Accounting Department
What We Do:
As the accounting profession continues to evolve and grow, we provide our students with the skills required for success.
The old stereotype of an accountant (as someone who works independently, behind closed doors) no longer holds true -- and we help our students develop the analytical, technological, communication and interpersonal skills necessary to succeed. Our bachelor's and master's degree programs provide a strong background in business, accounting and data analytics concepts, theory and practice.
If accounting is "the language of business," then Scranton graduates are undoubtedly fluent.
How We Stand Out:
- Our students team placed in the Top Four in the nation in the Institute of Management Accountants Case Competition and presented in Austin Texas.
- Intellegent.com ranks our Master of Accountancy (MAcc) Degree No. 3 in the nation.
- U.S. News & World Report ranks our MBA Specialty in Accounting No. 14 in the nation, tying with Harvard University, Arizona State University and Ohio State University.
- Brigham Young University Accounting Research Rankings recognizes our Accounting department No. 4 in the world for accounting education research published in the most recent six-years.
- Outstanding Faculty: Four of our faculty have been chosen as the PICPA Educator of the Year (most in the state of PA).
- Successful Students: Nationally recognized CPA & CMA pass rates.
- Practical Experience:
- Students benefit from the active engagement of our executive alumni focused on student mentoring, internships and job placement.
Programs:
Undergraduate
Accounting, BS -- The accounting major provides the bedrock for students interested in careers in 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. Students can also to tailor their degree for an accounting specialization by adding a minor in forensic accounting or a minor in business analytics.
Graduate
Master of Accountancy (MAcc) -- This 30 credit-hour program is geared toward young professionals working in public accounting firms as well as recent graduates of bachelor's programs in accounting. Students develop qualitative, analytical and soft skills that can be applied immediately to professional accounting roles.
Ph.D. in Accounting -- 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
- Over the past five years, 85% of accounting students have reported at least one internship, many of which are with the Big Four accounting firms.
- The accounting field offers a wide variety of career path options, including: chief financial officer, partner, controller, forensic accountant, internal auditor, and FBI agent.
- Some students elect to pursue graduate studies at law or business schools. Graduates have been accepted at leading schools such as Villanova School of Law and University of Amsterdam.
- Companies that have hired recent accounting graduates include Deloitte, EY, JPMorgan Chase, KPMG, and PwC among many others.
