Financial Planning

Accounting

Financial accounting and auditing. Prepares students to practice the profession of accounting and perform related business functions. Coursework covers accounting principles and theory, managerial and cost accounting, budget control, tax accounting, auditing, reporting and statement analysis, business information systems, and professional standards and ethics.

Accounting & Finance

Combined degree covering financial accounting, managerial accounting, auditing, taxation, and corporate finance. Common preparation for the CPA and CFA, though neither is earned with the degree alone — CPA education and experience requirements are set state by state, with some states requiring 150 semester hours, and the CFA charter adds three exam levels plus 4,000 hours of qualifying work experience.

Accounting Technology & Bookkeeping

Applied accounting and bookkeeping — recording transactions, payroll, accounts payable and receivable, and accounting software. Awarded mainly as a certificate or associate degree at community and technical colleges, and distinct from the four-year Accounting degree, which is the starting point for CPA licensure — CPA licensure additionally requires passing the CPA Exam plus either 150 semester hours and one year of experience or a bachelor's degree and two years of experience, depending on the state. NCES CIP 52.0302 "Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping".

Actuarial Science

Combines mathematics, statistics, and financial theory to assess risk and uncertainty. Direct path to actuarial exams (SOA/CAS). Offered as a standalone degree at top programs.

Applied Mathematics

Mathematical modeling and quantitative methods applied to real-world problems in finance, science, and engineering.

Business Administration

General business management. Prepares students to plan, organize, direct, and control the functions and processes of a firm or organization. Coursework spans management theory, human resources management and behavior, accounting and other quantitative methods, purchasing and logistics, organization and production, marketing, and business decision-making.