Accounting

Bachelor of Science

Accounting is the language of business.

The accountant of today is a communicator of what data means and how it can be used to make decisions for the business enterprise. This ACBSP-accredited program prepares students for careers in accounting forms or corporate accounting functions.

The Curriculum
Study accounting at all levels

Your coursework and case studies prepares you to identify real-world problems and use critical thinking skills to solve them. You’ll learn how to collaborate and communicate with people at all levels of the business, both internally and externally.

Do an internship — it can lead to a job

Many accounting internships lead to full-time employment after graduation. Our students have interned at prestigious firms, such as Amgen, Ernst&Young LLP and HCVT. These internships enable Cal Lutheran’s accounting students to gain relevant and hands-on professional work experience as they begin to narrow their focus to a particular career path. By sharpening your skills in the workplace, you’ll get practical experience and the opportunity to demonstrate what you can do!

Your ideal plan

From day one you’ll be on track towards graduation with a yearly plan. You won’t have to worry about what classes to take—we’ll help you create the perfect schedule! View sample academic plans

Start networking early

Join Cal Lutheran’s Accounting Association — a dedicated, student-run organization that will connect you with business leaders and fellow students. You’ll meet monthly with Certified Public Accountant (CPA) firms, corporate companies, graduate schools, and CPA review courses. Expand your network now, you’ll never know where that connection will lead you.

Save time and money earning your MBA

Add further value to your degree by choosing the 4+1 Option, which gives you a head start on earning an MBA or MS in Financial Planning. Not only will you obtain the additional education credits needed for licensure but if your degree was in financial planning, you would obtain knowledge in a service that has been expanding in CPA firms.

Steven Dorfman Scholarship

Covering 75% to 100% of tuition, the Steven Dorfman Scholarship is awarded to first-year applicants for admission who are selected through our Honors Day program.



Programs

Offered as a major (BS).


Recommended Minors

Want to add even more value to your degree? Consider one of these minors to gain a unique combination of skills and perspectives.


The Experience
Accounting Association

The Accounting Association is a student club that has held many events with guest speakers from businesses such as Deloitte and PwC. In 2020, the group hosted alumni, Andrew Kiefer ’98 and Allison Floyd ’09 to speak on their career paths and employment at CBIZ, one of the nation’s leading providers of professional advisory services, focused on accounting, benefits and insurance, HR and payroll solutions.

Accounting Association

In terms of networking, it was very beneficial to be a part of the Accounting Association. I started as a sophomore and I started to build relationships and see different firms come and talk to the club.

Brittany Ruiz '13
Your Future

The demand for accounting professionals continues to be strong, with employment opportunities expected to grow at a faster pace than most other professions.

Cal Lutheran’s program in accounting prepares students not only for a career as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), but also for employment in private industry, nonprofit organizations, higher education, and government agencies.


Our alumni study at:
  • California Lutheran University
  • Cal State University, Northridge
  • Boston University
  • Golden Gate University
  • Loyola Marymount University
  • Pepperdine University
  • University of Southern California
  • University of Denver
  • University of Washington
Our alumni work for:
  • Bank of America
  • CBIZ MHM LLC
  • Deloitte
  • Ernst & Young LLP
  • Habit for Humanity of Ventura County
  • Holthouse Carlin & Van Trigt (HCVT)
  • Internal Revenue Service
  • KPMG
  • Montecito Bank & Trust
  • NBC
  • Patagonia
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
  • Semtech
  • Sony Pictures Entertainment
  • The Walt Disney Company
Career paths:
  • Accountant
  • Auditor
  • Certified Public Accountant
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Controller
  • Financial Analyst
  • Management Consultant
  • Revenue Agent, IRS
  • Tax Consultant
  • Tax Preparer/Accountant

of Cal Lutheran graduates find a job or enroll in graduate school within nine months

More Career Outcomes



The Accounting program prepared me for my professional position as a tax accountant by providing me with the baseline knowledge I needed to enter my field. Accounting is not a simple subject and the area of tax definitely stays true to that. It can be a challenging career as it is so heavily based around rules and regulations, as well as understanding how to apply those laws to different clients. The combination of hard and soft skills, such as critical and analytical thinking, problem solving and effective workplace communication, I learned in the program are what I continuously use in the professional world.

Jacob Colson '20
Accounting Major
Tax Staff Accountant, HCVT Westlake Village

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