Elon University - Department of Accounting and Finance

Accounting involves measuring business activities and communicating this information to investors, creditors and other decision makers who use it to make sound, informed financial decisions. This practice serves to encourage investment activity, which in turn, creates jobs and helps the economy to grow.

Elon's program leading to the B.S. in accounting includes the central topics of financial and managerial accounting plus an introduction to taxation, auditing and commercial law. The accounting program prepares the graduate to be a professional accountant in business, government, nonprofit and other organizations. This degree can also serve as a basis for graduate study in accounting and other fields, including business administration and law.

Students wishing to obtain certification as a CPA and practice in the field of public accounting must have 150 hours of college credit that includes at least 30 semester hours of Accounting. Through careful advising, it is possible to complete the 150-hour requirement by the time the student completes the degree. Interested students should contact a faculty member for more details on how to meet this requirement.

Accounting Majors: At least 50% of the accounting credit hours required for the degree (B.S. in Accounting) must be earned at Elon University.

Finance is one of five concentrations offered under the business administration degree. Students complete the core courses for a business administration degree as well as specific courses in finance. With a concentration in finance, students learn how to analyze decisions from a financial perspective, evaluate the financial performance of firms, plan for capital investment, invest in the stock market or decide on the financial merits of a new business venture. A graduate with a finance concentration may work in corporate finance, investment banking, financial planning, general banking and insurance.

For more information on the finance concentration, please visit the business administration Web site.