Accounting| Major

About the Accounting Program

Students studying accounting at LEC learn how to use critical thinking to interpret financial information and plan for the future. They will be able to navigate an ever-changing business environment long after they graduate.

The accounting degree program features hands-on educational experiences designed to accelerate the development of today’s students into tomorrow’s business leaders. These experiences include intensive collaborative projects, internships, and case studies.

Earning a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting provides students with various opportunities. Lake Erie College’s small class sizes allow all students to receive individualized, one-on-one attention from professors and advisors. This personalized guidance helps students with tutoring, career planning, and determining their path after graduation.

The accounting program offers students numerous opportunities to gain hands-on experience, including participation in Lake Erie College’s Tax Clinic Course and Personalized Networking Opportunities.

Taxes & Culture Clinic

In the spring semester, students enrolled in the Taxes & Culture Clinic learn how to prepare taxes by hand. This method provides a more thorough understanding of how the income tax system works.

In the second half of the course, students go into the community to assist lower-income taxpayers in Painesville and Lake County by completing their federal, state, and local tax returns. This hands-on experience allows students to work directly with clients and apply their tax preparation skills in real-world scenarios.

Personalized Networking Opportunities

With small class sizes, LEC accounting professors and faculty advisors can provide individualized attention to students. Professor Julie Ziemak works with each student to identify their strengths and match them with internship and job opportunities that align with their career goals.

Many LEC Accounting alumni stay connected with Professor Ziemak to fill open positions at their companies. Students are recommended for these opportunities based on their background and interests. This hands-on matching process fosters strong relationships between Lake Erie College and its graduates, contributing to a high internship placement rate for accounting students.

Career Paths with an Accounting Degree

Students who pursue an accounting degree often enter two primary fields:

Private Accounting

• Analyzing company finances

• Creating monthly corporate and divisional budgets

• Determining risks and drafting forecasting reports

• Ensuring compliance with financial regulations, laws, and policies

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Students seeking to become a CPA receive preparation for the exam through LEC. Once licensed, CPAs have opportunities to work in public accounting firms, handling:

• Producing thorough audits

• Preparing accurate tax returns

• Completing detailed financial management reports

Of the 19 accounting students who graduated in May 2021, all held internships, 15 secured full-time employment, and 10 pursued graduate studies at LEC and other Ohio colleges. Graduates have gone on to work at companies such as:

• Parker Hannifin

• BDO (CPA Firm)

• Zappitelli Financial Services (ZFS)

• Hobe & Lucas (CPA Firm)

• REA Associates

• Airgas

Accounting Degree Requirements

Students pursuing a bachelor's in accounting are required to take 56 semester credits, including:

• Accounting Principles I

• Accounting Principles II

• Intermediate Accounting I

• Intermediate Accounting II

• Senior Seminar in Accounting

• Management Information Systems

• Business Law I

• Principles of Macroeconomics

• Principles of Microeconomics

• Corporate Finance

• Marketing Principles

• Introduction to Management

• Business Statistics

• Applied Decision Models

The accounting degree also requires 12 semester credits from the following elective courses:

• Special Topics in Accounting

• Forensic Accounting

• Internship in Accounting

• Taxes & Culture Clinic I

• Federal Income Taxes I

• Federal Income Taxes II

• Cost Accounting

• Auditing

• Taxes & Culture Clinic II

• Advanced Accounting

Internships in Accounting

Internships in various fields allow students to apply what they have learned while opening doors to potential career opportunities. With a focus on personal, intellectual, and professional development, Lake Erie College helps students bridge the gap between learning and real-world experience. Employers recognize that LEC business graduates are prepared to excel in the workplace, bringing strong analytical and communication skills, teamwork, reliability, and initiative.

Forensic Accounting Concentration

Forensic Accounting integrates accounting, auditing, and investigative skills to analyze financial affairs for legal proceedings. Fraud and Forensic Accounting is a growing specialization for accountants and professionals in related fields such as law, criminology, psychology, and computer forensics. Organizations across the public and private sectors require fraud prevention and forensic accounting expertise to address inefficiencies, waste, and fraud.

Requirements for the Forensic Accounting Concentration

Forensic Accounting students must complete 15 semester credits, including:

• Forensic Accounting

• Auditing

Additionally, students must take nine semester credits from the following courses:

• Introduction to Criminal Justice

• Criminal Law and Procedure

• Investigative Techniques