I know that there are many schools, including one of top elite schools like Harvard or Stanford, do not have an undergraduate business majors like accounting or finance. So how do students attending those type of schools become CPA? Just curious because I know most kids going undergrad at my school wants to major in accounting to become an CPA but then I see other kids who goes to schools that only focus on MBA program and do not have undergrad business department. So how to people coming out of schools like Stanford or Harvard become CPA without even a chance to majoring in accounting?
You need 150 hours for the CPA, so you’ll be taking 30 more hours one way or another. Could do a master’s if you wanted a “program.” I just picked up the accounting hours I needed from the local directional university.
There are some grad schools that have a Master in Accounting for non-business majors (UT-Austin, Wake Forest, etc.) Many people who went to Stanford/Harvard are probably more focused on investment banking or consulting.
True, Stanford and Harvard do not offer undergraduate business degrees. Perhaps in their undergraduate economics department, business or accounting classes are offered. For example, at UCLA, there is no undergraduate business degree offered, only graduate, ie. MBA. However, at UCLA, a student can take accounting and business courses in the economics department. They can make up for any shortfall in classes in a community college, extension program, etc. in order to take the CPA exam. Alternatively, there are colleges offering a certificate in accounting which they advertise to qualify to take the CPA exam.
I know in the old days, a Big 8 accounting firms (now Big 4) love to hire undergraduates from HYPSM if that person is willing to or concurrently taking accounting, say in a part or full time program subsequent to the undergraduate degree. These firms love people considered the cream of the elite and HYPSM graduates are well thought of.