A Public Accountant working with her clients.

Public Accounting

Bachelor of Science
  • 120 Credits
  • School of Business
  • Bronx
  • Westchester
As a Public Accountant, you will be able to run personal assessments for your clients.

Public Accounting Overview

Learn the skills and background to become an integral part of the financial success of any organization.

With a Bachelor of Science in Public Accounting degree, you’ll be prepared for the business world. That includes: business concepts, the accountant's ethical responsibilities and role in the business world.

You’ll learn:

  • Accounting principles and procedures
  • Federal income taxation
  • Auditing standards and procedures

Want to take the Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A.) examination? Our courses will thoroughly prepare you. (By itself this program no longer qualifies students for CPA licensure.) Student interested in becoming a CPA will need to complete the 150 credit hour requirement by enrolling in the M.S. in Public Accounting program.

A Certified Public Accountant working with her clients.

Career Opportunities

Public Accounting graduates may seek positions such as:

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • government auditor
  • internal auditor, financial advisor
  • revenue agent
  • tax accountant
  • management services accountant
Computer information systems being audited.

The Mercy Advantage

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Hands-on Experience with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance for low income citizens (VITA) program

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Get real-world experience while still in school by working on various consulting projects

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Learn from an executive faculty who are leaders in their fields. 

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We'd like to hear from you! Get more information.

A Public Accountant working with her clients.

Become a CPA

Take the Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A.) Exam

Our courses will thoroughly prepare you for the C.P.A. exam (by itself this program no longer qualifies students for CPA licensure). Student interested in becoming a CPA will need to complete the 150 credit hour requirement by enrolling in the M.S. in Public Accounting program.

School of Business students working on a project in Manhattan.

Future Business Leaders Academy

This year's Future Business Leaders Academy was our most successful yet. The highly select group chosen to join us at Mercy University in Dobbs Ferry, NY learned about personal branding, matching their personalities to career paths, and visited some of the top global corporations in New York.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Full-time students can complete the 120-credit degree program in four years.

No, you now need to complete the combined BS/MS Public Accounting program (150 credit hour CPA licensure qualifying program) in order to become a CPA in New York State.

The Accounting Chairperson must provide written approval for students who are eligible to switch majors to the combined BS/MS program. The student must show the ability to succeed in the MS program. The matriculation between the BS and MS degrees is seamless.

Program Details & Curriculum

General Liberal Arts and Sciences
General Education Requirements: 60 Credits

ECON 125, 210, 220, 221, 230, MATH 116 and MATH/CISC 120 are prerequisites for the major and must be used to fulfill general education requirements.

Core and Specialization

Business Core: 24 Credits
Public Accounting 36 Credits

Total: 120 Credits

For a full curriculum listing visit our catalog.

At the end of this program, students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of key concepts in the business core curriculum
  • Evaluate ethical issues in accounting, auditing, and business
  • Use accounting and research tools to integrate business and accounting information in making strategic decisions
  • Use oral, written, and presentation skills to communicate accounting information and auditing results

Full-Time Faculty

Part-Time Faculty

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