Hofstra University

Hofstra University

By James Kline and Elizabeth K. Venuti

Located on Long Island, about 30 miles east of New York City, Hofstra University offers an academically rigorous course of study in accounting at both the undergraduate and the graduate level.

Hofstra’s Frank G. Zarb School of Business and the Department of Accounting, Taxation and Legal Studies in Business are both accredited by AACSB International, making Hofstra the only school on Long Island to achieve separate accreditation of its accounting program.

The Zarb School of Business offers a BBA in accounting, an MS in taxation, an MS in accounting and an MBA with a concentration in accounting or taxation. In addition, students with an undergraduate degree in a different field of study may pursue an accounting certificate that will enable them to pursue a career in accounting.

Hofstra’s job placement rate is exceptional, with graduates taking jobs with the Big Four, medium- and small-size CPA firms, government agencies, and industry organizations. In addition, many Hofstra students pursue graduate studies in law, business or education. The remarkable placement rates of the students are due in large part to the efforts made by Pride Recruiting (the school’s on-campus recruiting service); the proven record of success of the alumni; and the networking activities on the part of the student organizations, such as the Accounting Society, the Tax Society, the Institute of Management Accounting and the Delta Pi chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, the national academic honor society for accounting.

The activities of these student-run, faculty-advised organizations have a tremendous impact on the development and enhancement of all accounting students. Weekly meetings offer presentations by different local or national accounting firms, accounting advocacy groups, government or industry organizations, recruiting agencies and CPA review course instructors. This past year, the topics discussed included interviewing skills, resume writing, professional etiquette, time management, and the new CPA exam, as well as many technical subjects. Each semester, these organizations arrange for office visits to local firms and local offices of national firms. In addition, the students host an annual career fair and a basketball and volleyball tournament, and participate in many philanthropic activities to benefit members of the Long Island community, including the IRS’ VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program.

For more information, please call 800-463-7872 or visit www.hofstra.edu.

James Kline is president of Hofstra’s Delta Pi Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi. Elizabeth K. Venuti is an assistant professor of accounting at Hofstra University.

Editor’s Note: School Profiles briefly details college and university programs throughout New York state that lead to a career as a CPA. The feature appears in The Trusted Professional on an intermittent basis.