accounting professor looks at computer with student to help her with homework assignment

Accounting Major

Study accounting at SBU

Be prepared for a variety of career opportunities in public accounting, not-for-profit accounting, auditing, tax accounting and many more possibilities. Accounting graduates are in high demand in business, government and education industries, and an SBU accounting major can get you ready for the workforce quickly. 150 college credit hours are required for the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) licensure and many SBU accounting students complete all the needed courses within four years!

Small class sizes ensure that you receive quality, individualized instruction in your accounting courses. SBU accounting faculty genuinely care about their students and will work closely with you for success in the classroom as well as to help you obtain internship and career positions.

The Accounting degree is offered through SBU's Robert W. Plaster College of Business.

100%
Job
placement
rate

(Of those who responded, 100% of SBU accounting majors graduating in 2024-25 had employment in their field at the time of graduation.)

SBU College of Business Job Placement and Salary Data (PDF

The SBU Advantage

More than 75% of SBU accounting students achieve the required 150 credit hours for CPA licensure within four years. Guided CPA exam prep is provided throughout your time as an accounting major at SBU.
SBU students have a 78% first-time pass rate on the CPA exam versus the national average of only 52%! (Five-year rolling average, 2019-2024 grads; information available as of September 2024)
SBU accounting alumni stay connected with the department, which benefits current students through scholarship offers, mentoring programs and networking opportunities.

Faith Integration

As an SBU accounting student, you will be equipped for a successful career. Our dedicated Christian faculty teach you the application of accounting concepts in current practice through a Christian worldview so that you are prepared to be both a skilled employee and a servant leader in the workplace.

Psalm 15 — SBU's College of Professional Programs and the Robert W. Plaster College of Business have a Psalm 15 initiative, which provides intentional integration of faith and academic discipline. Using Psalm 15 as a basis, the Colleges have identified eight character traits that should be the hallmark of the students and graduates. These character traits are emphasized in coursework and in a special lecture series. The highlighted character traits are: Integrity, Service, Respect, Charity, Faithfulness, Truthfulness, Humility and Perseverance.

Ethics and Professional Development — As part of an intentionally Christian education, students in the Robert W. Plaster College of Business take senior-level courses in ethics and professional development. These courses teach personal and professional Christian ethics and equip students with life skills, such as career development, etiquette, and servant leadership, with the goal of producing ethical business leaders who will be servant leaders in the workplace.

Career Examples

Abacus CPAs
Elliot, Robinson & Company
Forvis Mazars
Grant Thornton LLP
KPM CPAs
KPMG International
Leggett & Platt
Miller Management Systems
RubinBrown

Internship Examples

Abacus CPAs
Associated Electric Cooperative
Citizens Memorial Hospital
Forvis Mazars

Clubs and Organizations

Accounting Club

Join the SBU Accounting Club and participate in various activities throughout the year including field trips to visit prestigious accounting firms, social gatherings, networking opportunities, and more!

Institute of Management Accountants (IMA)

You are encouraged to join SBU's student chapter of IMA and may also join the national IMA organization to receive additional professional development benefits.

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) is the largest career student business organization in the world. FBLA has more than 10,000 members and more than 500 chapters. SBU's FBLA chapter consistently excels at the state and national competitions.

Delta Mu Delta

Delta Mu Delta is an international honor society established to recognize superior scholastic achievement of business administration students. The purpose of Delta Mu Delta is to promote higher scholarship in education for business, and to recognize and reward scholastic attainment in business subjects. Delta Mu Delta is an invitation-only society for juniors and seniors in the top 20% of their class with a minimum GPA of 3.25.

"My courses at SBU developed in me a work ethic and confidence that helped me excel in post-graduate school and my career beyond. Faculty intentionally recognized the particular gifts I had and encouraged me to explore them."

Blaise Torrence '20

Corporate Sustainability Analyst

Scholarships

The College of Professional Programs and the Robert W. Plaster College of Business offer many privately funded scholarship opportunities for their students. During a recent academic year, more than $89,000 was awarded in private scholarships to students from these college-level scholarships. Some scholarships available to accounting students include:

FORVIS Public Accounting Scholarship
Elliott, Robinson & Co. Public Accounting Scholarship
Glenn A. & Kimberly B. Miller Excellence in Non-profit Accounting Scholarship
Integrity Tax & Accounting Scholarship

KPM, CPAs Scholarship
Paul A. Mott, CPA, Accounting Scholarship
Van & Pearl Clark Memorial Accounting Student Aid
SBU Accounting Alumni Scholarship

Accounting Four Year Plan

Discover Core Curriculum