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CPA Exam FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions:The CAAP Program
This webpage is designed to answer questions pertaining to the Santa Clara University Certificate of Advanced Accounting Proficiency (CAAP) Program. The questions are separated into four areas: • Application / Acceptance into the Program • Enrollment Issues • What courses should I take? • Questions about the CAAP Program For additional information, see our CAAP webpage. TABLE OF CONTENTS APPLICATION / ACCEPTANCE INTO THE PROGRAM • When is the deadline for applying in the CAAP program? • Are there any advantages to sending in my application before the deadline? • How can I check to see if I have been admitted to the CAAP program? • When will I be billed and when is the payment due? • What types of loan options are available to me? • When and how should I apply for loans? ENROLLMENT ISSUES • What are the prerequisites for enrolling in the CAAP program? • Do I need to take any tests to enroll in the CAAP Program? • Are interviews required for admission to the CAAP program? • Can I enroll in the CAAP program if I do not have an undergraduate degree? • I did not major in business in college and do not have a business background. Can I still apply? • Can I take classes in the CAAP program if I am also enrolled in the SCU MBA program? • Are there additional requirements for students whose first language is not English? • Does the CAAP program accept transfer credit? • Can I continue to work full-time and successfully complete the CAAP Program? WHAT COURSES SHOULD I TAKE? • I have previously taken accounting classes in another program. Do I still need to take the introductory sequence of courses? • I am familiar with basic accounting rules but I have not taken college level courses in a few years. Should I take the introductory sequence of courses? • I have previously taken ACTG 301 or ACTG 300 at SCU. Should I still enroll in the introductory sequence? QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CAAP PROGRAM • Do all the professors in the CAAP Program have advanced degrees? • Do you use part-time instructors to teach courses in the CAAP Program? • Is it possible to fail classes in the CAAP program? • What are the consequences of failing a class in the CAAP program? • After I complete the CAAP program, do I meet all the requirements necessary to take the CPA exam? WHEN IS THE DEADLINE FOR APPLYING IN THE CAAP PROGRAM? Applications are available on the website, beginning in approximately January for the summer program and in May for the Saturday program. If space is available, we will process your application as late a week before the first class begins. However, since students are admitted on a rolling basis, applying early secures your space in the program. Return to table of contents ARE THERE ANY ADVANTAGES TO SENDING IN MY APPLICATION BEFORE THE DEADLINE? Students who meet the requirements are admitted on a rolling basis. No qualified students have been turned away in the past, but it is possible that future sessions will fill up. Applying early maximizes your chances of admission. Return to table of contents HOW CAN I CHECK THE STATUS OF MY APPLICATION AND SEE IF I HAVE BEEN ADMITTED TO THE CAAP PROGRAM? Santa Clara University’s Executive Development Center processes all the program applications, and will communicate with students as quickly as possible with information on the application process. Questions can be addressed to the Executive Development Center at 408.554.4521. Return to table of contents WHEN WILL I BE BILLED AND WHEN IS PAYMENT DUE? You will receive information from the SCU Bursar's office, as well as a student ID number which will allow you to access your account on-line. Payment is due prior to the start of the program. Return to table of contents WHAT TYPES OF LOAN OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO ME? You may apply for an Alternative Loan to help pay for the costs of this program:Tuition: $265 per unit, Books: approximately $150 per course. Return to table of contents HOW SHOULD I APPLY FOR LOANS? Please visit http://www.scu.edu/financialaid/loan/credit.cfm to view a list of three Alternative Lenders for this program and apply online. Return to table of contents WHAT ARE THE PREREQUISITES FOR ENROLLING IN THE CAAP PROGRAM? Admission to the CAAP program requires a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. An original transcript is required. Return to table of contents CAN I ENROLL IN THE CAAP PROGRAM IF I DO NOT HAVE AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE? No, an undergraduate degree is required for admission. Return to table of contents I DID NOT MAJOR IN BUSINESS IN COLLEGE AND I DO NOT HAVE A BUSINESS BACKGROUND. CAN I STILL APPLY? Students without business backgrounds have been successful in the program. Students without background in the basics of financial accounting must enroll in Accounting 180. Return to table of contents DO I NEED TO TAKE ANY TESTS TO ENROLL IN THE CAAP PROGRAM? No. Return to table of contents ARE INTERVIEWS REQUIRED FOR ADMISSION TO THE CAAP PROGRAM? No. The application process may be handled via fax or e-mail, and no visit to the Santa Clara University campus is required. An original transcript is required. Return to table of contents CAN I TAKE CLASSES IN THE CAAP PROGRAM IF I AM ALSO ENROLLED IN AN MBA PROGRAM AT SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY OR AT ANOTHER UNIVERSITY? Yes, MBA students are welcome in the CAAP program. However, students in the CAAP program earn undergraduate units, not graduate units. Units earned in the CAAP program cannot be transferred to replace MBA classes at Santa Clara University. Return to table of contents ARE THERE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS WHOSE FIRST LANGUAGE IS NOT ENGLISH? There are no special requirements related to language proficiency, but the rapid pace of the classes requires fluency in both spoken and written English. If you have any doubts as to the adequacy of your English skills, please consult with the CAAP Director, Dr. Michael Eames, MEames@scu.edu, for more specific guidance. Return to table of contents DOES THE CAAP PROGRAM ACCEPT TRANSFER CREDIT? The CAAP program will accept only undergraduate or MBA classes taken at Santa Clara University as credits towards the Certificate. However, if your primary objective is completing the 36 quarter accounting units required to sit for the CPA exam, you may elect not to take classes in the CAAP program that are substantially similar to those taken elsewhere. In this case, you would receive credit for the classes taken at Santa Clara University, but would not receive the Certificate. Please consult with the CAAP Director, Dr. Michael Eames, MEames@scu.edu, for more specific guidance. Return to table of contents CAN I CONTINUE TO WORK FULL-TIME AND SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE CAAP PROGRAM? We strongly discourage summer program students from planning to work full-time while in the program. Successful completion of the program typically requires 4 hours per weekday in class, and 4-6 hours of daily study outside class time. This typically precludes working at the same time. Each year, however, we accept some students who continue to work full-time while completing the program. We encourage students who plan to continue working while participating in the summer CAAP program to make arrangements with their employer for additional time off or lighter duties. We anticipate that most of the students in the Saturday program will be working full time during the program. All classes are held on Saturdays to limit conflict with normal work schedules. Return to table of contents I HAVE PREVIOUSLY TAKEN ACCOUNTING CLASSES IN ANOTHER PROGRAM. DO I STILL NEED TO TAKE THE INTRODUCTORY SEQUENCE? You may not need to enroll in the introductory sequence, depending on how long ago the classes were taken, and what material was covered. Please consult with the CAAP Director, Dr. Michael Eames, MEames@scu.edu, for more specific guidance. Return to table of contents I AM FAMILIAR WITH BASIC ACCOUNTING RULES BUT I HAVE NOT TAKEN COLLEGE LEVEL COURSES IN A FEW YEARS. SHOULD I TAKE THE INTRODUCTORY SEQUENCE? You may not need to enroll in the introductory sequence, depending on the depth and nature of your knowledge and experience. However, students who have not recently taken college courses find it beneficial to take the introductory sequence as a refresher. Other students who skipped the introductory sequence latter comment that they wish they had taken the sequence. Please consult with the CAAP Director, Dr. Michael Eames, MEames@scu.edu, for more specific guidance. Return to table of contents I HAVE PREVIOUSLY TAKEN ACTG 301 or ACTG 300 IN THE SCU MBA PROGRAM. SHOULD I TAKE THE INTRODUCTORY SEQUENCE? You may not need to enroll in the introductory sequence, depending on how well you learned and retained the material of ACTG 301, and how long ago the classes were taken. Please consult with the CAAP Director, Dr. Michael Eames, MEames@scu.edu, for more specific guidance. Return to table of contents DO ALL PROFESSORS IN THE CAAP PROGRAM HAVE ADVANCED DEGREES? DO YOU USE PART-TIME INSTRUCTORS TO TEACH COURSES IN THE CAAP PROGRAM? CAAP classes are usually taught by regular, full time Santa Clara accounting faculty holding doctoral degrees in accounting. In rare cases, we may invite a similarly qualified faculty member from another accredited University to teach one or more courses. Return to table of contents IS IT POSSIBLE TO FAIL CLASSES IN THE CAAP PROGRAM? Yes. The CAAP classes are academically demanding and some students may not achieve a passing grade. Return to table of contents WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF FAILING A CLASS IN THE CAAP PROGRAM? Many of the later classes in the CAAP sequence require completion of earlier classes. Depending on which class is failed, you may not be able to continue in the program. Whether or not you can continue will be decided by the CAAP Director. In the event that you cannot continue in the program, the normal refund rules will apply. If you fail a class, you will not be eligible to receive a Certificate of Advanced Accounting Proficiency unless you pass the class in a subsequent CAAP session and maintain an overall GPA of 2.0 or better. Return to table of contents AFTER I COMPLETE THE CAAP PROGRAM, DO I MEET ALL THE COURSE WORK REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY TO TAKE THE CPA EXAM? Successful completion of the CAAP program provides students with the 36 quarter (equivalent to 24 semester) units required to sit for the CPA exam. You must also have completed 36 quarter units in other business-related subjects. These business-related units may be satisfied by classes in mathematics, business law, computer science/information systems, economics and statistics, as well as traditional business disciplines. Please refer to our FAQ page on the CPA exam or the California State Board of Accountancy website http://www.dca.ca.gov for more detailed information Return to table of contents Page maintained by Remy Hernandez Last update: July 26, 2007 |
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