Accountancy and Management Information Systems

Accountancy Major & Minor

Accountants work in large global accounting firms, as sole practitioners, as internal auditors, as consultants and business advisors, CEOs in business and industry, in government and municipalities, in academe and higher education, banking and financial institutions . . . where there is business there are accountants in leadership roles. Drawing on over ninety years of experience in educating the nation's leaders in business, finance and accounting, DePaul University’s School of Accountancy and Management Information Systems is one of the nation’s largest and most respected programs. With 35 full-time faculty members, including 23 who hold both a doctoral degree and CPA, the School offers one of the nation’s most comprehensive professional accounting programs. A practitioner advisory board and an accounting alumni association (Ledger Quill) support the School. The School also offers five student organizations, tutoring services, supplemental instruction, an extensive scholarship program, a CPA Exam Review program, and the undergraduate Strobel Scholars (honors) program.

Flexibility, unique and broad-based skills, competitive salaries, multiple career paths, the social recognition that comes from professionalism, being at the forefront of business technology --these are but a few reasons an accounting major will serve as the basis for a productive, exciting and rewarding career. This flexibility stems from three features of contemporary accounting education and practice: first, your mastery of the technical, legal, technological and regulatory aspects of accounting upon which businesses operate and flourish. Accounting is, simply, the language of business. Second, from the emphasis on pro-active analytical, interpretive, problem-solving and solutions-creating skills which is foremost in your accounting education. And third is practice itself: in addition to the traditional aspects of financial accounting, managerial accounting, audit, and tax, over the years the expectations of and demands on accountants have grown to where the accountant is now considered the premiere business advisor, capable of bringing a wide assortment of skills to any engagement.

The program is designed to provide students with the technical accounting knowledge necessary to obtain a relevant entry level accounting position upon graduation; the ability to critically analyze information, make decisions, and solve problems; business writing and oral communication skills; exposure to the technical knowledge required to pass the Certified Public Accountant Examination. Certified Management Accountant Examination.

Student Resources

Accountancy Major and Minor Program Overview

Course Flowchart (Prerequisites)

Career Outcomes: Job Placement

Career Outcomes: Salary Ranges

Major Requirements

In addition to ACC 101 and ACC 102, a student majoring in Accountancy is required to complete the following eleven courses for the major:

For declared majors prior to Autumn Quarter 2008

  • ACC 303 Cost and Managerial Accounting
  • ACC 304 Financial Reporting I
  • ACC 305 Financial Reporting II
  • ACC 350 Information for Decision Making
  • 5 ACC electives (300, 306, 308, 360, 372, 374, 380, 383, 393, 396, 398)

For declared majors beginning Autumn Quarter 2008

  • ACC 303 Cost and Managerial Accounting
  • ACC 304 Financial Reporting I
  • ACC 305 Financial Reporting II
  • ACC 306 Financial Reporting III
  • ACC 308 Advanced Financial Accounting
  • ACC 372 Audit and Other Assurance Services I
  • ACC 374 Audit and Other Assurance Services II
  • ACC 380 Tax Treatment of Individuals and Property Transactions
  • ACC 383 Tax Treatment of Corporations and Partnerships
  • ACC 350 Information for Decision Making

Download the Frequently Asked Questions for the New Curriculum Requirements, effective Autumn 2008.

Accountancy majors who are also accepted into the Finance Honors Program should take ACC 307 Financial Reporting I for Finance Honors Students and ACC 309 Financial Reporting II for Finance Honors Students in lieu of ACC 304 Financial Reporting I and ACC 305 Financial Reporting II.  These students are strongly encouraged to take the DePaul CPA review class if they wish to pursue the CPA designation.

Recommended Course Sequence

Year Autumn Winter Spring
1st ACC 101 Introduction to Accounting I ACC 102 Introduction to Accounting II ACC 303 Cost and Managerial Accounting
2nd ACC 304 Financial Reporting I ACC 305 Financial Reporting II ACC 306 Financial Reporting III
3rd ACC 372 Audit and Other Assurance Services I Recommended Elective:
ACC 393 Internship in Accountancy
(Jr Yr Exp Learning)		 ACC 374 Audit and Other Assurance Services II
ACC 380 Tax Treatment of Individuals and Property Transactions
4th ACC 383 Tax Treatment of Corporations and Partnerships ACC 308 Advanced Financial Accounting ACC 350 Information for Decision Making
  • This table is a recommendation of courses to take within each year. Students may take courses in any order provided that prerequisites are met.
  • All ACC courses and any courses used toward the Accountancy major must be completed with a minimum grade of C-.
  • All ACC courses and any courses used toward the Accountancy major must equal a minimum grade point average of 2.0 when combined.
  • Adjustments in programs are made on recommendation of advisors and upon agreement with the Director or designate. A grade of C- or better is required in all major-field courses whether taken as an elective or as a required course, provided the cumulative GPA in these courses is not less than 2.0. Exceptions will be granted only in rare or unusual circumstances with the permission of the Director of the School of Accountancy and Management Information Systems.

Declaration of the Major

To declare a major in Accountancy, a Commerce student must meet the following requirements:

  • Completion of 28 hours at DePaul University
  • Completion of the Introductory Commerce courses with
    • A minimum grade of C- in each course
    • A minimum grade point average of 2.0 for the combined courses
  • A minimum cumulative DePaul grade point average of 2.3
  • A minimum Accountancy grade point average of 2.0
    A combined GPA of 4.75 when the accounting GPA and cumulative GPA are added together
  • No grade of IN, R, M or lower than C- in any ACC course or course used toward the Accountancy major
  • Completion of ACC 303 and ACC 304 with minimum grades of C-

Students should apply for Intended Accountancy Major status prior to completion of ACC 304 and acceptance by the School of Accountancy and Management Information Systems as a declared major.

Declaration of Accountancy Honors requires acceptance into the Strobel Honors Program.

The major is declared by completing an application through the Commerce Undergraduate Program Office.

Minor Requirements

In addition to ACC 101 and ACC 102, a Commerce student minoring in Accountancy is required to complete the following four courses for the minor:

  • ACC 304 Financial Reporting I
  • Three ACC electives chosen from current course offerings

Students in the Finance Honors Program who wish to minor in Accountancy should take ACC 307 Financial Reporting I for Finance Honors Students in lieu of ACC 304 Financial Reporting I. ACC 309 Financial Reporting II for Finance Honors Students will satisfy one of the Accountancy electives for the minor.

All ACC courses and any courses used toward the ACC minor must be completed with a minimum grade of C-.

All ACC courses and any courses used toward the ACC minor must equal a minimum grade point average of 2.0 when combined.

Declaration of the Minor

To declare a minor in Accountancy, a Commerce student must meet the following requirements:

  • A minimum cumulative DePaul grade point average of 2.0
  • A minimum Accountancy grade point average of 2.0
  • No grade of IN, R, M or lower than C- in any Accountancy course
  • Completion of one ACC course at DePaul

The minor is declared by completing an application through the Commerce Undergraduate Program Office.

Minor Requirements for Non-Commerce Students

A non-Commerce student minoring in Accountancy is required to complete the following six courses for the minor:

  • ACC 101 Introduction to Accounting I
  • ACC 102 Introduction to Accounting II
  • ACC 304 Financial Reporting I
  • Three ACC electives chosen from current course offerings

All ACC courses and any courses used toward the ACC minor must be completed with a minimum grade of C-.

All ACC courses and any courses used toward the ACC minor must equal a minimum grade point average of 2.0 when combined.

Declaration of the Minor for Non-Commerce Students

To declare a minor in Accountancy, a non-Commerce student must meet the following requirements:

  • A minimum cumulative DePaul grade point average of 2.0
  • A minimum Accountancy grade point average of 2.0
  • No grade of IN, R, M or lower than C- in any Accountancy course
  • Completion of one ACC course at DePaul

Students must meet the prerequisite course equivalency of pre-calculus prior to taking the first course in the minor.

The minor is declared by applying through the student's home college.

Program Advisor

Professor Mickey Wendorf
E-mail: mwendorf@depaul.edu
Phone: 312/362-6299

Contact Us

School of Accountancy & Management Information Systems
1 East Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60604-2287
Phone: 312/362-8770
Fax: 312/362-6208
E-mail: accountancy@depaul.edu