Accounting

Take control of your professional and financial future with a solid career in Accounting. You'll master the theoretical and practical skills necessary to pass the CPA, CMA and CIA exams — and be prepared for leadership roles in whichever financial field you choose

Classroom shot of students working

Ensure your professional and financial future

At Simmons University, you'll master the knowledge and skills needed to pass the CPA, CMA, or CIA exams. Our interdisciplinary curriculum means you will develop complementary skills in areas such as finance, business and communication.

Simmons' Accounting program is unique in that it is one of the few programs that enables students - with careful planning - to complete the educational requirements for the CPA license without the need for a Master's degree or additional tuition payments.

As one of the most active financial cities in the country, Boston offers myriad internships and career opportunities. Simmons' internship program offers exceptional benefits and flexibility. You choose from a variety of experience-for-pay internships ranging from a part-time 4-credit internship to a 16-credit, two-semester, full-time intense apprenticeship.

Whether your goal is to establish a private practice, run a large firm, or something in between, our program will help you get there. Our graduates find leadership roles in a variety of exciting career paths, including:

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Forensic Accountant
  • Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
  • Comptroller/Controller
  • Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Healthcare Accountant

Prerequisites for Accounting Majors

ECON100 Principles of Microeconomics 4
STAT118 Introductory Statistics 4

Required Core Courses

ACCT110 Financial Accounting 4
ACCT120 Managerial Accounting 4
BUS100 Introduction to Business and Management 4
BUS234 Organizational Communication & Behavior 4
BUS250 Principles of Marketing 4
BUS260 Financial Management 4
BUS325 Operations Management 4
BUS370A Internship and Career Strategies 2
BUS370B Learning From Internship Experience 2

Required Accounting Courses

ACCT200 Intermediate Accounting I 4
ACCT201 Intermediate Accounting II 4
ACCT207 Tax Accounting 4
ACCT300 Advanced Financial Reporting 4
ACCT301 Accounting Information Systems 4
ACCT308 Auditing and Assurance 4
ACCT325 Accounting and Business Ethics 2
BUS180 Business Law 4
 

Capstone

BUS340 Strategic Management 4

Electives

Suggested elective to strengthen students’ ability to pass the CPA exam:

ACCT220 Business Applications in Excel 2
BUS214 International Business 4
BUS270 Business Analytics 4
ECON101 Principles of Macroeconomics 4
ACCT205 Cost Accounting 4

Required Courses

ACCT110 Financial Accounting 4
ACCT120 Managerial Accounting 4
ACCT200 Intermediate Accounting I 4
ACCT201 Intermediate Accounting II 4

Electives (select one):

ACCT205 Cost Accounting 4
ACCT301 Accounting Information Systems 4
ACCT308 Auditing and Assurance 4

You'll work with your advisor to tailor a program to your interests and career goals. Simmons offers many options for customizing your studies, including dual majors, accelerated programs and a wide variety of complementary minors.

Simmons also provides flexible options for students to become Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). Simmons meets the requirements for students to sit for the CPA exam, which includes a bachelor's degree with at least 21 credits in accounting and nine credits in business. Simmons is also exploring options for students to become licensed CPA's in Massachusetts, which, along with the CPA exam, requires 150 credit hours. These options may include a post-graduate certificate.

Reach out to Ray Pfeiffer, Professor of Accounting if you have any questions.

Students will have access to a broad array of internships ranging from Big Four accounting firms to regional mid-sized firms as well as a variety of corporate, non-profit and health care settings. All Simmons accounting faculty teaching are professionally qualified or doctoral-prepared in the field and have wide experience and contacts in the accounting industry.

Spotlight on Accounting Students and Alums

A seal identifying Simmons as an ALLIN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting

Simmons University Recognized as a Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting

Simmons is one of 471 colleges and universities recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for outstanding efforts to increase nonpartisan student voter participation in the 2024 election.


The group of speakers at the Veteran's Day program, including General Gary M. Brito and Simmons President Lynn Perry Wooten

Simmons School of Social Work Holds First Annual Veterans Day Celebration

On November 6, the Simmons School of Social Work hosted a hybrid Veterans Day celebration to honor servicemembers past and present, with a keynote address delivered by General Gary M. Brito, the 18th Commanding General of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command.


Susan Perron ’18 in front of the Shiprock known as the winged rock in Navajo

Simmons Nursing and Dix Scholar Alum Offers Palliative Care to Navajo Nation

Susan Perron ’18 received a DAISY award for her work as a palliative nurse at the Northern Navajo Medical Center. Perron reflects on the award and her work for the Indigenous community.


Susan MacKenty Brady speaking at the 2023 Leadership Conference

Institute for Inclusive Leadership CEO Responds to “the Broken Rung” on CBS News

According to Susan MacKenty Brady, “a massive amount of value is lost when we aren’t fully tapping into the available talent in our organizations. . . . The traction of early promotion is where we need to mend, and where we need to lift up and create more resources and more opportunity for women.”


Side by side photo of Madinabonu Abdullaeva ’25 and Jisu Hyeon ’25MS

International Students Find Belonging at Simmons

In honor of International Students Day, we spoke to Simmons students Madinabonu Abdullaeva ’25 and Jisu Hyeon ’25MS about what led them to Simmons, what it means to study internationally, and their future goals.


Professor Johnnie Hamilton-Mason delivering a public lecture at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa

Professor Visits University of Johannesburg as Fulbright Specialist

Professor Johnnie Hamilton-Mason received a Fulbright Specialist Award this year. Recipients of the Fulbright Specialist awards are "selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement, demonstrated leadership in their field, and their potential to foster long-term cooperation between institutions in the U.S. and abroad."


Side by side photo of Dr. KatherineMarie Conover and Dr. Katherine Ladetto

Simmons School of Nursing Welcomes New Faculty

Simmons University’s School of Nursing welcomed two new faculty members this Fall, with expertise in clinical simulation and gerontology.


Amoli Vad ’28 standing in a flower garden

Student in Health and Exercise Science and Physical Therapy Accelerated 3+3 Program Publishes Paper in Peer-Reviewed Journal

Amoli Vad ’28 has published her first paper in a peer-reviewed journal. We spoke with Vad about what inspired her research and why she chose the 3+3 accelerated program at Simmons.