Skip Navigation

Undergraduate Program in Accounting

The Undergraduate Program in Accounting provides the student with a broad education and intensive study within the major as preparation for professional careers in public accounting, cost and managerial accounting, information systems, business consulting, government, and not-for-profit institutions. Students in the program earn a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A) while preparing for the accounting profession.

The curriculum in accounting acquaints the student with the conceptual framework and theory of accounting, transactional analysis, asset management, liabilities, owners' equity, and financial reporting. Cost analysis and control, accounting information systems, taxation, consolidated financial statements, International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and foreign operations, auditing theory and techniques and an understanding of the ethical and performance standards of the profession are also covered. Coursework is also required outside of the major in topics of legal and social environment of business, written and oral communication, the humanities, and the social sciences. Refer to the 2009-10 Undergraduate Bulletin for a suggested sequence of courses for an Accounting Major.

Accounting majors considering a career in public accounting should be familiar with the education and experience requirements of the CPA Exam. Pennsylvania recently changed the education and experience requirements, effective January 1, 2012.

Candidates seeking the CPA designation after January 1, 2012 are required to complete 150 hours of college education, including 36 hours in accounting, auditing, business law, finance, or tax subjects. The 150 credits can be accomplished through undergraduate, graduate or a combination of both. With this change, Pennsylvania conforms to the national education standard of 150 credit hours and one year of public accounting experience—in addition to the successful completion of the CPA Exam—before granting a CPA license.  The law in Pennsylvania through December 31, 2011 requires 120 credit hours, two years of public accounting experience and the successful completion of the CPA Exam before granting a CPA license. 

Students can meet the new Pennsylvania requirements by completing a Bachelors degree (e.g. the current accounting major in the Fox School’s BBA) and the Fox School of Business' newly proposed Masters of Accountancy (MAcc).  Students enrolled in the Fox School’s undergraduate accounting program will be eligible to apply for the MAcc after completing 90 semester-hour credits (that is, they can apply for admission to the MAcc at the completion of their junior year). The MAcc program is in the approval phase and is expected to commence in Fall 2011.

Accounting majors are encouraged to become active in at least one of the four accounting student professional organizations. The following student professional organizations provide networking opportunities with professionals from public accounting and industry. Students majoring in finance and information systems are also eligible for membership in these organizations.