Accounting

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Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost

2026-2027

School of Business

Program description

The major in accounting is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in accounting. This program will qualify graduates to sit for the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination in Virginia. However, certification requires 150 hours of college credits. Most public accounting firms give hiring preference to applicants who have completed the full 150 hours prior to starting work.

Career opportunities

Accountants examine and prepare financial records. They are responsible for confirming accuracy, ensuring the records comply with local, state, and federal laws, and typically are called upon to make recommendations based on that financial data.

There are several types of accountants. Public accountants are generally employed by firms and serve as an independent third party to review, attest to other organizations' or individuals' financial documents, and may gain experience working with a variety of industries. Private or corporate accountants are employed by a company and typically develop management accounting expertise in their individual companies and industries. Government accountants examine and prepare the financial records of various government agencies.

Change of major requirements

Students interested in changing their major to the School of Business should first review the available programs offered. Click here for a list of available programs. Then, a student must attend a School of Business-Change of Major Session. You can view the available change of major sessions by clicking here. Please note, in order for a student to be eligible to attend a change of major session, a student must (a) earned a “C” or higher in one of the following courses: MATH 129 or MATH 139 or MATH 141 or MATH 151 or MATH 200 or BUSN 212 or (b) have an active math placement score.

Bachelor-level job titles

Accounting Technician
Audit Accountant
Audit Associate
Auditor
Cost Accountant
Financial Analyst
Junior Accountant
Staff Accountant
Tax Accountant
Tax Associate

Graduate and professional level job titles

Audit Director
Chief Financial Officer
Controller
Director of Accounting

Professional associations and resources

Degree requirements in Bulletin

Accounting, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Plan of study in Bulletin

Accounting, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Requirements

Highest level of math required

MATH 200 or BUSN 212
SCMA 301

Science required

Natural Sciences requirement only

Foreign language requirements

Additional tuition/fees

GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)

2.0+ cumulative GPA to graduate, 2.0+ major GPA to graduate.

Transfer Maps

View Transfer Maps for this major

Contact information

Department name:

Accounting

Building/room location:

301 West Main Street, Snead Hall #B3117, Richmond, VA 23284

Phone:

(804) 828-1608

Email:

usib@vcu.edu

https://business.vcu.edu/academics/accounting/

Campus (where 75% of courses are taken):

Monroe Park

Major map

Year 1

Explore

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING

Enroll in a student success course to connect with campus advisors and build community around your interests and goals.
Map out a 4-year course plan in DegreeWorks' Student Educational Planner.
Meet with a writing consultant to hone your writing skills.
Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to start goal planning, and choose electives.
Sharpen your study skills in Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) at the Campus Learning Center.
Take a virtual library tour to learn about library spaces, services, and research help.
Take BUSN 201: Foundations of Business to explore fundamental business environments, functions, and practices.
Take the math placement assessment and register for math classes each semester until you complete BUSN 212 or MATH 200.

EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY

Apply to live in a program-in-residence or a living-learning community.
Connect with Global Education Office to explore leadership and intercultural communication skill-building programs and review resources such as Global Learning's Major Advising Sheets, study abroad fairs or complete Rams Abroad 101. to explore studying abroad opportunities and other global learning opportunities.
Consider applying to the Honors College.
Create a profile on RamsConnect to explore student organizations and get involved, meet people, and develop your interests.
Get involved and meet new friends through the Student Government Association or one of over 450 student clubs and organizations (BSPS Student club, Chemistry, etc.)
Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond’s many museums and parks.

EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader.
Attend one career event sponsored by Career Services.
Complete and activate your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake.
Learn more about potential careers by using Forage in the Navigate 360 app.
Review your Career Works 4 year career planning tool and start working on your milestones.
Seek research opportunities by checking out the Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry webpage.

PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Access your free credit report and begin making responsible credit choices to prepare for your future.
Build a resume and LinkedIn profile with help from VCU Career Services, make at least 10 connections, and check out the VCU alumni career programs page.
Connect with the Student Alumni Council to connect to VCU alumni.
Make a 4-year affordability plan with your financial counselor.
Practice independent living skills such as money and time management, self-care, and personal responsibility.

Year 2

Experience

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING

Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide.
Schedule an appointment with your major advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience.
Be prepared for a challenging year of accounting, economics, and math classes and use SI sessions and tutoring at the Campus Learning Center to get ahead.
Make a career exploration appointment with Business Career Services
Take BUSN 301: Career and Professional Development and BUSN 325: Business Communications to help prepare you for career readiness and build your communication skills with confidence and professionalism

EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY

Discuss personal and professional interests with faculty.
Investigate globally-focused courses in your major by pursuing language coursework or setting language proficiency goals with advisors and faculty and apply for the Critical Languages Scholarship.
Take a service-learning class to get involved with local organizations while earning credit.
Volunteer to address a social issue and check out Hands on Greater Richmond for opportunities.

EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events.
Build a professional resume and upload it to Handshake.
Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field.
Pursue a digital badge to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experiences employers and graduate schools value.
Seek out practical experience through independent skill-building, internships, shadowing, or part-time work.
Attend AICPA and IMA events to make professional contacts.

PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Ask a faculty or staff member to be your academic and professional mentor and to provide future letters of recommendation.
Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of professional interest.
Connect with alumni on VCULink for career advice, industry contacts, and meaningful professional relationships.
Meet with a coach at the Financial Success Center to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans.
Accounting internships recruit heavily in the fall of your junior year so have your resume reviewed by Business Career Services before you leave for the summer.
Conduct 3 informational interviews on VCU Bizconnect to expand your network and gain more knowledge into potential career paths.

Year 3

Experience

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING

Enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning.
Meet with your academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning.
Master your Microsoft Excel skills.
Take ACCT 303 and remember an accounting student must earn a C or higher in all upper level ACCT courses.

EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY

Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood association, city council, or state legislative sessions.
Build language proficiency and cultural competence by carrying out your plans for study abroad, internships, and service-learning.
Design a community-engaged research project.
Explore new cultures at one of Richmond’s wide array of festivals.
Make an appointment with the National Scholarship Office to explore post-graduate scholarship and fellowship opportunities.
Motivate your peers by presenting at Leaders Unleashed: Student Leadership Conference or at TEDxVCU.

EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Apply for the Graduate School Mentorship Program to learn more about graduate school and the graduate student experience.
Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through Big Interview or meeting with a career advisor.
Update your ePortfolio.
Attend Meet the Firms (accounting fair) in September to explore internship options.
Consider seeking out leadership positions in your business student organization to gain experience and build transferable skills for your resume.

PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services or the Writing Center.
Make a plan with your academic, career, and faculty advisors for applying to graduate school or land a micro-internship.
Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility.
Study for and complete any standardized exams required for graduate school the summer before senior year.
Talk to Business Career Services about pursuing professional certifications such as CMA, CISA, CIA, CGFM, CFA, CPA, and CFE depending on career goals.

Year 4

Excel

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING

Apply to graduate for your undergraduate degree.
Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree.
Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor the semester before you graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met.
Be aware of the prerequisites for MGMT 434 to complete this capstone in your final semester.
Complete BUSN 499 Business Knowledge Exam.

EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY

Attend professional association conferences that offer student rates or scholarships.
Carry out globally-oriented research projects with multilingual faculty and international partners.
Read scholarly articles about internationalization in your field.
Serve in a leadership role on campus in a local community organization.

EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Apply for post-graduation programs like Peace Corps, Literacy Lab, or AmeriCorps.
Meet with your academic or professional mentor and identify examples of your experiential learning to share with employers.
Publish your original research in Auctus: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creativity.

PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter.
Fill out VCU’s First Destination Survey.
Prepare for graduation by making a plan to complete licensing exams, applications, and self-marketing activities.
Single out prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
Attend the School of Business career fair in fall and spring.
Sit for as many sections of the CPA exam as possible in the summer after your fourth year.

Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost

2026-2027

Accounting

School of Business

		MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING	EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY	EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS	PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore	Year 1	Enroll in a student success course to connect with campus advisors and build community around your interests and goals. Map out a 4-year course plan in DegreeWorks' Student Educational Planner. Meet with a writing consultant to hone your writing skills. Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to start goal planning, and choose electives. Sharpen your study skills in Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) at the Campus Learning Center. Take a virtual library tour to learn about library spaces, services, and research help. Take BUSN 201: Foundations of Business to explore fundamental business environments, functions, and practices. Take the math placement assessment and register for math classes each semester until you complete BUSN 212 or MATH 200.	Apply to live in a program-in-residence or a living-learning community. Connect with Global Education Office to explore leadership and intercultural communication skill-building programs and review resources such as Global Learning's Major Advising Sheets, study abroad fairs or complete Rams Abroad 101. to explore studying abroad opportunities and other global learning opportunities. Consider applying to the Honors College. Create a profile on RamsConnect to explore student organizations and get involved, meet people, and develop your interests. Get involved and meet new friends through the Student Government Association or one of over 450 student clubs and organizations (BSPS Student club, Chemistry, etc.) Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond’s many museums and parks.	Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader. Attend one career event sponsored by Career Services. Complete and activate your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists. Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake. Learn more about potential careers by using Forage in the Navigate 360 app. Review your Career Works 4 year career planning tool and start working on your milestones. Seek research opportunities by checking out the Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry webpage.	Access your free credit report and begin making responsible credit choices to prepare for your future. Build a resume and LinkedIn profile with help from VCU Career Services, make at least 10 connections, and check out the VCU alumni career programs page. Connect with the Student Alumni Council to connect to VCU alumni. Make a 4-year affordability plan with your financial counselor. Practice independent living skills such as money and time management, self-care, and personal responsibility.
Experience	Year 2	Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide. Schedule an appointment with your major advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience. Be prepared for a challenging year of accounting, economics, and math classes and use SI sessions and tutoring at the Campus Learning Center to get ahead. Make a career exploration appointment with Business Career Services Take BUSN 301: Career and Professional Development and BUSN 325: Business Communications to help prepare you for career readiness and build your communication skills with confidence and professionalism	Discuss personal and professional interests with faculty. Investigate globally-focused courses in your major by pursuing language coursework or setting language proficiency goals with advisors and faculty and apply for the Critical Languages Scholarship. Take a service-learning class to get involved with local organizations while earning credit. Volunteer to address a social issue and check out Hands on Greater Richmond for opportunities.	Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events. Build a professional resume and upload it to Handshake. Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field. Pursue a digital badge to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experiences employers and graduate schools value. Seek out practical experience through independent skill-building, internships, shadowing, or part-time work. Attend AICPA and IMA events to make professional contacts.	Ask a faculty or staff member to be your academic and professional mentor and to provide future letters of recommendation. Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of professional interest. Connect with alumni on VCULink for career advice, industry contacts, and meaningful professional relationships. Meet with a coach at the Financial Success Center to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans. Accounting internships recruit heavily in the fall of your junior year so have your resume reviewed by Business Career Services before you leave for the summer. Conduct 3 informational interviews on VCU Bizconnect to expand your network and gain more knowledge into potential career paths.
Experience	Year 3	Enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning. Meet with your academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning. Master your Microsoft Excel skills. Take ACCT 303 and remember an accounting student must earn a C or higher in all upper level ACCT courses.	Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood association, city council, or state legislative sessions. Build language proficiency and cultural competence by carrying out your plans for study abroad, internships, and service-learning. Design a community-engaged research project. Explore new cultures at one of Richmond’s wide array of festivals. Make an appointment with the National Scholarship Office to explore post-graduate scholarship and fellowship opportunities. Motivate your peers by presenting at Leaders Unleashed: Student Leadership Conference or at TEDxVCU.	Apply for the Graduate School Mentorship Program to learn more about graduate school and the graduate student experience. Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through Big Interview or meeting with a career advisor. Update your ePortfolio. Attend Meet the Firms (accounting fair) in September to explore internship options. Consider seeking out leadership positions in your business student organization to gain experience and build transferable skills for your resume.	Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services or the Writing Center. Make a plan with your academic, career, and faculty advisors for applying to graduate school or land a micro-internship. Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility. Study for and complete any standardized exams required for graduate school the summer before senior year. Talk to Business Career Services about pursuing professional certifications such as CMA, CISA, CIA, CGFM, CFA, CPA, and CFE depending on career goals.
Excel	Year 4	Apply to graduate for your undergraduate degree. Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree. Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor the semester before you graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met. Be aware of the prerequisites for MGMT 434 to complete this capstone in your final semester. Complete BUSN 499 Business Knowledge Exam.	Attend professional association conferences that offer student rates or scholarships. Carry out globally-oriented research projects with multilingual faculty and international partners. Read scholarly articles about internationalization in your field. Serve in a leadership role on campus in a local community organization.	Apply for post-graduation programs like Peace Corps, Literacy Lab, or AmeriCorps. Meet with your academic or professional mentor and identify examples of your experiential learning to share with employers. Publish your original research in Auctus: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creativity.	Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter. Fill out VCU’s First Destination Survey. Prepare for graduation by making a plan to complete licensing exams, applications, and self-marketing activities. Single out prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation. Attend the School of Business career fair in fall and spring. Sit for as many sections of the CPA exam as possible in the summer after your fourth year.