Accounting
- Division of Business Administration
- Success Stories
- Faculty Profiles
- Academic Catalog: (Course Descriptions)
Division: Business Administration
Program: Accounting
Accounting - The system of recording, summarizing, analyzing, and verifying business and financial transactions in the preparation of statements concerning the assets, liabilities, and operating results of a business.
Do you want to start your own business or be an executive in a Fortune 500 company? Travel overseas for work? Or would you rather learn the ins and outs of many different businesses and organizations before deciding what's right for you?
As an Accounting major, you'll learn professional skills essential to business. They're also fundamental in preparing you for nearly any other career possibility you might explore.
Why Accounting?
Fact 1: Accounting is often referred to as the "language of business."
Fact 2: In public accounting, the average salary for a first-year partner is $150,000.
Fact 3: With a degree in Accounting, you can pursue a career in a number of exciting fields, including auditing, tax and financial planning, environmental accounting, consulting services, forensic accounting,information technology (IT) services, international accounting and government, and nonprofit.
Why Accounting at SJC?
Variety: While pursuing a degree in Accounting at SJC, you can choose from a traditional General Accountancy major or seek a 150-credit hour degree that will allow you to prepare for the CPA exam.
- General Accountancy: This program is designed to prepare you for a variety of careers available to Accounting majors. It provides you with the competencies necessary to thrive in today's business environment. While in this program, you will develop communication, managerial, interpersonal, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
- CPA Track: If you are interested in a career in public accounting and/or are considering obtaining your CPA, this is the degree for you. In addition to the requirements for the General Accountancy degree, courses in ethics, business law, and corporate finance (just to name a few) have been included to round out this challenging program.
Dedication to Excellence: At SJC, a major in Accounting is designed to provide you with the skills necessary to succeed in today's business environment. This is done through in-class and out-of-class experiences. In-class challenges include using "real life" case studies. Out-of-class experiences include leadership opportunities on campus and hands-on experience through internships. One of the highlights of our CPA track program is a 6-credit hour course designed to prepare you for the CPA exam.
Hands-on Experience: SJC's Career Center and faculty will work with you to find internships to supplement your classroom experience. Internships are available in both the public and private sectors. Recent internships include Icon Transportation, Central Soya, Ernst & Young, and Katz Sappler & Miller. Students are encouraged to pursue internships early in their academic careers and in the geographic location they would like to work upon graduation.
Faculty and Class Size: All upper-level accounting courses are taught by licensed CPAs, who have had years of practical work experience. Many faculty have successful careers in addition to teaching at SJC. The average class size at the freshman level is 20-25 students, while upper level courses are approximately 10 students. With smaller class sizes, faculty are able to provide individual feedback and attention to each student.
