<p>I plan to get a BA in Finance from a Tier 1 school such as USC, Santa Clara or TCU. I also would like to become a CPA after graduation. I understand that this is possible, however is it very practical to get a CPA with a degree in finance? Will the courses and major prepare me for the CPA exam? Will I reasonably be able to graduate in four years?</p>
<p>^I mean a BS</p>
<p>You may need to look at it from the other direction (start with accounting and then add finance). There are very specific requirements one must meet to be able to sit for the CPA exam. I believe you now need need to graduate with 150 semesters hours (so think 5 years and/or masters degree). At USC you could probably get a finance degree and then stay for another year for a MBT or MAcc. </p>
<p>A pure finance major will include some accounting, but not enough to sit for the CPA exam. You could double major or do a minor. Either way, determine your main focus and work with the school to find the best way to get it done. Good luck! </p>
<p>@arc918 is absolutely correct. Given your screen name, if you will be practicing in Texas, be aware that Texas has some unique requirements - especially related to ethics. I’ve seen comments on CPA-related boards that people with MAcc’s from top programs have had to take a special Texas ethics class that is only offered at certain schools. (Most states with an ethics requirement accept the AICPA self study course.) Just know that you will have to spend some time reading the Board of Accounting website of which ever state you want to practice in. </p>
<p>Also, not all MAcc’s are structured the same. My son is like you - sees his career ultimately in finance, but knows the accounting background is key. When he was investgating masters programs he found out some allow no electives, most only one or two classes of electives, but at others you can take electives for about half your classes. He chose one of the programs where he could take about half his classes in finance - Notre Dame. </p>
<p>Thanks I do not necessarily plan to practice in Texas. I will look into each school and see how I can work my schedule before I decide where to go. I would not mind getting a masters before getting a CPA.</p>
<p>If you want to be a CPA, then be an accounting major. Accounting majors can do many things a finance major can do.</p>
<p>I’d take a good look at your state licensing board to see what classes you need. Every state is a bit different. Every state has a 150 credit minimum to be a CPA so many people coming into the profession now go on for a one year masters in accounting. However, if you were a finance major and only took the minimum required accounting classes you could need a two year MS to get all the classes required to become a CPA. If you want to go the CPA route it is probably more efficient to be an accounting major and take as many finance classes as you can along the way.</p>
<p>@ChicagoBear - Hope your son is enjoying ND! Go Irish!</p>
<p>If you want to become a CPA, I agree with the previous posts that recommend taking accounting as your primary emphasis and finance secondary.</p>
<p>Additionally, if you are contemplating going to a CA college, the University of California system is good but out of state tuition for you. There 3 undergraduate business schools in the UC system: 1) UC Berkeley’s Haas; 2) UC Riverside; and 3) UC Irvine. I believe UCI’s is the only UC which admits freshmen to its business school. Haas is the most difficult to get into and you would need to apply during your sophomore year as a UCB student for admission as a junior. You need about a 3.7 gpa from UCB to be admitted. Haas also admits junior transfers from community colleges (CC and you’ll need around a 3.8 gpa to get in). Haas might take transfers from other UC’s and other colleges, but because space is very limited and priority is given to UCB applicants and CC transfers, there are not many spaces available for other UC’s or other college transfers. Haas is rated as one of the top 10 best undergraduate business schools in the country.</p>
<p>Alternatively, you can acquire an accounting concentration thru the economics departments at UCLA, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara or UC Santa Cruz. USC, a private school, is another alternative. With the new CPA requirements in CA discussed in the last paragraph below, you might have to supplement your accounting courses with other business/accounting class thru extension programs or CC if you want to be a CPA (refer to the CA St. Board of Accountancy website). This also applies to Haas students. Alternatively, you can meet the new requirements by getting a Masters in Accounting from UCI, UCI, USC or any colleges which offer it. A MBA from UCB or UCLA would be an overkill because these are top ranked MBA’s and students getting these MBA’s would not work in “lower” pay CPA firm jobs to get the CPA experiences. Also refer to some of comments in the Graduate Business School section discussion threads.</p>
<p>The California State University system also offers accounting/finance major or concentration.</p>
<p>I believe the order ranking of schools offering accounting in CA are:</p>
<p>1) UC Berkeley Haas (a top 10 nationally ranked undergraduate business school;
2) USC Leventhal (the business school is also highly ranked nationally, a MACC is also available);
3) UCLA business econ (it might be a close 2nd place with USC);
4) I believe the UC’s are next, especially UCSB and UCD;
5) Cal Poly SLO; maybe Santa Clara Univ.
6 and below: the best ranked CSU’s, some private schools such as USF, Pepperdine, etc.</p>
<p>If you have aspirations to work in a large accounting firm (Big 4 or next tier such as BDO, Grant Thornton, etc.), you would need top grades in college. The more elite your school, your grades can be a little less than someone from a less prestigious school. There are other factors considered, such as communication skills, presentation, appearances, etc.</p>
<p>USC is by far the highest ranked private college in CA for undergraduate accounting and finance. It is also ranked in the top 10 to 15 nationally for undergrad business and top 10 in accounting. I don’t know much about other private colleges, but, in my opinion, I think Santa Clara Univ. is a distant 2nd for private colleges…</p>
<p>The large accounting firms recruit from the UC’s, USC and CSU’s for full time and intership positions. There are more positions going to UC grads than the CSU’s. In Northern CA, the large accounting firms like Haas. There are also new hires from USC, UCLA and other big name undergrad bus.schools from other parts of the country (i.e., Notre Dame, Cornell, Penn, etc.). In So. CA, the large accounting firms hire many from USC, UCLA and some other big name schools from other parts of the country, including Haas. In both No. and So. CA, after, Haas, USC and UCLA, there are fewer positions available with large accounting firms for CSU grads and the other schools.</p>
<p>In CA effective 1-1-2014,150 semester units or 225 quarter units are required to be eligible to take the CPA examination. Effectively, these additional units are equivalent to an additional 1 year of full time student classes beyond the normal bachelor’s degree requiring 120 semester/180 quarter units. The accounting units also increased from the previously requirements. This additional year of full time work can be fulfilled with a Masters of Accounting degree, MBA or Masters in Tax (MBT). Alternatively, if a Masters degree is not in your plans, you can fulfill the 1 year requirements by taking classes at a community college or extension college. You can get more specific information requirements in the following websites:</p>
<p>1) CA Dept. of Consumers Affairs, State Board of Accountancy;
2) The UC Berkeley Haas Business School;
3) USC’s Leventhal School of Accounting or Marshall; or
4) the business schools at UCR and UCI. </p>
<p>Thanks sounds good! I would be interested in working for a Big 4 firm, and I also plan to apply to Cal Poly SLO.</p>
<p>@happy1 My son loves ND - the classes, professors and students! Thanks for asking.</p>
<p>@chicagobear happy to hear it </p>