The Accounting Studies program is a non-degree undergraduate program available to students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree and would like to complete the remaining courses required to become CPA eligible.
The courses below do not cover the business credit requirement. Students without a bachelor’s degree in business should consider the Master of Science in Accountancy (MSA). See CPA Exam Advising for options.
Important: To work in public accounting (e.g. Deloitte, KPMG, PwC, Ernst & Young, etc.), recruiters typically seek candidates with a degree in accounting. This non-degree program does not award a major in accounting. If you wish to pursue a degree, we encourage you to review the requirements for the graduate programs.
Curriculum
Note: Classes taken at the undergraduate level are not transferable to a graduate program. We recommend that you take one to two classes to start out with and then reassess your educational goals to consider graduate school.
The Accounting Studies Program is self-guided. DePaul does not review transcripts or coursework of non-degree students for specific course advice. Non-degree students arrive with diverse educational backgrounds and, therefore, have unique course needs. Students can research the courses they wish to take by reviewing course descriptions and course syllabi, and comparing these to the courses they have previously completed. The undergraduate transfer course site may be used as an informal guide to course equivalencies.
To determine how many hours you already have, and to convert between quarter and semester hours, use the following table to calculate your running total: Credit Conversion Table. 1 quarter hour = 2/3 semester hour. 1 semester hour = 1.5 quarter hours.
The following chart shows courses as they are divided by the subject areas required by the Illinois Board of Examiners. Each course is equivalent to 4.0 quarter credits (2.67 semester credits). All course below are recommended to fully prepare for the CPA exam.
If you have completed a U.S. bachelor's degree in business, you will likely have already completed the equivalent of ACC 101, 102, and 303.
| Financial Accounting |
ACC 101 Introduction to Accounting I ACC 102 Introduction to Accounting II ACC 304 Financial Reporting I ACC 305 Financial Reporting II ACC 306 Financial Reporting III ACC 308 Advanced Financial Accounting |
| Managerial Accounting |
ACC 303 Managerial Accounting |
| Auditing |
ACC 372 Audit and Other Assurance Services I ACC 374 Audit and Other Assurance Services II ACC 376 Internal Auditing |
| Taxation |
ACC 380 Tax Treatment of Individuals and Property Transactions ACC 383 Tax Treatment of Corporations and Partnerships |
| Other |
ACC 350 Information for Decision Making* |
**This course fulfills the requirement for a course in accounting research and analysis.
Admission Process
- Students must have completed the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree. International students should consult an advisor in International Programs for assistance. Student visas are not available to non-degree seeking students.
Step 1: Complete the online application at www.depaul.edu/apply. The Accounting Studies Program is located within Undergraduate > Non-degree > College of Business > Accounting Studies. The application process takes 5-10 minutes for completion.
Step 2: Send an official transcript of each college or university attended to the following address.
DePaul University
Office of Undergraduate Admission
1 East Jackson Blvd
Chicago, Illinois 60604
To inquire about the status of your application, write to admission@depaul.edu or call 312-362-8300.
Class Times & Location
- Quarter system: On the quarter system, courses meet for ten weeks plus one week of final exams. Visit the Academic Calendar for start and end dates of each quarter.
- Class schedule: Course offerings and and meeting times are available on Campus Connect. If you don't already have a username, use the guest login. Click Search for Classes on the left side. Change the term to the desired quarter, then select Accountancy from the subject list below. Classes are generally posted by the end of the third week of the prior quarter.
- Location: Undergraduate accountancy courses are generally offered every quarter in both day and evening sections. Evening sections meet once per week for three hours per evening. All undergraduate accountancy courses meet at the Loop campus (State St. and Jackson Blvd.)
Registration and Enrollment
- Registration: All students are provided access to Campus Connect, the university's system for student accounts, records, and registration. If you have been recently admitted to DePaul and do not know your username and password, use the link "Forgot your password" or call 312-362-8765 for assistance. Visit the Academic Calendar for registration periods each quarter. Registration typically begins during the sixth week of the prior quarter.
- Class Schedule: Course offerings and and meeting times are available on Campus Connect. Click Search for Classes on the left side. Classes for the next quarter are posted by the end of the third week of the current quarter.
- Enrollment: In Campus Connect, select For Students > Student Center > Enroll. If registration has not yet begun, click My Enrollment Appointment. To ensure that you obtain a seat in your desired course(s), please observe your registration time each quarter and verify that your preferred e-mail address is correct in Campus Connect under Demographic Portfolio.
- Prerequisites: Accounting Studies Students are not bound to prerequisites during registration. Students may additionally courses from any other department as well but must meet the prerequisite assigned to that course. Prerequisites are not overridden for courses outside of accounting.
- Closed Classes: Enrollment is accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis only. If a class is closed, click "Add to waitlist if available" after selecting the class. Students are automatically enrolled if other students drop. The department does not override waitlists.
- Tuition: Non-degree students are billed at the part-time student rate. Each 4.0 credit course is $2120, effective Summer 2012 through Spring 2013. Go to Student Accounts for information on deadlines and payment options, including in-term payment plans, deferred billing for employer reimbursement, and third-party billing. To make a payment to your account online, log in to Campus Connect > For Students > Tuition & Account.
- Financial Aid: Federal aid is not available to non-degree seeking students. Private lenders may offer opportunities for non-degree based students to apply for financial assistance. You can search the web for non-degree private loans and/or contact the Financial Aid office at 312-362-8610. Be sure to specify that you are seeking information on private lending for non-degree students.
Program Advisor
- Mr. Brian Maj, bmaj@depaul.edu