Application deadline
Credits and costs
Accounting Graduate Certificate
If you already have an undergraduate degree in accounting, or the equivalent accounting course work, and are looking to enhance your skill set and your practical knowledge in the field of accounting, this Penn State online Graduate Certificate in Accounting program is designed to help you. Course work in the program offers you the opportunity to learn auditing theory and practice, and to supplement that knowledge with courses in disciplines of your choosing, including tax, decision-making, cost management, financial statements and reporting, and others.
The graduate certificate program also provides an opportunity for you to acquire additional accounting credits if you are pursuing CPA licensure.
Why a Graduate Certificate in Accounting Online at Penn State?
This program is led by the School of Business Administration at Penn State Harrisburg, which is consistently recognized by employers as having outstanding graduates. You will learn from the same faculty who teach in resident programs at Penn State campuses and are experienced in teaching online.
The School of Business Administration also carries the elite AACSB accreditation, an honor reserved for the top 5% of business schools worldwide.
Who Should Apply?
An entering student will have completed a baccalaureate degree in accounting or completed comparable accounting course work. Professionals seeking course work to meet the CPA accounting credit requirements are also good candidates for this program. Prerequisites for courses required for the certificate are available through World Campus.
Courses
In this 12-credit online Graduate Certificate in Accounting program, you will take four courses. The curriculum is carefully designed to include courses which align to your interests in preparation for the CPA exam.
Required Course (3 credits)
Elective Courses (select 9 credits)
Course Availability
If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.
Costs and Financial Aid
Graduate Tuition
Graduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register. Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.
| How many credits do you plan to take per semester? | Cost |
|---|---|
| 11 or fewer | $1,017 per credit |
| 12 or more | $12,203 per semester |
| How many credits do you plan to take per semester? | Cost |
|---|---|
| 11 or fewer | $1,027 per credit |
| 12 or more | $12,325 per semester |
Financial Aid and Military Benefits
Some students may qualify for financial aid. Take the time to research financial aid, scholarships, and payment options as you prepare to apply. Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities, as well.
Paying for Your Certificate
Students pursuing a certificate are considered "nondegree," a status that is not eligible for federal student aid, including the Federal Direct Stafford Loan program. A private alternative loan may be an option to consider.
Additionally, Penn State offers many ways to pay for your education, including an installment plan and third-party payments. Penn State World Campus also offers an Employer Reimbursement and Tuition Deferment Plan. Learn more about the options for paying for your education.
Students pursuing a degree and meeting all other eligibility requirements may qualify for financial aid.
How to Apply
Deadlines and Important Dates
Your degree application, including receipt of all transcripts, should be received by the following deadlines to be considered complete:
Admissions Help
If you have questions about the admissions process, contact our admissions counselors.
Admission Requirements
For admission to the Graduate School, an applicant must hold either (1) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates.
If CPA licensure is your goal, please verify your state's rules and requirements. See the State Regulations for more information.
If your undergraduate degree is not in accounting, you should have completed or be in the process of taking the following minimum core of accounting course work (or its equivalent) prior to submitting your application:
ACCTG 211: Financial and Managerial Accounting for Decision-Making (generally Principles of Accounting I, covering financial accounting, and Principles of Accounting II, covering managerial accounting, at other universities)
ACCTG 310: Federal Taxation I (covering individual taxation) — ACCTG 211 is a prerequisite for this course.
ACCTG 340: Cost Accounting — ACCTG 211 is a prerequisite for this course.
ACCTG 471: Intermediate Financial Accounting I — ACCTG 211 is a prerequisite for this course.
ACCTG 472: Intermediate Financial Accounting II — ACCTG 471 is a prerequisite for this course.
ACCTG 403: Auditing — ACCTG 471 is a prerequisite for this course.
Should you decide to take any of the prerequisite courses through Penn State World Campus, you'll need to complete a nondegree enrollment form. Scan and email your completed document, along with an unofficial transcript as evidence of your undergraduate degree, to [email protected].
What You Need
Applications are submitted electronically and include a nonrefundable application fee. You will need to upload the following as part of your application:
Official transcripts from each institution attended, regardless of the number of credits or semesters completed — Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. Penn State alumni do not need to request transcripts for credits earned at Penn State, but must list Penn State as part of your academic history. If you are admitted, you will be asked to send an additional official transcript. You will receive instructions at that time.
English Proficiency — The language of instruction at Penn State is English. With some exceptions, international applicants must take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Minimum test scores and exceptions are found in the English Proficiency section on the Graduate School's "Requirements for Graduate Admission" page. Visit the TOEFL website for testing information. Penn State's institutional code is 2660.
GRE and GMAT test scores are NOT required.
Start Your Application
You can begin your online application at any time. Your progress within the online application system will be saved as you go, allowing you to return at any point as you gather additional information and required materials.
Begin the Graduate School application
- Choose "Certificate Admission" as the enrollment type
- Choose "WORLD CAMPUS" as the campus
- Choose "Accounting" as the certificate
Checking Your Status
You can check the status of your application by using the same login information established for the online application form.
Technical Requirements
Review the technical requirements for this degree program.
Get the resources you need to make informed decisions about your education. Request information on this program and other programs of interest by completing this form.
Start or Advance Your Career
Start or Advance Your Career
You can use the knowledge gained from this program and the support of Penn State career resources to pursue careers in a variety of fields, depending on your goals.
A Head Start toward a Master’s Degree
A Head Start toward a Master’s Degree
Not only can this program help create opportunities in your career, it can also give you a solid head start toward a full master’s degree.
Contact Us
To learn more about the Graduate Certificate in Accounting, offered in partnership with the Penn State Harrisburg School of Business Administration, contact:
For general questions or questions regarding how to apply, contact:
World Campus Admissions Counselors
Phone: 814-863-5386
[email protected]
For questions regarding your submitted application, contact:
Sherri Harkins
Administrative Support
Master of Professional Accounting
Phone: 717-948-6008
[email protected]
For questions regarding program curriculum, contact:
Renee Flasher, Ph.D., CPA, CMA, CFE
Assistant Professor of Accounting
Master of Professional Accounting Program
Phone: 717-948-4316
[email protected]
Faculty
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Thomas T. Amlie
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DegreePh.D., Accounting, University of Maryland
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DegreeMBA, University of Maryland
Dr. Thomas T. Amlie's teaching interests are in the area of financial accounting and reporting. His research interests center on the proper disclosure of accounting information, the assumptions underlying that accounting information, and the effects of those assumptions on business decisions and reporting.
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John C. Cameron
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DegreeJ.D., Widener University School of Law
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DegreeLL.M., Corporation Law, New York University School of Law
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DegreeMBA, Temple University
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DegreeB.A., University of Pittsburgh
John C. Cameron, associate professor of management and organization, has held corporate positions in health care administration and corporate law. He is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey. He serves as the co-chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Health Care Law Committee. He teaches courses in leadership development, business ethics, bioscience management, and negotiations. His research interests are in the areas of corporate governance, bioethics, leadership, and regulatory compliance.
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Patrick Cusatis
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DegreePh.D., Finance, Penn State
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DegreeB.S., Finance, Penn State
Dr. Patrick Cusatis, CFA, is an associate professor of finance. Prior to joining Penn State, he was an institutional portfolio manager at CoreStates National Bank, First Union National Bank, and Tucker Anthony. Prior to that, he was an investment banker at Lehman Brothers in New York City, specializing in new product development. His research interests include corporate restructuring, portfolio management, derivative securities, and municipal bonds.
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Ashutosh Deshmukh
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DegreePh.D., Accounting, University of Memphis
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DegreeMBA, Finance, University of Alabama
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DegreeDCM, Computer Programming, University of Mumbai
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DegreeB.S., Chemistry, University of Mumbai
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DegreeProfessional Certifications: CPA, ACA, CFE, CMA, CISE
Dr. Ashutosh Deshmukh is a professor of accounting and MIS at Penn State Behrend. He holds certification in public accounting, information systems auditing, management accounting, and fraud examination, and he has served as an expert witness in the U.S. House of Representatives, estimating the potential for fraud, waste, and abuse of grant money awarded over a five-year period by the U.S. EPA. He is the associate editor of the International Journal of Accounting, Auditing, and Performance Evaluation and the author of the book Digital Accounting: The Effects of the Internet and ERP on Accounting.
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Lydia Didia
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DegreePh.D., Business Administration, Jackson State University
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DegreeMBA, Jackson State University
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DegreeB.S., Accounting, State University of New York at Brockport
Dr. Lydia Didia, CPA, is an assistant professor of accounting. Prior to joining Penn State, she was an auditor for the Mississippi Department of Revenue for more than 13 years. She taught at Jackson State University and at Belhaven College in Mississippi. Her research interests include effects of rules and regulations on decision behaviors of different stakeholders in the U.S. and developing countries, audit quality and audit risk, and outsourcing and offshoring of business activities.
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Richard Scheib
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DegreeJ.D., Widener University
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DegreeLL.M., Georgetown University
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DegreeB.S., Business Administration, Bloomsburg University
Richard Scheib is an instructor of law, tax, and accounting. Prior to teaching, and simultaneously with his consulting practice, he worked in private accounting for corporations, public accounting with Big Five accounting firms, state government, and large and small law firms handling a variety of both accounting and legal issues.
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