Major map:

Accounting

Bachelor of Commerce (B.Comm.)

Learn how to get the most out of your degree and prepare for your future career.

The Bachelor of Commerce (B.Comm.) degree is a four-year direct-entry program. The first two years provide you with general business knowledge; all students take an introductory course in each of the major specializations before selecting a major in the middle of year two.

Accounting is the art of measuring, communicating, and interpreting financial activity, and is sometimes referred to as "the language of business." It involves interacting with numbers and people to determine the financial health of an organization. The major is designed to provide students with the general, business and accounting knowledge necessary for them to succeed as professional accountants. Since accounting is a dynamic field, all accounting majors will learn how to keep their knowledge up to date so they can continue to grow throughout their professional careers.

Not a USask student?

Learn more about studying accounting at USask and apply for admission.

Explore your major

Learn more about some of the required major-specific courses for this degree. View the course and program catalogue or meet with an academic advisor to understand all program requirements.

Year 1 courses

The courses listed here and in the Course and Program Catalogue are not necessarily offered each year and do not represent the totality of your requirements.

COMM 100.3 | Business Communication
COMM 101.3 | Introduction to Business
COMM 104.3 | Foundations of Business Statistics
COMM 105.3 | Introduction to Organizational Behaviour
COMM 121.3 | Business Mathematics
COMM 204.3 | Introduction to Marketing
COMM 211.3 | Human Resource Management
COMM 229.3 | Personal Financial Management

You choose
  • Two courses (6 cu) to fulfill your 100-level non-COMM elective requirement

Academic tips

What will I learn?
  • Be a business professional ready to build nations
  • Understand areas of accounting theory, tax, audit, equity, reporting and control systems
  • Acquire the communication, computer and interpersonal skills necessary to successfully resolve complex problems in unstructured settings
  • Gain all the skills required to be ready to pursue a professional accounting designation (Chartered Professional Accountant - CPA) upon graduation
  • Benefit from optional participation in activities such as the Volunteer Tax Program where fourth year accounting students volunteer their time to prepare tax returns for seniors and people with disabilities

Gain relevant experience

Create local and global connections

Get career ready

  • Check out Edwards Career Services and meet with a career advisor to receive guidance and access resources related to achieving your career goals
  • View the Edwards School of Business tab within CareerLink to review resources and the calendar of career events as well as part-time summer and job postings
  • Build an amazing resume and prepare for upcoming interviews with Edwards Skills First
  • Take a career assessment to learn more about your strengths, personality, interests, and values
  • Develop your LinkedIn profile to begin building your professional brand
  • If you are new to Canada, participate in the Edwards International Career Development Program. Information will be emailed to eligible students in November
  • Access USask Career Services for additional support with career exploration and job search
Featured courses
  • COMM 321.3 Corporate Financial Reporting I
  • COMM 337.3 Business Information and Accounting Systems
  • COMM 407.3 Individual and Corporate Taxes Payable and Tax Planning
  • COMM 414.3 Integrative Analysis of Accounting Issues and Problems
  • COMM 438.3 Management Planning and Control Systems

Explore your major

Learn more about some of the required major-specific courses for this degree. View the course and program catalogue or meet with an academic advisor to understand all program requirements.

Year 2 courses

The courses listed here and in the Course and Program Catalogue are not necessarily offered each year and do not represent the totality of your requirements.

COMM 201.3 | Introduction to Financial Accounting
COMM 203.3 | Introduction to Finance
COMM 205.3 | Introduction to Operations Management
COMM 207.3 | Statistics for Business Decisions
COMM 210.3 | Introduction to Managerial Accounting
COMM 213.3 | Management Information Systems
ECON 111.3 | Introductory Microeconomics
ECON 114.3 | Introductory Macroeconomics

You choose
  • Two courses (6 cu) to fulfill your non-COMM elective requirements

Year 3 courses

The courses listed here and in the Course and Program Catalogue are not necessarily offered each year and do not represent the totality of your requirements.

COMM 304.3 | Introduction to Business Law
COMM 306.3 | Ethics and Strategic Decision Making
COMM 308.3 | Cost Management Systems
COMM 321.3 | Corporate Financial Reporting I
COMM 323.3 | Corporate Financial Reporting II
COMM 337.3 | Business Information and Accounting Systems
COMM 347.3 | Indigenous Business in Canada

You choose
  • One course (3 cu) from any level non-COMM elective OR 300-level or higher COMM elective
  • Two courses (6 cu) as free senior electives (200-level or higher non-COMM OR 300-level or higher COMM)

Academic tips

Add to your major

Choose from a variety of options to complement your major.

Gain relevant experience

Create local and global connections

Get career ready

USask Student Competencies

USask Student Competencies are the knowledge, skills, and attributes developed and leveraged to achieve success in your learning and work:

  • Engaging in our intercultural society
  • Nuturing successful relationships
  • Leveraging technology
  • Adaptive design and problem solving
  • Communicating meaningfully
  • Cultivating well-being

Explore your major

Learn more about some of the required major-specific courses for this degree. View the course and program catalogue or meet with an academic advisor to understand all program requirements.

Final year courses

The courses listed here and in the Course and Program Catalogue are not necessarily offered each year and do not represent the totality of your requirements.

COMM 401.3 | Business Strategy
COMM 406.3 | Liability for Tax and Computation of Net Income
COMM 407.3 | Individual and Corporate Taxes Payable and Tax Planning
COMM 412.3 | Accounting Theory
COMM 414.3 | Integrative Analysis of Accounting Issues and Problems
COMM 421.3 | External Auditing
COMM 433.3 | Accounting for Equity Interests
COMM 438.3 | Management Planning and Control Systems
COMM 447.3 | Entrepreneurship and Venture Development

You choose
  • One course (3 cu) as a free senior elective (200-level or higher non-COMM OR 300-level or higher COMM)

Apply to graduate

Academic tips

Consider applying to a graduate program
Find a program

Gain relevant experience

Create local and global connections

Get career ready

USask Student Competencies

USask Student Competencies are the knowledge, skills, and attributes developed and leveraged to achieve success in your learning and work:

  • Engaging in our intercultural society
  • Nuturing successful relationships
  • Leveraging technology
  • Adaptive design and problem solving
  • Communicating meaningfully
  • Cultivating well-being

Possible destinations

People with an accounting degree take their knowledge and skills into many different industries and occupations. Note that some of the career paths listed here require further education and training.

Designations

Most students who major in accounting choose to pursue a professional accounting designation after completing a B.Comm. degree.

Professional accountants in Saskatchewan are represented by a single, self-regulating body called the Chartered Professional Accountants Saskatchewan (CPA SK).

Students have the option of applying to the Edwards MPAcc program or to the CPA Professional Education Program (PEP) to complete the requirements of the CPA designation.

Graduates of the Edwards School of Business wishing to proceed toward full professional recognition as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) will be granted substantial credit toward the professional designation. The extent of the credit granted depends on the courses selected for the degree and the level of performance achieved. In any case, it will be necessary for you to complete additional study and examination requirements as may be determined by the University Boards of Examiners in Accounting and the governing body of the professional organization concerned. It will also be necessary for you to complete such service requirements as may be determined by these professional bodies.

Students considering a professional accountancy career should consult with the Edwards Student & Faculty Services Office before registration.

USask alumni career paths

  • Accountant, Financial Reporting
  • Accounts Receivables Coordinator
  • Analyst, Corporate Reporting
  • Assurance Associate
  • Auditor
  • Business Auditor
  • Chief Executive Officer
  • Controller
  • Corporate Accounting Analyst
  • Director, Financial Reporting
  • Excise Tax Auditor/Examiner
  • Financial Analyst
  • Financial Systems Coordinator
  • Internal Auditor
  • Inventory Control Specialist
  • Investment Banking Analyst
  • Manager, Financial Operations
  • Risk Consultant
  • Royalty Analyst
  • Senior Associate
  • Wealth Planning Specialist

The best thing that the B.Comm. degree did for me was that it gave me a deep understanding of my major and field (accounting) which was critical to start my career, but it also was well rounded and exposed me to all of the other majors which has been extremely beneficial for me as I've advanced my career.

—Andrew, Bachelor of Commerce '16 in accounting, Master of Professional Accounting '17

Where do USask alumni work?

  • ATB Financial
  • BDO Canada
  • Buckberger Baerg & Partners LLP
  • Canada Revenue Agency
  • CIBC
  • City of Saskatoon
  • Cenovus Energy
  • Deloitte
  • EY
  • Federated Co-operatives Limited
  • First Nations Bank of Canada
  • KPMG LLP
  • Lafarge Canada
  • Lingard + Dreger
  • MNP LLP
  • Nutrien
  • Provincial Auditor of Saskatchewan
  • PwC LLP
  • Saskatchewan Blue Cross
  • Saskatchewan Health Authority
  • Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority
  • Saskatchewan Ministry of Finance
  • Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation
  • Stewart, Gee & Murray CPA LLP
  • Suncor Energy
  • University of Saskatchewan
  • Virtus Group LLP
  • Viterra

Recent graduates with a bachelor of commerce degree in accounting earn, on average, $53,344 (Edwards School of Business B.Comm. 2023 Employment Statistics).

"My degree gave me the prerequisites and the skillset to obtain and excel in a job I love. The teachers at Edwards want to see you succeed and they will do everything they can to help you learn the technical requirements of your future job and have discussions with you on your career path. I can't imagine starting off my career anywhere else!"

—Michael, Bachelor of Commerce '17 in accounting

 

"I chose accounting because accounting matches my personality perfectly. I enjoy analyzing numbers and organizing financial statements. Working in a public accounting firm allows me to perform various tasks in diverse kinds of business."

—Jessica, third-year accounting student