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Degree Overview

Bachelor of Science in Accounting 

South University's Online Programs College of Nursing and Public Health 2023 Commencement
South University 2020 Graduation

South University’s online Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree, is designed to give you the skills necessary toprepare to pursue for entry-level positions* in corporate and public accounting and financial services from the comfort and convenience of your own home**.

Your online accounting degree program will start with general education courses that can provide a base of skills that should help throughout your professional career. From there, the accounting classes can allow you to build foundational business competencies in areas including business law, communications, finance, and management. With this knowledge, you can progress to specialized online accounting courses that cover accounting information systems, financial and cost accounting, cost management, federal taxation, internal auditing, external auditing, data analytics, and information technology. In addition, you can choose electives that align with your interests to provide opportunities to gain additional skills for your business and accounting career. The Bachelor of Science in Accounting program is not designed to lead to licensure including the CPA exam.

*South University does not promise or guarantee licensure, employment, or salary amounts.
** Fully online programs can have a ground clinical or practicum experience.

Admission Requirements

General Undergraduate Admission Requirements

Note: Not all Online Program offerings are available to residents of all U.S. states. Please contact an admissions representative for further information.

To be admitted to any of the undergraduate programs at South University, the prospective student must provide proof of high school graduation as recognized by the state of residence on the date the degree was earned, or the equivalent in which a diploma was earned, with a minimum CGPA of 1.5 on a 4.0 scale within 5 weeks of the start date (refer to Conditional Acceptance). Students providing a GED must meet the minimum required test score deemed as passing in each section as required at the time of testing.

The prospective student must also complete the university administered placement tests within the first quarter of attendance. South University accepts the International Baccalaureate Program diploma as meeting the requirement for high school graduation. Credentials earned outside the United States must be evaluated by a NACES or AICE-member credential evaluation service. Please speak with an admissions representative for more information.

Students with less than the minimum CGPA of 1.49 on a 4.0 scale may meet admissions requirements by submitting a minimum combined SAT (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and Math) score of 700 or 900 on the SAT requiring an essay portion, a combined ACT score of 18, or meet the criteria established for acceptance as a transfer student.

Students with a CGPA between 1.49 to 1.0 on a 4.0 scale may be admitted provisionally for two quarters. Failure to achieve a 1.5 CGPA in the first two quarters of attendance will result in dismissal. Students may appeal the dismissal by following the Procedures for Appealing Academic/Financial Aid Dismissal Policy.

Students with less than a 1.0 on a 4.0 scale do not meet the admissions requirements for South University.

Acceptable verification of high school graduation or the equivalent would include a high school transcript (official or unofficial), or GED scores and state-authorized examination scores (ex. HiSET, TASC). In states that maintain a database that serves as an official registry of high school and GED graduates, an excerpt from the official database documenting the student's graduation or GED completion may be used.

Campuses in South Carolina must be provided with official high school transcripts or GED scores.

Please see the policy on GPA Calculation for Admission for additional information

Conditional Acceptance

Students may be conditionally accepted by submitting unofficial copies of documentation required for the admission requirements. Conditional acceptance is allowed for 5 weeks beyond the start of the student’s first session. Failure to provide acceptable, official documentation, as stated in the admissions requirements, within 5 weeks from the start date will result in the following:

  • Removal from class
  • Cancelation of enrollment
  • No final course grades
  • No transcript

Students who do not provide acceptable documents for full, unconditional acceptance within the 5 week period will not be responsible for tuition and related fees. South University may grant exceptions to the 5 week period for unusual situations or circumstances. All exceptions must be submitted to the Office of the University Registrar for approval.

Admission of Transfer Students

Note: Not all Online Program offerings are available to residents of all U.S. states. Please contact an admissions representative for further information.

To be eligible for admission, transfer students must complete the application procedures and satisfy the following criteria:

  1. Submit a completed application for admission.
  2. Have earned 24 or more credit hours, or the equivalent (e.g. 16 semester hours), with a cumulative GPA of 1.5 from an acceptable accredited collegiate institution.
  3. Submit official transcripts (including verifiable faxed transcripts) from all colleges and universities attended.
  4. Submit self-certification of high school graduation or GED completion.

For transfer of credit practices refer to the applicable section under the Academic Affairs section of this catalog.

To be admitted as a Transfer student into South University the prospective student must have earned 24 or more quarter credit hours or the equivalent (e.g. 16 semester hours), with a cumulative GPA of 1.5 from an acceptable accredited collegiate institution. Official transcripts from the collegiate institution(s) must be received within 5 weeks of the start date (refer to Conditional Acceptance), and who are not required to take ENG0099 and/or MAT0099, will be exempt from taking the UVC1000 Strategies for Success. Students will select another 4 credit course in consultation with their Academic Advisor or Academic Counselor to fulfill the degree requirements.

Students with 24 or more quarter credits with a CGPA of between 1.49 to 1.0 may be admitted provisionally for two quarters. Failure to achieve a 1.5 GPA in the first two quarters of attendance will result in dismissal. Students may appeal the dismissal by following the Procedures for Appealing Academic/Financial Aid Dismissal Policy.

Students who are citizens of countries other than the United States should refer to the section entitled International Student Admissions Policy.

Students who are transferring from or to a school within the University of North Carolina or the North Carolina Community College System should be aware of the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement approved by both governing Boards on March 1, 1996 and revised in September of 2008. This agreement may be found in its entirety at the following website.

For additional admissions information please see the admissions section here.

Course Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Accounting: 180 Credits
Area I General Education Requirements: 64 Credits
Professional Development
Basic Communications
ENG1100 Composition I 4.0 Credit Hours
ENG1200 Composition II 4.0 Credit Hours

Choose one additional course from the list below:

Mathematics and Statistics
MAT1001 College Algebra I 4.0 Credit Hours
MAT1005 College Algebra II 4.0 Credit Hours
MAT2058 Statistics 4.0 Credit Hours
Natural Sciences (choose one)
BIO1020 Biology I 4.0 Credit Hours
CHM1010 General Chemistry 4.0 Credit Hours
Arts and Humanities
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Area II Foundation Requirements 36 Credits
ACC1001 Accounting I 4.0 Credit Hours
ACC1002 Accounting II 4.0 Credit Hours
ACC1003 Accounting III 4.0 Credit Hours
BUS1038 Business Law I 4.0 Credit Hours

Outcomes

Offered at Online Programs.

Note: Not all Online Program offerings are available to residents of all U.S. states. Please contact an admissions representative for further information.

The Bachelor of Science in Accounting at South University is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in corporate and/or public accounting. Students should familiarize themselves with the requirements of the State Board of Accountancy in the particular state in which they wish to take the exam. South University does not guarantee third-party
certification/licensure. Outside agencies control the requirements for taking and passing certification/licensing exams and are subject to change without notice to South University. Our Bachelor of Science in Accounting is not designed to lead to licensure, including the CPA examination.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an awareness of how culture, society, ethics, law, politics, technology and economic principles provide a context for and affect the actions and decisions of business leaders and accounting professionals.
  2. Exhibit: expertise in accounting standards, financial statements, auditing functions, budgeting, and taxation; an ability to apply generally accepted accounting principles; and the practical skills to be effective in entry-level positions.
  3. Communicate clearly, both orally and in writing, their understanding of and solutions for common business problems.
  4. Apply quantitative analysis and critical thinking skills to analyze business problems within and across functional business disciplines to positively affect financial performance.
  5. Determine the extent of information needed, assess the needed information, evaluate information and its sources critically, use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose, and access and use information ethically and legally.

Online Classroom

South University’s online programs combine a curriculum designed for student outcomes and a classroom designed for flexibility and engagement. Our online classroom learning platform, Brightspace, provides you with a host of features to enhance your learning experience, including:

  • Advanced media content
  • Personalized navigation
  • Simplified online learning atmosphere
  • Access to digital books
  • Emailing and instant messaging options

We provide more than just an online classroom, bringing a range of campus experiences and services online. In addition, the online classroom is accessible on the go via mobile devices and with tools like the Pulse App. Pulse helps you stay connected and on track with your course by providing a number of features such as course calendars, readings and assignments, feedback and grades, and announcements.

Read more about online requirements here

Career Outlook

These are some of the career options* you can explore when you have earned your degree:

  • Financial Analyst
  • Budget Analyst
  • Staff Accountant
  • Credit Analyst
  • Financial Risk Assessment or Risk Examiner

*South University does not promise or guarantee licensure, employment, or salary amounts.

Request Information

Fill out the form and a representative will contact you today to better understand your academic goals plus answer any questions you may have.

Campuses offer flexible learning formats* including: on-campus, virtual instructions, and online courses.

*Clinical, practicum, and externship requirements exist in certain programs and require field experiences. Learning formats may not be flexible.

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Success Stories

Outstanding Education for Remarkable Careers

We're committed to helping our graduates make impact in their professional and personal lives. We applaud our business and technology alumni and the difference they make. 

Rose Gordon
Rose Gordon Grad Alumni
Class of '11
Master of Business Administration, South University, Atlanta

Engaging in class projects and coursework designed around real-life scenarios enabled me to effectively apply my knowledge to my business ventures. It prepared me for my entrepreneurial journey.

Tonya Hampton 2013
Tonya Hampton Grad Alumni
Class of '13
Bachelor of Business Administration-South University, Online Programs

“I love being a leader. South University helped me reach my full potential in management skills. The faculty and staff always went out of their way to make sure that the University had a positive impact on its students.”

Mike Davis 2011
Mike Davis Grad Alumni
Class of '11
Master of Business Administration-South University, Atlanta

“My graduate degree has given me a depth of understanding in business that allows me to really appreciate what we can add to our clients overall relationship and deliver on it.”

La'Sondrick Bridges 2011
La'Sondrick Bridges Grad Alumni
Class of '11
Master of Business Administration-South University, Columbia

“After talking it through, I realized I could go to school and work full time as well. They really care about you and want you to succeed.”

blue cap and gown graduate icon
Leah N. Williams Grad Alumni
Class of '09
Master of Business Administration-South University, Columbia

“A few years ago, I decided that I wanted to take my career to the next level and realized that an MBA would allow me to achieve that goal. When I first showed interest in South University, I met my admissions officer, Shakeara Hudson. She made the application process as easy as possible, and then she checked on me continuously while I was a student just to make sure I was on track to complete my MBA. She even attended my graduation ceremony and spoke with me afterwards.”