The Orfalea College of Business offers business administration and economics majors a concentration in accounting. Students outside of business can add an undergraduate minor in accounting. The Accounting & Law Area also offers Master of Science degrees in Accounting and Taxation. For more information on those programs, visit the Graduate Programs website.
Cal Poly’s Accounting & Law Area is recognized as a significant source of top accounting graduates in California. Our renown faculty work with our Accounting Area Advisory Board to develop curriculum with the industry in mind. Students can expect to earn a thorough knowledge of accounting and tax laws along with the confidence to use those skills in leading a business toward success.
From their freshman year, students dive into a sequence of courses and hands-on projects that prepares them for careers in professional service firms, industry and government. The program is built upon a commitment to career-readiness that empowers students to Learn by Doing through capstone projects like the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. These programs empower future accountants to work with clients, tackle complex tax cases, and serve the community long before graduation.
The Orfalea College of Business is considered a preferred school by recruiters at top accounting firms. Resources within the area and Cal Poly Accounting Club give accounting students ample opportunities to develop professional skills and connect with recruiters from Big 4 firms and other international, national and boutique practices who regularly hire our students. Each year the Cal Poly Accounting Club puts on three professional recruiting events, Fall Symposium (held annually in early October for students recruiting for full-time jobs), Careers in Accounting Day (held annually in January for students recruiting for internships), Day in the Park (a relaxed networking event in May), and the Spring Awards Banquet (held annually in mid-May).
| Course Number | Course Title | Units |
| BUS 319 | Accounting Information Systems | 4 |
| BUS 320 | Federal Income Taxation for Individuals | 4 |
| BUS 321 | Intermediate Accounting I | 4 |
| BUS 322 | Intermediate Accounting II | 4 |
| BUS 424 | Accounting Ethics | 4 |
| BUS 425 | Auditing | 4 |
*Courses reflect the 2015-2017, 2017-2019 catalog.