Bachelor of ArtsAccounting

Bellarmine accounting students have opportunities to complete full-time “busy” season audit or tax internships during the spring semester of their junior year. Freshmen through seniors have opportunities to be employed by major corporations and CPA firms in part-time positions while attending school. Interns gain “real-world” accounting experience and work with experienced CPAs.

The following are some of the organizations that have provided internship positions for Bellarmine accounting students:

• A. J. Wissing, PSC
• Atria Senior Living
• Blue & Co. LLC
• Crowe Horwath
• Dean Dorton
• Deloitte & Touche
• EY
• Freibert Bigg
• Humana
• KPMG
• LG&E
• Messer Construction
• Mountjoy Chilton Medley
• Papa John’s International
• PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Republic Bank & Trust
• Southern Graphic Systems
• Strothman & Company
• The Learning House; Texas Roadhouse
• UBS Financial Services
• Yum! Brands

All of the “Big 4” international Certified Public Accounting (CPA) firms and Louisville area regional and local firms interview on campus and hire Bellarmine students. Bellarmine accounting students often obtain career positions prior to graduation.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers Salary Survey, accounting student starting salaries will exceed those in nearly every field except engineering. Robert Half’s Salary Guide for Accounting and Finance (Louisville market) reports starting salaries at midsize and large public accounting firms range from approximately $45,000 to $65,000 per year; and manager level (5-7 years of experience) salaries range from approximately $75,000 to $115,000 per year.

• Professional Accounting Organizations, Blogs, and Other Resources
• Career Development Center Resources
• Internships and Career Opportunities

The Bellarmine University Accounting Association (BUAA) provides extensive access to and interaction with potential employers from the freshman year through career placement during the senior year and the start of the student’s career at graduation. The Accounting Association is a very active, student-led, organization and students are encouraged to join at the beginning of their freshman year. The firms, companies, and government agencies that recruit interns and graduates are guest speakers at the Accounting Association meetings and host social gatherings throughout the year. Recruiters expect students to attend these events if they are interested in later employment. Officers of the Association schedule the meetings, social events, and recruiting activities with the firms. Being an active member, and an Association officer, is a major advantage in obtaining the best positions after graduation.

Is Accounting right for me?
Accounting is a great path for you if you are detail-oriented, good with numbers, have strong analytical skills, and are good at communicating thoughts and ideas. Accountants are important members of all organizations and use business expertise, communication and interpersonal skills, and accounting knowledge to improve organizational decision-making. If you are looking for a rewarding career path:

• The United States Department of Labor reports that employment of accountants and auditors is expected to grow 10 percent from 2016 to 2026 (faster than the average for all occupations).
• According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Salary Survey, accounting is one of the top degrees “in Demand.”
• Robert Half’s 2018 Salary Guide for Accounting and Finance reports entry level salaries in public accounting range from $46,000 to $73,250 depending on the candidates knowledge base and experience level
  

What employment options are available with an accounting degree?
The core of the Bellarmine accounting major is a four-year, 120-hour program with curriculum designed to prepare students for a career in accounting and allows students to obtain entry-level positions in a variety of corporate, non-profit, and governmental entities. However, most students choose one of the many options that complete the 150-semester hours required to take the CPA exam and begin a career in public accounting.

Do I have to apply separately to the Accounting program if I am admitted to Bellarmine?
No, admission to Bellarmine is all that is required. Separate admittance to the Accounting program or Business School is not required.

What courses are required to complete the program?

• Required core courses: ACCT 101, 102, 211, 212, 215, 225, 313, 317, 318, 414, 418, 425.
• Required related courses: BUSA 103, 301, 305, 345, 346 (or ECON 410), 403, 499; ECON 110, 111, 314; FINA 315; MATH 125 or 117; MATH 205 or 315; COMM 103 or 205; PSYC 103.
• Students must achieve a minimum 2.00 GPA for all Rubel School courses (accounting, business, economics, and finance) taken in the Rubel School (not counting transfer courses) to graduate with an Accounting major.

When do students begin taking Accounting courses?
Your professional career starts as a freshman at Bellarmine. You take two Principles of Accounting courses during your freshman year and Financial Accounting I in your sophomore year.

Upon entering Bellarmine, you will be assigned two academic advisors, one from Bellarmine’s Student Success Center and a Full-Time Accounting faculty member.

Do you provide job or internship placement?
The following are some of the organizations that have provided part-time internship positions for Bellarmine accounting students: A. J. Wissing, PSC; Atria Senior Living; Freibert Bigg; Humana; LG&E; Messer Construction; Mountjoy Chilton Medley; Papa John’s International; Republic Bank & Trust; Southern Graphic Systems; The Learning House; Texas Roadhouse; UBS Financial Services; KFB Foundation; and Yum! Brands.

Bellarmine accounting students have opportunities to complete full-time “busy” season audit or tax internships. All of the “Big 4” international Certified Public Accounting (CPA) firms and Louisville area regional and local firms interview on campus and hire Bellarmine students.

Bellarmine accounting students often obtain career positions prior to graduation.

Is the program accredited?
The W. Fielding Rubel School of Business at Bellarmine University is accredited by AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). Bellarmine is the first and only private university in Kentucky to achieve AACSB accreditation.

Can I transfer credit into this program from another institution?
All transfer courses in the Business School must be approved by the Department Chair.

Is financial aid available?
Please visit Bellarmine’s financial aid website for detailed information on financial aid packages.

All accounting students, beginning freshman year, are eligible for one of the many accounting scholarships we have available. In Fall 2018, over $60,000 in accounting scholarships were awarded to Bellarmine accounting students (scholarships typically range between $500 and $2,500).

How many hours can I expect to spend studying outside of class time?
Each student has their own learning style so this can vary greatly. As a rule of thumb, expect to spend an average of two hours studying for every hour you spend in-class.

Bellarmine University's Rubel School of Business is launching the Bellarmine on Business podcast. Each monthly episode will feature lively discussions with faculty and/or alumni. Episodes will focus on the economy, finance, marketing, HR, the law, business strategy and more. Learn more >>

The W. Fielding Rubel School of Business at Bellarmine University is accredited by AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), which places it among the elite business schools in the nation. Not only is Bellarmine the first and only private university in Kentucky to achieve AACSB accreditation, but less than 5% of the world's 13,000 business programs have earned AACSB Accreditation.