The Financial Accounting graduate certificate prepares you to pursue further graduate accounting education and take the CPA exam. Topics covered are relevant to CPA licensure and include tax planning, commercial transactions, ethics, accounting information systems, and government and not-for-profit accounting.
Certificate earners are awarded a digital badge for each certificate they complete. Badges can be digitally displayed anywhere to recognize attaining a new level of knowledge.
Courses are offered in convenient, seven-week sessions, which are available in several delivery modes: in-person, hybrid, or online. They may be taken as a stand-alone certificate, as an initial step toward, or concurrently with our Master of Professional Accounting.
Learning Goals
Upon completion of the program, you’ll be able to:
- Analyze an organization’s financial statements and compare to industry and key competitors.
- Assess basic flaws in accounting systems and internal controls and evaluate actions/decisions considering various ethical components.
- Be prepared for the CPA exam, by adding onto the credits needed to sit for the exam.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must hold either (1) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (post-secondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. International applicants may be required to satisfy an English proficiency requirement. The successful applicant is generally expected to have a minimum combined junior/senior grade-point average of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale.
Certificate Requirements
To be awarded the graduate certificate, students must successfully complete nine credits of course work. All courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C or better and an overall GPA of 3.0.
Penn State’s schedule of courses lists availability.
Course Offerings
Spring 2023
The PDF below is the Spring 2023 Management Division Great Valley Course Schedule. If you have any issues viewing this document or have any questions, please contact the division at [email protected].
Summer 2023
The PDF below is the Summer 2023 Management Division Great Valley Course Schedule. If you have any issues viewing this document or have any questions, please contact the division at [email protected].