School of: Business
Degree Type: Bachelor's Degree | Minor
Format: In-Person
Student Type: Traditional Undergraduate

Program at a Glance

Below-average tuition among private universities in the Pacific Northwest
57 major credits
2.5 minimum high school GPA
99% of all students receive financial aid

Bachelor of Science in Accounting Degree Overview

玩偶姐姐鈥檚 Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting is a traditional four-year degree program for students looking to build practical skills and knowledge in financial decision-making, risk analysis, professional communication, and business leadership.聽

Warner Pacific faculty members are business professionals who are personally invested in their students鈥� success, and WPU鈥檚 BS in Accounting graduates are in demand. In this bachelor鈥檚 in accounting degree program, students gain valuable, practical internship experience while earning their degree, which results in 95% of our accounting graduates finding work upon graduation.

For students who are working full time or looking for an online format option, the accelerated online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Accounting program offers a flexible degree path designed to cater to the needs of today鈥檚 adult learners.

An instructor standing next to a student working on a computer.

What Skills Can You Develop in the BS in Accounting Program?

Warner Pacific鈥檚 bachelor鈥檚 degree program in accounting provides students with a foundational understanding of financial management, including the ability to analyze, interpret, and communicate financial information. This degree program enables students to build their proficiency in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), federal tax laws, accounting controls, and auditing, and can be a first step toward a professional certification in accounting.聽

Upon successful completion of the bachelor鈥檚 in accounting program, graduates will also be able to demonstrate proficiency in the following areas:

  • Functional competencies: Decision-making, risk analysis, measurement, reporting, and research
  • Personal competencies: Professional demeanor, problem-solving, interpersonal interaction, leadership, communication, project management
  • Business perspective competencies: Strategic and critical thinking, industry and sector perspectives, international and global perspectives, resource management, legal and regulatory perspectives, marketing and client forces
  • Technical competencies: Leveraging technology to enhance functional, personal, and business competencies

Equipped with the right skills and knowledge, graduates of WPU鈥檚 accounting degree program are prepared to manage organizations鈥� financial operations as effective and ethical business leaders.

What Can You Do With a Bachelor of Science in Accounting Degree?

Accounting majors prepare for finance careers, where they work in roles such as accountant, financial analyst, financial manager, chief financial officer, budget analyst, and business and financial consultant.

Occupations in accounting continue to outpace the average in employment growth and return on investment for degrees earned. Projecting a 5% growth in employment for accountants and auditors from 2024 to 2034, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts close to 124,200 job openings will be available for these professionals each year during that decade.聽聽

Many accounting roles require a degree such as a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Gaining additional education beyond a bachelor鈥檚 and earning a credential such as a certified public accountant (CPA), certified management accountant (CMA), or certified internal auditor (CIA) license can lead to further career advancement.

Take a look at some of the median annual salaries for positions available to BS in Accounting degree graduates, according to the BLS:

Accountant or Auditor

$81,680

 Personal Financial Advisor

$102,140
Budget Analyst

$87,930

 Financial Manager

$161,700

 

Can You Become a CPA With a BS in Accounting?

Certified professional accountants provide services that are essential to the day-to-day operations of private, corporate, nonprofit, and government organizations across all industries and sectors of the economy. The CPA credential is required for accountants who work for publicly traded companies.

To become a CPA, professionals are required to hold a degree, such as a bachelor鈥檚 in accounting, and complete at least 150 college credit hours in related fields such as business administration, accounting, and finance. The BS in Accounting program from WPU covers 120 of those hours, so additional higher education coursework is required to qualify.聽

Candidates also need to gain at least one to two years of relevant work experience under a licensed CPA and pass the CPA exam to become licensed as a certified public accountant. Learn more about becoming a CPA in Oregon.

Bachelor of Science in Accounting Program Curriculum

The Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree program provides a comprehensive course of study in business, accounting, and management. The program curriculum helps students develop strategic thinking skills, grow their understanding of how a global business operates, and prepare to navigate the legal and market challenges of a dynamic business landscape.

Course requirements for the program include six prerequisite credits and 57 major credits (63 total credits). The internship component may increase the total number of credits. Of these total credits, 34 must be in upper-division courses, 30 of which must be completed at WPU.

Prerequisites (6 Credits)

  • BUS 223 | Introduction to Microsoft Office | 3 credits
  • MA 111 | College Algebra or MA 243 | Intro to Statistics (or higher level math) | 3 credits

Major Requirements (57 Credits)

  • BUS 101 | Introduction to Business and Personal Finance | 3 credits
  • BUS 195 | Internship Preparation | 2 credits
  • BUS 211 | Financial Accounting | 3 credits
  • BUS 213 | Managerial Accounting | 3 credits
  • BUS 290 | Ethics, Social Issues, and Responsibility | 3 credits
  • BUS 303 | Business and Employment Law | 3 credits
  • BUS 310 | Management Theory and Practice | 3 credits
  • BUS 311 | Intermediate Accounting I | 3 credits
  • BUS 312 | Intermediate Accounting II | 3 credits
  • BUS 314 | Cost Accounting | 3 credits
  • BUS 332 | Auditing | 3 credits
  • BUS 336 | Accounting Information Systems | 3 credits
  • BUS 394 | Research Methods and Statistics | 3 credits
  • BUS 411 | Advanced Accounting | 3 credits
  • BUS 412 | Individual Taxation | 3 credits
  • BUS 445 | Global Business | 3 credits
  • BUS 495 | Internship | 1-6 credits
  • EC 203 | Economics | 3 credits
  • MKTG 242 | Marketing | 3 credits
  • Elective: Select at least 3 credits from the following:
  • BUS 413 | Business Taxation (Offered via PGS) | 3 credits
  • BUS 415 | VITA/Tax Volunteer | 1-3 credits
  • BUS 490 | Accounting Topics | 1-3 credits

In order to earn a BS in Accounting at WPU, you need to do the following:

鈥⒙燙omplete all major course requirements and general education core requirements with grades of at least C- in each course.

鈥⒙燙omplete a total of 120 semester credits, including at least 40 upper-division credits (300-level and 400-level courses).

鈥⒙犅燤aintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0.

Check out the four-year traditional and two-year transfer degree plans and the course catalog for more information.

Minor Requirements (18 Credits)

Prerequisites (9 Credits)

  • EC 203 | Economics | 3 credits
  • BUS 303 | Business and Employment Law | 3 credits
  • MA 111 | College Algebra or MA 243 | Intro to Statistics | 3 credits

Required Courses (18 Credits: 12 credits in residence, 12 credits upper division)

  • BUS 211 | Financial Accounting | 3 credits
  • BUS 213 | Managerial Accounting | 3 credits
  • BUS 311 | Intermediate Accounting I | 3 credits
  • BUS 312 | Intermediate Accounting II | 3 credits
  • Electives: Take at least 6 credits from the following:
    • BUS 314 | Cost Accounting | 3 credits
    • BUS 332 | Auditing | 3 credits
    • BUS 411 | Advanced Accounting | 3 credits
    • BUS 412 | Individual Taxation | 3 credits
    • BUS 413 | Business Taxation | 3 credits
    • BUS 415 | VITA/Tax Volunteer | 1-3 credits
    • BUS 490 | Special Topics | 3 credits

Insight From a WPU Graduate
Mike Moreland, former chairman of the WPU Board of Trustees and WPU alum. 鈥淲hen you meet the challenges of the business world 鈥� and you will 鈥� it is the ethical discernment you studied at Warner Pacific that will provide a well you can keep drawing from in order to maintain focus and integrity.鈥澛�

鈥擬ike Moreland, former chairman of the WPU Board of Trustees and WPU alum

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a Bachelor of Science in Accounting program take?

It typically takes full-time students about four years to complete a bachelor鈥檚 degree in accounting program. Various factors can impact a student鈥檚 completion time, such as how many transfer credits they have.聽

Learn more about how long it takes to earn an accounting degree.

What does the Bachelor of Science in Accounting program format entail?

The accounting degree program at WPU combines hands-on experience with theoretical instruction and is designed to help students prepare for careers in accounting. It can also serve as the first step toward CPA or CMA certification.聽

This bachelor鈥檚 in accounting degree program is delivered in an in-person format consisting of core and major requirements, electives, and an internship. Students work with an academic advisor to design their own personalized course of study.

View examples of a WPU BS in Accounting four-year traditional and two-year transfer degree plans here.

What are the admissions requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Accounting program?

All candidates interested in enrolling in the Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree program must meet WPU鈥檚 admissions requirements:

For traditional undergraduate students, requirements include:

鈥⒙燗 completed application for admission

鈥⒙燨fficial transcripts from all schools attended

鈥⒙燗 minimum 2.5 high school GPA

For transfer students, requirements include:

鈥⒙燗 completed application for admission

鈥⒙燨fficial transcripts from all schools attended (high school transcripts are not required for students who have earned 12 or more credits since graduation)

鈥⒙燗 minimum 2.0 transfer GPA

Applicants who do not meet the minimum academic standards are encouraged to apply. Additional materials may be required for review by the Admissions Review Committee. Some applicants may be asked to submit writing samples or personal references, or to participate in an Admissions interview.

Applications are accepted throughout the year, with a fall early application deadline of December 1; a priority application deadline of February 1; and a transfer application deadline of March 1. Learn more about our start dates and admissions requirements in our course catalog.

Where can I learn more about tuition and financial aid?

WPU strives to provide students with a valuable education at an affordable cost, with tuition rates that are more than 40% lower than the average private university tuition in the Pacific Northwest. To explore your financial aid options, please visit our Financial Aid page.

Traditional Undergraduate Programs

Academic Year Full-Time Tuition (Annual) Part-Time Tuition
2025-2026听 $22,540 $935 per credit hour
2026-2027 $23,890 $990 per credit hour

For a full list of fees, please visit our Tuition and Fees page.

Does the BS in Accounting program have any professional partnerships?

玩偶姐姐鈥檚 accounting and finance partners include the following organizations:

鈥⒙燗ldrich CPAs + Advisors

鈥⒙燘oehme + Running CPAs LLC

鈥⒙燙reative Financial Staffing

鈥⒙燚elap LLP

鈥⒙燜isher Investments

鈥⒙燜oray Business Group

鈥⒙燞eritage Bank

鈥⒙燞olman Enterprises

 鈥⒙燢笔惭骋

鈥⒙燤cDonald Jacobs, PC

鈥⒙燤oss Adams LLP

鈥⒙灿颈办别

鈥⒙燩aper Investigator Inc.

鈥⒙燫VK Consulting

鈥⒙燱ells Fargo

鈥⒙燯.S. government: IRS

 

Is the Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree accredited?

玩偶姐姐 is accredited by The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). WPU is also an educational member of the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE), located at 11960 Quivira Rd. in Overland Park, Kansas. Educational members have not yet undergone accreditation reviews and do not have business programs that are accredited by the IACBE.

Discover Your Purpose With a BS in Accounting Degree Program

United under the university鈥檚 Christ-centered mission, WPU鈥檚 business programs create space for students of all cultural and professional backgrounds to take a purpose-driven approach to their career advancement.聽

For questions about the Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree program or its format, contact the admissions team at 800-804-1510, or fill out the form below.

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Questions?

Our Business Department faculty would love to hear from you.

Image of Dr. Ulf Spears, DSL, CAGS, M.Sc., BS

Dr. Ulf Spears, DSL, CAGS, M.Sc., BS

Dean of Business

Faculty
School of: Business
Phone: 503-517-1324
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