2011-2012 Archived Catalog Information

Mission and Objectives

The Accounting Department provides quality accounting education in contemporary subject matters in a supportive environment. Dedicated and qualified faculty ensure that our undergraduate and graduate programs develop competent and confident graduates, prepared for the challenges of a global business environment. Our graduates compete for entry-level and higher positions and advance successfully as financial professionals in public accounting in a broad range of industries and government. The Department also offers courses to support other programs offered by the Sawyer Business School.

Our goals include earning an excellent reputation because of the quality of our graduates, improving the quality and relevance of our intellectual contributions, advancing constructive relationships with professional and other relevant communities, and enhancing our collegiality within the Department, the School and the University.

Accounting Major Description

The Accounting Department prepares students for professional careers in public accounting, accounting and financial management in business and industry, not-for-profit organizations, and government agencies. The Accounting Department is accredited by AACSB International, making the Business School’s BSBA in Accounting major the only AACSB International-accredited accounting program in Boston.

Professional Requirements

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts mandates a minimum of 120 semester hours, with specific course requirements, to sit for the Uniform CPA exam. 150 semester hours are required; earned as part of a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or both to become a licensed CPA. The 4+1 programs (MSA and MST) are two options designed to enable students to satisfy the licensure requirement. There are recommended tracks in these 4+1 programs designed to meet the Massachusetts requirements and prepare students for successful careers in accounting. Students who plan to qualify as CPAs other than in Massachusetts should ascertain from the respective states or jurisdictions the specific requirements with which they must comply.

Additional professional accrediting bodies in accounting and auditing, in particular the Institute of Management Accountants (which supports the CMA qualification) and the Institute of Certified Internal Auditors (which supports the CIA qualification), have not enacted a 150-hour educational requirement. Nevertheless, Suffolk’s Accounting Department recommends you consider the 4+1 program options to prepare yourself for professional careers as accountants. These options provide elective tracks that are designed to prepare you for rewarding careers in various fields in addition to public accounting such as corporate accounting, international accounting, tax advising, financial planning, not-for-profit accounting, and governmental accounting.

Accounting course offerings are designed to allow completion of the accounting major through part- or full-time study, in day and evening courses (including some online course offerings).