Overview

Accounting Program

The Accounting program strives to achieve excellence in accounting and tax education and to develop students with the highest possible professional competence, enabling them to pursue rewarding careers in accounting and taxation.

Students graduate with an understanding of current accounting, tax, economic, and management theories and the practical applications of these theories. Students are exposed to issues relating to rapid changes in technology, the accounting profession, and in the globalization of the economy, as well as an awareness of ethical issues they may encounter in their professional careers.

The program allows students opportunities to develop their interpersonal skills, improve their knowledge of business and organizations, and develop their personal capabilities.

The Accounting program prepares students for entry into many different fields after graduation, including public accounting, commercial and industrial accounting, government organizations, and other not-for-profit agencies. Accounting faculty members are involved with all aspects of the students’ preparation for entering their chosen professions.

The Accounting program has an Advisory Board comprised of prominent members of the accounting and finance professions. The Board includes partners in both national and regional C.P.A. firms and financial officers in commercial, industrial, governmental, and not-for-profit organizations. Input from the Advisory Board ensures that the Accounting program continues to meet the needs of students and the business community.

Certification as a C.P.A.

To become certified as a C.P.A. in the State of New York, a person must satisfy these requirements:

• Fulfill the education requirements established by the State Education Department. After August 2009, students need to obtain a Bachelor’s degree or higher and 150 credit hours, including the following content areas, to fulfill New York State requirements to sit for the C.P.A. examination:
  • 33 semester hours in accounting with courses in financial accounting and reporting, cost or managerial accounting, taxation, and auditing
  • 36 semester hours in general business electives
  • The study of business/accounting communications, ethics/professional responsibility, and accounting research
  Students planning to become a C.P.A. are strongly encouraged to fulfill the education requirements through the 4+1 M.B.A. program with a concentration in Accounting.
• Pass all four parts of the C.P.A. examination, a standard computerized national exam. Most candidates either take a C.P.A. exam preparation course or spend considerable time studying on their own to enhance their success on the four-part exam.
• Fulfill the experience requirement. Graduates who have 150 hours of education need one year of experience completed under the direct supervision of a licensed C.P.A. Appropriate experience may be earned in public accounting, government, or industry.
• Be at least 21 years of age and be of good moral character.

Additional information on the requirements for certification as a C.P.A., including requirements concerning professional behavior and character, can be obtained at the New York State Education Department website at www.nysed.gov.

Professional Standards

Professional accountants, whether employees in auditing or management, are expected to have accounting expertise and behave in a professional manner. They are expected to have special technical expertise in management, tax, auditing, financial reporting, and information technology. In addition, to ensure that the profession of accounting maintains the confidence, trust, and respect of the general public, accountants are expected to adhere to the professional standards set forth by the organization to which they belong. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the largest professional organization for accountants in public accounting, and the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), the largest professional organization for accountants in the private sector, have both developed Standards of Professional Behavior. These standards cover areas of integrity, professional excellence, respect of others, and personal responsibility. Students need to develop an understanding of these standards and are expected to behave in accordance with the standards as set forth in both the Standards of Professional Behavior and in the St. John Fisher College Code of Conduct.

Learning Outcomes

Undergraduate Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the B.S. in Accounting program, students will:

• Be knowledgeable in the functional areas of business
• Display effective written and oral presentation skills
• Work effectively in teams to accomplish objectives
• Be aware of legal and ethical issues in the business environment
• Use critical-thinking skills to become effective problem-solvers and strategic thinkers

Minor

Accounting Minor

The minor requires 18 credits in Accounting courses taken at the College or accepted in transfer as Fisher Accounting courses:

Note: A grade point average of 2.00 is required for all courses taken in residence that may be applied to the minor. Accounting electives for the minor must be three-credit courses that begin with the prefix ACCT.

Program Requirements

B.S. in Accounting

The program requires 60 credits in Accounting, Finance, and Management and 60 credits in the liberal arts and sciences.

*These courses must be taken at St. John Fisher College.

**If ECON 340C is taken to meet the Globalization requirement, then three Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Management, or Marketing electives must be taken.

***The sequences MATH 119C/120C or 120C/122C are considered equivalents.

****PHIL 273C may be substituted for REST 386D.

Note: Except as noted, a course used to satisfy the requirements under one of the subdivisions above may not also be used to satisfy the requirements under a different subdivision.

Notes on the Accounting requirements:

• At least half of the accounting (ACCT) courses must be taken at the College.
• Students must pay careful attention to course pre-requisites; not doing so could delay progress through the program.
• Students choosing to double-major within the Bittner School must receive the school dean’s approval on a declaration form outlining which courses outside of the business core must be distinct in each major. The form is submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs along with the Academic Change form.

For students majoring in Accounting, all courses designated as Accounting courses (ACCT) that may be applied to the major are included in the determination of the grade point average in the major.

Recommended Progression

B.S. Accounting

Recommended sequence of courses required for the B.S. Accounting major. Students should consult Core Requirements for a complete description of the College’s Core.

*The third ACCT/FINA/HRMG/MGMT/MKTG elective is needed only if ECON 340 is taken to meet the Globalization course requirement.