BS in Accounting

Portland State University

Earn your accounting degree from Oregon’s largest accounting program.

Demand for accountants is growing rapidly, and employers view Portland State University’s accounting degree program as a key source of new hires. Our flexible, accredited accounting degree stands out for its big-picture approach. You’ll acquire technical accounting expertise within a broad business context, gaining the ability to go beyond number-crunching and provide strategic direction and leadership.

PSU’s accounting degree combines excellent academics with hands-on accounting experience and professional development. You’ll begin your accounting career with demonstrated ability, strong industry contacts, and an accounting degree that’s known for its well-rounded, high-performing graduates.

Portland State’s School of Business holds prestigious dual accreditation in business and accounting from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). This is a distinction held by fewer than 200 accounting programs worldwide.

Our accounting bachelor’s degree program prepares you for a broad range of accounting career paths. PSU accounting majors go on to work for employers in the public, private and nonprofit sectors, with careers in a range of specialties that include:

Taxation

Auditing

Consulting

Corporate accounting

Managerial accounting

Governmental accounting

Nonprofit accounting

Over the long run, accounting majors frequently advance into upper management positions and strategic leadership roles.

Accounting Degree Curriculum

Our accounting degree integrates technical skill development with broad theoretical knowledge. You’ll learn to construct financial and accounting reports, work with accounting software and tax research databases, analyze financial statements, prepare tax returns, conduct independent research, and analyze risk. Core subject matter includes:

Accounting information systems and accounting analytics

Financial reporting

Managerial accounting

Auditing

Governmental accounting

Taxation

The curriculum advances you toward eligibility for the Certified Public Accounting exam, with special electives and coursework to prepare you for that test. For CPA licensing requirements in Oregon, visit the Oregon Board of Accountancy. For CPA licensing requirements in other states, visit the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy.