The Accounting curriculum at Bentley enables students to develop an understanding of accounting principles and their application to management situations. Accounting majors at Bentley focus on auditing, cost accounting, tax, financial accounting, and the use of information technology in accounting functions. All Accounting majors acquire a core technical knowledge, including training in computer applications, so that they may understand the design, implementation, and review of a fully automated accounting system. An internship, offered to qualified students, provides a way for high-achieving students to gain valuable work experience, which in turn can lead to greater job opportunities.
For further information about degree requirement policies and guidelines, see the Degree Requirements page.
Major Requirements
Major Courses (27 Credits)
Course List | Course | Title | Credits |
| AC 201 | Preparing and Interpreting Financial Statements | 3 |
| AC 215 | Performance Measurement | 3 |
| AC 310 | Cost Management | 3 |
| AC 311 | Financial Accounting and Reporting I | 3 |
| AC 312 | Financial Accounting and Reporting II | 3 |
| AC 340 | Accounting Information Systems | 3 |
| AC 350 | Federal Taxation | 3 |
| AC 470 | Financial Statement Auditing | 3 |
| or AC 472 | Internal Auditing |
| 3 |
The Business Environment (6 Credits)
Course List | Course | Title | Credits |
| CS 305 | Business Processes and Systems | 3 |
| MG 300 | Strategic Management | 3 |
General Degree Requirements
Foundations for Success (15 Credits)
Course List | Course | Title | Credits |
| FDS 100 | Falcon Discovery Seminar | 3 |
| |
| EMS 101 | Critical Reading and Writing | 3 |
| or EMS 101L | Critical Reading and Writing with Lab |
| or EMS 102 | Critical Reading and Writing for ESOL |
| or EMS 102L | Critical Reading and Writing for ESOL with Lab |
| |
| EMS 104 | Multimodal Communication | 3 |
| or EMS 105 | Multimodal Communication for ESOL |
| CS 100 | Solving Business Problems with Information Technology | 3 |
| |
| MA 105 | Mathematical Foundations for Business | 3 |
| or MA 105L | Mathematical Foundations for Business with Lab |
| or MA 107 | Applied Calculus for Business |
| or MA 107L | Applied Calculus for Business with Lab |
| or MA 131 | Calculus I |
| or MA 131L | Calculus I with Lab |
Context and Perspectives (18 Credits)
Course List | Course | Title | Credits |
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Business Dynamics/Business Administration Minor (18 Credits)
Course List | Course | Title | Credits |
| |
| AC 115 | Introduction to Financial Reporting and Analysis | 3 |
| EC 111 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| FI 118 | Introduction to Finance | 3 |
| LA 100 | Business Law | 3 |
| MG 116 | Human Dynamics in Organizations | 3 |
| ST 113 | Business Statistics | 3 |
Communication Intensive
All students are required to take a three-credit course designated as a Communication Intensive. This requirement can be met within a variety of course subjects in both Arts & Sciences and Business. Communication Intensive courses are designated with a "CI" in the course schedule. Transfer students with a minimum of 30 credits will be waived from the Communication Intensive requirement.
Please note that certain majors have an additional three-credit Communication Intensive built into their major requirements, separate from the general CI requirement.
Additional Requirements
Arts and Sciences Electives (15 Credits)
Course List | Course | Title | Credits |
| 15 |
Unrestricted Electives (21 Credits)
Course List | Course | Title | Credits |
| 21 |
Total: 120 Credits
A NOTE ON CPA (CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT) REQUIREMENTS
While the CPA requirements in Massachusetts are likely representative of many licensing jurisdictions, students planning to take the CPA exam need to be aware of the specific educational requirements of the jurisdiction in which they intend to sit for the exam. Visit the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy website for the specific requirements in every state in the U.S. The state of Massachusetts requires 120 hours (21 in specific areas of accounting) of education and a conferred bachelor's degree in order to take the CPA exam. The courses required for the Bentley accounting degree satisfy the requirements to take the CPA exam in Massachusetts.
The requirements for the undergraduate degree in accounting do not satisfy all requirements for CPA licensure. Among other requirements, an individual must complete a total of 150 hours (30 in specific areas of accounting) of education, in addition to passing the exam, to become a licensed CPA. Students interested in CPA preparation should consult a faculty accounting advisor.
