Duquesne University’s Accounting program is now considered among the 52 internationally-certified Accounting programs in the world and one of 30 in the United States by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA).

The IIA, an international association that brings together internal auditors from all over the world to professionalise the practice, has accepted Duquesne University as an Internal Audit Foundation Program in its global Internal Auditing Education Partnership (IAEP). Duquesne University is now the only school in Pennsylvania to have an IIA-certified program focused on the practice of internal audit.  

Duquesne’s Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) Accounting program is one of the major concentrations under the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business which prepares students for a career in corporate, industrial, government, nonprofit or public accounting. Other majors include Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Information Systems Management, International Business, Marketing, Management and Supply Chain Management.

From co-op placement to professional career

As students are taught to develop critical thinking skills and learn to identify, analyse and recommend solutions for vital business issues, they also get an opportunity to participate in a co-op placement program and start their professional career upon graduating.

Duquesne’s BSBA-to-MAcc: Co-op to Career Program allows students to complete two degrees and qualify as Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) in just five years after completing their Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Master of Accountancy programs. This also includes a paid co-op experience for one semester.

Students only pay tuition for 4½ years since they’re still considered full-time students while earning money at an accounting company in the second semester of their senior year. Once they have completed their 150-credit hour educational requirement, they can then sit for the Certified Public Accountants (CPA) exam and increase their chances of landing their dream job in a top Accounting firm or receive priority consideration for permanent positions at partner firms upon graduating.

Companies participating in Duquesne University’s Co-op Program include the following:

• BDO USA
• BKD
• Deloitte
• Ernst & Young
• FedEx
• Grant Thornton
• Grossman Yanak & Ford
• Hill, Barth & King
• KPMG
• PNC
• PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Schneider Downs

The Co-op Program is open to current freshmen or sophomores in the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business who are able to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.3 to remain eligible.