Accounting Department
What We Do:
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 nonprofits—to keep their finances in check. Accountants can be very generalized or incredibly specialized in the work they do. 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, relationship 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.
How We Stand Out:
- Nationally ranked programs -- Our programs have consistently placed among the top in the United States. U.S. News & World Report ranks our undergraduate accounting program among the best in the nation for the past five consecutive years. Discover Accounting and University HQ ranked our program 9th and 12th in the nation in 2019 and 2021, respectfully. Our online Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program was named first in the nation by Accounting Degree Review and Best Colleges in their most recent rankings.
- Innovative program options -- Our programs provide students with the faculty support and flexibility to complete a combined Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and a Master of Accounting (combined B.S./MAcc) in four or five academic years or a B.S. in Accounting a Masters of Business Administration (combined B.S./MBA) in five academic years. These programs meet the 150-credit-hour educational requirement to become a Certified Public Accountant. Additionally, students may choose to add one or more minors in areas of most demand in the market such as Forensic Accounting and/or Business Analytics.
- Unparalleled internship opportunities -- Scranton's uniquely structured academic calendar allows our students to start internships in both the summer and winter terms. The winter term internship format is of particular interest to our students and the firms since it occurs during the peak season in public accounting. Students often intern at internationally recognized firms and companies such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG, Baker Tilly, RSM, and Bank of America.
- Outstanding alumni connections -- Our Accounting Department Professional Alumni Council (ADPAC) is composed of more than 50 renowned alumni, including partners in CPA firms and Chief Financial Officers. They meet several times a year to help our students with internship and career goals.
Programs:
Undergraduate
Accounting, BS -- The accounting major provides the bedrock for students interested in careers in public accounting, industry, government, and non-profit organizations; operating their own businesses or pursuing graduate education.
An accounting background can also open doors to a variety of career paths, because students come to understand all aspects of business.
Minors in Forensic Accounting and Business Analytics - Students can also tailor their degree by adding a minor in forensic accounting and/or a minor in business analytics. These two areas are very valued in the market and distinguish our students leading to successful internship and job placements.
Graduate
Master of Accountancy (MAcc) -- An interested and qualified student may choose to be admitted into the combined B.S./MAcc degree program during the undergraduate admissions process or may apply later. The student earns both a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Master of Accountancy degree. With judicious course scheduling, the student can complete this combined degree program in four or five academic years. This program was developed in response to the adoption by most states of a 150-credit-hour educational requirement to become a Certified Public Accountant and to provide students with the opportunity to work full-time in the profession, while completing the last year of the program either online or on campus. The MAcc portion of the program may be completed on campus or online.
Masters of Business Administration -- An interested and qualified student may choose to be admitted into the combined B.S./MBA degree program during the undergraduate admissions process or may apply at a later date. The student earns both a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration degree. The student can complete this combined degree program in five academic years. This program also meets the 150-credit-hour educational requirement to become a Certified Public Accountant.
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) -- The goal of our doctoral program is to help professionals working in the accounting field develop the skills and credentials necessary for teaching positions in higher education.
Meet Our Faculty:
Our department is composed of dedicated professors who are accomplished researchers and successful business leaders -- so you'll learn from the best.
Faculty and staff are accessible and available to students on a routine basis through a generous open door policy. You’ll discover a strong sense of community here at Scranton and close, mentoring relationships with faculty who care.
Douglas Boyle, DBA, CMA, CPA
Chair
Chairperson, Associate Professor
B.S., University of Scranton
M.B.A., Columbia University
D.B.A., Kennesaw State University
Phone: 570-941-5436
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James Boyle, DBA, CPA
Associate Professor
B.S., M.B.A., The University of Scranton
D.B.A., Kennesaw State University
Phone: 570-941-6495
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Brian Carpenter, PhD
Professor
B.S., The Pennsylvania State University
M.B.A., The University of Scranton
Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University
Phone: 570-941-7632
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Jeh-Hyun Cho, PhD
Assistant Professor
B.S., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
M.S., Seoul National University
Ph.D., Arizona State University
Phone: 570-941-4702
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Andrew Gregorowicz, BS,MBA
Faculty Specialist
B.S., The University of Scranton
M.B.A., Pace University-Lubin Graduate School of Business
Phone: 570-941-5860
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Robyn Lawrence, PhD, CMA
Associate Professor
B.S., University of California
M.B.A., The University of Scranton
Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University
Phone: 570-941-7786
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Daniel Mahoney, PhD
Professor
B.S., M.B.A., The University of Scranton
Ph.D., Syracuse University
Phone: 570-941-4188
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Amanda Sue Marcy, DBA, CPA
Assistant Professor
B.S., M.B.A., The University of Scranton
D.B.A., The University of Scranton
Phone: 570-941-4120
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Michael Mensah, Ph.D.
Professor, Dean Emeritus of the Kania School
B.S., University of Ghana
M.B.A., Northeast Louisiana University
Ph.D., University of Houston
Linda Mlodzienski, CPA
Richard O'Hara, CFA, CMA
Faculty Specialist
B.S., The Pennsylvania State University
M.B.A., New York University
Phone: 570-941-6573
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David Salerno, PhD, CPA
Associate Professor
B.S., M.B.A., The University of Scranton
Ph.D., Kent State University
Phone: 570-941-4313
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Ashley Stampone, CPA
Inside the Classroom:
Our students benefit not only from rigorous coursework and highly qualified teachers; they also learn about business within the context of ethics. Accounting encompasses more than just profit and loss statements. The industry also needs to be viewed in terms of its impact on the community at large.
Professors use both hypothetical scenarios and real-life examples -- like the Enron and WorldCom corporate accounting scandals -- to prepare students for the ethical dilemmas that arise in business. A focus on ethics and social justice is a long-held tenet of Jesuit education. While other business schools have incorporated ethics into their programs in response to recent business scandals, ethics has always been a focus at the Kania School.
Career Outcomes:
Accounting offers an array of career options, such as chief financial officer, forensic accountant, internal auditor, partner, controller, and FBI agent. The success of our graduates is demonstrated by their job placements. Our graduates are employed by:
- Big four, regional, and local public accounting firms
- Notable corporations in industry
- Government agencies and not-for-profit organizations
New and exciting niches are developing within the profession -- from fraud examination and forensic accounting to accounting information systems.
Accounting is also an excellent foundation for running your own business, pursuing a law degree or a doctorate degree and teaching in a college or university.
