Accounting, BS

Accounting is a great major for students seeking a challenging career with unlimited opportunities. Top skills looked at for promotion and success for accounting majors include communication and people skills, research skills, problem solving, technical knowledge, and critical thinking.  A student should be a team player, exhibit time management, and demonstrate motivation, drive, and initiative.  Accounting students should stay on top of the latest information, news, and trends. Ethics and professionalism are a must.

Admission and Retention Policies

Students are eligible for admission to Culverhouse School of Accountancy if they meet the admission criteria to the upper division of the College of Business. A student whose GPA falls below these standards may petition the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Student Services for admission to the upper division and to the Culverhouse School of Accountancy if the student’s GPA for the last 30 hours attempted at The University of Alabama is at least 2.5.

Students who have not been admitted to the School of Accountancy may enroll in upper-division accounting courses offered for non-majors, provided they have fulfilled the prerequisites for those courses. A student who has not been admitted to the School of Accountancy may also enroll in 300-level accounting courses offered for accounting majors, provided that the student has fulfilled the prerequisites for those courses and either meets the criteria for admission to the Culverhouse School of Accountancy or must take those courses as part of a major, minor, or concentration. Only students who have been admitted to the Culverhouse School of Accountancy may enroll in 400-level accounting courses without special permission from the director.

Accounting majors must complete all upper division accounting courses with grades of "C-" or higher. A student who enrolls in any of these courses twice and fails to make a grade of "C-" or higher will not be permitted to take additional accounting courses without special permission. Enrollment is defined as registration for a course that results in the recording of hours attempted on the student’s record. Priority for enrollment in upper-division accounting courses is given to students who are not repeating the courses.

Students wishing to sit for the CPA examination through the state of Alabama must complete an undergraduate accounting degree and have at least 24 hours of upper-division accounting courses. To be licensed as a CPA in Alabama, an individual must also have earned 150 semester hours of college courses, with at least 33 hours of upper-division accounting courses. To meet this requirement, students in the Culverhouse School of Accountancy can be admitted to either the Master of Accountancy or Master of Tax Accounting programs. Students should apply for admission to one of the graduate programs during the first semester of their senior year. The Professional Accounting concentration is required for students entering the master's programs in accounting.  Each state has their own education criteria for CPA examination eligibility and CPA licensing. Students are encouraged to review other states' board of accountancy websites to determine their specific requirements.

• The undergraduate international admissions office will review the applicant’s transcripts within the context of the school, curriculum and country.
• GPA will be calculated on all coursework, not just core subjects. UA considers applicants with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for admission.
• UA will accept unofficial transcripts for admission purposes. These can be emailed or uploaded by the student. 
  • If a student applies with unofficial documents, we MUST receive the official documents directly from the school or testing authority by July 1 for Fall admission and November 1 for Spring admission. 
  • Any student who does not provide official copies will not be able to enroll for courses. 
  • If a student’s official documents are not available by that time, exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis. Students requesting an exception must email [email protected] before the deadline to be considered.
• For academic admission, students must meet the English proficiency requirement. For more information see UA’s English Language Proficiency page. 
• Students who meet the academic and financial qualifications, but do not meet the TOEFL, IELTS or PTE score requirement may apply for conditional admission.
  • Conditionally admitted students will begin their studies in the English Language Institute and then enter directly into their academic coursework once they have satisfied English proficiency. 
  • For more information see UA’s conditional admission page.
• Students requiring F-1 and J-1 visas must also send documentation in order to secure an I-20 or DS-2010.
• Successful candidates for UA will have completed a college preparatory curriculum.

• The undergraduate international admissions office will review the applicant’s transcripts within the context of the school, curriculum and country.
• GPA will be calculated on all coursework, not just core subjects. UA considers applicants with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for admission.
• UA will accept unofficial transcripts for admission purposes. These can be emailed or uploaded by the student. 
  • If a student applies with unofficial documents, we MUST receive the official documents directly from the school or testing authority by July 1 for Fall admission and November 1 for Spring admission. 
  • Any student who does not provide official copies will not be able to enroll for courses. 
  • If a student’s official documents are not available by that time, exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis. Students requesting an exception must email [email protected] before the deadline to be considered.
• For academic admission, students must meet the English proficiency requirement. For more information see UA’s English Language Proficiency page. 
• Students who meet the academic and financial qualifications, but do not meet the TOEFL, IELTS or PTE score requirement may apply for conditional admission.
  • Conditionally admitted students will begin their studies in the English Language Institute and then enter directly into their academic coursework once they have satisfied English proficiency. 
  • For more information see UA’s conditional admission page.
• Students requiring F-1 and J-1 visas must also send documentation in order to secure an I-20 or DS-2010.
• Successful candidates for UA will have completed a college preparatory curriculum.

Accounting professionals can be found in public accounting firms, banks and financial institutions, corporations, public utilities, hospitals, the media, law firms, government, manufacturing companies, and nonprofit institutions.

Types of Jobs Accepted

Employment opportunities for our graduates range from large international to small accounting firms, public and private business enterprises, government agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service or the FBI, and nonprofit organizations in positions such as staff accountant, financial analyst, or financial consultant.

Jobs of Experienced Alumni

Accounting manager, auditor, bank examiner, benefits administrator, budget accountant, certified public accountant, chief financial officer, claims adjuster, computer systems analyst, consumer credit officer, controller, director of finance, FBI or CIA agent, financial analyst, IRS investigator, loan administrator, partner/stockholder, tax specialist

Learn more about opportunities in this field at the Career Center

• Copy of your passport
• Relevant visa and immigration documents (This includes PR card, current visa, or F-1/ J-1 visa request and supporting documents)
• Unofficial transcript copies from every secondary school you have attended. This includes academic transcripts, mark sheets, grade reports, diplomas or certificates, national standardized examination results, or other academic course work.
  • Include an English translation for all documents not written in English. If you need assistance translating your documents into English, we recommend using the American Translators Association to find a certified translator.
  • Students graduating high school in Nigeria, Liberia, Ghana, The Gambia or Sierra Leone must submit a copy of their WASSCE results and scratch card information (serial number and PIN) in order to complete their application.
• Students that graduated 6 or more months ago should also provide a brief statement listing any academic activities since graduation (including any post-secondary coursework at institutions inside or outside of the US, English language programs, study abroad programs, etc.) List name(s) of the institutions and dates of attendance. If you have no additional academic activities, please write a short statement that speaks to your activities during the gap period. In the statement, please include the following and send to International Admissions at [email protected]:
  • Full Name
  • Address
  • High School/Secondary School
  • Graduation Date