Accounting

Overview

The accounting profession offers a rewarding career path for students who aspire to play a meaningful role in the world of business. Accountants are essential to the financial health of organizations of all kinds — helping businesses, governments, and nonprofits make informed decisions, meet regulatory requirements, and maintain the trust of the financial markets.

As an accounting professional, you will work in a dynamic environment where analytical rigor, ethical judgment, and strategic thinking come together. Whether navigating complex regulations, ensuring the integrity of financial reporting, or advising organizations on business performance, accountants are trusted advisors whose work matters.

The accounting program at St. John Fisher University is designed to develop Day 1 ready professionals — graduates with the competence and confidence to immediately contribute to the organizations they serve. With a focus on applied learning, the curriculum addresses rapid changes in technology, evolving professional standards, and the ethical dimensions of accounting practice. Students also develop the interpersonal and leadership skills that define a complete professional.

Accounting graduates pursue careers across a wide range of fields, including public accounting, auditing, tax planning and compliance, business consulting, and accounting information systems. The Department of Accounting and Finance offers a Bachelor of Science in Accounting as well as an MBA. Students interested in pursuing the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation will find the program's coursework aligned with the preparation needed for that credential.

Faculty members are actively involved in students' professional development, and the program's advisory board — comprised of accounting alumni working at national/regional CPA firms or serving in senior finance/accounting roles at commercial, industrial, governmental, and not-for-profit organizations — ensures the curriculum remains responsive to the needs of both students and the business community.

MBA Opportunities for Fisher Undergraduates

Eligible St. John Fisher University undergraduates may pursue early pathways into the University’s online MBA program, including MBA Early Assurance and the opportunity to petition to complete up to two MBA courses at no cost while enrolled as undergraduates. Fisher’s flexible, 30‑credit MBA can be completed in as little as one year.

Certification as a CPA

To become certified as a CPA in the state of New York, a person must satisfy these requirements:

• Fulfill the education requirements established by the State Education Department. New York State now offers two pathways to satisfy the education requirement for CPA licensure:
  • 150 Credit Hour Pathway – Students must obtain at least a bachelor’s degree and 150 semester credit hours, including the following content areas:
    • 33 semester hours in accounting, with courses in financial accounting and reporting, cost or managerial accounting, taxation, and auditing
    • 36 semester hours in general business electives
    • The study of business/accounting communications, ethics/professional responsibility, and accounting research
  • 120 Credit Hour Pathway – Signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul on November 21, 2025 (effective November 21, 2026), this alternative pathway allows candidates to qualify for CPA licensure with:
    • At least a bachelor’s degree with 120 semester credit hours, including the required accounting content areas (financial accounting and reporting, cost or managerial accounting, taxation, and auditing)

Note: After specific course requirements for the 120-credit pathway are finalized by the New York State Education Department, students may find them at www.nysed.gov.

• Pass all four parts of the CPA examination, a standard computerized national exam.
• Fulfill the experience requirement, completed under the direct supervision of a licensed CPA. The length of professional experience required depends on the education pathway chosen: one year for the 150-credit pathway, or two years (in lieu of the 30 credit hours reduction) for the 120-credit pathway. Appropriate experience may be earned in public accounting, government, or industry.
• Be at least 21 years of age and of good moral character.

 

Students planning to become a CPA are strongly encouraged to discuss both pathways with their academic advisor. A graduate degree gives you a competitive advantage in securing your first position and throughout your career. Those pursuing the 150-credit pathway may fulfill the education requirements through the 4+1 MBA program with a concentration in accounting or finance. The 120-credit pathway may be an option for students completing a standard four-year bachelor’s degree in accounting.

Additional information on the requirements for certification as a CPA, including requirements concerning professional behavior and character, can be obtained at the New York State Education Department website at www.nysed.gov. Students seeking CPA licensure from another state should review the state’s licensure requirements.