For accounting students who aren’t yet sure that a career as an accountant is right for them, double majoring could provide more opportunities and other benefits. For students who have an interest in computers and technology as well as numbers, a double major in accounting and information technology (IT) could be especially valuable.

The Popularity of Double Majors in IT and Accounting

Double majoring in information technology and accounting has become such a popular choice that some schools offer programs specifically catering to these students. Often, these programs require 150 semester hours of study, the same amount of credits required to sit for the certified public accountant (CPA) examination.

Part of the reason students choose to double major in information technology and accounting is because IT itself is so popular. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) regards information technology as a “growing field” – which means that career opportunities in this industry are expected to expand rapidly. For students who study IT, this means more jobs and likely more opportunities for advancement and salary increases. As it is, salaries for computer and information technology careers are high, with many in the range of $70,000 to $100,000 per year or more, according to the BLS. Information technology professionals also enjoy the job satisfaction of performing duties like managing projects and solving businesses’ problems.

Benefits of an Accounting and Information Technology Double Major

There are many potential benefits of pursuing a double major during your accounting education. Because completing a double major often takes 150 semester hours of study, choosing this educational path can help you fulfill the credit requirement for taking the CPA examination. Of course, the IT education also prepares students who aren’t yet sure what career path they want for opportunities in the growing field of information technology, should they choose to pursue them. Accounting has historically been considered a good career for job security, with Forbes rating it among the top 10 secure jobs. However, graduates with this double major who can’t find a desirable accounting job or choose to switch careers also have experience in another in-demand field to fall back on when searching for new opportunities.

Additionally, having both educational backgrounds can help increase students’ skills in accounting. Accountants must, at the very least, be computer literate. They must know how to use software programs and be competent at accurately entering and manipulating data within those software programs. Experience majoring in information technology can help these professionals perform better at their accounting jobs. When candidates have both a background in information technology and expertise in accounting skills, the education combination proves to prospective employers that the candidate is more than proficient with computers.

Whether you should double major in information technology and accounting is a personal decision. For students interested in the technology accountants use or those who want to expand their career opportunities, this educational path can be a great step toward accomplishing their goals.