Launch Your Career in Accounting, Audit or Advisory Services
As an Accounting major at St. Edward’s University, you’ll develop the analytical, technical, and ethical decision-making skills needed to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving business environment. From financial reporting and auditing to taxation, accounting analytics, and strategic problem-solving, you’ll learn how accounting drives organizations, informs decisions, and creates long-term value.
Our updated accounting curriculum is aligned with the latest evolution of the CPA profession and reflects recent changes to the CPA Exam in the state of Texas, including increased emphasis on data analytics, technology, information systems, and real-world business applications. Students build strong foundations in financial accounting, auditing, taxation, and managerial accounting while also gaining exposure to emerging areas shaping the future of the profession.
Why earn your Accounting degree at St. Edward’s?
Located in Austin, Texas – one of the nation’s fastest-growing centers for business, technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation – St. Edward’s provides direct access to internships, networking opportunities, and experiential learning with organizations ranging from local firms and nonprofits to global corporations.
Build your Network and Professional Relationships
Our students gain practical experience through internships, and can also participate in networking and recruiting opportunities such as the annual Accounting Fair, where they network with prospective employers to explore internships and career opportunities.
Gain Access to our Bloomberg Lab
Our students also have access to our Bloomberg Lab, featuring 12 Bloomberg terminals, where they can strengthen their understanding of financial reporting, markets, and business analytics while completing Bloomberg Market Concepts (BMC) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) certifications at no additional cost.
Reap the Rewards of Austin
Austin is one of the fast-growing technology and entrepreneurship hubs in the U.S., and home to nearly 100 Fortune 500 firms. Our Austin location, partnerships and connections allow you to immerse yourself in a dynamic business environment where accounting internships and career paths are plentiful.
What do our graduates do?
Accounting majors go on to a variety of careers and graduate schools from St. Edward’s. Here’s a sample.
- Jobs with the Big Four accounting firms such as KPMG and Deloitte; national, regional, and small accounting firms; government; and, industry.
- Jobs in industry accounting departments, including Whole Foods, ConocoPhillps, Honda, Texas Mutual Insurance Company and St. David’s HealthCare.
- Graduate school acceptance at schools including The University of Texas at Austin and Rice University.
- Recipient of the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship.
Explore Details About the BBA in Accounting
Degree Plan
Major Requirements:
The BBA in Accounting requires 66 hours of major coursework.
General Education Requirements:
All majors require 44 hours of general education that students complete over four years, in addition to their major courses.
A few examples of the Accounting courses students take:
- Federal Tax – Learn to identify tax issues, understand and apply tax law, prepare tax filings and conduct professional research.
- Audit – Get introduced to the theory, concepts and principles of auditing. The course will emphasize audit evidence, audit risk, ethical conduct and legal restrictions, professional standards, audit planning, data analytics and audit reports.
- Accounting Internship – Gain course credit and accounting experience, and make connections between classroom theory and its application in professional practice.
View the full degree plan PDF for our Accounting major (Option 1 – Traditional course sequencing).
Mini-Mester Option
Take advantage of a mini-mester option, allowing you to work full time in an internship, stay on track for your degree and complete additional courses in a compressed time frame.
The mini-mester option includes a co-requisite of a six-credit hour internship (at least 240 hours of work in a public accounting environment), followed by two three-credit hour courses in a compressed mini-mester. These three-credit hour courses include Legal Environment of Business for Accountants and Accounting Ethics and are offered from mid-April until the end of the spring semester.
Speak with your advisor to determine which degree-plan option is the best fit for your academic and career objectives.
Companies frequently look for CEOs with a strong foundation in accounting because these candidates understand the financial consequences of business decisions.
Professional Certifications
Career advancement generally requires attaining professional credentials such as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) or Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).
To earn a CPA credential, students must:
- Meet with an Accounting faculty advisor early on to make sure their degree plan will satisfy CPA requirements.
- Complete 150 semester credit hours in specific, approved academic courses (the minimum required to sit for the Texas CPA exam). All Accounting courses meet the requirements of the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy.
Whether your goal is joining a Big Four firm, working in corporate leadership, supporting entrepreneurial ventures, or using accounting to create positive organizational and social impact, your St. Edward’s education will prepare you to lead with both technical expertise and integrity.
Internships
In the spring, Accounting students can complete a full-time, “busy season” internship during either the audit busy season (January to mid-March) or the tax busy season (January to mid-April). Your Accounting courses will begin in a compressed semester after the busy season, allowing you to be fully immersed in the professional world for this important time. Students have recently interned with KPMG and Deloitte as part of this program and have been extended full-time offers after the internship.
Additional Accounting internships include the following:
- The “Big Four” firms: KPMG, Deloitte, PwC and EY
- Audit, tax and consulting firm RSM
- Salling Madeley, PLLC
- WP Engine in Austin
- Disney College Program
- New York Mets
- Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
- BDO USA, Assurance, Accounting, Tax & Advisory Services
- BKD, CPA Firm, Accountants & Financial Accounting
- Maxwell, Locke & Ritter
- Weaver, Assurance, Tax & Advisory Firm
Service Experiences
Accounting majors help residents of an Austin affordable housing community complete their tax returns. This is a good opportunity to give back to the community while learning what tax preparation looks like in practice.
Student Organizations
Get to know your fellow students and learn about career options in the Accounting Club and the annual Accounting Student Retreat.
A minor in Accounting can be useful for students in almost any discipline because accounting plays a role in nearly every type of organization.
Required Courses:
- Financial Accounting – ACCT 2301
- AManagerial Accounting – CCT 2303
- Intermediate Accounting I – ACCT 3331
- Intermediate Accounting II – ACCT 3332
- Cost Accounting – ACCT 3333
- Federal Taxation – ACCT 3334
- Accounting Information Systems – ACCT 4346
Total Hours: 21
Are you a current student? Contact your advisor for next steps in declaring your major or minor.
Our faculty and career mentors work closely with students to help them identify career goals, prepare for the CPA pathway, build professional networks, and develop the confidence to succeed in careers such as public accounting, auditing, taxation, corporate accounting, consulting, advisory services, and financial analysis.
In addition to holding the CPA license, many of the faculty members hold credentials such as Certified Fraud Examiner and Chartered Global Management Accountant.
View a list of our faculty members and their contact information on the Department of Accounting, Economics and Finance webpage.
Earn Two Degrees in Five Years
With our Accelerated Graduate Pathways, you can complete your BBA or minor in Accounting and one of five master’s degrees in as little as five years, saving time and money. See details and requirements.
- Accounting to MS in Accounting Analytics (Apply for this program.)
- Accounting Minor to MS in Accounting Analytics
- Accounting to MS in Business Analytics
- Accounting to MS in Digital Marketing and Analytics
- Accounting to Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Success coaches and academic advisors guide you through undergraduate and graduate courses to maximize benefits.
At The Bill Munday School of Business, one of only about 25% of business schools in the United States accredited by AACSB International, you’ll learn in small classes with professors who bring extensive industry and professional experience into the classroom. Through hands-on projects, case studies, and experiential learning, you’ll strengthen both your technical expertise and professional communication skills.