Certificate in Accounting Fundamentals

Program Overview

Over the course of one summer term, the Certificate in Accounting Fundamentals covers the essential topics you need for a career in accounting and for fulfilling the accounting prerequisite courses required for our Master of Science in Accountancy.

This intensive five-course (15 semester unit) program provides a broad foundation of concepts and practices in financial reporting, managerial accounting, accounting information systems and corporate taxation.

Courses include:

• BUS 220B – Financial Reporting & Analysis I
• BUS 220E – Financial Reporting & Analysis II
• BUS 220G - Tax Factors of Business and Investment Decisions: Theory and Practice
• BUS 220F – Management Accounting & Control Systems
• BUS 220C – Accounting Information Systems

The courses in the Certificate in Accounting Fundamentals are accelerated and typically run one at a time in a two-and-a-half-week cycle. Most courses meet during the day on the main San Jose State University campus.

You will need to complete all five courses with an overall GPA of 3.0 (B), with no course grade less than a C (2.0). A C- grade or below in any class is considered failing. Only three units of coursework with a grade of C can count toward the certificate.

You must complete all five courses at SJSU to earn the Certificate in Accounting Fundamentals.

View the summer course schedule. 

Admissions Requirements

• What are the admission requirements? 

  • Educated within the United States

    4 year bachelor's degree from a US institution
    A GPA of 3.0 or better with an absolute minimum overall GPA of 2.5. 
    There is no conditional admission to the certificate program.

    Educated outside the United States

    If you earned a degree from a higher education institution outside the United States, you must take an English-language proficiency exam. You must hold the equivalent of a US bachelor's degree from a recognized institution if you earned your degree outside the US. 

    The Certificate in Accounting Fundamentals requires a minimum score of:

    TOEFL (internet-based ): 90
    IELTS: 7.5
    Pearson’s Test of English (PTE): 75

    Please note that these scores are higher than the minimum scores required by San Jose State University for graduate admissions consideration.

• Can the English language exam be waived? 

  • View the English language waiver options on the SJSU Graduate Admissions page. 

• Does the Certificate program have any prerequisites? 

  • Before enrolling in the program, you must have completed Financial Accounting (BUS 20 at SJSU) with a grade of B (3.0) or better. You must have completed this course within five years of enrolling in the certificate program.

    Alternatively, we accept equivalent courses offered by other regionally accredited higher education institutions. The same grade and time limit applies. Please refer to our list of equivalent courses and find the equivalent of BUS 20, Financial Accounting, at a local community college. 

• How much does the Certificate program cost? 

  • Tuition is $1,536 per 3-unit course or $7,680 for the complete certificate. 

    The above costs do not include books, supplies, etc. 

Registration Information

• How do I register for the Certificate in Accounting Fundamentals? 

  • If you are not applying for the MSA program and were educated in the US, please complete the pre-screening process.

    Our staff will review your application and let you know if you are approved. If you are approved, use this form [pdf] to register for class.

    If you were educated outside the US and do not need a visa, you will need to apply for the program via CSU apply. The application deadline is April 1. The program is only offered in Summer session.

• I am applying for the MSA and need prerequisites, what are my next steps? 

  • If you are applying to the MSA program, please refer to the step-by-step application process instructions for domestic applicants or international applicants.

    Once you have been conditionally admitted to the MSA program, you can enroll in the Certificate in Accounting Fundamentals courses.

• Who can I contact to learn more? 

  • For MSA or Certificate in Accounting Fundamentals questions please contact the Lucas Graduate School at lucas-school@sjsu.edu.