Hi guys!
I applied to UC Berkeley as a transfer this year for the economics major. Decisions haven’t come out yet, but I have a question so I might as well get this situated if I do get in!
So, I recently got an internship with a Big Four accounting firm, and they do not mind me being an economics major; however, they want me to be able to take the CPA exam (obviously) when I graduate (within 2-2.5 years). I love economics and it is my preferred major which is why I did not apply to Haas. All the other schools I’ve been accepted to (UCSB, UCLA) allow me to do an accounting minor or double major with economics, but UC Berkeley doesn’t have that option for economics.
Basically, my question is would it be possible to complete the units required for the CPA exam, as well as my economics units within about 2.5 years there as a transfer? If not, how much longer would it really take? Also, do any of these classes overlap?
I’ll definitely see a counselor for more in-depth info if I get in, but I’d love any insight 
Thanks!
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Economics and accounting are two very different courses of study. Economics is a liberal arts path and accounting is a business path. Other than the courses you take for your major, a big difference is that in a b-school you have a core curriculum of classes such as intro to accounting, finance, economics, IT, management etc. that you do not get as a liberal arts major. A number of classes in this business core are needed to get a CPA.
It is highly unlikely that you will be able to get that coursework as an economics major especially if you are not in Haas. It really depends on how many classes you can take in Haas and how much space in free in your schedule to take the classes. As an accounting major typically one only needs to take intro to macro and micro. The rest of your economics classes would likely be considered electives as far as the CPA exam is concerned.
You can look at your state accounting board to find the coursework you need to be eligible to take the CPA exam in CA. Here is something I found quickly. http://www.calcpa.org/cpa-career-center/cpa-requirements
To become a CPA one now needs 150 credits so many go on for a one year MS in Accounting. You could probably go for a two year MS in Accounting (or there are a few compressed MS programs for non-majors) and get all the classes you need that way.
Perhaps talk to the people you know at the Big 4 firm you have worked out and see if they can suggest a good path if you go the economics at Berkeley route. From what I know that is not as direct of a path (unless perhaps you have an "in’ to get a job in the consulting group, then you don’t need to be a CPA). IMO the more straightforward path to becoming a CPA would be UCLA as an accounting major and you can always minor in economics if that is an area of interest (keep in mind that economics gets very theoretical at the upper levels).
PS I’m a CPA and my S is a CPA currently working for a big 4 firm.
Thanks for the info! I was looking at the California CPA exam requirements and it says the economics and statistics, etc. would meet the requirement for business-related courses. So, wouldn’t I only have to complete the accounting units (and the ethics study units) along with those ill already be taking (essentially making my own accounting minor)? Also, I know that Berkeley has the Berkeley Charter of Professional Accountancy program http://accounting.haas.berkeley.edu/accounting-berkeley/bcpa.html so that I could complete these units over summer, I’m just not sure if it’d be worth the price tag.
I also wanted to add that I actually did all of the business lower division classes already (finanical and managerial accounting, economics, legal environment of business) as well at my CC for schools that offered business economics
Before the 150 units requirement, many econ majors from UC Berkeley have completed the requirements to become a CPA. With the recent required 150 units requirements (30 extra semester units beyond the 120 semester units for a Bachelor’s degree), you can still achieve that 30 units by taking classes in a community college, extension courses, the Accountancy program mentioned above or a Master in Accounting. You have to decide whether it is worth the time, costs and effort. A person I know majored in accounting from a lower tier school recently interned in my department. After graduation, the person got a Masters in Accounting from St. Mary’s College (not quite the reputation of UC Berkeley) and went on to work for a Big 4 firm. There is not guarantee in getting hired by a Big 4 firm, if that is the goal.
Whether you get a UC Berkeley economics degree or a UCB Haas degree, you still have that 30 units hurdle to overcome if you want to be a CPA in CA.
@UCBUSCalum okay I understand now. So whether I go to UCLA or UCB, I’ll still have to take those extra 30 units past my bachelors degree. In that case, I’ll just wait and see if I get into UCB and make my decision from there after talking to an academic advisor. Thank you for clearing that up for me !!
for UCLA, it would be an extra 45 quarter units.