Bachelor of Science in Accounting
Loretto, USA
BSc
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2027
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus, Distance Learning
Key Summary
About: Saint Francis University's Bachelor of Science in Accounting delivers marketable financial education rooted in Franciscan values at its Loretto, Pennsylvania campus near Pittsburgh. The Shields School of Business offers an IACBE-accredited programme where faculty emphasize integrity, ethical behavior, and social responsibility. Annual Accounting and Finance Consortium Interview Day connects students with employers.
Career Outcomes: In five years over 98% were employed or in grad school within one year and over 99% felt prepared. Graduates enter roles as financial analyst, estate planner, investment counselor, accounting manager, market researcher, and auditor, working in audit, tax, finance, corporate accounting, compliance, and consulting.
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.
At SFU you will gain a highly marketable financial education that focused on integrity, ethical behavior, and social responsibility in business.
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 Analytics, Finance, or Management Information Systems to increase their marketability and career prospects.
The SFU Difference
- IACBE-accredited
- Double major or fast-track an MBA graduate degree
- Flexible online option tailored for working adults
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.
Year 1
Fall
- ACCT101 Financial Accounting 3
- ECON101 Principles of Economics I 3
- FTAE105 Franciscan Goals for Today 3
- HIST_ELECT History Course at 100 or 200 level 3
- CORE113 First-Year Seminar 3
- CORE103 Community Enrichment (Fall - 6) 0
Spring
- ACCT102 Managerial Accounting 3
- ECON102 Principles of Economics II 3
- BUS101 Business in a Global Society 3
- SCI_ELECT Science Elective 3
- WRIT102 Research Writing 3
- CORE104 Community Enrichment (Spring- 6) 0
Year 2
Fall
- ACCT201 Intermediate Accounting I 3
- COMM103 Public Speaking 3
- ACCT310 Accounting Information Systems 3
- PHIL205 Discovering Philosophy 3
- LIT104 Intro to Literature 3
- MATH111 MATH101 or higher (MATH111 recommended) 3
Spring
- ACCT202 Intermediate Accounting II 3
- MGMT101 Principles of Management 3
- COMM208 Writing & Communicating in Bus 3
- LANG_ELECT Language at 102 level or higher 3
- FNAR_ELECT Fine Arts Elective 3
Year 3
Fall
- ACCT303 Advanced Accounting I 3
- BLAW_ELECT Business Law Elective 3
- BUSA311 Desc, Pred Analytics for Bus or STAT301 3
- SSCI_ELECT Soc Sci Elective (PLSC, PSCY101, or SOC) 3
- PHIL313 Business Ethics 3
- EXAM301 Writing Competency Exam 0
- FREE_3 3 Credit Free Elective 3
Spring
- ACCT305 Cost Accounting 3
- FIN202 Finance CBC 3
- BUSA103 Advanced Excel with Bus Apps 3
- MKTG101 Marketing 3
- MGMT102 Production/Operations Management 3
- FREE_3 3 Credit Free Elective 3
Year 4
Fall
- ACCT403 Federal Income Taxes I 3
- ACCT_ELECT Accounting Elective 3
- ACCT_ELECT Accounting Elective 3
- MGMT401 Strategic Management 3
- FREE_3 3 Credit Free Elective 3
Spring
- ACCT407 Auditing 3
- CORE407 Senior Keystone 3
- FREE_3 3 Credit Free Elective 3
- FREE_3 3 Credit Free Elective 3
- FREE_2 2 Credit Free Elective 2
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 success 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, and 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.
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 with 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, and auditor.
