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- Get Into a Smeal Major
- Degree Requirements
- First-Year Experience
- Academic Advising Resources
- Honors and Leadership
- Diversity at Smeal
Dual Track in Accounting
The Dual Track in Accounting program allows for Smeal students to earn a Smeal Accounting degree concurrently with another participating Smeal degree, enabling students to earn two Smeal business degrees.
This optional path broadens students’ skill sets, expands career opportunities, and enhances their overall employability.
Interested students can pair an Accounting degree with:
Actuarial Science
Business Analytics and Information Systems
Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Finance
Management
Real Estate
Risk Management
Supply Chain and Information Systems
Please note the Marketing major is not eligible for the dual track program.
Students considering the Dual Track in Accounting pathway should consult with their assigned academic adviser.
Participation Requirements
Students Starting at Penn State (Summer 2022 – Spring 2026):
A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.20 is required, and students must submit applications for both majors within the 36–59 credit window.*Students admitted to Penn State prior to Summer 2022 are not eligible for the Dual Track in Accounting.
Students Starting at Penn State (Summer 2026 and later):
A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 is required, and students must submit applications for both majors prior to the Smeal entrance-to-major deadline.*Students entering a Smeal major through the Major Assignment Process are not eligible for the Dual Track in Accounting.
Application Process
1. Apply for the non-Accounting Smeal major in LionPATH.
In the Update Academic portal, students must change from pre-major to the desired participating Smeal major. Once submitted, students will be notified of a conditional acceptance, permanent acceptance or denial to the Smeal major.
Change of Campus Students: Commonwealth Campus students planning to transition to University Park for the upcoming semester must submit the Update Campus application as a next step, prior to applying for the Dual Track in Accounting.
2. Apply for the Accounting major in LionPATH.
In the Update Academics portal, select the “Add Program/Major” option. After receiving a conditional or permanent offer, Accounting can be added as an additional major through the same process.
Students requesting the Dual Track in Accounting program will receive the following application confirmation message:
“Your request has been sent to the college for review. For questions regarding this request, please contact the college responsible for the requested major, minor, or certificate.”
If the student’s participating Smeal major is a conditional offer, meaning coursework is still in progress, the request for the Dual Track in Accounting will remain pending until final grades post for the current semester.
Additional Coursework Required for Students in the Dual Track Accounting major
Complete the following prescribed courses (15 credits)
ACCTG 471 – Intermediate Financial Accounting I (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 211]*
ACCTG 472 – Intermediate Financial Accounting II (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 471]*
ACCTG 404 – Managerial Accounting: Economic Perspective (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 211 and (SCM 200 or STAT 200) and ECON 102]
ACCTG 405 – Principles of Taxation I (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 211 and FIN 301]*
ACCTG 403W – Auditing (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 471]
*A grade of C or better is required in ACCTG 471, ACCTG 472, and ACCTG 405
Complete two courses from the following (6 credits)
ACCTG 406 – Principles of Taxation II (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 405] (Spring only)
ACCTG 432 – Accounting Information Systems (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 471 and (MIS 204 or MIS 250)
ACCTG 440 – Advanced Management Accounting (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 404]
ACCTG 473 – Advanced Financial Accounting (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 472]
ACCTG 481 – Financial Statement Analysis: Accounting Based Evaluation and Decision Making (3) [Prerequisite or Concurrent: ACCTG 472] (Spring only)
ACCTG 483 – Forensic Accounting (3) [Prerequisite or Concurrent: ACCTG 472 and ACCTG 403W] (Spring only)
ACCTG 497 “Hot Tax Topics” (3)
ACCTG 497 “Data Analytics in Foundational Accounting I” (3)
ACTSC_BS majors pursuing the dual track in Accounting will need to take SCM 301 – Supply Chain Management (3) [Prerequisite: ACCTG 211 and ECON 102 and (SCM 200 or STAT 200)].
Business Breadth (formerly two-piece sequence): The Business Breadth requirements of the primary Smeal major can be satisfied by coursework from the dual track Accounting major.
Resources
To learn about the career benefits of the Dual Track in Accounting - or visit Smeal’s Business Career Center
For questions about your graduation timeline, contact your assigned academic adviser
**NOTE: Content is subject to change without notice. Processes and policies are subject to review and revision at any time.