Accounting, Bachelor's
Overview
If you have a sharp attention to detail and an interest in numbers, consider majoring in Accounting!
As a DeSales accounting major, you'll have plenty of options. Specialize your degree with a data analytics or forensic accounting track, or get a jump start on your MBA through our BS to MBA program.
Year after year, an accounting degree continues to be a sought-after asset from employers, large and small.
Options
- BS in Accounting: become well versed in the principles of accounting, from corporate cost management to legal issues and financial reporting.
- Forensic Accounting track: become further qualified as an accountant to identify and detect fraudulent financial reporting, misappropriation of assets, and support fraud legal cases as litigation support.
- Data Analytics track: Data analysts and data scientists are two of the most sought-after job positions in the US and abroad, with some of the highest starting salaries right out of college, adding further specialization to an already in-demand degree.
- BS to MBA: Earn an MBA in just 4.5 - 5 years from our top-ranked MBA program.
Admissions Requirements
At DeSales, we not only look at your past academic achievement but also your potential for future growth to determine your admission.
We find that students who have demonstrated significant achievement within a demanding curriculum are best suited for academic life at DeSales. Quality of academic performance plays a critical role in the admissions decision making process. This helps indicate a student's potential for academic growth going forward. We welcome applications from all qualified students regardless of race, religion, sex, national, or ethnic origin.
Application Checklist
- Application Fee: None
- Transcripts: Official High School Transcript
- Standardized Tests: Test-optional, however, an Admissions Interview may be requested
- Recommendations: Completed Guidance Counselor Form and Teacher Recommendation Form
- Please refer to the Program Specific Requirements section for any requirements specific to this program
All materials can be mailed to:
DeSales University Admissions Office
2755 Station Ave.
Center Valley, PA
* SAT scores are highly recommended for students applying for the Nursing and Health Science programs. Please refer to the Program Specific Requirements section for any requirements specific to this program.
Additional recommendations
High School Academics - Remember, there is no single preferred high school academic program, but a college preparatory course of study is highly recommended. Here's an example:
- Four years of English
- Three or four years of college preparatory mathematics
- A minimum of two years of modern, foreign, or classical language
- At least two laboratory science courses
Visiting DeSales - A personal, on-campus interview is strongly recommended, but is not required. We encourage you to visit so that you'll have a chance to learn more about DeSales, and we'll have the opportunity to learn more about you, too.
Learn more about Undergraduate Admissions & Aid
When to Apply
We encourage you to apply early in your senior year. We use a rolling admissions system, which means you will be notified promptly about your admissions status—usually within four weeks of our receipt of your completed application.
Priority deadline for scholarship consideration is December 1 of your senior year.
Curriculum
Major specific classes will include:
- Quantitative Business Analysis
- Financial Accounting
- Managerial Accounting
- Legal Environment of Business
- Financial Management
- Federal Income Taxation
- Strategic Cost Management
Business Capstone
As seniors, all business majors are required to take a Business Capstone course that will feature a team service project, along with assessment tests, a research paper, and a final presentation. The project will work to benefit a community organization in the Salesian spirit of DeSales.
Past projects included students partnering with:
- Engineers Without Borders (EWB)
- Futuros Empresarious (FE)
- Kiva
- Green Team
- Para Per 4 Mance
- Saint Peter’s Evangelical Church
- The Special Olympics
- Girls on the Run
- Mercy School for Special Learning (MSSL)
- Children's Dyslexia Center of Lehigh Valley
Academic Catalogs
Graduation Requirements
View the graduation requirements and example schedule for this programFaculty
At DeSales, you'll learn from experienced faculty who have industry experience in a variety of organizations. Faculty bring real-life examples and innovative teaching techniques to create an exciting, hands-on learning environment.
Facilities
The DeSales University Gambet Center includes state-of-the-art technology and equipment for Business education.
The second floor of the Center is home to the undergraduate business division and the MBA program. Through the Gambet Center, you'll have access to some of the most cutting-edge technologies and softwares, such as Financial Trading Systems (FTS):
- The Fainor Center for Financial Services boasts a live-ticker and trading simulation software.
- The Center for Data Analytics and Applied AI provides education and training, inclusive outreach, and applied projects for our stakeholder organizations.
The Gambet Center is a showcase of green architecture featuring environmentally advanced design consistent with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification standards of the U.S. Green Building Council.
The Fainor Center for Financial Services is used by DeSales University business and finance students. State-of-the-art software simulates real-world market situations and portfolio management.
Careers & Internships
In addition to rigorous classroom instruction, you will also learn through hands-on experiences through internships. Experiential learning is a way for you to apply what you have learned, grow your skills, and make connections in your field.
Completing an internship is a great way to discover what type of business environment you prefer and can help inform your job search after graduation.
Our Career Development Center can provide resources to help you find an internship that's right for you as well as help prepare you for the job market upon graduation (or sooner). Many of our Accounting majors receive job offers before graduation.
Past internships opportunities and recent job placements for our Accounting majors have included:
- Concannon Miller
- EY
- Deloitte
- KPMG
- PWC
- Pennsylvania Department of Revenue
- Morgan Stanley
- Goldman Sachs
Tuition & Fees
DeSales can help make your college expenses affordable through a combination of grants, loans, student employment, and scholarship resources.
View a comprehensive list of financial aid forms and undergraduate program information sheets
Cost of attendance for undergrads for 2024-2025
Resident Students
Direct Costs
Tuition - $45,000
Room and Board - $13,800
Mandatory Fees - $1,800
One-time Orientation Fee for First-Year students and Transfers - $200
Total = $60,800 (including first-year/transfer fees)
Estimated Indirect Costs
Books/Supplies - $1,711
Personal Expenses - $4,605
Total cost for resident students: $67,116
Commuter Students
Direct Costs
Tuition - $45,000
Mandatory Fees - $1,400
One-time Orientation Fee for First-Year students and Transfers - $200
Total = $46,600 (including first-year/transfer fees)
Estimated Indirect Costs
Books/Supplies - $1,711
Personal Expenses - $4,605
Transportation Costs - $1,908
Living Expenses - $2,298
Total cost for commuter students: $57,122
Off-Campus*
Direct Costs
Tuition - $45,000
Mandatory Fees - $1,400
One-time Orientation Fee for First-Year students and Transfers - $200
Total = $46,600 (including first-year/transfer fees)
Estimated Indirect Costs
Books/Supplies - $1,711
Personal Expenses - $4,605
Transportation Costs - $1,908
Living Expenses - $9,192
Total cost for off-campus students: $64,016
*First-year students are required to reside on campus or commute from home.
Parking Fee - $100
View a comprehensive list of financial aid forms and undergraduate program information sheets
Dual Degree Undergraduate-to-Graduate Programs
If you are enrolled in an undergraduate-to-graduate degree program — for example a 5-year, 3+2, 3+3, program — the undergraduate tuition and fees apply only to the undergraduate portion of the program. As you progress into the graduate phase of your program, graduate tuition and fees apply. Please see your respective graduate program for more information.
The financial aid process may appear overwhelming at first glance, but don't worry, we'll help you through it.
Accepted students are automatically considered for scholarships upon receipt of a completed application and are awarded regardless of financial need. Funds for scholarships are limited, so we do encourage students to apply early.
Our comprehensive financial aid packages carefully explain the types and amounts of assistance —including federal, state, and institutional — that you may be eligible for to help cover education related expenses.
Total cost of attendance includes estimates for tuition, fees, room, board, books, and personal, transportation, and living expenses.
You can estimate your total cost of attendance with our Net Price Calculator
Tracks
What path do you want to pursue? Do you see yourself working for a large corporation, or operating your own accounting firm?
At DeSales, you'll have the opportunity to choose an area of focus within the Accounting major. Our program includes four options: general accounting degree, the general degree with the forensic accounting track, the general degree with the data analytics track, and the option for a BS/MBA in four and a half years.
Each track includes coursework to help you specialize your accounting degree to match your specific career goals.
Forensic Accounting Track
Focusing on forensics will further qualify you as an accountant to identify and detect fraudulent financial reporting, misappropriation of assets, and support fraud legal cases as litigation support.
Your Forensic Accounting track includes the following courses:
- AB463 Forensic Accounting OR AC508 (MBA) Fraud Examinations
- Three (3) controlled electives:
- CJ109 Crime and Society
- CJ375 White Collar Crime
- MG233 Business Communication Skills
Data Analytics Track
With the Data Analytics track, you'll learn the structures, concepts, mathematics, and computer languages of data analytics and AI. You'll learn to use the software and cloud platforms in demand in the job market, such as Tableau, SAS, Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, and Google TensorFlow.
You'll conduct real data analytics projects using open source datasets and data from local companies.
You'll learn how to govern data ethically and legally, in accordance with the Christian humanism mission of DeSales University.
The Data Analytics track includes the following courses:
- MG226 Intro to Data Analytics and AI
- CS260 Databases & Data Visualization
- MI353 Statistical Analysis and Predictive Modeling
- MI462 Applied AI Platforms & Projects
- AB345 Corporate Financial Analytics
BS to MBA Option
The BS to MBA in Accounting can be completed in four and a half years with the addition of three (3) MBA courses. Specific courses may be selected with consultation from your academic advisor.
ACBSP Global Business Accreditation
Business Programs at DeSales University are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
Download DeSales ACBSP Self Study (pdf)
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Dual Major Opportunity
Are you interested in two different areas of study? Pursue both interests by completing a dual major. At DeSales, you can complete a double major in the traditional four-year period by taking coursework for your first major during your freshman and sophomore years. Talk to an admissions counselor to learn more!
