Santa Clara University

Certificate of Advanced Accounting Proficiency

The Santa Clara University Certificate of Advanced Accounting Proficiency (CAAP) Program is a post-baccalaureate program that imparts the knowledge and understanding of accounting in seven consecutive courses during either a daily 11-week summer-long program (Summer CAAP Program) or a weekly eight-month academic-year program (Weekend CAAP Program).

Since its inception in 2000, CAAP students have succeeded in furthering their career objectives by completing the CAAP program. CAAP students include working professionals who seek a career change or career enhancement through licensure as a CPA and recent graduates who wish to pursue a career in accounting. Law students and MBA students who are interested in sitting for the CPA exam have also achieved their goals through our program.

Silicon Valley accounting firms have embraced the CAAP program as a source of skilled accounting professionals. CAAP graduates work at a variety of international, national, and regional CPA firms and for corporations, non-profits, and governmental entities. CAAP students also include working professionals who are sponsored by their firms to improve their accounting skills.

Curriculum

Our curriculum provides students with the accounting skills that are necessary for a successful professional career in public and private accounting. Students who successfully complete our certificate program meet the accounting unit requirements to sit for the CPA exam in California and most other states.*

Course offerings are as follows:

• Accounting 180 – Accounting for Business Decisions
  
• Accounting 181 – Intermediate Financial Accounting I
• Accounting 182 – Intermediate Financial Accounting II
• Accounting 183 – Auditing
• Accounting 184 – Advanced Accounting
• Accounting 185 – Cost Management and Strategy
• Accounting 186 – Tax Aspects of Business Decisions

While the program consists of 7 courses, only 6 are required to receive the certificate (Actg 181-186). For students who have not taken any prior accounting courses or who need to refresh their understanding of basic accounting rules, we offer a 5-unit introductory course (Actg. 180) at the start of the program. ACTG 180 is required for students who have not previously taken any accounting courses and is highly recommended for students who have not taken university-level accounting courses in recent years.

* CPA candidates must also meet additional educational requirements to take the California CPA Exam. See http://www.dca.ca.gov/cba for a complete list of requirements to take the California CPA Exam.

Summer CAAP Program

The Summer CAAP program is an intense, accelerated eleven-week summer program of accounting courses. Students attend classes each weekday for four hours per day. Classes are not offered on Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays. Students can attend either a morning session (9:00am – 1:00 pm) or an afternoon session (3:30pm - 7:30pm). The Introductory course (Actg. 180) begins June 8th.

For more information on the Summer CAAP Program (including fees, applications, schedules, etc.), see the SCU Executive Development Center webpage: http://www.scu.edu/business/edc/programs/caap.cfm .

Weekend CAAP Program

The Weekend CAAP program is a comprehensive eight-month program of accounting courses. Students attend classes on Saturdays or Sundays. Applicants for the weekend session can designate their preference for either the Saturday session or the Sunday session. Class sessions generally begin at 9:00am and end at 6:00 pm. CAAP classes are taught consecutively, with the Introductory course (Actg 180) beginning in mid-September and the final class ending in mid-May.

For more information on the Weekend CAAP Program, see the SCU Executive Development Center webpage: http://www.scu.edu/business/edc/programs/caap_2009_2010.cfm .  NOTE:  The website will be updated with 2009-2010 material in mid-April.

Faculty

Our faculty is knowledgeable and experienced in auditing, tax, and financial and managerial accounting. All classes are taught by full-time tenured professors with doctoral degrees in accounting. Most professors also have professional accounting experience.

• Michael Calegari, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Accounting, Santa Clara University
• Ted Christensen, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Accounting, Brigham Young University
• Michael Eames, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Accounting, Santa Clara University
• Suzanne Luttman, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Accounting, Santa Clara University
• Jane Ou, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Accounting, Santa Clara University
• Susan Parker, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Accounting, Santa Clara University
• James Sepe, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Accounting, Santa Clara University
• Neal Ushman, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Accounting, Santa Clara University

Still have questions?

We appreciate the opportunity to serve the accounting profession by creating and managing this unique and successful academic program. If you have any questions about our program or wish to discuss employment opportunities in accounting, please contact our Department Administrative Assistant, Remy Hernandez, by email (r2hernandez@scu.edu) or phone (408-554-4578). Also, visit our FAQ-CAAP.