About the Department

The accounting major at Washington and Lee University builds on the liberal arts course foundation, increasing analytical and communication skills while providing the knowledge necessary to work in any number of business areas. Majors take a combination of accounting, finance, business administration, and economics courses which prepares them for a variety of jobs.

The first and second years are spent mainly satisfying the general education requirements necessary to graduate from Washington and Lee University. During that time potential majors should also take introductory economics (ECON 100 or 101/102), a statistics course (preferably BUS 202), introductory accounting (ACCT 100) and corporate financial reporting (ACCT 231), and managerial finance (FIN 221). All these courses, except for ACCT 231 and FIN 221, can be taken during the first year. Students interested in majoring in accounting should plan to take ACCT 100 in the Winter term of their first year, if possible. A listing of all major requirements is available here. Students wishing to work in public accounting are required to have 150 hours of college credits to sit for the CPA Examination in certain states. To earn these credits, majors may bring in advanced placement credits, attend summer school, and/or elect to overload. Alternatively, the student may elect to attend graduate school. Any member of the department will be happy to discuss the different options.