Accounting Major Fact Sheet
Program Size
SBU averages about 10-12 accounting majors per year-this means your junior and senior accounting classes provide an optimum student-to-teacher ratio to allow plenty of individualized attention. This small setting also allows us to use a diverse set of learning tools to broaden the student's learning perspective. One unique way we do this is to require our accounting majors to regularly read and report on the Wall Street Journal -this helps add a "real life" perspective to learning. We also use oral exams to improve our students' ability to "think on their feet."
Distinctively Christian
SBU makes no apologies about trying to train all students to approach their chosen career with a solid foundation of Christ-centered principles to guide them. Our accounting students focus on these 8 characteristics from Psalm 15 during their SBU tenure-Integrity, Service, Respect, Charity, Faithfulness, Truthfulness, Humility, and Perseverance.
SBU Distinction
SBU's College of Business and Computer Science has achieved special accreditation through the "teaching-focused" Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs. SBU graduates annually score WELL above the national average on the Business Major Field Achievement Test given at more than 400 universities. The SBU Enactus (Enactus) team has won regional competition 27 of the last 28 years at places like Chicago and Dallas. Accounting majors participating in the Phi Beta Lambda (PBL - the college version of FBLA) state and national competition have ten "Top Three" National awards (including two "Firsts") and 27 "Top Two" State awards in the last 13 years.
Job Placement
As a recent example, from the May, 2002 class through the May, 2012 class, all accounting graduates except five were employed within three months of graduation in accounting-related fields and four chose to attend graduate school.
*Accounting majors, especially those desiring public accounting, are usually hired well before graduation (3-10 months) and should begin looking at CPA firms at the beginning of their junior year-CPA firms today increasingly are interested in early identification of quality CPA candidates.
Program Faculty
All accounting faculty are professionally certified (CPA or CMA-Certified Management Accountant) and have personal experience in the accounting field prior to teaching at SBU.
CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Exam Success
About 50% of SBU accounting graduates are CPAs and over 70% of those attempting the exam complete the process. SBU's "first-time pass rate" exceeds the national average (58% versus 48% per part).
Student Academic Advising
SBU students are advised by professors within their major area (following their freshman year). This allows students and professors to communicate more frequently and personally about career options, academic progress, and related college experiences.