Accounting Major
Overview
Saint Joseph’s University’s accounting program is one of only three AACSB-accredited programs in Pennsylvania. Our program will prepare you to be a responsible, experienced and ethical leader in your career in accounting, business, government or the not-for-profit sector. In addition to providing students with a foundation in accounting, Saint Joseph's University's program encourages you to examine each field of study through a business ethics lens.
WHAT IS AN ACCOUNTING MAJOR?
Through your coursework as an accounting major, you will cover the foundations of business related to finance, information systems and policy. In addition, you will study core courses covering accounting principles, important equations and industry-standard software. A strong emphasis is placed on taxation, auditing, account software and finance to prepare you for various jobs in accounting. You will have the opportunity to choose a specialization to better prepare you for your future career, including public accounting (CPA), financial services, information systems, financial management and international accounting.
WAYS TO STUDY ACCOUNTING
Accounting is available to Saint Joseph's University students as a major with courses available on campus and online. Students often choose to double major or add minors to their study in these related programs:
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH AN ACCOUNTING DEGREE?
A degree in accounting opens up a wide variety of future career opportunities beyond a traditional CPA. With a solid education in finance and accounting principles, students go on to pursue successful careers as:
- Financial examiners
- Financial analysts
- Finance managers
- Chief financial officers
- Budget analysts
- Business and financial consultants
- Certified public accountants (CPA)
Graduates have gone on to work for Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as well as Grant Thornton LLC, Vanguard, J.P. Morgan Chase, SAP and many more.
HOW WILL SAINT JOSEPH'S UNIVERSITY PREPARE YOU FOR A CAREER IN ACCOUNTING?
As an accounting major, you will have the opportunity to apply classroom learning to the real world. A network of industry partners in Philadelphia supports an accounting internship program, providing professional experience prior to graduation. In addition, the accounting curriculum prepares graduates for the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination. You'll also be awarded a Certificate of Competence in SAP R/3 software upon completion of core courses.
Saint Joseph's University is home to several clubs and organizations dedicated to preparing you for a successful career in accounting. The Accounting Society hosts speaker series with accountants from local accounting firms as well as those with experience in finance, information technology and the FBI. An accounting social event is held each year, helping juniors meet with recruiters from various accounting firms.
Students can also partake in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA) which files tax returns free of charge for qualifying individuals in the community who have limited English-speaking skills or disabilities.
4+1 B.S./M.S. PROGRAM
Saint Joseph’s University offers an accelerated bachelor’s/master’s program that allows current undergraduate students to start earning their master's degree by their senior year. This model enables you to complete your undergraduate and graduate work in just five years, instead of the traditional six or seven. Combining your bachelor’s with a master’s degree can help you save time and money. The accounting major is compatible with the following graduate programs for the 4+1:
- Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Organization Development and Leadership M.S.
Accounting majors at Saint Joseph's interested in this unique option must apply to the graduate program in their junior year and be provisionally accepted before they complete their bachelor’s degree.
Graduate Degrees and Certificates
Saint Joseph's University offers a variety of graduate degree options to help you further develop your skills and advance your career in accounting, including the MBA, MPA, and Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Accountancy if you did not major in accounting.
Accounting Disclosure Information
Saint Joseph’s University’s Accounting Program makes available the classes that will allow a student to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam in their state of residence and become certified if they decide to take the additional credits required by their state board of accountancy. These classes may not be required to obtain Saint Joseph’s University undergraduate degree in Accounting, but the additional accounting classes needed are offered if the student decides to obtain the CPA. Information on the requirements of each particular state are available at www.nasba.org or by contacting the state board of accountancy in the state of interest. For more information about what additional courses may be needed to sit for the CPA exam, please contact Kent St. Pierre, Ph.D.
For additional information regarding whether SJU’s programs meet educational requirements for professional licensure/certification, please visit https://www.sju.edu/disclosures.