<p>Can anyone tell me how high a level of Math you need to be an Accounting major? Do you need to know a lot of Calculus?</p>
<p>All I know is that most business programs require at least one semester of calculus and one semester of statistics. Some schools offer a special section of calculus with a business problem solving emphasis.</p>
<p>I agree. At least a semester of calculus (Calc I) and a semester of statistics is usually required.</p>
<p>All of the curriculums in my state (KY) require a semester of brief calculus (3 credit hours) which is just a bit easier and has a business orientation as opposed to our 4 hour Calculus I which is for math,science, and engineering majors. A semester of statistics is also required. Our state flagship also requires a finite math course as a follow up to the brief calculus course.</p>
<p>Calculus is not terribly important for Accounting. A good grasp of Algebra is important. If you want to progress to Corporate Finance, Calculus & Statistics come into play.</p>
<p>When I was an accounting major 30 years ago we took a one semester class in business calculus and a one semester class in business statistics.</p>
<p>In the old days, my school did not require any Calculus, even though I took the math major courses. In the real world, accountants have no real use of Calculus, at least in my carrier.</p>
<p>I was an accounting undergrad and have my MBA. The only time I have used Calc in my career is for bond math and explaining price changes of bonds. (FYI - duration is the 1st derivative of a particular bond’s price/yield curve, convexity is the 2nd derivative). Stats, however, are used all the time in business and are quite important in auditing, as most audits use sampling to verify accounts receivables and inventory data.</p>
<p>But a real stats class requires calculus.</p>
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<p>Same here and I have found statistics and very basic Algebra to be of more use than Calculus in my career.</p>
<p>Me too…by far. I haven’t used calc since 1983. Algebra and stats much more useful. Cardinal–we have our own language–and it doesn’t include calculus in our version of stats class 
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<p>I believe most schools require one semester of calc for their acct. majors, plus usually finite or something similar. My S’s school does require 2 semester of calc for any business majors, incl acct., finance, & marketing.</p>
<p>I also have noticed the calculus requirement at most schools, and I feel it is unfortunate. The AICPA specifically uses marketing materials aimed at High School and College students that state math skills other than basic ones are not necessary. I use the materials when I talk to student groups. During my 28 year career with both international accounting firms as well as small firms I have never needed calculus. That is why we have computers. CPAs need good skills in communication and analytical reasoning, but not the complex math engineers use, except in very specialized engagements. I wonder why the emphasis in math - it seems like an academic weeding tool to me.</p>
<p>I agree that you don’t generally need calculus in most everyday jobs…it’s just that business curriculums generally require calculus…does anyone know of any programs that don’t?</p>
<p>I also took accounting 30 years ago. One Calc class and one Stat class. My school had a BS in accounting and not a BA in accounting. BS must take math or other quantitative thinking stuff. BA take more soft stuff like organization, management and people skills. More colleges have accounting in the BS than in the BA.
IN 30 YEARS OF ACCOUNTING I have only really used addition subtraction multiplication and division. That includes statistical sampling using PPC method.</p>
<p>TheresaCPA - I also have a BS in Accounting, not a BA. I work in the finance department for a large corporation. Besides addition, subtraction, multiplication and division I have an occasional need for statistics, but can honestly say I have never used any calculus.</p>
<p>mdcissp - I think it will vary a bit from one college to the next. Where S1 is - they require 1 year of calculus for all business majors - not just accounting. He took AP Calc BC in hs - so placed out. I believe he also placed out of the statistic requirement with his AP stats class. But remember I was looking at James Madison for S2 - much more intensive requirements for their business program. But I would assume 1 year of both calculus and statistics at minimum.</p>