Business (Accounting and Business Decisions), BA
Explore the financial operations of organizations and their role in shaping business strategy. You'll build a strong foundation in financial principles as you become well prepared for a career that supports informed financial decision-making across industries.
Quick facts
Locations
Courses
or MAT 117 College Algebra
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation and professional licensure
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
This program's name has changed effective Fall 2026. The previous name was Business (Corporate Accounting).
Degree description
The Bachelor of Arts program in business with a concentration in accounting and business decisions addresses your educational needs as someone who has an interest in accounting but does not plan to enter public accounting.
Managerial accounting is the emphasis of this program. The six major courses in the concentration prepare you for corporate accounting positions by helping you develop skills in strategic financial planning, control, corporate compliance and decision-making.
Upon completion of the program, you may take the Certified Management Accountant exam.
Courses
Explore a sample list of courses you may take in this program.
| Sample courses |
|---|
| WPC 148 First-Year Introduction to Career Development |
| WPC 248 Sophomore Career Narrative Design |
| WPC 348 Junior Networking Foundations |
| WPC 448 Senior Career Transition Management |
| FIN 300 Fundamentals of Finance |
| LES 305 Business Law and Ethics for Managers |
Course checksheet and curriculum archive
The curriculum checksheet displays this program's required courses and other requirements you must complete for graduation.
Current ASU students, see how your courses can apply to another major and find out how to change your major (opens in new window).
Already completed some college courses? Build on your success.
If you earned college credit outside ASU, our transfer tools map out your progress towards a degree and help you plan next steps.
See how your credits may apply (opens in new window)Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
First year (opens in new window) | Transfer (opens in new window) | International (opens in new window) | Readmission (opens in new window)
First-year admission requirements for this program are the same as the university's first-year admission requirements. This program is not available to students with BA, Bachelor of Science or Master of Science degrees in accountancy. Readmission requirements: Students must have a transfer GPA of 3.00 (if applicable) and a cumulative ASU GPA of 3.00.
Transfer admission requirements:
Transfer applicants must have a GPA of 3.00 for all transfer work and meet university transfer admission requirements. Transfer students should select an additional major, which must be outside the W. P. Carey School of Business, when applying for admission. Students who are admissible to the university but do not meet admission requirements for this program and did not select a second major or are not admissible to their second major choice are placed in the BA program in applied business and technology solutions in W. P. Carey School of Business, which is offered via ASU Online as well as at the Polytechnic and West Valley campus locations. Students not interested in that program or campus location may reach out to wpcareyug@asu.edu for assistance in selecting another degree program.
Students should visit the W. P. Carey School of Business website to determine whether they meet change of major requirements. Students who are ready to change their major should submit their request through the advising website. This program is not available to students who already hold a BA, BS or MS degree in accountancy.
Students should visit the Change of Major form (opens in new window) for information about how to change a major to this program.
Explore expanded study opportunities
This program allows you to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. As a high-achieving student, accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for you to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of your master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Approval to pursue the accelerated master's is typically granted during the junior year of your bachelor's degree program. If you are interested, you can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
When you pursue concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”), you earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with your academic advisor, you can create your own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.
As globalization continues to impact the way the world lives and works, international experiences have become vital to success in corporate accounting. Through international study and internships, students can gain valuable skills that employers are looking for: communication and interpersonal skills, flexibility, motivation and a real-life perspective on business applications worldwide. Experiences abroad help students understand international accounting methods and grow their portfolio of marketable business skills, making them a competitive candidate in the corporate accounting field. A Global Education program contributes to students' success by enabling them to improve their interpersonal and language skills while they broaden their understandings of international business practices.
The W. P. Carey School of Business recommends these programs for students majoring in accounting and business decisions.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimate
Build the career and future you want
Our graduates are prepared for a variety of career paths, including:
| Career | Growth | Median Salary | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant/Auditor | 5.0% | $83,680 | Learn more |
| Financial Analyst | 7.2% | $102,740 | Learn more |
| Financial Manager | 9.7% | $166,570 | Learn more |
| Treasurer | 9.7% | $166,570 | Learn more |
Example job titles and salaries listed are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.
Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).
More about careers
Graduates have many career opportunities and are in high demand. Senior management roles for corporate accountants include chief financial officer. Currently, more than half of CFOs at larger corporations have formal accounting training. The longer term projected trend is for CFOs to have extensive corporate accounting training, particularly given that CFOs at public U.S. corporations personally sign financial statements.
Typical early- to mid-career positions held by corporate accountants include controller, treasurer and vice president in areas such as financial planning, divisional controlling, cost accounting directing, senior financial analysis and senior accounting. Individuals in these positions typically report to the CFO.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business
|
BA 160
wpcareyug@asu.edu
480-965-4227
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
