Are you moving up in your organization-or do you aspire to move up-into a role that requires a more substantial accounting foundation? Are you looking to make a career shift into an accounting-related position or eventually continue into a master's program? We'll prepare you for your next step.
Accelerate your career by acquiring the accounting knowledge to do your job more effectively
Design your own future by building a solid foundation for a career in accounting
Satisfy prerequisites with these courses for the Smeal One-Year Master of Accounting residential program
"I work for a great company, and as I began to grow and develop within my role, I started looking for ways to enhance the value I could provide."
Christine Stilson, a staff accountant at The Meet Group, Inc., enjoys the flexibility of the program and the ability to tailor her studying to her full-time schedule as a working professional.
Our online format allows you to continue your full-time employment while you build your accounting skill set. Virtual classes are taught by Smeal faculty and include live interaction and collaboration with your classmates.
Earn your graduate certificate in as few as 12 months
Engage in virtual classes with live interaction and teamwork
Immediately apply what you're learning
This intensive program, designed for college graduates with little to no background in accounting, includes four courses that cover the core topics of a baccalaureate accounting program at a pace and depth appropriate to graduate students. Successfully complete each course to earn your graduate certificate:
Communicates corporate financial information under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), with emphasis on understanding accounting issues
Covers the foundations of U.S. Federal Tax, including taxation of individuals, corporations, flow-through entities, and property transactions
Explores principles and procedures of the risk-based approach to the audit of financial statements, with focus on financial information systems and internal controls
Delves into accounting techniques for managing the organization's resources, including analysis of accounting data for planning, decision-making, and evaluation
The Penn State Smeal College of Business knows accounting. For more than 60 years, our highly ranked faculty have been preparing accounting students for career success. Smeal accounting graduates are employed by a range of companies including Aldi, GE, J&J, JPMorgan, Nestle, Oracle, PNC, TE Connectivity, Textron, UPMC, and Urban Outfitters, as well as public accounting firms of all sizes and specialties.
Financial Accounting, Taxation
Auditing
Managerial Accounting
Faculty in the Smeal Department of Accounting are accomplished educators and leading researchers, ranking among the top 25 globally for academic excellence.
Director of the Graduate Certificate in Accounting Foundations with research interests including the impact of emerging technologies on the auditing function
Brings more than 15 years of experience in accounting practice including experience with Arthur Andersen, General Mills, and an internet startup company
Recipient of the 2000 Lester L. Shonto Award for Excellence in Accounting Education, CPA Exam reviewer, and 10 years of experience in financial and managerial accounting
Alumnus of three of the remaining "Big 4" CPA firms with more than 30 years in the accounting profession and an extensive background in tax, manufacturing, and business
With more than 92,000 Smeal graduates around the world, connect with accomplished peers and open doors wherever you go.