Shields School of Business

Accounting, Bachelor of Science

Introduction

Earn a Respected Accounting Degree from Saint Francis University

 

Accounting is one of the Shields School of Business flagship programs with successful alumni populating executive-level positions throughout industry and government.  Our faculty members are committed to developing professionals who are ready to make a difference, not only in the field of accounting but in their communities as well.

 

Offered: On-Campus and Online


New $100,000 Scholarship Initiative (for full-time undergraduates)

Saint Francis is doing its part to help stem the nationwide shortage of qualified entry-level accounting talent, by offering this new scholarship opportunity to help make accounting education more affordable.

Learn more about the Accounting Scholarship.


The SFU Difference

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IACBE-accredited  
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double major or  fast-track an MBA graduate degree 
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flexible online option tailored for working adults
 The SFU LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Accounting the Saint Francis Way

At SFU you will gain a highly marketable financial education that focused on integrity, ethical behavior, and social responsibility in business. 

 

Flash Fact: the International Accreditation Council for Business Education named SFU accounting professor Dr. Angela Seidel the 2021 IMA Accounting Faculty of the Year.

Dr. Angela Seidel, 2021 IMA Accounting Faculty of the Year award recipient in the classroom

Find your Accounting career path!

Your accounting degree can provide you with a world of opportunities. Accountants play a pivotal role in many organizations; whether it’s planning a merger or acquisition, auditing a pension plan, or uncovering a fraudulent insurance scam. Where you take your degree is up to you.

 

Take time to explore, network, and build your resume:

 

  • The annual Accounting & Finance Consortium Interview Day gives SFU students the opportunity to interview with top business employers which often lead to internship and job offers.
  • Many accounting students double-major in Business AnalyticsFinance, or Management Information Systems to increase their marketability and career prospects.

The best way to explore what the student experience really looks like is to schedule a visit!

CURRICULUM & COURSES

What You’ll Learn in the Accounting Program

The undergraduate accounting program prepares students to enter private, public, or governmental accounting in a variety of fields including financial accounting, cost accounting, auditing, taxes, and financial analysis.  Successful candidates in our undergraduate program earn a Bachelor of Science in Accounting upon graduation.

  • Undergraduate Path
  • Accelerated/Graduate
  • Learning Objectives
  • On-Campus: 

    Degree PathDescriptionCourse Catalog Plan of Study

    Accounting, B.S.

    options to obtain necessary credits for CPA exam

    Course Catalog - 24/25

    Plan of Study

    Business Analytics Concentration / Accounting, B. S.

    focus on business analyticsCourse Catalog - 24/25

    Plan of Study

    Entrepreneurship  Concentration /

    Accounting, B.S.

     focus on  entrepreneurial thinking and related activities

    Course Catalog - 24/25

     

    Plan of Study 

     

    100% Online: 

    Degree PathDescriptionCourse Catalog Plan of Study

    Accounting, B.S. 

    online degree delivered through the Division of Professional Studies

     

    Course Catalog - 24/25 

    Plan of Study

    Certificate: Accounting

    (post-baccalaureate)

    for those beginning careers or to those changing career directions.

     

    Course Catalog - 24/25 

    Plan of Study
  • Accelerated/Graduate Degrees

     

    Degree DescriptionCatalog Plan of Study

    Accelerated MBA/Accounting

     

    earn both an undergraduate accounting degree and an MBA

    Course Catalog - 24/25Plan of Study

    Accelerated MBA/Accounting (Online)

    earn both an undergraduate accounting degree and an MBA onlineCourse Catalog - 24/25Plan of Study


     

  • The Shields School of Business will graduate students who have the knowledge, skills, love of learning, confidence, drive, and ethical and moral values needed to be spiritually fulfilled in life and successful in professional careers. Upon completion of this program, students are able to:

    • Demonstrate, in the Spirit of Saint Francis in the Marketplace, knowledge of the ethical value choices and responsibilities of businesses and business leaders.
    • Demonstrate knowledge of the fundamental principles in business in the functional areas of accounting, information systems, finance, management, and marketing.
    • Demonstrate knowledge of the legal, social, economic environments of business.
    • Demonstrate knowledge of the global dimension of business.
    • Integrate the functional areas of business in the process of decision-making.
    • Demonstrate the ability to professionally communicate.
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Experienced accounting faculty who love to teach

You will learn from professors who not only hold the highest levels of both academic and professional certification including the CPA and CMA but who also have years of professional experience.  Guest speakers and site visits augment the instruction in several courses to enrich the value of the program.

 

Department Contact: Dr. Angela Seidel, aseidel@francis.edu, 814-472-3076

 

Ali Evans, 2018 grad accounting and Finance

“Getting to travel was a big selling point for me. I’ve been everywhere because of the Shields School of Business. ”

—Ali Evans, Financial Analyst, Federated Hermes, Inc., '18, Accounting/Finance

Career Outlook in Accounting

Career Paths: Accounting provides students with uniquely broad career opportunities in the public, private, and government sectors. Potential professional certifications include the Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). Public accounting provides students opportunities in auditing, taxes, information technology, financial analysis, and consulting. Governmental accounting opportunities abound at the local, state, and federal levels, including potential careers with the FBI or CIA. Saint Francis University accounting graduates are enjoying fruitful and rewarding careers in all areas of industry.

 

Strong Salary Potential: The starting salary for accounting professionals with a bachelor’s degree is around $58,508 annually, according to the NACE. Plus, the increase in earnings potential you will see as you gain experience is considerable. Many experienced professionals earn $100,000 or more annually.

 

Outcomes for SFU Grads:

  • Over the past 5 years, over 98% of School of Business graduates have been gainfully employed or enrolled in graduate school within one year of graduation.
  • Exit survey results indicate that over 99% of School of Business graduates feel prepared for their respective careers upon graduation.
  • Here are some of the opportunities that our graduates have taken: financial analyst, estate planner, investment counselor, accounting manager, market researcher, auditor.
FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions About Accounting and Saint Francis University

  • What can I do with a degree in accounting?

    Graduates of our Accounting program have found success in fields such as:

    • Public Accounting
    • Auditing
    • IT services
    • International accounting
    • Consulting services
    • Personal Financial planning
    • Tax advisory services
  • What is Accounting & Finance Consortium?

    The Accounting & Finance Consortium Interview Day is an annual event facilitated by Career Services that gives SFU accounting and finance students the opportunity to interview with top business employers. The interviews often lead to internship and job offers, and have resulted in many SFU students securing positions prior to graduation.  

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Saint Francis University has received specialized accreditation for its business programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE), located in Lenexa, Kansas.