School of Business Undergraduate
Bachelor of Science in Accounting
BS Bachelor of Science in Accounting
A 120-credit accounting degree with a CPA-track curriculum, an internship, and the VITA volunteer tax program.
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Is this program right for you?
Accounting students arrive with different goals. Each card below explains what your path would look like.
Route 01
You are aiming for the CPA
You want the credential, and you want your coursework to count toward it rather than around it.
Choose your electives with the approval of the Chair of the Accounting department. That conversation is what keeps your transcript aligned with the CPA examination requirements.
Route 02
You want a broad view of business
You are interested in how financial and economic data is measured and communicated, and you are not yet committed to public accounting.
The curriculum is built for exactly this. Interdisciplinary courses give you an overview of multinational issues in accounting and taxation alongside the core.
Route 03
You plan to continue to graduate study
You expect to pursue advanced work in accounting after the bachelor’s degree.
The program provides the accounting foundation that advanced study requires. Interdisciplinary electives are available for students intending to go further.
Program structure
How the degree is structured
The curriculum gives you a broad-based understanding of the role of accounting in the measurement and communication of financial and economic data.
Business and accounting core
Accounting concepts, principles, and theories, alongside the business and quantitative foundations the later courses build on.
Technical and analytical skills
You develop the technical skills needed to measure, analyze, and interpret economic data.
Systems, controls, and reporting
Internal accounting systems, controls, and reports for decision making, and how to communicate economic data effectively.
Professional and regulatory study
Professional and regulatory requirements, and the accounting foundation that supports advanced study toward the CPA examination.
Course sequences change; the academic catalog and its addendum are authoritative.
See the full course catalogLearning outcomes
What you will be able to do
The learning outcomes published by the Accounting department.
Master the concepts
You acquire the knowledge necessary to understand business data, and master accounting concepts, principles, and theories.
Measure and interpret
You develop the technical skills necessary to measure, analyze, and interpret economic data.
Work inside the systems
You understand internal accounting systems, controls, and reports for decision making, and learn to communicate economic data effectively.
Meet the requirements
You study professional and regulatory requirements and build the foundation for the advanced study the CPA examination requires.
Complete an internship
Students pursue internships, which is where many graduates meet their first employer.
Join the VITA program
You may apply to the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program and gain hands-on, real world experience preparing returns.
Career outcomes
Where the accounting degree can take you
Roles the Accounting department names for graduates of this program.
Analysis, banking, and public service
The department’s list also includes budget specialist, business analyst, bank officer, bursar, city manager, revenue officer, risk and finance analyst, and taxation specialist.
Admission requirements
How to apply
Admission is rolling, and financial aid is available.
What you submit
- Completed University of Bridgeport application
- Transcripts from every high school, college, or university attended
- Proof of high school completion or equivalent
Worth knowing
- Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
- Financial aid is available
- Comprehensive student support services are available
- CPA-track students should plan electives with the department Chair
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Does this degree prepare me for the CPA examination?
It provides the accounting foundation the examination requires. Students who expect to sit the Certified Public Accountant examinations should select their elective courses with the approval of, and in consultation with, the Chair of the Accounting department.
What is the VITA program?
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. Accounting students may apply to take part and gain hands-on, real world experience preparing tax returns for members of the community.
Are internships part of the program?
Yes. Pursuing an internship is one of the program’s stated learning outcomes, and for many students it is where they meet their first employer.
Can I study multinational accounting and taxation?
Yes. A number of interdisciplinary courses are designed for students who want a broad overview of multinational issues in accounting and taxation.
How many credits is the degree?
120 credits, normally completed in four years of full-time study. The academic catalog and its addendum are authoritative on course requirements.
When can I start?
Fall is the main entry point, with spring and summer entry also available. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
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Start your application
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and financial aid is available. Admissions can walk you through transfer credit, the CPA track, and scholarship deadlines.