Accounting
Accounting Career Advancement Starts Here
Build a strong academic foundation in accounting with the online BA in Accounting program from Illinois College. Whether you’re striving for career advancement within your company or are seeking a new career in an in-demand field, earning your accounting degree online will provide you with the professional skills and financial expertise necessary to reach your goals in the competitive realm of accounting.
As a student, you’ll explore an accelerated curriculum founded on accounting innovations. BA in Accounting courses are designed to prepare you for a career in accounting while also delivering the academic background you need to pursue a variety of other careers in business. Each course is instructed by expert faculty members who incorporate years of field experience in their lessons. Through the BA in Accounting curriculum, you’ll explore field essentials and become proficient in key topics, including:
- Economics
- Financial accounting
- Concepts of auditing
- Income tax
- Business ethics
- Risk assessment
- Statistics
When earning your accounting degree online with IC, you’ll also apply your business and accounting skills in a capstone course and receive the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through an optional internship.
After Graduation
Students of the online BA in Accounting program Graduate READY for accounting careers in a variety of businesses. Graduates have received job offers from companies and agencies including:
- Archer Daniels Midland Co.
- Caterpillar Inc.
- Dot Foods
- Sikich LLP
- BKD LLP
- Crowe LLP
- the Illinois Auditor General
The online BA in Accounting is conveniently offered through our interactive online classroom, allowing you to study, full or part-time, when and where it’s convenient for your schedule. Learn at your own pace and complete the accelerated curriculum in 15 months.
The Online BA in Accounting Program Is Designed for:
- Adults seeking an online accounting program that allows them to learn on their schedule
- Business professionals striving to move into a position in accounting
- Individuals who want a rewarding career in an in-demand field
“The help that professors and staff provided went beyond the classroom to really prepare me for a career in my field. They helped me understand how I would actually use the knowledge. Before graduation, I was offered a position staff accountant with Sikich audit team in Springfield. I’ll be auditing government and nonprofits. I really believe in helping those students at IC who will come after me get into the field. Plus, I know the value of an IC education and the types of students that come from Illinois College, so I hope I can recommend and work with them in the future.”
– Megan Lynn ’18 Accounting and Finance Major
Faculty
John Rush | BA in Accounting
Education Background
- B.S. in Geography | Western Illinois University
- M.Acc. | Western Illinois University
Field Experience
7 years professional accounting experience (CPA, CMA, CFE)
Teaching Style
Active learning is key to my teaching. I like to give an overview of a topic and then demonstrate how to apply the theory to practice. Students are then asked to repeat what I have shown them and apply their knowledge to a slightly different situation. In this way I use scaffolding to build a basic set of skills but then require the students to use high order thinking skills to apply their knowledge to new situations.
Favorite Class to Teach
Cost Accounting is my favorite course as one of our goals is to identify how much it costs to provide a particular service or manufacture a certain item. This can be a bit mind blowing when students see the amount of professional judgement required in this process.
What Else?
- I am here to help; don’t be afraid to ask for assistance.
- On a personal level, I like to play golf, walk the beach and just enjoy time outside.
Courses and Admissions
Illinois College’s online BA in Accounting program provides the academic foundation and professional skills necessary for a variety of careers in the field. The program requires 120 credit hours – 78 hours in general education courses and 42 hours in accounting core courses.
Courses
Students must complete a total of 78 credit hours in a variety of areas. These include courses in writing, world languages, the arts, speech, science, social, spiritual and philosophical issues and more.
Course Description Credits EC 105 This course is a one-term combination of both micro- and macro-economics. In this course, students are introduced to analysis of supply and demand, national income theory, the banking system, monetary policy and the corresponding usage for economic stabilization, theory of the consumer, theory of the firm and other selected microeconomic topics.4 EC 245 An introduction to the use of statistics. Topics include summary statistics, introduction to probability estimation, hypothesis testing, regression analysis, time series and non-parametric statistics. Prerequisite: EC 105 or equivalent.4 AC 231 Fundamental financial and managerial accounting concepts used in decision making. Emphasis is on operating, investing, and financing activities and planning, controlling and evaluating performance.4 MG 315 Consideration of the problem of determining the rules which should govern the relationship between industry and government, a company and its customers and management and employees.4 AC 323 Use of costs for planning, controlling and decision making with emphasis on standard costs, flexible budgets, cost behavior, direct costing, relevant costs, responsibility accounting and cost analysis for control and motivation. Prerequisite: AC 231.4 AC 325 In-depth study of the accounting process and financial statements preparation. Analysis of balance sheet elements relating to income determination through conceptual discussion and procedural presentation. Prerequisite: AC 231.4 AC 326 Discusses in depth the traditional financial accounting topics as well as the recent developments in accounting valuation and reporting. Special topics include EPS, accounting for deferred income taxes, leases, pensions, changes/errors preparation of the statement of cash-flows and financial analysis. Prerequisite: AC 325.4 AG 320 Fundamental concepts for financial management decisions in agricultural/farm businesses. Emphasis is on financial statement analysis of profitability, efficiency, liquidity, repayment capacity, risk, leverage, growth, capital budgeting, investment decisions, farmland bid price determination, and farm real estate appraisal. Financial markets and credit institutions serving the agricultural sector are also addressed. Prerequisites: AG 211 or equivalent, AC 231, and EC 105.4 AC 433 A study of the external principles, procedures and techniques used by auditors in verification of the financial statements of the business enterprise. Prerequisite: AC 325.4 AC 485 As an interdisciplinary capstone course, students will analyze and evaluate financial information with respect to profitability, corporate risk management and proper financial reporting. Prerequisite: senior standing, declared accounting or finance majors only.4 AC 463/464 A practical application of theoretical skills in actual job-related situations. (Optional)2
Admission Requirements
To qualify for admission to the online BA in Accounting program, applicants must:
- Be a high school graduate (or equivalent)
- Have a 2.5 GPA
How to Apply
Candidates must submit:
- An online application
Apply for free at admission.ic.edu/apply - Official transcripts of all high school and/or college work completed
Tuition
At Illinois College, we feature a high-quality education at a price you can afford. See how your past academic credentials can help you make the most of your college education.
| Curriculum Component | Cost | Total* |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (32 credit hours) | $375 per credit hour | $12,000 |
| Fees (4 terms) | $25 per term | $100 |
| Total with Transfer Credits | $12,100 | |
* Tuition and fees are subject to change.
Career Outcomes
When you earn your accounting degree online, you’ll Graduate READY for career advancement. The degree can prepare you for a number of jobs, such as the ones listed below:
All employment information from Payscale.
Why Illinois College?
-
Take the fast track.
You can earn an online B.A. in Business Administration - Management in 15 months.
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Career readiness.
Prepare for real-world success through a comprehensive curriculum filled with case studies, industry examples and more.
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A comprehensive curriculum.
The online B.A. in Business Administration - Management is rooted in a broad course of study, something that increases your marketability in the workforce.
Benefits of
Learning Online
Whether it’s increasing your paycheck or advancing your career, an online degree can help you go further.
View BenefitsFrequently Asked Questions
Students who excel in online programs have similar traits and habits that contribute to their success. They possess self-motivation and self-discipline and are willing to commit time and effort to their studies. Additionally, they choose to meet deadlines, follow through on assignments and communicate regularly with their academic support network.
Online degrees provide flexibility to earn a degree at your own pace. Completion times will vary depending on previous college credit and how much time per week you are able to dedicate to academics. Average completion time for our online degrees is 18 months.
We’re glad you’re ready to take the next step in your career! Our application is free and offered fully online for your convenience. In addition to submitting your completed application form, you will need to request and supply your official transcripts from all previously attended institutions and have a minimum 2.5 GPA. If you are applying for the RN to BSN program, you will need to supply a valid RN license.
For specific admissions requirements, visit your program page of interest.