Prepare for your career in four years, not five
Save a year of tuition and start your career sooner.
Account graduates must complete 150 semester hours of college credit to become a certified public accountant (CPA).
At most schools, it takes five years and a master’s degree to fulfill the 150-hour requirement. Susquehanna’s program is better. You are able to complete 150 hours over four years in a curriculum (PDF) featuring active learning, real-world internships and advising by professors with academic and professional credentials.
Do SU accounting majors get jobs?
Yes, they do! Many students return from their summer internship between junior and senior year with an offer in hand. Most
are typically placed by December of their senior year. The majority of accounting majors go to Big-4 or large regional accounting firms; others, to large corporations. Many of these positions begin the fall after graduation, as firms get ready for their busy season. Typically 100 percent of our accounting majors have jobs upon graduation.
Are there other advantages to completing the 150-hour option?
You can pursue a master’s degree for your own purposes rather than simply fulfilling the 150-hour requirement. A great time to earn your master’s is when you have work experience and are more certain of your future interests. Because you don’t have to finish a master’s to attain the 150 hours, you can choose the focus that’s most meaningful to you. And you’ll appreciate your master’s coursework even more after you have work experience.
Do accounting majors have time for international experience?
Absolutely! Susquehanna’s GO (Global Opportunities) program requires a cross-cultural experience, which for most students means study abroad. The Sigmund Weis School of Business operates a London program, which includes an internship experience for all participants. Susquehanna’s Office of Global Programs staff has information on dozens of other options depending on your interests. We also place students in international internships beyond London, which may be funded by The Eric Stein Fund for International Experience.
Can I practice in a state other than Pennsylvania?
Yes! We routinely place students in firms across the country. The licensing rules differ somewhat from state to state, but our
standard program fulfills the requirements nearly everywhere. You will work with your faculty advisor to choose the classes
that will help you achieve your objective.
Kiara Ramos-Malave—Audit Associate, Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman CPAs, Bethesda, Md.
I am one step ahead of some other students who graduated with 130 credits. Employers definitely look for 150 credits during the hiring process. I would encourage new graduates to take the exam soon after graduation since most accounting firms have start dates in September, which allows ample time to study in the summer. Two things that influenced my decision to attend SU were the AACSB accreditation and the 150-hour option.
Kelly Jockwer—Finance Associate, Prudential Financial, Newark, N.J.
Thanks to Professor of Accounting Rick Davis, I learned about and then was accepted to Prudential’s Peak Leadership Conference the summer before my junior year. Networking there led to an internship position the following summer. Soon thereafter, I was offered a job before my senior year had even begun. My accounting background helps me to better understand the work that I do and how it impacts other functions within the company.
