Santa Clara University

Frequently Asked Questions: Undergraduate Accounting Program

 

This webpage is designed to answer questions pertaining to the Santa Clara University undergraduate accounting program from each of the following groups:

• Prospective students
• Transfer students
• Current SCU business majors
• Current SCU accounting majors

The questions are separated into thirteen main areas:

•   Questions about specific accounting courses

1.     Accounting Courses – lower division courses

2.     Accounting Courses – upper division courses

3.     Accounting Courses – recommended schedules

•   Questions about declaring your major or minor at SCU

4.     Declaring a major

5.     Declaring minors and double majors

•   Questions about the accounting major by study abroad students and international students

6.     Study abroad students

7.     International students

•   Questions about benefits of majoring in accounting

8.     Deciding on whether to major in accounting

9.     Scholarships for accounting majors

10.   Accounting internships

11.   Accounting externships

•    Questions about working as an accountant

12.   What is it like to work at an accounting firm?

13.   What is it like to work for a public company?

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

1.  ACCOUNTING COURSES – LOWER DIVISION COURSES

•   What accounting courses are required for business majors?

•   When should I take ACTG 11?

•   When should I take ACTG 12?

•   Why should accounting majors complete ACTG 11 and ACTG 12 in their second (sophomore) year?

•   Why should finance majors complete ACTG 11 and ACTG 12 in their second (sophomore) year?

 

1.  ACCOUNTING COURSES – UPPER DIVISION COURSES

•   What accounting courses are required for accounting majors?

•   What accounting electives are offered in the accounting program?

•   Do any upper division accounting courses qualify as business core classes?

•   Should non-accounting majors take upper division accounting courses?

•   Should sophomores or second-year juniors take upper division accounting courses?

•   What courses are required as prerequisites for upper division accounting courses?

•   How often are upper division accounting courses offered?

 

3.  ACCOUNTING COURSES– RECOMMENDED SCHEDULES

 

•   When should I take ACTG 20?

•   When should I take ACTG 130?

•   When should I take ACTG 131?

•   When should I take ACTG 132?

•   When should I take ACTG 134?

•   When should I take ACTG 135?

•   When should I take ACTG 136?

•   When should I take ACTG 138?

 

4.  DECLARING A MAJOR

 

•   When should I declare my major?

•   What are the benefits to declaring your major early?

•   How do I declare my major as accounting?

•   How do I change my major to accounting?

 

5.  DECLARING MINORS AND DOUBLE MAJORS

 

•   Are there benefits to having a double major or a minor?

•   Can I double major in the business school?

 

6.  STUDY ABROAD STUDENTS

 

•   If I study abroad, will I still be able to graduate with an accounting major in four years?

•   What are the benefits to studying abroad?

•   What is the best quarter to study abroad?

•   What are the worst quarters to study aboard?

•   If I study abroad in the Fall quarter of my senior year, when should I take ACTG 130 and 131?

 

7.  INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

 

•   What special problems affect international students who wish to work for accounting firms?

•   Should I tell potential employers that I am an international student?

 

8.  DECIDING ON WHETHER TO MAJOR IN ACCOUNTING

 

•   What scholastic factors are important for accounting majors?

•   What personal characteristics are important for accounting majors?

•   Why are communication skills so important?

•   Why is ethical behavior so important?

•   What are the advantages of majoring in accounting?

•   What are the disadvantages of majoring in accounting?

 

9.  SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ACCOUNTING MAJORS

 

•   What external scholarships are available for accounting majors?

•   What scholarships are offered through the accounting department?

•   Who qualifies for accounting department scholarships?

•   When can I apply for accounting department scholarships?

 

10.  ACCOUNTING INTERNSHIPS

 

•   What is an accounting internship and how does it differ from other internships?

•   When are internships offered?

•   When do I apply for summer internships?

•   Do all internships lead to full-time jobs?

•   Can I get academic credit for internships?

•   Can sophomores or second-year juniors apply for summer internships?

•   How many accounting majors are hired as accounting interns during the summer?

•   If I do not get an internship through on-campus interviews, can I still get an internship through off-campus interviews?

•   If I do not get an internship, can I still get a full-time job with a CPA firm?

 

11.  ACCOUNTING EXTERNSHIPS

 

•   What is an accounting externship and how does it differ from an internship?

•   When are externships offered?

•   When do I interview for summer internships?

•   Do all externships lead to future internships?

•   Can I get academic credit for externships?

•   Can sophomores or second year juniors apply for summer externships?

•   Is it difficult to get an externship?

 

12.  WHAT IS IT LIKE TO WORK AT AN ACCOUNTING FIRM?

 

•   How many accounting majors get jobs at CPA firms?

•   How much compensation do accounting majors earn at CPA firms?

•   What are the benefits to beginning a career at a CPA firm?

•   How many accounting majors eventually become partners in CPA firms?

•   Why do most accountants leave their initial job within five years?

•   Why do CPA firms want to hire Santa Clara accounting majors?

 

13.  WHAT IS IT LIKE TO WORK FOR A PUBLIC COMPANY?

 

•   How many accounting majors get jobs at public company?

•   What are the benefits to beginning a career at a public company?

•   What is a “rotation”?

 

1.  ACCOUNTING COURSES– LOWER DIVISION COURSES

 

What accounting courses are required for business majors?

• All business majors must take ACTG 11 (Introduction to Financial Accounting) and ACTG 12 (Introduction to Managerial Accounting)

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When should I take ACTG 11?

• Business majors should take ACTG 11 as early as possible in their second (sophomore) year at SCU
• Thus, business majors should take ACTG 11 in the Fall quarter or Winter quarter of their second (sophomore) year
• We do not recommend business majors to take ACTG 11 in the Spring quarter of their freshman (first) year

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When should I take ACTG 12?

• Business majors should take ACTG 12 immediately after they take ACTG 11
• Thus, business majors should take ACTG 12 in the Winter quarter or Spring quarter of their sophomore year

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Why should accounting majors complete ACTG 11 and ACTG 12 in their second (sophomore) year?

• Accounting majors should begin taking upper division accounting courses in their junior (third) year
• Thus, accounting majors should complete their lower division accounting courses in their sophomore (second) year

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Why should finance majors complete ACTG 11 and ACTG 12 in their second (sophomore) year?

• ACTG 12 is a prerequisite for FNCE 121, which is the first course required for all finance majors
• Students who fail to take ACTG 12 in their sophomore year will not be able to take FNCE 121 until a subsequent quarter
• Since FNCE 121 is a prerequisite for all finance courses, failure to take ACTG 12 in the sophomore year could delay your graduation date

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2.  ACCOUNTING COURSES – UPPER DIVISION COURSES

 

What accounting courses are required for accounting majors?

• Accounting majors who enter SCU prior to Fall 2007 must take a two-unit self-study accounting class (ACTG 20), six required accounting classes (ACTG 130, 131, 132, 135, 136, and 138) and at least one 5-unit elective course:

¨   ACTG 20   - Reporting Financial Transactions (2-units)

¨   ACTG 130 - Intermediate Accounting I (Key Class)

¨   ACTG 131 - Intermediate Accounting II

¨   ACTG 132 - Advanced Accounting

¨   ACTG 135 - Auditing and Accounting Information Systems

¨   ACTG 136 - Managerial Accounting

¨   ACTG 138 - Taxation

• Accounting majors who enter SCU on or after Fall 2007 must take a two-unit self-study accounting class (ACTG 20) and seven required accounting classes (ACTG 130, 131, 132, 134, 135, 136, and 138)

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What accounting electives are offered in the accounting program?

• ACTG 134 – Accounting Information Systems
• ACTG 150 – Forensic Accounting
• ACTG 151 – Financial Statement Analysis
• ACTG 152 – International Accounting

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Do any upper division accounting courses qualify as business core classes?

• ACTG 134 meets the information systems requirement for the business core

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Should non-accounting majors take upper division accounting courses?

• Accounting majors often take additional finance and OMIS classes
• Depending on their career interests, finance and OMIS majors often take additional accounting classes

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Should sophomores or second-year juniors take upper division accounting courses?

• Sophomores and second-year juniors should not take upper division accounting courses
• These students should instead take their core business classes
• We also recommend that accounting majors take ACTG 20 in the Spring quarter of their second (sophomore) year

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What courses are required as prerequisites for upper division accounting courses?

• ACTG 11 is a prerequisite for all accounting courses
• ACTG 12 is a prerequisite for ACTG 136
• ACTG 20 is a co-requisite for ACTG 130
• ACTG 130 is a prerequisite for ACTG 131, 132, 135, 150, and 152
• ACTG 131 is a prerequisite for ACTG 132 and 150
• ACTG 135 is a prerequisite for ACTG 150
• FNCE 121 is a prerequisite for ACTG 151 and 152

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How often are upper division accounting courses offered?

• Most required accounting classes are offered two quarters each year
• Accounting electives are only offered once each year

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3.  ACCOUNTING COURSES – RECOMMENDED SCHEDULES

 

When should I take ACTG 20?

• 2-unit self study class
• ACTG 20 is a co-requisite for all upper division accounting courses
• ACTG 20 is offered every quarter, but we recommend accounting majors to take ACTG 20 in the Spring quarter of their second (sophomore) year
• Students can take ACTG 20 in the same quarter that they take ACTG 130. However, we recommend that students take ACTG 20 in the quarter immediately before taking ACTG 130.

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When should I take ACTG 130?

• ACTG 130 is offered in the Fall and Winter quarters.
• ACTG 12 is NOT a prerequisite for ACTG 130.
• Most students take ACTG 130 in the Fall quarter of the junior year (we offer three sections at this time)
• Students who are not ready (or unable) to take ACTG 130 in the Fall quarter can still take it in the Winter quarter

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When should I take ACTG 131?

• ACTG 131 is offered in the Winter and Spring quarters
• Most students take ACTG 131 immediately after taking ACTG 130.
• ACTG 131 is traditionally the most difficult course in the accounting major

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When should I take ACTG 132?

• ACTG 132 is offered in the Fall and Spring quarters
• Most students take ACTG 132 in the Fall quarter of their senior year

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When should I take ACTG 134?

• ACTG 134 is offered in the Fall and Winter quarters
• Students can take ACTG 134 at the same time that they take ACTG 130

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When should I take ACTG 135?

• ACTG 135 is offered in the Winter and Spring quarters
• Students with audit internships should take ACTG 135 in the Fall quarter of their third (junior) year
• Students interested in auditing positions at CPA firms should take ACTG 135 in the Fall quarter of their third (junior) year

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When should I take ACTG 136?

• ACTG 136 is offered in the Fall and Winter quarters
• Students should take ACTG 136 in their fourth (senior) year

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When should I take ACTG 138?

• ACTG 138 is offered in the Winter and Spring quarters
• Students with tax internships should take ACTG 138 in the Fall quarter of their third (junior) year
• Students interested in tax positions at CPA firms should take ACTG 138 in the Fall quarter of their third (junior) year

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4.  DECLARING A MAJOR

 

When should I declare my major?

• We recommend that you declare your major by the end of your sophomore year
• You can easily switch majors if you change your mind

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What are the benefits to declaring your major early (rather than later)?

• Majors have priority over nonmajors when registering for classes in their major
• Only majors can qualify for internship credits
• Your faculty advisor will be automatically switched to someone who teaches in your major. This professor has more insight into career opportunities and recommend course schedules than an advisor for undeclared majors

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How do I declare my major as accounting?

1.      Pick up a "Program Petition Form". You can get a Program Petition Form from Student Records in Walsh Hall or from the Accounting Department Office in Kenna 303.

2.      Complete the form and bring it to Kenna 303.

3.      Remy Hernandez will sign your form and assign you an advisor. Your advisor will be a professor in the accounting department.

4.      Take the completed form to the Drahmann Center, Benson 214.

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How do I change my major to accounting?

1.      Pick up the same "Program Petition Form" you used to declare a major. You can get a Program Petition Form from Student Records in Walsh Hall or from the Accounting Department Office in Kenna 303.

2.      Fill out section 2, "Petition for Change of Major/Minor"

3.      Remy Hernandez will sign your form and assign you an advisor. Your advisor will be a professor in the accounting department.

4.      Take the completed form to the Drahmann Center, Benson 214.

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5.  DECLARING MINORS AND DOUBLE MAJORS

 

Are there benefits to having a double major or a minor?

• If you decide to minor or declare a second major, choose an area that you really want to learn about.
• Our research does not support the notion that students with double majors or minors have better chance at finding good jobs than those who do not

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Can I double major in the business school?

• Business students cannot double major with a second business major
• However, business students can double major with an Arts & Sciences major (like Economics or Spanish)
• We have noticed that some business majors create their own second business major – they take the equivalent of a second major and describe these additional classes in their resume

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6.  STUDY ABROAD STUDENTS

 

If I study abroad, will I still be able to graduate with an accounting major in four years?

• The accounting curriculum is designed for students who study abroad before the Winter quarter of their junior year
• Students who study abroad as sophomores or in the Fall quarter of their junior year can take all the courses necessary to graduate  with an accounting major (as long as you pass each course)
• If you study abroad after the Fall quarter of your junior year, we cannot guarantee that you will be able to take all the courses necessary to graduate with an accounting major within four years.

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What are the benefits to studying abroad?

• Our research has shown that study abroad students have more success with job interviews than other students
• This success may be due to the self-confidence and global awareness that students attain due to studying abroad
• However, study abroad is not a guarantee of future success in job interviews; it depends on each student

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What is the best quarter to study abroad?

• The best quarters to study abroad are the summer and Fall quarters.

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What are the worst quarters to study aboard?

• The worst quarters to study aboard are the Winter and Spring quarters