What can you do with a degree in accounting?

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, accounting is one of the fastest-growing fields in the country. In fact, it is predicted to expand by 49,000 new jobs annually through the year 2014. Auditing in particular is one of the hottest spots in the national economy, and the demand for qualified professionals far exceeds the supply. The College of Charleston accounting program produces well-rounded graduates who are effective problem-solvers, committed to high professional standards, and prepared to succeed.

Careers

The accounting program at the College of Charleston prepares students for a variety of career paths. While many of our graduates go on to become CPAs and work in the public accounting field, others pursue opportunities in different areas. Recent graduates have accepted positions in public accounting, private industry, banking, financial planning, as well as in the government and nonprofit sectors. Some of our graduates also continue on to graduate school, either in our master of science in accountancy program, in accounting graduate programs elsewhere, or even law school.

The combination of accounting and business education and practical experience, coupled with the College’s general education curriculum in the liberal arts and sciences, produces professionals who can adapt to a rapidly changing marketplace.

A sample of positions our recent graduates have held includes:

• Staff positions in auditing and tax with Big Four accounting firms (in offices such as Atlanta, Charlotte, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., etc.) as well as various regional and local accounting firms.
• Entry-level positions in the accounting departments of Fortune 500 companies.
• Accounting positions with federal, state and local government agencies.

Active Learning Opportunities

Internships
We have partnerships with many organizations that help us match your interests with appropriate internship sponsors so you can apply your business knowledge while building skills through on the job experience. In some cases, you can earn academic credit for successfully completing an internship.

Study Abroad
We offer study-abroad programs that complement coursework via internships with firms in Canada, Cuba, Brazil, Germany and Mexico. The College of Charleston Office of International Education and Programs administers many other programs in Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Europe and Latin America.

Beta Alpha Psi
This international honor society recognizes academic excellence while promoting professional development and community service. Members of Beta Alpha Psi enjoy unique opportunities to interact with national, regional and local leaders in the accounting profession.

Independent Research
Students can explore an area of special interest by working one-onone with faculty through a bachelor’s essay, independent studies and tutorials.

Learning Resources

The Beatty Center is equipped with fully up-to-date educational technology including wireless connectivity throughout. Dedicated rooms in the Beatty Center support its unique role as a business center on campus. There is a conference room, a boardroom, a real-time investment trading room, smart classrooms and a student services suite with its own interview room. All business programs benefit from the professional guidance of local and regional executives and professionals who serve on our advisory boards and councils.

Addlestone Library. Resources include a collection of books, journals and electronic resources in the major areas of accounting: financial, managerial, cost, government, systems, tax issues and auditing. The library also provides indexing and considerable full-text access to a host of accounting-related periodical literature through a variety of professional databases.

Consortial resources. Libraries at The Citadel, Charleston Southern University, and Trident Technical College bolster and complement the resources provided by the College of Charleston.

College of Charleston Advantages

The department of Accounting and Legal Studies has close working relationships with many businesses in the Southeastern U.S., which lead to active recruitment of our students for internships and full-time employment.

• Our program is fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International).
• Our curriculum includes not only courses in financial accounting, managerial accounting, taxation, accounting information systems and auditing, but also covers the traditional business areas of management, marketing and finance.

Our faculty members are not only talented teachers, but also active scholars. Their areas of specialization and research interests include:

• financial reporting
• accounting information systems
• business analytics
• accounting theory
• internal auditing
• taxation and regulatory capture
• the evolution of accounting and economic thought
• accounting history
• managerial accounting
• not-for-profit accounting

“Not only did my accounting professors go out of their way to help me in their classes, but one of my instructors helped me get practical work experience through an internship with the College’s Controller’s office. As a varsity athlete forced to miss classes on occasion, I found the personal attention that faculty give students to be especially important. The combination of support from my teachers with the beautiful location of the College and the numerous job opportunities available to me upon graduation made my experience as an accounting major so positive that I decided to stay an extra year near the beach to earn a master’s in accountancy.”

Jenna Marks ’06