Accounting Major
An accounting degree from Lynchburg College is your entry ticket to a wide variety of challenging and rewarding professional careers. LC accounting graduates are employed in public accounting at both large and small firms, in private industry at large and small companies, in governmental agencies, and in non-profit entities. Although professional certification is not required to be an accountant, the faculty encourages accounting majors to earn such credentials* and many Lynchburg College accounting graduates have done so within a few years of graduation. Many employers recommend or require professional certification as a condition for advancement.
* Examples include the Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and Certified Fraud Specialist (CFS) professional certifications. CPA certification requires a bachelor’s degree and 150 hours of college credit. CPA candidates may choose to earn a master’s degree, but a master’s degree is not required.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of accountants and auditors is expected to grow by 18 percent between 2006 and 2016. This growth rate exceeds the average for all occupations. The accounting and auditing professions will generate many new employment opportunities (about 226,000) during this period. This tremendous growth will result from an increase in the number of businesses, changes in financial legislation and corporate governance regulations, and increased demand for accountability to protect organizational stakeholders.
The strong demand for accountants translates into highly competitive salaries.
The Lynchburg College Difference
LC’s Accounting Program provides the opportunity to work closely with professors who have had extensive professional experience. All LC accounting professors are Certified Public Accountants. Additional professional credentials earned among them include Certified Management Accountant, Certified Fraud Specialist, and Certified Financial Planner (CFP). Our students acquire technical knowledge, develop the ability to apply that knowledge skillfully and with good judgment, and gain an understanding of professional responsibilities.
Facilities
The Accounting Program is located in Elliot & Rosel Schewel Hall, a state-of-the-art 67,000-square-foot classroom facility. This building houses classrooms, a computer laboratory, case discussion rooms, faculty offices, and other amenities.
Dow Jones Trading Room/Computer Laboratory
The Dow Jones Trading Room has twenty-five state-of-the-art networked computers as well as stock market feeds. The room is used both as a classroom and computer laboratory for business students.