Accounting

The Bachelor of Science in Accounting (BSA) will prepare students with skills necessary to meet accounting demands now and in the future. This major will provide significant business and management background, extensive accounting knowledge, including information technology and systems skills, development of communication abilities, and awareness of ethics in business and accounting. The major will allow students to select from a variety of electives that will complement their areas of interest, to include information and computer technologies, management, financial planning, and law. In addition accounting internship opportunities are available to enhance the students' educational experience.

The 150 Hour Accounting Education Requirement

Pennsylvania 150 Hour Accounting Education Requirements- Effective for those sitting for the CPA exam after December 31, 2011, students must complete 150 hours of post-secondary education (an undergraduate degree plus additional hours or a master’s degree), including 36 hours of accounting, tax, finance and business law, prior to becoming licensed as a CPA in Pennsylvania. The candidate can take the CPA exam prior to meeting the education requirements.

How can we help you meet that requirement?

To fulfill the 150 credit hour educational requirements for licensing as a CPA in the State of Pennsylvania and to meet the requirements of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA),  we offer students options. The most versatile and exciting of those is to complete dual bachelor’s degrees in Accounting and Business Administration: Banking and Finance Concentration.  By completing these dual degrees, graduates will be eligible to sit for both the Certified Public Account (CPA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP) examinations. 

We encourage students who wish to meet the CPA 150 hour requirement to begin working out a plan with their academic advisor as early as possible. We work with each student seeking their CPA license to help them create a degree completion plan that addresses the additional credit hours and may include a number of combinations of the following:

• Advanced Placement (AP) credits
• Alternative Credits
• CLEP credits
• Summer classes through Pennsylvania College of Technology or classes through a local community college or university
• Internship credits
• Dual Degree/Dual Major (Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Bachelor of Science in Banking and Finance)
  

With careful planning, students can meet the 150 hour requirement within four years if willing to attend summer sessions here and/or elsewhere.

About the curriculum

Classes

View the classes you will be attending in the College Catalog.

Accreditation & Industry Connections

B.S. curriculum provides preparation toward professional accounting certifications.

Accredation logos.

The Accounting and Business programs have been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

After graduation

List of jobs via the College Catalog.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics median annual wages of wage and salary accountants and auditors were $59,430 in May 2008. The middle half of the occupation earned between $45,900 and $78,210. The bottom 10 percent earned less than $36,720, and the top 10 percent earned more than $102,380.

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are:

Industry	Employment	Hourly mean wage	Annual mean wage
Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services	289,970	$35.54	$73,920
Management of Companies and Enterprises	74,030	$31.89	$66,330
Local Government (OES Designation)	41,740	$27.64	$57,490
State Government (OES Designation)	36,310	$25.98	$54,040
Insurance Carriers	25,210	$31.50	$65,520

*Statistics reported in May 2008