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Why choose accounting at the Ilitch School?

Accounting, at its core, is the systematic process of recording, reporting and analyzing financial transactions. In our bachelor's in business administration accounting program, explore these topics while perfecting the crucial financial management skills that accounting organizations desire. Choose to earn either a bachelor of arts (B.A.) or a bachelor of science (B.S.) degree from Wayne State University's Mike Ilitch School of Business.

With opportunities for paid internships, faculty collaborations and other student experiences, you receive a comprehensive education that prepares you for a diverse array of accounting career pathways. We carefully structure our program to train you for taking various professional examinations such as the Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA).

Additionally, the program equips you with the analytical and technical qualifications essential for making sound professional financial decisions, ensuring you stand out in the thriving realm of accounting.

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Explore the program

  • Ilitch School’s accounting bachelor’s features in-person and online foundation, core, elective and experiential learning courses that cover the following topics: 

    • Preparation and analyzation of financial documents
    • Methodologies for bonds, leases, pensions, income taxes and owners' equity
    • Techniques for developing databases and auditing information systems
    • Concepts associated with business and individual taxation

    Students who need additional help with their accounting coursework can sign up for free study sessions in the accounting tutoring lab. 

    View accounting program requirements and courses and a sample 4-year accounting plan.

    The Ilitch School offers both bachelor of arts (B.A.) and bachelor of science (B.S.) degrees in business administration accounting. While both programs have the same accounting curriculum, the B.A. has a foreign language requirement, and the B.S. does not. Accounting majors can choose which degree they would like to earn based on their academic and career goals. Students who have questions about selecting a degree type should contact an academic advisor.

    Highly qualified accounting majors are eligible to participate in the AGRADE program, in which they can apply up to 12 business credits toward both their bachelor’s in accounting degree and master of science in accounting, master of business administration or other graduate business degree. AGRADE students save time and money, as much as one-third of the total cost of a WSU graduate business degree, while earning two degrees in an accelerated format. 

    Students who plan to sit for the Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Examination should be advised that, although as many as 12 credits can be applied to both a student's undergraduate and master's degrees, these credits will count only once for reaching the 150-hour requirement for the CPA examination and certification.

    Accounting degree-seeking students currently enrolled in the Ilitch School of Business with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above have the opportunity to register for courses featuring an honors component. By fulfilling 15 mandatory credits, they can earn an honors distinction on their transcript and diploma upon graduation.

    Review the eligibility and requirements for departmental honors.

Student services and opportunities

Wayne State has a great career fair, and I tell people all the time they need to join. Through all the struggles financially, just getting that internship made it all worth it. Now that college life is done, I feel like I’m on an easier path, and it’s quite relieving.

Syed Hussain
B.S. ‘22
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My experience in the Ilitch School was the best decision I’ve ever made. My long hours of work have paid off, and now I’ve got a better way of life.

Tony Truitt
‘22
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Meet the faculty

Our Ilitch School of Business professors are ready to take you to the next level. As accomplished researchers and seasoned business leaders, they know how to enrich your learning and sharpen your skills. See how their expertise can help shape your future.

See all accounting faculty

Boysie Billings
Professor of Accounting
  • Corporate Taxation
  • Corporate Research & Development Spending
  • International Accounting
  • Tax Research
  • International Taxation
  • Tax Policy

View Boysie Billings's profile

aa4816@wayne.edu

Deborah Habel
Associate Professor of Teaching, Accounting
  • Accounting Information Systems
  • Enterprise Resource Planning Systems
  • New Technologies and their impact on Financial Business Processes
  • Project Management
  • Financial and Managerial Accounting
  • Business Process Analysis and Improvement
  • Software Implementation
  • Non-Profit Accounting
  • Closely-held Organizations

View Deborah Habel's profile

dlhabel@wayne.edu

Heidi Bulich
Associate Professor of Teaching in Accounting

View Heidi Bulich's profile

hbulich@wayne.edu

Sung Gon Chung
Associate Professor of Accounting

Research interests: capital markets research with concentration on information intermediaries, institutional investors, fair value accounting and options market

Teaching interests: financial accounting, managerial accounting, and financial statement analysis

View Sung Gon Chung's profile

fq8651@wayne.edu

Deborah Jones
Associate Professor of Teaching in Accounting, Accounting Lab Manager

Research 

  • E-Commerce, Sales Tax
  • Nexus and Internet Taxation
  • Social Responsibility in Accounting and Reputation

Teaching

  • Taxation
  • Financial Accounting
  • Government and Non-profit Accounting

View Deborah Jones's profile

aa4946@wayne.edu

Careers and outcomes

Career insights

This tool provides a broad overview of how major selection can lead to careers and is provided without any implied promise of employment. Some careers will require further education, skills, or competencies. Actual salaries may vary significantly between similar employers and could change by graduation, as could employment opportunities and job titles.

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Take the next step

Prepare for an accounting career and to excel on the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam by requesting information, exploring our programs or starting your application as a Mike Ilitch School of Business accounting major.