Business and Technology


    Accounting

    Accounting is a demanding profession that provides its professionals with both economic and psychological rewards. Although there is a popular impression that accountants deal with numbers only, the truth is that accounting is primarily a people business. The best accountants enjoy working with people and are excellent communicators; they are also team players, and logical and creative problem solvers.

    Mountain State University offers an Associate of Science and a Bachelor of Science in accounting. Both degrees are offered online and on the main campus in Beckley, W.Va. Students on the Martinsburg campus can pursue the associate or bachelor's degree through a combination of traditional, independent, and online study.

    Find out more about MSU's online learning options.

    What careeer opportunities can I expect in accounting?

    A bachelor's degree in accounting can lead to several different career paths, including:

    • Industrial or Managerial Accounting: In this case, you are employed by a for-profit company to provide a variety of financial and managerial accounting services. You are part of the "team" and the financial information you analyze and interpret is used by corporate executives to make business decisions.
    • Not-for-Profit Accounting: Still other accountants are employed by a governmental or other organization that is not profit motivated. These accountants provide a variety of financial and managerial accounting services including processing payroll and reviewing regulatory reports and tax returns to determine compliance.
    • Public Accounting: You may become an employee of a public accounting firm or you may become a CPA in business for yourself (with completion of additional course work).

    An associate degree in accounting will prepare graduates for roles as accounting, auditing, or bookkeeper clerks. Additional study may be pursued at the bachelor's and master's level to increase career opportunities.

    Graduates of the MSU accounting programs are working in public accounting, private industry and governmental accounting. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the ten-year job growth rate for accountants and auditors is expected to increase much faster than average for all occupations. There are many reasons for this growth: increased scrutiny of company financial and accounting procedures, overall business growth, and changing financial laws and regulations.