Business Administration—Accounting
Available in State College and Altoona
Have a “head for numbers”? The South Hills Business Administration—Accounting program is perfect for you! No office or company can thrive without a competent, confident numbers person. In just two years, the BAA program at South Hills will teach you to be that person. As a BAA student, you will study cost accounting, financial statement preparation & analysis, and income taxes. Using the latest accounting technology, South Hills will prepare you to hit the ground running and be a valued part of your employer’s bottom line.
Our BAA graduates find career opportunities including Staff Accountant, Accounting Manager, Bookkeeper, Accounting Clerk, Accounts Payable/Receivable Clerk, Payroll Clerk, Administrative Assistant, and Controller.
BAA Graduates Can Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Only Two Years with St. Francis University!
South Hills students graduating with the Associate in Specialized Business Degree in Business Administration – Accounting are eligible for a bachelor degree completion program in Accounting through St. Francis University Office of Adult Degree & Continuing Studies.
Finish your Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting in only two years through online, weekend, and evening classes in State College or Altoona. South Hills students will be guaranteed acceptance with a 2.0 GPA and up to 64 credits from our BAA program will automatically transfer into the program. The customizable curriculum allow you to take as few or as many classes as you want so you can balance work, family, and life. Financial aid is available to those who qualify. This program can also be completed fully online.
For more information about Bachelor's degree completion, visit the St. Francis website or call the Office of Adult Degree & Continuing Studies at 814-472-3012.
Complete Course List
Business Administration–Accounting Course List for 2018-19
This program information appears in the 2018-19 school catalog. Click here to download all course descriptions.
| Term | Course # | Course Name | Credits | Clock Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Term | AC125 | Accounting I | 4.5 | 60 | |
| GE117 | Applied Algebra | 4.0 | 60 | ||
| GE183 | Business English I | 4.0 | 60 | ||
| MG116 | Introduction to Business | 4.5 | 60 | ||
| OS103 | Keyboarding | 1.0 | 20 | ||
| PD110 | Professional Development | 2.0 | 24 | ||
| First Term Totals: | 20.0 | 284 | |||
| Second Term | AC223 | Accounting II | 4.5 | 60 | |
| GE184 | Business English II | 4.0 | 60 | ||
| GE118 | Business Mathematics | 4.0 | 60 | ||
| MG117 | Management I | 4.0 | 60 | ||
| CP287 | Microsoft Excel | 4.5 | 60 | ||
| Second Term Totals: | 21.0 | 300 | |||
| Third Term | AC224 | Accounting III | 4.5 | 60 | |
| GE210 | Business English III | 3.5 | 60 | ||
| AC126 | Fundamentals of Income Tax | 4.5 | 60 | ||
| CP284 | Microsoft Word | 4.5 | 60 | ||
| AC121 | Payroll Accounting | 4.5 | 60 | ||
| MG215 | Personal Financial Management | 2.5 | 36 | ||
| Third Term Totals: | 24 | 336 | |||
| Fourth Term | GE232 | Business Economics | 3.0 | 36 | |
| LE100 | Business Law | 3.0 | 36 | ||
| AC217 | Cost/Managerial Accounting | 4.5 | 60 | ||
| AC225 | Intermediate Accounting I | 4.5 | 60 | ||
| CD207 | Job Search Skills | 2.0 | 24 | ||
| IT223 | Advanced Microsoft Excel | 2.0 | 30 | ||
| Fourth Term Totals: | 19.0 | 246 | |||
| Fifth Term | AC214 | Auditing | 5.0 | 60 | |
| AC116 | Computerized Accounting | 4.0 | 60 | ||
| AC226 | Intermediate Accounting II | 4.5 | 60 | ||
| CP286 | Microsoft Access | 4.5 | 60 | ||
| GE213 | Oral Business Communications | 2.0 | 24 | ||
| AC227 | Topics in Accounting | 2.0 | 24 | ||
| Fifth Term Totals: | 22.0 | 288 | |||
| Sixth Term | AC222 | Business Administration-Accounting Internship | 11.0 | 330 | |
| CD200 | Career Preparation | 0.5 | 10 | ||
| CD202 | Certification Preparation for Accounting | 2.0 | 21 | ||
| Sixth Term Totals: | 13.5 | 361 | |||
| BAA PROGRAM TOTAL CREDITS | BAA PROGRAM TOTAL HOURS | ||||
| 119.5 | 1,815 |
Careers in Business Administration—Accounting
With two years of hands-on training and strong skillsets, our Business Administration—Accounting graduates are prepared for a variety of career options, including:
- Accounting Clerk
- Accounting Manager
- Accounts Payable/Receivable Clerk
- Administrative Assistant
- Bookkeeper
- Business Manager/Owner
- Controller
- Finance Administrator
- Payroll Clerk
- Staff Accountant
Each student completes a summer-long internship before graduation, providing real world experience. We have placed interns at locations including:
- American Cancer Society
- Blackboard (Schoolwires)
- Center Tax Agency
- Centre Chemical
- Fullington Tours
- Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital
- Magnun Broadcasting
- Mt. Nittany Medical Center
- Pennsylvania State University
- Torron Group
South Hills Business Administration—Accounting graduates are well-trained and in demand for their knowledge and work ethics. Some of the many locations employing our graduates include:
- Alk Source Materials
- Centre Tax Agency
- Continental Real Estate
- Direct Tech Drilling
- Harris Township
- Juniata Valley Bank
- Maxwell Trucking
- Pennsylvania State University
- Shaner Hotel Group
- Smeal College of Business, PSU
Meet the Faculty
Brenna Shutika
Program Coordinator / Instructor
State College Main Campus
Brenna Shutika, the Coordinator of the Business Administration—Accounting program, joined South Hills as an accounting instructor in 2008.
In 2013 Brenna obtained her Certified Bookkeeper designation from the American Institute of Public Bookkeepers, a national certification… leading by example, as she prepares her own South Hills Accounting students for this certification.
Brenna graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Accounting. Prior to joining South Hills, she was the CFO for Woodcraft Industries, Inc. for 20 years. She also does consulting work on QuickBooks for clients of Dotts Hamilton, Inc. Tax and Financial Services of Bellefonte; and during tax season, she can be found preparing tax returns for individuals and partnerships.
Wendy Eismont
Instructor
State College Main Campus
Wendy Eismont is an instructor, internship supervisor, and adviser for the Business Administration—Accounting program and has been at South Hills since 2008. Wendy graduated from Penn State with a BS in Accounting. She has lived throughout the country working in the Accounting field and has had jobs ranging from Auditor to Controller.
Bob Helbig
Adjunct Instructor
Altoona Campus
Bob Helbig teaches accounting, economics, statistics, and other math courses at South Hills. He is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Saint Francis College in Loretto, PA and was awarded the Certified Management Accountant designation (CMA) in 2005. Bob has had a wide-ranging career that includes experiences as a business analyst for the Saint Francis Small Business Development Center and JARI, Johnstown Area Regional Industries, life insurance and securities registered representative, radio broadcaster, and professional musician. Bob resides in Altoona and is a politics enthusiast and part-time working musician.
Program Advisory Committees
| Member Name | Job Title | Company |
| Linda Welker | Manager of Tax Services | State College Borough Tax Office |
| Jacqui Fuge | Assistant Manager of Tax Services | State College Borough Tax Office |
| Bobbi Jo Shannon | Accounting Manager | The Torron Group |
| Shawnee Matis | Accountant | Maxwell Trucking and Excavating |
| Tammy Blake | Accountant | NIS Group |
| Marty McGinley | Staff Accountant | Shaner Hotel Group |
| Michele Miller | Tax Specialist | Keystone Payroll |
| Chelsea Boucher | Accounting Clerk | Bellefonte Area School District |
| Melissa Elliot | Accounting Clerk | State College Area School District |
| Anya Vovchenko-Sukhorukov | Finance Administrator | Harris Township |
| Sue Wilt | CPA | Self-employed |
| Josh Bricker | Staff Accountant | Shaner Hotel Group |
| Member Name | Job Title | Company |
| Angee Rickard | Fiscal Assistant Accountant | Raystown Development Services, Inc. Curtis Health |
| Dan Dainty | State Contract Manager | NPC, Inc. |
| Angie Whetstine | Executive Director | Blair County Tax Collection Bureau |
| Anita Finnegan | Controller | L.S. Fiore |
| Brock Anders | Accountant | Ward Transport and Logistics Corp. |
| Faith M. Swanson, PRSBO | Business Manager | Huntingdon Area School District |
| Kelli Keller | Payroll Accounting Assistant | Penn State |
| Chelsi Tedeschi | Accountant | Guy Landolfi CPA Firm |
| Carleen Thomas | Accountant | Blair Candy Company, Inc. |
| Michael Garman | Owner | Garman's Accounting |
| Christy Myers | Financial System Manager | Sheetz |
For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please view the Business Administration—Accounting Disclosures page on our website.
