Accounting Certificate

This certificate will allow students to gain either general or specialized knowledge in accounting, to further their professional formation, and to work toward professional certification (CPA, CIA, CMA, etc.) or use their accounting knowledge to enhance their success in other related management roles. An in depth knowledge of accounting not only can lead to traditional jobs in the accounting field, but also could help the certificate holder function in corporate roles such as Controller or CFO. The Graduate Certificate in Accounting will provide the opportunity for the certificate holder to perform a wide variety of professional functions in the business community.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  • Recommend a course of action to a prospective client by using a framework or model to analyze financial statements and other relevant data.
  • Evaluate the accounting implications of an economic event by applying the principles, standards, and practices of financial accounting.
  • Advise stakeholders of how strategic business risks relate to internal controls, financial reporting, tax, and/or audit using authoritative literature, fieldwork, surveys, archival, or other research data.
  • Synthesize accounting information within the context of other business functions to inform the business decision-making process.
  • Construct arguments for and against alternative accounting decisions by weighing the ethical, stakeholder, and stewardship implications of each.

Admissions and Certificate Requirements from Seattle University's 2023-2024 Graduate Catalog

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have:

  1. A minimum of an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution
  2. Competency in statistics
  3. Official scores from the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Records Examination (GRE)

Certificate Requirements

I. Prerequisites

  • Financial Accounting

Individual courses below may have additional prerequisites.

II. Required Courses
Three required courses (9 credits) Credits
ACCT 5110: Intermediate Financial Accounting I 3
ACCT 5120: Intermediate Financial Accounting II 3
ACCT 5125: Intermediate Financial Accounting III 3

III. Electives
Choose TWO from the following courses (6 credits) Credits
ACCT 5130: Managerial Cost Accounting 3
ACCT 5140: Auditing 1 3
ACCT 5150: Federal Taxation I 3
ACCT 5230: Strategic Management Accounting 3
ACCT 5240: Fraud Examination and Forensic Accounting 3
ACCT 5300*: Financial Statement Analysis and Security Valuation 3
ACCT 5325: Communication for Accountants 3
ACCT 5330*: Advanced Financial Accounting 3
ACCT 5340*: Auditing II 3
ACCT 5350*: Advanced Federal Taxation II 3
ACCT 5365: Topics in Valuation Analysis 3
ACCT 5370: Valuation for Financial Reporting 3
ACCT 5380: Systems Modeling for Financial Decisions 3
ACCT 5385: Corporate Governance 3
ACCT 5390: Not-for-Profit Accounting 3
RSKA 5310: Risk Advisory and Assurance I 3
RSKA 5320: Risk Advisory and Assurance II 3
RSKA 5360: IT Risk Advisory and Assurance 3

*Recommended classes for students sitting for the CPA Exam

Requirement for certificate: 15 credits

Next Steps

  • Current students should speak to their adviser about adding a certificate.
  • New students need to apply for the certificate program as a regular student via our Application page.
    • Once you are accepted you may start the next available term.
    • After being accepted you must attend an advising orientation.
  • Length of program depends on when classes are being offered and how many you wish to take per term. Not all classes are offered every year/quarter. Speak to your adviser to get the most up-to-date schedule for the academic year.
  • Costs are outlined on our Tuition and Fees page.

For more information, contact albersgradinfo@seattleu.edu.