Accounting Department

The Department of Accounting provides high-quality accounting education to prepare our diverse students for professional success. Through our curriculum, we are committed to instilling expertise in the field, an understanding of the business environment, communication skills, integrity, and the capacity to make positive contributions to society. Our faculty prioritizes excellent teaching and dedication to students and is actively engaged in research and service that advances knowledge and benefits the community. 

The San Francisco State Scholars Program in Accounting is a combined program that awards both the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA with Concentration in Accounting) and the Master of Science in Accountancy (MSA) degrees. Students receive both the BSBA and MSA degrees when they complete each degree’s requirements.

Once admitted, students may take up to four 800-level graduate courses during the undergraduate program and will take the remaining 800-level graduate courses after transitioning into the graduate program. Therefore, students can earn an MSA degree, in addition to a BSBA degree, by spending only one additional year enrolled at SF State (with careful course planning). Moreover, students can save on the total cost of pursuing their MSA degree since the 800-level graduate courses they take during their undergraduate program will be assessed at the undergraduate tuition and fee rates.

Accounting SF State Scholars are highly likely to satisfy all California CPA exam and license educational requirements upon completion of the MSA program. For example, the “Accounting Study” educational requirement for the California CPA license is automatically fulfilled with the MSA degree. Additionally, all courses taken during the MSA program will count toward other California CPA exam and license educational requirements.

The application process is also simplified. For example, GMAT/GRE and recommendation letters are waived. Application instructions are announced at the beginning of each semester to all undergraduate students with Accounting concentration.

For more information about the SF State Scholars Program in Accounting, please visit the SF State Scholars Programs webpage or send an email to the Faculty Coordinator and Associate Professor of Accounting, Min Chen, Ph.D., at mchen11@sfsu.edu.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is a national Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-sponsored, volunteer-based initiative that provides free tax preparation to eligible individuals, including low-income taxpayers, students, the elderly, individuals with limited English proficiency, and those with disabilities, within the VITA scope.

The SF State VITA program, co-sponsored by the Lam Family College of Business (LFCoB), the University Corporation, SF State (UCorp), United Way Bay Area (UWBA), and the IRS, has been serving the community for nearly 20 years. With 50 IRS-certified student volunteers annually, it assists over 700 clients each year, making it one of California’s largest VITA programs. The program offers support in up to 20 languages and is led by Lena Yang, Assistant Professor of Accounting at LFCoB.

For further details, please visit the SFSU VITA website at https://cob.sfsu.edu/VITA or contact the VITA Team at vita.sfsu@gmail.com during the tax season.

LFCoB Accounting Department recognized as one of the Internal Auditing Education Partnership Participating Programs by the Institute of Internal Auditors

We are proud to announce that in November 2023, the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) has recognized the LFCoB Accounting Department as one of the Internal Auditing Education Partnership participating programs (IAEP) under the leadership of Professor Yao-Tien Lee.

Being part of the IAEP signifies that our curriculum is endorsed by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), the global standard for internal auditing education.

This endorsement not only highlights the quality and rigor of our academic offerings but also strengthens our connections within the professional community of internal auditors.

The partnership with the IIA opens numerous doors for our faculty and students alike, providing access to resources, industry insights, and networking opportunities that are invaluable to our ongoing pursuit of excellence in accounting education.

We congratulate Professor Yao-Tien Lee and the entire Accounting Department for their hard work and dedication, which has led to this noteworthy accomplishment.

Stay tuned for upcoming events and initiatives that will arise from this partnership, further enriching our community's academic and professional experiences.

Best Master's in Accounting Programs 2020

Our Master of Science in Accountancy program was ranked by GradReports as #16 on their list of the 25 Best Master’s in Accounting Programs in the U.S.A. based on median salary one year after students graduated.

Beta Alpha Psi (BAP) is an International honor organization for financial information students. There are over 300 chapters on college and university campuses throughout the world with over 300,000 members initiated since Beta Alpha Psi's formation in 1919.

Learn more about Beta Alpha Psi, Beta Chi Chapter