Why is Accounting a Great Career Choice?
Growing Career
PA is one of the top five states where accounting jobs will grow in the next 10 years. Source: accountingweb.com
Competitive Salary
The 2017 median pay for accountants is $69,350 per year or $33.34 per hour. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Positive Job Outlook
U.S. News & World Report lists accountants as #3 in their best business jobs of 2019 rankings.
Become a highly skilled and successful professional accountant.
Our accounting graduates have an advantage when continuing their education to include the 150 hours necessary to sit for the CPA exam. They are well prepared for graduate work that puts them in a higher level of competition. In fact, our accounting graduates have a 97 percent job placement record, proving that an accounting degree from Keystone College will prepare you for great careers in the accounting field.
The Advantages of a Keystone College Accounting B.S. Degree
- 97% placement of our graduates
- First year students accepted on a full-time basis into the accounting program may be eligible to receive scholarships up to $15,000, including the Professional Accounting Scholarship awarded at $4,000 per academic year
- Student to instructor ratio of 11:1
- Students can participate in PICPA or Institute of Management Accountants’ affiliates
- Students are prepared to sit for the CPA and/or CMA exams
- Students create a professional portfolio, an effective marketing tool when applying for employment and attending interviews
Minor
The accounting minor meets the interests of those students who understand the importance of accounting to other career tracks.
This degree can be earned online.
Accounting Internships and Experiential Learning
Not all education happens in the classroom. Certain lessons can only be learned through direct hands-on experiences outside of the classroom with real world experiences in the field. Internships and other field experiences give students the opportunity to connect one-on-one with faculty, fellow students and other professionals. Students will acquire leadership and management skills, professional growth and personal fulfillment that can’t be gained in the classroom. All Accounting majors complete an internship of 6 credits.
Careers in Accounting
Accounting is a versatile degree and the job growth for the next eight years is expected to be 16%. Students who graduate with a degree in accounting may find jobs in many areas including:
- Auditor
- Bank Examiner
- Certified Management Accountant
- Cost Accountant
- FBI Agent
- Financial Advisory (Municipal, County, State and Federal levels of government)
- Financial Manager
- Forensic Accountant
- Heath Care (Accountant, Financial Manager)
- Internal Auditor
- Internal revenue Service Agent
- Investigator
- Management Consultant
- Operations Accountant
- Tax Manager
Salary Information
Potential starting salaries in this field are close to $41,000 and have the potential during a career to reach from $81,000 to $300,000 or more. The big four accounting firms start at $61,690.
IACBE Accredited
The Department of Business, Management, and Technology at Keystone College has received specialized accreditation for its business programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) located at 11374 Strang Line Road in Lenexa, Kansas, USA. For a listing of accredited programs, click here.
Curriculum Guide
Curriculum Guide for the Accounting B.S. Degree
Semester 1-Fall
- College Writing I
- First Year Seminar
- Managerial Accounting
- Tech Elective
- Quantitative
- Critical Reading 0/2
Semester 2-Spring
- Financial Accounting
- College Writing II
- Speech Communication
- Gen Ed Elective
- Arts & Humanities Elective
Semester 3-Fall
- Intermediate Acct I
- Individual & Business Taxes
- Free Elective
- Social & Cultural Elective
- Free Elective 3000+
- Arts & Humanities Elective
Semester 4-Spring
- Intermediate Accounting II
- Cost Accounting
- Free Elective
- Free Elective
- Gen Ed Elective
Semester 5-Fall
- Intermediate Accounting III
- Accounting Info Systems I
- Advanced Cost Accounting
- Auditing
- Moral: Business Ethics
Semester 6-Spring
- Accounting Info Systems II
- Accounting Policy & Prof Resp
- Accounting Internship
- Free Elective
Semester 7-Fall
- Advanced Accounting
- Free Elective 3000+
- Scientific Elective
- Free Elective
- Social & Cultural Elective
Semester 8-Spring
- Senior Seminar/Capstone
- Free Elective 3000+
- Free Elective 3000+
- Free Elective
Updated 10/2017
Disclaimer: The courses listed above are a sampling for marketing purposes only. Students should consult the College catalog and their academic advisor for course selection and degree progress. Students will work closely with an academic advisor to select courses and/or academic minors that fit their interests, as well as with Career Services for career goals. While the academic advisor assists the student in planning his/her curriculum, the student is ultimately responsible for meeting the requirements of the curriculum selected.
College Catalog
See the official college catalog for all course descriptions and degree requirements.
Print Curriculum
Print the Four-Year Accounting Curriculum Map.
"The faculty at Keystone serve as mentors and friends. They are here for you when you need them, both inside and outside the classroom."
Shane McGuire, CPA | Class of 2007
Major: AccountingShane is currently the Senior Financial Analyst at the United Methodist Home.
Graduates with Careers in Accounting Field
Keystone graduates have been hired by Arthur Anderson, AT&T, Bradford County Human Services, Cigna Healthcare, CPG Int., Davidson Fox & Company, LLP, Farley Financial, F.M. Howell & Co., Gibbons Ford, Guthrie Healthcare Systems, Harper Collins Publishers, Ingersoll-Rand, Landmark Community Bank, Lockheed Martin, Lowe’s, Mercy Hospital, Moody’s Investment Services, Nabisco, Parente Randolph, Paxar Corporation, Penn Security Bank & Trust Company, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Procter and Gamble, Prudential Financial, McGrail, Merkel, Quinn and Associates (MMQ), Robert Rossi & Co., and Time Warner.
Keystone graduates have pursued a master’s degrees at Marywood University in Finance/ Investments.
You belong at Keystone.
Get Started Today.Hands on Experience
Study Abroad
You can explore your academic goals in an international setting and global environment. The experience of living in a new country will build your self-confidence, add valuable skills to your tool box, and will alter how you view yourself, the world, and your own country.
Internships and Field Experiences
Not all education happens in the classroom. Internships and other field experiences give students the opportunity to learn through direct hands-on experiences outside of the classroom with a real world experience in the field.
Undergraduate Research
The process of research and discovery while working with a faculty mentor enriches the learning process and creates positive attributes which will last a lifetime. Undergraduate research encompasses both traditional research and creative endeavors.
Accounting Faculty Profiles
Davis, Patricia, PhD
Professor of Accounting and Chair of Business, Management & Technology
Vinson, Kevin
Associate Professor of Accounting