Accounting (BS) and Master of Accountancy (MAcc)
About
In “Potential, Prestige, & Purpose,” the AICPA states “Accountants are the backbone of the business world. They’re the professionals who work with everyone—from individuals and small companies to large corporations, government agencies and non-profits—to keep their finances in check. Just like doctors or lawyers, there are many different types of accountants. The roles they hold and the duties they perform can vary widely depending on where they work and what their title is.” Accountants hold titles such as chief financial officer, partner, controller, forensic accountant, internal auditor, and FBI agent. The skills CPAs rely on include “communication, creative problem solving, relationships building, leadership, critical thinking, project management, good judgement, big-picture thinking, collaboration, and decision making.” At Scranton, you’ll graduate with a solid command of accounting and business principles, while developing all of the skills required for success as a well-rounded professional in the liberal arts tradition.
About the Direct-Entry Accelerated Master of Accountancy Program
As an accounting undergraduate applicant, you will also have the option to apply for direct-entry in our nationally ranked Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program. This program can be completed in a 4-year format (summer and intersession terms included) or 5-year format, while you pursue your Bachelor of Science in accounting, allowing you to save time and money. The MAcc program develops the skills needed for the student to advance to senior levels within public accounting, industry, and government agencies. Students can also enter the MAcc program as recent graduates and/or working professionals with bachelor’s degrees in accounting.
Why Accounting is in Demand:
- All employment sectors and industries require accountants.
- The study of accounting provides a superior foundation for those who aspire to future senior-level leadership positions.
- If you are interested in the direct-entry Master of Accountancy program, you should note that the demand for flexible, high-quality, graduate level accounting education is at an all-time high and is expected to continue growing at a rapid rate.
Is it for me?
- Are you organized, accurate and results-focused?
- Do you have good communication skills?
- Are you an analytical person?
- Are you interested in a career in business?
Five Reasons to Choose Scranton for Accounting (BS) and Master of Accountancy (MAcc)
In our close campus community, we know students on a first-name basis. Our faculty, staff and distinguished alumni work together for the success of our students.
-Douglas Boyle, DBA, CPA, CMA
Doctorate Program Director, Department Chair and Associate Professor
Preparing You For Personal & Professional Successplus or minus
Whether your goal is to become a partner in a public accounting firm or to work your way up to being the chief financial officer of a corporation, Scranton prepares you for personal and professional success.
Here are a few reasons why:
- Our faculty members are top teachers and strong researchers with extensive professional success. For example, the chair of Scranton’s Accounting Department, Dr. Douglas M. Boyle, has over 30 years of experience in leadership, finance, operations, corporate governance and business turnaround, and has served in senior executive roles in start up, middle market and Fortune 500 companies.
- As you learn a solid command of accounting and business principles, our Office of Career Development department will help you prepare a winning resume and teach you how to interview effectively.
- Accomplished Scranton executive alumni regularly interact with our students in order to help them obtain internships and employment. Scranton’s Accounting Department Professional Alumni Council (ADPAC) is comprised of more than 50 distinguished alumni—including partners in CPA firms and Chief Financial Officers—who meet on a quarterly basis with the mission of helping our students achieve their internship and career goals.
- Our program ranked among the Top Certified Management Accounting (CMA) Pass Rates in the Nation by the Institute of Management Accountants, and among the “Top 15 Online Master's Degree Programs in Accounting with the Best CPA Exam First-Time Pass Rates” in the nation by Online Schools Center.
You’ll be recognized in the job market for important “soft skills” that are valued by employers such as:
- Self-awareness
- Commitment to ethics and social values
- Interpersonal skills
- Concern for society at large
- The ability to communicate and write effectively
Within the Master of Accountancy program, we'll prepare you to:
- Hone advanced technical skills demanded in senior level positions
- Be an accounting professional with a high level of integrity and interpersonal skills
- Handle post-SOX regulations and ethical responsibilities
- Leverage accounting knowledge and skills to solve business problems
- Make strategic financial decisions
- Obtain your CPA and other professional certifications
Internships:
Over the past five years, over 85% of accounting students have reported at least one internship. The majority of these internships are paid and receive academic credit. Every year we place a high number of our students with the Big Four accounting firms, including a unique internship experience at PwC.
Linda McGowan, Class of 1980, built a nationwide internship program for Scranton students at PwC. Today, Scranton interns, like our graduates, can be found in every PwC practice area, and at all of the Big Four accounting firms.
Scranton’s uniquely structured academic calendar allows students to start internships in January, during the accounting industry’s peak season.
Recent graduates have interned at the following companies:
- Bank of America
- KPMG
- Baker Tilly
- Viacom
- Johnson & Johnson
- The McGraw-Hill Companies
- PwC
- EY LLC
- McGrail, Merkel, Quinn and Associates
- Sanofi Pasteur
- Bristol-Myers Squibb
- Live Nation Inc.
- VITA - University of Scranton
I did an internship with a Big Four accounting firm, which was my main goal when I first came in, and a lot of alumni helped me get there. I actually got to work with a partner Scranton alum, and he mentored me the whole way. I will be returning there after I graduate to start full-time.
Patrick Tuzzo
Class of 2018
What You'll Learnplus or minus
Curriculum
The University of Scranton understands that business is constantly evolving. Our faculty and curriculum keep pace with that change. At Scranton, our goal is to not only teach accounting, but to put it into a clear and very meaningful context.
Click here to see the curriculum.
Market-Relevant Tracks
As an accounting undergraduate applicant, you will have the option to choose from one of our three tracks including Forensic Accounting, Accounting Analytics, and General Accounting. In addition, you may choose from a variety of minors such as Finance. The accounting program provides a solid foundation in business and accounting for students interested in careers in public accounting, private industry, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, in pursuing graduate studies (e.g., law), or in preparation for running their own businesses. This program prepares students interested in professional certifications such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), and/or Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA).
The General Accounting Track provides you with the most flexible path to selecting accounting and business electives that meet your specific interests.
The Forensic Accounting Track was developed in response to the demand for accounting professionals with specialized knowledge in the areas of fraud examination and litigation support. This track includes course work in fraud examination, criminology and financial statement analysis.
The Accounting Analytics Track prepares you to take advantage of the expanding variety of opportunities available to professionals with a strong and integrated knowledge of accounting and mastery of evolving analytics and information technologies skills.
Bachelor of Science/Master of Accountancy (MAcc):
Additionally, Scranton offers a 4-year or 5-year Bachelor of Science/Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program for qualified students who seek to satisfy the 150-credit-hour educational requirement imposed by most state to Certified Public Accountant exam boards.
Pursue Your Passion and Make a Differenceplus or minus
At The University of Scranton, our goal is to not only teach accounting but to put it into a clear and very meaningful context. Yes, accounting involves reading, understanding, and preparing profit and loss statements, but it is more than one-dimensional in purpose and practice. Business needs to be viewed in terms of the impact on the community and society at large.
There have been too many corporate accounting scandals in recent years from WorldCom to Enron to Bernie Madoff. It begs reflection, which happens to be a key tenet of Jesuit education. How did things end up so badly? The impact was felt much further than shareholders and employees. It contributed, in part, to a defining moment for your generation – the Great Recession.
As a Jesuit institution, we place the highest importance on ethical behavior. While many business schools have woven ethics into their curriculum just recently in response to these business scandals, the Jesuits have been teaching ethics for more than 400 years.
Through case studies, you have an opportunity to learn where things went horribly wrong and how you, as Millennials, can put business on the right path again. Through our Accounting Professionals Council, you will immerse yourself in hypothetical scenarios, preparing you to respond to grey areas and ethical dilemmas that come up in business.
Beyond the classroom, students have the opportunity to participate in service learning. One example of how students are making a difference is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for low-income families, which is offered by The University of Scranton in partnership with local human service organizations. Our accounting students have participated in the VITA program for more than 20 years, helping families become more financially stable and economically independent. Read more about Scranton students’ volunteer work with VITA here.
Careers
Where will Accounting Take Me?
An accounting degree from Scranton will prepare you to successfully pursue career opportunities in a wide variety of public, private, government or nonprofit sector positions.
Many students choose to become Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). Others pursue a path in corporate accounting, which offers the opportunity to specialize in a specific accounting discipline and focus on an industry of particular interest — for example, developing an expertise in health care or high tech industry auditing.
Either way, the accounting field offers abundant entry-level opportunity, strong starting salaries for new college graduates, high earning potential and a wide variety of career path options, including:
- Accounting Manager
- Asset Manager
- Auditor
- Budget Analyst
- Chief Financial Officer
- Controller
- Treasurer
Top Graduate Schools
Though most of our accounting majors stay with Scranton to earn a master’s degree in the field, some students elect to pursue graduate studies at law or business schools. Here are some of the leading institutions that have accepted Scranton graduates:
- Drexel University
- Loyola College
- Monmouth University
- Seton Hall University
- University of Amsterdam
- Villanova School of Law
- Wagner College
Employment:
Companies that have hired recent accounting graduates span a wide range of industries and include:
- BBD Investment Management Group
- Deloitte
- EY LLC
- Grant Thornton
- J.P. Morgan
- KPMG
- McGrail, Merkel, Quinn and Associates
- Baker Tilly
- PwC
- SEI Investments
How Scranton Gives You a Competitive Edge
Just because you’re interested in accounting doesn’t mean you want to feel like a number. At The University of Scranton, you won’t.
Our faculty know their students on a first-name basis and make it a priority to understand each individual’s goals. That deep understanding means that our experienced instructors are not only top teachers and strong researchers, but also strong advocates for you professionally.
Our faculty, Center for Career Development and distinguished alumni work together as a team to offer Scranton students a seamless path from undergraduate admission to master’s-prepared CPA with a lucrative job at an international firm. That’s a competitive edge you just won’t find at most universities.
Accreditation
The Kania School of Management is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Take the Next Step
Get the Facts
For More Information
Office of Admissions
The Estate
Scranton, PA 18510
1-888-SCRANTON or (570) 941-7540
570-941-7572
admissions@scranton.edu
Accounting Department
Douglas Boyle, D.B.A., C.P.A., C.M.A.
Department Chair
(570) 941-5436
douglas.boyle@scranton.edu