Accounting Major Map
Get started thinking about the future now.
Use this major map to explore possibilities and plan for success in five overlapping areas of career and academics.
Choose your year below, then see what you can do when you:
- Learn. Develop the knowledge and skills to complete your major.
- Engage. Contribute to campus and the community.
- Network. Build a foundation of professional connections.
- Transform. Make a positive impact in a diverse world.
- Prepare. Plan for life after graduation.
The map just offers suggestions - you don’t have to do it all.
Learn: What foundational courses should I be taking?
- BA 100, College of Business Foundations
- ISM 120, Business Problem Solving with Computer Applications
- Mathematics according to your placement, College Algebra required
- Composition courses or General Education requirements
Engage: What kinds of activities and organizations can I explore?
- Join Talent Gateway - UM-Dearborn’s online community where you can complete challenges, earn points, and connect experiences with courses and professional goals
- Attend a student organization meeting or College of Business activity about accounting
- Join VictorsLink
- Volunteer on or off campus
Network: What are important topics in my field?
- Understanding current accounting standards
- Being familiar with accounting practices
- Communicating accounting information with other managers
Transform: What are the challenges and the strengths in my community?
- Make a habit of reading the local newspaper
- Attend a community or town hall meeting
- Visit the Office of Student Life to learn more about volunteer opportunities and community needs
Prepare: What are the career options for people with my major?
- Careers in corporate accounting
- Careers in public accounting
- Careers in financial accounting, managerial accounting, accounting information systems or controllership
Learn: How do I build on foundational courses?
- Complete BBA prerequisites: Financial and Managerial Accounting; Micro and Macro Economics; and Business Statistics
- Attend Supplemental Instruction or tutoring to strengthen understanding of core concepts
- Begin electing BBA core requirements: Career Planning, Advanced Business Statistics, Business Law and Principles of Marketing
Engage: What activities and organizations will help me develop professional skills?
- Join CREW, Alpha Kappa Psi, or a campus organization or club
- Participate in networking activities (starts with BA 300) and attend speaker events hosted by the College of Business
- Explore Beta Alpha Psi, the international honors organization for Accounting, Finance and Information Systems majors
Network: How do I connect with faculty and students with similar interests?
- Make connections with students in your ACC 298 and 299 classes that are planning to major in Accounting
- Talk to accounting faculty during office hours about careers in accounting
- Be engaged in student organizations in the College of Business
Transform: What are the challenges and strengths of the Detroit Metro area?
- Visit the Office of Community Engaged Learning
- Volunteer at the Environmental Interpretive Center
- Attend Engagement Day, held annually in January
Prepare: What resources are available on campus to help me develop the professional skills I will need?
- The Internship and Career Management Center
- Talent Gateway
- Resume prep is covered in BA 300, a required BBA course
- Accounting Orientation, an event to introduce accounting majors to professional career opportunities
Learn: How do I gain expertise in my major?
- Elect intermediate level courses in accounting information systems (ACC 380/381), financial accounting (ACC 356/357), and finance (FIN 401/402)
- Talk to the accounting faculty about career goals
- Meet with a graduate counselor about the 4+1 option to complete a graduate program in Accounting concurrent with your undergraduate degree
Engage: How can I grow as a leader on campus?
- Consider running for a leadership position in a professional organization
- Participate in a campus or college function like Open House and the Admitted Student Reception
- Sign up for MLK Day of Service or Alternative Spring Break
Network: How can I broaden my professional relationships?
- Attend the annual recruiting event sponsored by the ICMC
- Attend an Executive Speaker Series sponsored by the College of Business
- Participate in events organized by Beta Alpha Psi
Transform: How can I prepare to effectively solve local and global challenges?
- Attend the Conversation on Race
- Take additional classes in the liberal arts focusing on social challenges
- Consider a study abroad program
- Participate in the Poverty Simulation through the CIViC
Prepare: What practical things should I do to further my career options?
- Create a LinkedIn account
- Participate in a mock interview on campus to prepare for internship interviews
- Participate in one or two professional internships
- Plan to obtain professional qualifications such as the CMA or CPA designation
Learn: How do I finish strong?
- Prepare your BBA audit and meet with your advisor
- Know your priority registration date and register on time to avoid closed classes to ensure a timely graduation
- Request any needed letters of recommendation from faculty who know your work
Engage: How can I mentor others to be leaders on campus?
- Participate in student recruitment events for your professional organization
- Volunteer to organize an event for your professional organization
- Become a tutor or supplemental instructor for ACC 298 or 299
Network: How can I demonstrate my readiness for the next steps?
- Participate in competitions and events through student organizations such as Beta Alpha Psi
- Train for certification in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program
Transform: How can I add to the strengths of my community, the region, and the world?
- Volunteer with the Accounting Aid Society to prepare free tax returns to students and people in need
- Volunteer your accounting skills to help other charitable organizations
- Join the Apprenticeship Program with Public Allies Metro Detroit AmeriCorps
Prepare: How do I make the best use of university resources to launch my professional next steps?
- Visit the ICMC or campus Career Services for job placement opportunities
- Talk to your accounting faculty about preparation for the CPA or CMA exam
- Consider the CPA exam preparation course through CPAexcel®, available at a significant discount to eligible students
- Talk with advisors about preparation for graduate school
Our accounting majors typically find employment in one of two categories, corporate accounting or public accounting.
Corporate accounting careers involve working in the accounting department of a bigger organization, like a manufacturing or retail company. Typically, those accountants work on “the books” of that particular entity.
Public accountants work for accounting firms that do accounting business for other companies/entities. Often times, those accountants work on “the books” of other companies/entities.
Many of our accounting students pursue additional education, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license, or a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certification. These can be important credentials depending on your accounting specialty.
Positions that our students have gotten in accounting over the past few years:
- Payroll Clerk
- Budget Analyst
- Accounts Payable/Receivable Clerk
- Staff Accountant
- Tax or Audit Accountant
Other positions available in accounting:
- Tax Manager
- Controller
- Compliance Officer
- Risk Management
- Forensic Accountant
- Credit Analyst
- Auditor
How to use this Major Map
Use the map on the interior portion of this brochure to review possibilities and plan for success in the five areas listed - Learn, Engage, Network, Transform, Prepare. The map gives options so you can select what best matches your interests and goals. Start thinking about your future now and build a path throughout your UM-Dearborn career that will prepare you for success.
College is a time for discovering your passions — figuring out who you are and what drives you. UM-Dearborn offers more than 100 majors and minors, so you can find a program that is right for you. We are committed to cultivating a campus community that acknowledges our similarities and celebrates our differences. On campus you’ll find a range of support services and offices that provide the programs you need to be successful both academically and personally.