English 
Speak ‘the language of business.’
A company’s story is told through its finances. What kind of year did they have? How are they compensating their employees? What sectors are generating the most revenues for them? The answers lie in financial records and reports. In business, accounting is used for investment decisions, evaluating management, negotiation with management and levying taxes. Understanding this language enables you to communicate in the world of business and pursue a number of career opportunities.
At William Woods University, our bachelors in accounting starts with a strong foundation in accounting principles and practices and building on this with their applications in the world. We combine the importance of quantitative skills, accounting tools and attention to detail to a well-rounded curriculum in the arts and sciences.
Our faculty is dedicated to working with you to find the necessary coursework for particular certifications and your career goals — whether that is working as a CPA for one of the Big Four accounting firms or helping communities balance their budgets.
Pursue coursework in auditing, law, micro and macroeconomics, cost and managerial accounting, management and more.
Special opportunities
- Learn technical skills for producing financial statements according to accounting industry standards; computer skills in Excel, Word, Access, and Quickbooks; and General Business knowledge in economics, finance, ethics, law, and math
- Gain internship experience locally and pursue opportunities across the country
- Work on an in-depth capstone project
- Take on real-world clients and solve real business problems in your coursework
- Pursue leadership roles in any of our student organizations or on-campus employment opportunities
- Obtain a global perspective with business opportunities all over the world
Our Accounting degree at Work
Pursue an exciting career as a/an:
- Accounting clerk
- Auditing clerk
- Accounts payable or accounts receivable manager
- General accountant
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Controller
- In-house corporate accountant
- Credit analysis manager
- Tax accountant
- Treasury analyst
- Cost estimator
- Auditor
- Budget analyst
- Financial advisor
- Risk and compliance professional
- officer
- Commercial banker
- Underwriter
- Or, attend graduate school for a Master of Business Administration, a Juris Doctor degree or a Master of Science in accounting, finance, or more.
Recent Employers
Our students are highly sought after by distinguished employers across the country, including:
Other employers of our recent alumni include:
- Numerous CPA firms
- Public Service Commission State of Missouri
- TKG Management
An accounting degree from William Woods opened the door to a successful future. The education I received not only gave me the knowledge and confidence necessary to begin a career in the field of finance, but provided me with a strong foundation for my graduate studies as well. Choosing to be an accounting major at William Woods was the best decision I could have made.Cale Fessler, Bachelor of Science in Accounting, ‘03
At William Woods, I earned my degree in accounting, and paired it with a minor in political and legal studies. William Woods was a great place for me to earn my degree. I found the smaller class sizes to be beneficial because I was able to become close with all the students studying in the same area. The professors were willing and able to put in the extra time to make sure that I really understood the material. At the same time, there was a wide selection of specialty courses to take so I was able to get the most of out of my chosen subjects.Adam Mulari, Bachelor of Science in Accounting, ’04, University of Colorado Sturm College of Law, ’07
Requirements/Curriculum
The Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree at William Woods University consists of 122 distinct credit hours for graduation—including 51 core major credits and 6 required electives.
Major Requirements
Core Credits: 57.00
| An introduction to the principles underlying accounting information. The course will focus on the role that accounting information plays in planning, evaluating, and recording operating activities of businesses. An introduction to financial statements is also included. In this course students will summarize financial data and construct basic financial statements using various software tools such as Excel and QuickBooks. credits: | Principles of Accounting I | 3 |
| This course extends the concepts of ACC 240 Methods for evaluating management decisions will be included through the study of financial statement analysis. Students will be able to interpret the financial position of a company based on their organization of the financial data that is compiles using various software tools such as Excel and QuickBooks. credits: | Principles of Accounting II | 3 |
| This course is a study of the nature, content, and interpretation of corporate financial statements. Students will learn to use accounting concepts and principles to solve non-routine financial issues. credits: | Intermediate Accounting I | 3 |
| Students will compare the history, law and structure of the Internal Revenue Code and learn about payroll and income taxes affecting individuals and families. Preparation of accurate federal payroll forms and income tax returns will be required citing appropriate tax authorities for controversial issues that arise. credits: | Taxation I | 3 |
| The characteristics and accounting requirements of non-current corporate items, including investments, plant and equipment, intangible assets, and long-term indebtedness; further analysis of corporate capital with special attention to paid-in capital and retained earnings. Students will use accounting principles and concepts to solve non-routine financial issues. Prerequisite: ACC 312 credits: | Intermediate Accounting II | 3 |
| An examination of basic cost accounting concepts including job order costing, process costing, and standard costing. Emphasis is placed upon the managerial implications of decisions as they relate to cost analysis, planning, budgeting, and control. Students will be asked to formulate financial ramifications of various options available to managers when investigating solutions. Prerequisite: ACC 241 credits: | Cost and Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| Students will compare the history, law and structure of the Internal Revenue Code and learn about payroll and income taxes affecting entrepreneurs and business owners. Preparation of accurate federal payroll forms and income tax returns will be required citing appropriate tax authorities for controversial issues that arise. Prerequisite: ACC 319 credits: | Taxation II | 3 |
| Internships provide students with the opportunity for hands-on application of the theories and applications they have learned in the classroom. For each credit hour obtained in the internship, the student is required to work 40 hours in an approved organization. A 2 credit hour internship = 80 hours, 3 credit hours = 120 hours, etc. Prerequisite: Approval of the division chair and 2.5 or higher GPA in the major credits: | ACC Internship III | 3 |
| Students will learn about the various regulatory agencies and accounting rules developed through Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB). In addition, students will gain comprehensive knowledge of the accounting procedures and reporting practices of governmental and nonprofit organizations. Prerequisites: ACC 240 and ACC 241 credits: | Governmental & Nonprofit Accounting | 3 |
| This course will require students to apply analytical skills to compare investment opportunities by analyzing financial statements to determine the financial health of a company. Prerequisite: ACC240 and MAT114 credits: | Investments with Financial Statement Analysis | 3 |
| This capstone course is a study of basic auditing standards and procedures including the code of ethics, the various forms of the audit report, methods of data verification, and preparation of audit working papers. Students will also be able to critique past auditing involvement with businesses that were bankrupt or accused of fraud shortly after the audit. Prerequisites: MAT 114 and 9 hours of accounting. credits: | Auditing | 3 |
| This course is an introduction to moral issues in business. Students will be introduced to basic ethical theory and models for ethical decision-making. Students will look at case studies of both unethical and ethical performance by business. This course introduces students to a variety of business ethics problem areas which include: consumer rights, product safety, ethics in marketing and advertising, employment rights, affirmative action, corporate responsibility, regulation, ”whistle-blowing,” and environmental responsibility. In this course, students analyze, evaluate, articulate, and defend logical positions on business ethics issues. credits: | Business Ethics -U | 3 |
| Fundamental principles of law in relation to business including court systems, torts, contracts, and sales. credits: | Business Law | 3 |
| This course connects the principles of financial managerial decision to a broader management process linking the firm with external markets in which it must raise funds, purchase inputs and sell products. The student will be expected to apply the concepts of financial analysis and planning, investment risk and time value of money, cash flows and capital budgeting, and cost of capital. Each students will construct a stockholders’ report that analyzes the real world financial markets. Prerequisites: ACC 240 and MAT 114 credits: | Corporate Finance | 3 |
| This is a senior capstone course which synthesizes the student’s academic experience in various professional business subjects taught in the business administration degree program. This course gives a special emphasis on the creative, analytical and critical challenges experienced by contemporary business managers. Students will connect their business knowledge to international and ethical issues in business. The course stresses a case study approach. Prerequistes: Senior Standing credits: | Business Policy and Procedures | 3 |
| This course is an introduction to the nature, method, and scope of economic analysis regarding the macroeconomic performance of nations. Indicators of a nation’s macroeconomic performance include the economic growth rate, the tendency toward inflation, and the level of unemployment. This course introduces students to the process of monetary and fiscal policy, and also introduces students to each policy’s impact on national economic performance. Students also are introduced to the nature of global trade and economic development. credits: | Macroeconomics -Q | 3 |
| This course introduces students to the principles and theories of microeconomics. The course stresses identification of fundamental economic concepts, essential forms of business organization, and introductory theory regarding exchange and price determination under various market conditions. Students additionally learn about distribution of income, the economics of agriculture and labor, and the role of government in business. credits: | Microeconomics -Q | 3 |
| An introductory course in statistics. Topics include: elementary probability, measures of central tendency and variation, normal distributions, sampling, confidence intervals, estimation, hypothesis testing, regression and correlation. Emphasis on the use of graphing calculators and the utility of mathematics as a problem-solving tool. Extensive discussion of applications in natural science, social science, and business. Prerequisite: MAT 099 or equivalent. credits: | Elementary Statistics -M | 3 |
| The rapid evolution of digital technologies necessitates comprehensive training to empower students with the skills and knowledge required for modern workplaces. This class integrates Office 365, Google Tools, Miro, and AI, providing students with a holistic understanding and hands-on experience to enhance productivity, collaboration, and innovation. credits: | Productivity Tools | 3 |