Department of Accounting and
Taxation
The Department of Accounting and Taxation (Department), a
unit of the Tobin College of Business, offers several degree
programs. The goal of the Department is to provide excellence in
accounting and tax education by offering programs that will enrich
the lives of our students and will enhance their professional
careers. To this end, the Department offers a choice of educational
programs leading to specializations in public accounting,
controllership, or taxation.
The public accounting track is suited for the accounting student
wishing to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
The controllership track is designed for the accounting student
who prefers a career as an upper-level financial management
professional within a corporate atmosphere.
The taxation track is designed for the accounting student who
prefers a career as a tax professional.
Department Overview
To develop a sound appreciation and mastery of the principles,
customs and conventions necessary for achieving success in public
and private accounting practice.
Department Contact
Dr. James Thompson
Accounting Chair
Bent Hall, Room 364
(718) 990-6460
Thompsoj@stjohns.edu
The following is a PDF of Academic Offerings for the
Department of Accounting and Taxation.
The following information outlines the graduate
programs offered through the Department:
AACSB-International
Accreditation
AACSB-International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools
of Business separately accredits the Department's
programs. AACSB International states in its accreditation
standards that: "Accounting accreditation seeks to improve
accounting education in order to prepare students to serve the
needs of society that are met by the discipline and profession of
accounting. The accreditation process intends to promote the
development of accounting education programs of high quality and to
encourage innovation and continual improvement." The
AACSB-International accredited the Department's accounting and tax
programs both at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Licensure-Qualifying Programs
Many of the Department's programs are designed to meet, by
requisites and prerequisites, the requirements, which took effect
on August 15, 2004, for licensure as a certified public accountant
(CPA) in the State of New York. The requirements contained in
Section 52.13(b) of the regulations of the Department of Education
of the State of New York stipulate the total number of credits (150
credits) required, the minimum number of credits in professional
accountancy (33 credits), general business (36 credits), and
liberal arts and sciences (60 credits), and the maximum number of
credits in professional accountancy and general business combined
(90 credits).
Graduate Degree
Programs
The Department offers several graduate degree programs. The
Department offers two Master of Science (MS) degree programs, three
Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree programs, and three
Advanced Professional Certificate (APC) programs. The programs
allow the student to obtain a concentration in Public Accounting,
Controllership or Taxation. The programs include the following:
- MS - Public Accounting *
- MS - Taxation
- MBA - Public Accounting *
- MBA - Controllership
- MBA - Taxation
- APC - Public Accounting *
- APC - Controllership
- APC - Taxation
* designates program as licensure-qualifying CPA Program
The program leading to an MS degree in Public Accounting meets
the New York State professional accountancy requirements for
certification in public accountancy; while the Public Accounting
program leading to a MBA degree is designed to meet the New York
State professional accountancy and general business
requirements.
The MS - Public Accounting degree program is available to those
students who already met the liberal arts and sciences and general
business requirements as set forth by the New York State Education
Department. The MBA degree program with a concentration in
Public Accounting is available to those students who have already
met the liberal arts and sciences requirements but have not met the
general business and professional accountancy requirements as set
forth by the New York State Education Department. The APC
program in Public Accounting, which is available to students who
already hold graduate business degrees, is intended to meet the
requirements in professional accountancy as set forth by the New
York State Education Department for licensure as a certified public
accountant in the State of New York.
Program Goals
Controllership
The MBA degree program in Controllership and the APC program in
Controllership are designed for those students who wish to obtain a
graduate degree in the field of private, non-profit or governmental
accounting but are not interested in pursuing licensure as
certified public accountants.
Taxation
The MS degree program in Taxation, the MBA degree program with a
concentration in Taxation and the APC program in Taxation are
designed for those students who wish to obtain a graduate degree in
the field of taxation.
Combined Graduate Degree
Study Option
The Department offers a combined graduate degree study option. The
combined graduate degree study option, which leads to an MBA in
public accounting and an MS in taxation, meets the New York State
general business and professional accountancy requirements for
licensure as a certified public accountant and allows students to
specialize in Taxation. The combined degree study option
includes:
- MBA - Public Accounting / MS - Taxation (Licensure-Qualifying
CPA program).
Combined Law/Graduate Degree Programs
Through the School of Law, the University offers programs of study
leading to a Juris Doctor (JD) degree. The Department, in
conjunction with the School of Law, offers special combined degree
programs leading to a graduate degree in public accounting,
controllership, or taxation. The combined graduate degree programs
in public accounting are designed to meet the New York State
requirements for certification in public accountancy, as well as a
law degree that will prepare students for careers in legal
practice. The programs provide qualified students with a
significant time saving, because the two degrees (i.e., JD/MBA or
JD/MS) can be pursued simultaneously rather than consecutively and
provide a savings in tuition resulting from the reduced number of
courses required for completion of the two degrees. Finally,
students who earn both degrees will have academic preparation that
will enhance their employment opportunities in business, industry,
and private practice. The combined degree programs include the
following:
- JD/MBA - Public Accounting (Licensure-Qualifying CPA
program);
- JD/MS - Public Accounting (Licensure-Qualifying CPA
program);
- JD/MBA - Controllership (Non-CPA program); and
- JD/MBA - Taxation (Non-CPA program).
The JD/MS - Public Accounting degree differs from the JD/MBA
degree with a concentration in Public Accounting in that the JD/MS
degree will be offered only to students who have an undergraduate
degree in business or who otherwise complete 36 specified general
business core courses as required by the Education Department of
the State of New York for licensure as a certified public
accountant.