to Supply Chain Management | 3 | |
29:620:492 Business Policy and Strategy | 3 | Prereqs: Finance, Marketing, Management, Supply Chain Management, and 86+ Earned Credits. |
Credit Total | 42 |
For majors declared on or after Fall 2022
Required Courses (30 credits)
Course # | Title | Cr |
---|---|---|
29:010:485 | Accounting Information Systems | 3 |
29:010:423 | Advanced Accounting | 3 |
29:010:430 | Auditing | 3 |
29:010:319 | Business Law I* | 3 |
29:010:304 | Cost Accounting | 3 |
29:010:413 | Federal Tax I | 3 |
29:010:305 | Intermediate Accounting I | 3 |
29:010:306 | Intermediate Accounting II | 3 |
29:010:460 | Auditing Analytics | 3 |
29:010:414 | Fed Tax II | 3 |
For majors declared between Fall 2020 and Summer 2022
Required Courses (27 credits)
Course # | Title | Cr |
---|---|---|
29:010:485 | Accounting Information Systems | 3 |
29:010:423 | Advanced Accounting | 3 |
29:010:430 | Auditing | 3 |
29:010:319 | Business Law I* | 3 |
29:010:304 | Cost Accounting | 3 |
29:010:413 | Federal Tax I | 3 |
29:010:305 | Intermediate Accounting I | 3 |
29:010:306 | Intermediate Accounting II | 3 |
29:010:460 | Auditing Analytics | 3 |
*This course is taken instead of Ethics in Business (29:522:334) as part of the Business Core Requirements
For majors declared prior to Fall 2020
Required Courses (24 credits)
Course # | Title | Cr |
---|---|---|
29:010:485 | Accounting Information Systems | 3 |
29:010:423 | Advanced Accounting | 3 |
29:010:430 | Auditing | 3 |
29:010:319 | Business Law I* | 3 |
29:010:304 | Cost Accounting | 3 |
29:010:413 | Federal Tax I | 3 |
29:010:305 | Intermediate Accounting I | 3 |
29:010:306 | Intermediate Accounting II | 3 |
*This course is taken instead of Ethics in Business (29:522:334) as part of the Business Core Requirements
Electives (3 credits)
Students must take one, three-credit elective. Elective options are:
Course # | Title | Cr |
---|---|---|
29:010:320 | Business Law II | 3 |
29:390:330 | Corporate Finance | 3 |
29:010:414 | Federal Tax II | 3 |
29:010:426 | Advanced Accounting II | 3 |
29:010:496 | Accounting Internship/Cooperative** | AR |
29:010:498 | Independent Study in Accounting* | AR |
** Must have prior approval by RBS Office of Career Management to register
*Must have prior approval by RBS Undergraduate Programs Office to register
AR = Credits by arrangement