Accounting

Learn to make financial decisions and drive strategy in a large or small business, governmental agency or nonprofit organization

Program Details

Location:

Online, Corvallis

Program Type:

Major, Minor, Option

Overview

Accounting

Today's accountants are tech-savvy problem solvers, insightful planners and strategic thinkers. Many of the “number-crunching” tasks formerly thought to be part of an accountant's world have long ago been replaced by sophisticated software. Instead, you can expect a satisfying and challenging professional career as an accountant, with lucrative and stable employment in a respected profession.

All organizations need accounting; therefore, accounting careers can exist in any business that interests you — sports, travel, music, banking, non-profits ... anything.

Accountancy is a growing field with high job security and career earning prospects. You can work your way up to CFO as a corporate accountant, rise to the partner level at a public accounting firm, become a valued advisor as a consultant, or even join the FBI as an investigator.

Our accounting program is a major offered in Corvallis and online, a minor program of study as well as an option in the business analytics degree program, offered in Corvallis and online.

Options:

Once you enroll in the accounting program, you can select an area of focus from the following options:

The Dean’s Academy is an academic forum for high-achieving first-year students, transfer students, and current undergraduate students who wish to maximize the educational and experiential aspects of their college experience. Invitation to this option is restricted to those who meet eligibility requirements.

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Prepare for careers targeted to the growing impact of "Big Data." The information security, assurance, and analytics area of focus allows you to gain specialized knowledge of information management or information systems auditing fields. Accounting information systems build upon the business, accounting and computer classes required of all accounting students and prepares students specifically to apply information technologies to accounting, auditing and other business tasks.

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This area of study prepares you for management positions and exciting international careers at multinational firms, global financial service organizations and international centers of trade.

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28+

degrees and areas of focus

85% Job placement rate

of classes have fewer than 50 students

450

companies recruit our students each year

Accounting Opportunities

Study Abroad

Study Abroad

Sydney, Australia: University of Technology Sydney

Vienna, Austria: Vienna University of Economics & Business

Santiago, Chile: Universidad de Chile, Facultad Economia y Negocios

Explore study abroad opportunities >

Student organizations and clubs

Associated Clubs

Beta Alpha Psi

Finance Club

Institute of Management Accountants

See all clubs >

Scholarship

Scholarships

Chevron International Experience Scholarship

Deloitte Scholarship

McNeal Family Accounting Scholarship

Pattee Family Accounting Scholarship

See all scholarship opportunities >

Careers

Possible Careers

Consultant

Chief Financial Officer

Audit Partner

Forensic Accountant

Tradition, excellence — Beta Alpha Psi

Be a part of this prestigious student leadership organization, meet your fellow business students, and network with Oregon’s professional community. Beta Alpha Psi is a national scholastic and professional accounting organization formed in 1919. The organization encourages and gives recognition to scholastic and professional excellence in the field of accounting while providing opportunities for self-development and networking among members and practicing accountants. Founded in 1922, the Oregon State University chapter is called the Epsilon Chapter, because it was the fifth chapter organized in the United States.

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Meet Regan Mott

As freshman year gets underway at Oregon State, Mott isn’t worried about how she’ll pay for college. That's because she has been awarded the Anne E. and David A. Thompson Family Scholarship through the College of Business, which covers the cost of attendance for four years, including support for experiential learning, professional leadership and development.

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"

I enjoy challenges, and I love to learn. That desire to learn and solve tough problems has guided me my entire career.

Kate Johnson '98
Act-On Software CEO

Where our graduates work

Graduates from the college's accounting program have become forensic accountants, business process analysts, quality control managers, auditors, consultants, teachers, systems' analysts, personal financial planners and more.

  • Adecco
  • Cambia
  • Cambia Health Solutions
  • Compucom
  • Daimler
  • Dell
  • Deloitte
  • Huron Health Care
  • Intel
  • Nike
  • Odom
  • Portland General Electric
  • Providence Health Services
  • Puppet Labs
  • Salesforce
  • Schnitzer
  • The Standard
  • Umpqua Bank

Here's why you should be a College of Business student

A success plan for life

Professional, personal and leadership skills form the backbone of successful careers. Blueprint, our award-winning series of classes, is focused on professional and leadership development and financial literacy. With Blueprint, you’re on track to graduate on time, with the skills and network to choose your career, and the savvy to make the big decisions at the right time.

We're not just business; we're family

Our first-year students live in one of our business-themed residence halls. This learning-focused, student-first, open-door culture makes the big Oregon State campus feel like the supportive place it is – and feel a lot smaller and easier to navigate than you might think.

We’re the only college at OSU that has a dedicated Career Success Center for our students. We help you find an internship, write a resume and find a job.

Ranked and accredited

Oregon State is ranked in the top five for online education with U.S. News & World Report. The College of Business overall, as well as our accounting program, is accredited by AACSB International – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. AACSB International is the premier accrediting agency for degree programs in business and accounting.

Discover the OSU difference