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About the Bachelor of Science in Accounting Degree offered by the Robert W. Plaster School of Business

Why Study Accounting at Cedarville?

Cedarville’s distinctly Christian accounting program will prepare you for a career in public or corporate accounting. More than just preparing for a job, at Cedarville you will discover how to make a Gospel impact through your vocation, wherever God leads you.

Accounting has always been an invaluable part of the business world. It is often referred to as "the language of business" because accountants communicate complex financial information to business decision-makers. Accountants help companies analyze past activities, forecast future operations, measure performance, track expenses, and provide internal controls to prevent fraud or theft. It is an exciting field, and Cedarville can help you get there!

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What Sets Cedarville Apart?

Program Overview

Program Highlights

Comprehensive – You will be introduced to each of the major divisions of accounting: financial, managerial, auditing, tax, governmental and nonprofit, and accounting information systems.

Christ-focused – With biblical integration in every course, you will be challenged to be a successful accountant and an ethical professional who uses your vocation to glorify God. You will also be challenged to use your business skills and knowledge as a pathway to serve individuals, churches, and nonprofit organizations.

Accomplished – As a Cedarville accounting major, you will be part of a program that regularly ranks high among Ohio universities for the first-time pass rate on the Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. The accounting major provides the courses necessary to meet the requirements to take the CPA exam in Ohio and many other states.

Placement Success

We’re proud of our successful graduates! 99% of recent graduates from the Robert W. Plaster School of Business were employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation.

Cedarville's Placement Rates
Members of Cedarville's Integrated Business Core

School of Business Gets National Attention

Read a recent article that highlights the Integrated Business Core (affectionately known as the IBC), a course that gives all Cedarville business majors the opportunity to envision a new business, secure venture capital, develop a strategic plan, market their product, analyze their profits, invest in the community, and close down the business -- all in one semester!

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What Can I Do With a Degree in Accounting?

With a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Cedarville University, you will be prepared for careers such as:

  • Auditor
  • Budget analyst
  • Controller
  • FBI agent
  • Financial analyst
  • Internal auditor
  • IRS agent
  • Management consultant
  • Tax adviser

In addition to the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam, your courses will prepare you for other certifications such as the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) exam and the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) exam.

Our graduates have found professional employment working at CPA firms including EY, Deloitte, KPMG, Grant Thornton, Plante Moran, Crowe, Clark, Schaeffer, Hackett, CPAs, and Batts, Morrison, Wales and Lee, as well as major corporations including Progressive Insurance, JPMorgan Chase, and LexisNexis.

Alumni Outcomes: Corbin and Sheila Edmonds – New York, New York

Alumni Corbin and Sheila Edmonds are using their Cedarville degrees to make a Gospel impact in New York City.

Opportunities to Learn Outside the Classroom

As an accounting major, you will have the following co-curricular opportunities:

Internships — Internships give you real-world experience in the accounting field. Our students have gained valuable experience in internships at CPA firms, major corporations, and small businesses.

Integrated Business Core (IBC) — Recognized by The Washington Post, this two-semester program allows you to integrate classroom learning with practical business experience. As part of a team, you will develop a business plan, obtain financing, market and sell a product, and donate your profits to a local charity.

Student Organizations — Students can choose to participate in business-related student organizations:

  • The Accounting Society — This organization, open to all accounting majors, provides opportunity for career exploration and networking with business professionals.
  • Student Leadership Team (SLT) — The SLT serves the Robert W. Plaster School of Business by building community among students and faculty, fostering relationships, and planning and executing events and programs.
  • Women in Business — Women in Business is an organization dedicated to helping women in professions learn more about reaching goals in careers, at home, and in service.

Program Curriculum

Building on your core liberal arts and Bible minor courses, you will take challenging accounting courses that will provide the knowledge you need to be successful on the certification exams (e.g., CPA, CMA) exam. In financial accounting courses, you will gain understanding of complex accounting issues and learn the tools to analyze and interpret financial statements. In managerial accounting courses, you will learn how to help businesses use accounting information to make good business decisions.

Sample Courses:

  • Accounting Information Systems
  • Federal Income Tax

Program Format and Related Programs

Cedarville offers both graduate and undergraduate programs, with flexible completion options. You may also want to consider these related programs as you consider the degree or program that is a best fit for you.

Program Level and Format

  • Graduate
  • Online
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From Our Students:

  • The Robert W. Plaster School of Business has taught me so much about the business world and how to incorporate my biblical beliefs into my future career. There have been quite a few opportunities for me to apply this learning to a real-world scenario, especially during my time in the IBC. The professors have encouraged me in many ways, from allowing me to ask questions to planning my future after Cedarville.
    Sarah Baab '23
    Sarah Baab
Job and Grad School Placement

Program Faculty

Photo of Chuck Hartman

Chuck Hartman, J.D.

Associate Professor of Business Law and Accounting

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Photo of Anne Rich

Anne Rich, M.S., C.P.A.

Professor of Accounting

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Photo of Paul Schloemer

Paul Schloemer, Ph.D.

Professor of Accounting

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Robert W. Plaster School of Business

Program News

  • Held annually, The Pitch gives students the chance to showcase their entrepreneurial ideas for cash prizes.

    Students Pitch Entrepreneurial Ideas

    Cedarville University’s Robert W. Plaster School of Business will host The Pitch competition on Saturday, Feb. 4, at 6 p.m. in the Jeremiah Chapel in the Dixon Ministry Center.
  • James Barber (second from left) with his ROTC unit

    2021 Graduate is ROTC Cadet of the Year

    James Barber, a 2021 Cedarville University graduate in accounting, has been changed in the way he views leadership by the servant-leader example of Christ.