Program Overview

Program Overview

The Certificate in Advanced Accounting Topics is designed for individuals who need to complete their 150 semester-unit requirements for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam or wish to update and expand their accounting knowledge and skills. This four-course (12 semester unit) program builds on the San Jose State University Certificate in Accounting Fundamentals program, previous undergraduate accounting coursework, and the Master of Science in Accounting and Analytics degree program.

Program Structure

Students can select their four courses from the following options:

• BUS 220A - Financial Statement Analysis
• BUS 220H - Auditing Concepts and Practice
• BUS 220I - Forensic Accounting
• BUS 220L - Legal and Ethical Environment of Accounting
• BUS 220M - Accounting Ethics
• BUS 220R - Software Applications for Accounting
• BUS 220S - Financial Analysis & Reporting III
• BUS 220U - IT Audit and Internal Controls
• BUS 220V - Special Topics in Accounting
• BUS 220X - Business Analysis & Valuation Using Financial Statements

The courses in the Certificate of Advanced Accounting Topics program are accelerated and typically run in either two-and-a-half-week or five-week cycles. Most courses meet during the day on the SJSU campus.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for the program, applicants must have:

• A bachelor's degree in accounting from an accredited four-year college or university in the United States, SJSU's Certificate in Accounting Fundamentals program, or SJSU's MSAA degree program.
• An undergraduate degree in accounting with a GPA of 3.0 or higher (absolute minimum overall GPA of 2.5). There is no conditional admission.

Program Costs

The estimated cost for the program is:

• $7,076 for California residents
• $12,404 for non-residents These costs only represent registration costs and do not include books, supplies, etc. Fees are subject to change.

Completion Requirements

To earn the Certificate in Advanced Accounting Topics, students must:

• Complete the four courses with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 (B).
• Achieve no course grade less than a C (2.0). A C- grade or below in any class is considered failing.
• Only three units of coursework with a grade of C can count toward the certificate.
• Complete all four courses at SJSU.