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Professional Accounting

Professional Accounting

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE
Build job-ready accounting skills for today’s tech-enabled business world. This certificate equips students with a strong foundation in financial reporting, cost strategy, and taxation, along with hands-on training in digital tools like QuickBooks, Power BI, and ERP systems. The program offers three specialization tracks to support your professional goals: Financial Accounting, Cost and Analytics, and Taxation and Compliance. Choose from asynchronous or online live courses to fit your schedule.
 

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This Program is Perfect For...

 ...early-career professionals, career changers, and working accountants looking to deepen their expertise or prepare for roles in financial reporting, cost strategy, or tax compliance. It also supports students who need specific coursework to meet California CPA exam requirements. Learners gain practical, industry-relevant skills to make informed financial decisions and pursue a wide range of career paths in today’s tech-driven accounting field.

Certificate Length - 28 Units (7 Courses)

 

What you'll learn...

  • Prepare and interpret financial statements using industry-standard accounting principles

  • Apply cost analysis, budgeting, and forecasting techniques to support real-world decision-making

  • Work with digital accounting tools and cloud-based systems used in today’s workplaces

  • Analyze financial performance and communicate data-driven insights to stakeholders

Career Outcomes

This certificate prepares students for a wide range of accounting and finance roles across industries. Depending on your chosen specialization, you’ll be equipped to pursue opportunities such as:

  • Financial Accountant or Staff Accountant
    (Financial reporting, GAAP compliance, statement preparation)

  • Cost Analyst, Budget Analyst, or FP&A Associate
    (Internal planning, forecasting, and cost strategy)

  • Tax Preparer or Tax Compliance Specialist
    (Individual and corporate taxation, filings, and advisory)

  • Internal Auditor or Audit Assistant
    (Risk assessment, controls testing, audit support)

  • Accounting Systems or ERP Specialist
    (Tech-enabled roles focused on accounting software and automation)

Spotlight:
Nick Bhavsar

PaCE is helping me grow my career so that my wife
and I can one day open our own accounting firm.
UCSB Staff
$95k

median salary for California accountants. Accountants in California earn significantly higher than the national median of $77,250accounting.com

6%

projected job growth! National demand for accountants and auditors is projected to grow 6% over the next decade. bls.gov

130k

openings projected each year. An estimated 130,800 accounting roles open each year due to retirements, exits, and new business needs.bls.gov

#11

  on the Best Business Jobs list (2024) "Accountant" ranks #11 among U.S. News' Best Business Jobs for 2024, based on salary, job growth, and work-life balance.usnews.com

Courses

Core Courses (16 units) Units Fall Winter Spring Summer
ECON X400 - Principles of Financial Accounting 4

Ventura 

 Ventura Ventura Ventura
ECON X432 - Managerial Accounting 4

Ventura

 

 Ventura

 
ECON X440 - Accounting Information Systems & Automation 4 Ventura   Ventura  
ECON X418 - Financial Statement Analysis 4 Ventura   Ventura  

Ventura Online       UCSB In Person - UCSB        UCSB  / Ventura HyFlex

Choose 1 Specialization Track (12 units - each includes 2 required courses + 1 elective).

Financial Accounting Track

Best for students interested in corporate reporting, CPA preparation, or auditing.

Required Units Fall Winter Spring Summer
ECON X422A - Intermediate Accounting I 4

Ventura 

   Ventura  
ECON X422B - Intermediate Accounting II 4

 

Ventura

  

Ventura

Ventura Online       UCSB In Person - UCSB        UCSB  / Ventura HyFlex
Elective (Choose 1) Units Fall Winter Spring Summer
ECON X433 - Auditing 4

 

 Ventura   Ventura
ECON X437 - Cost Accounting & Budgeting 4

Ventura

 

 Ventura

 

Ventura Online       UCSB In Person - UCSB        UCSB  / Ventura HyFlex

Cost and Analysis Track

Best for students pursuing careers in financial planning, budgeting, or accounting technology and analytics

Required Units Fall Winter Spring Summer
ECON X437 - Cost Accounting & Budgeting 4

Ventura 

   Ventura  
ECON X429 - Financial Data Analytics & Visualization 4

 

Ventura

  

Ventura

Ventura Online       UCSB In Person - UCSB        UCSB  / Ventura HyFlex
Elective (Choose 1) Units Fall Winter Spring Summer
ECON X422A - Intermediate Accounting I 4

 Ventura

   Ventura  
ECON X433 - Auditing 4

 

Ventura

  

Ventura

Ventura Online       UCSB In Person - UCSB        UCSB  / Ventura HyFlex

Taxation and Compliance Track

Best for students planning careers in tax preparation, compliance, or IRS work.

Required Units Fall Winter Spring Summer
ECON X427A - Income Tax (Individual) 4

 

 Ventura    
ECON X427B - Corporate Taxation 4

 

 

 Ventura

 

Ventura Online       UCSB In Person - UCSB        UCSB  / Ventura HyFlex
Elective (Choose 1) Units Fall Winter Spring Summer
ECON X433 - Auditing 4


Ventura   Ventura
ECON X437 - Cost Accounting & Budgeting 4

Ventura

 

 Ventura

 
ECON X429 - Financial Data Analytics & Visualization 4   Ventura   Ventura

Ventura Online       UCSB In Person - UCSB        UCSB  / Ventura HyFlex
Important Course Information

Pricing

  Public UCSB Discount* International
Students
Individual Courses $685 $514 Info
Estimated Certificate Cost $4,890 $3,691  

*UCSB Students, Faculty, and Staff get a 25% discount on courses. Learn more.

 

Student Information Center

Admissions
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Course Credits
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Program Length & Structure
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3 Steps to Request a Certificate
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Transfer credit available!

Have you previously earned academic or professional units at another institution? You may petition to transfer up to 8 units of equivalent coursework from another institution, subject to approval. You can apply here or contact us directly if you have questions.

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Advisory Board Members





Licensure Disclosure

Completion of the UCSB PaCE Professional Accounting Certification Program does not result in CPA licensure.  While courses in this program may count toward the educational requirements for individual states' boards of accountancy, completion of this program will not, in itself, fulfill the education, professional experience or examination requirements to qualify for CPA licensure. For more information about the requirements for the CPA Licensure, students should consult the State Board of Accountancy for the State or Jurisdiction in which they are interested in practicing.

For students pursuing CPA licensure, UCSB PaCE also offers a dedicated Summer CPA Program designed to help prepare for the exam.

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Strategic Investments

Strategic Investments

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE - Think Wall Street offers the only opportunities in finance and investing? Think again. Successful finance and investment careers await through private industry, nonprofit and government organizations as well as the real estate sector. Now is the time to prepare for your chosen career path.
 

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This Program is Perfect For...

...students who want to prepare for careers in Finance and Investing. Developed by the UCSB Department of Economics, this program will help anyone seeking to gain a deep understanding of the forces that govern all types of financial markets through a rich blend of lectures, guest speakers and hands-on projects.

What you'll learn

  • Principles of Micro and Macro Economics
  • Principles of Finance and Financial Accounting
  • Quantitative and Impact Investment Strategies
  • Ethics in Finance
  • Risk Management
  • Fundamentals of the Real Estate, Bond and Stock Markets

Spotlight:
Marie Luisa Handrich

The teachers and classmates make the lessons exciting and fun.
UCSB Student

Courses

Program Prerequisites: (Have completed with a grade of C or higher)


Step 1: Before enrolling in your first SIP Course 
Please complete the Strategic Investments Application.  Applications will be processed within 2 business days with a decision being sent via email no later than the 3rd business day. Please note that the $30 application fee is non-refundable.
 

 

Courses

Required Core Courses: (2 Courses) Units Fall Winter Spring Summer
ECON X499.1 - Intro to Financial Economics 2 UCSB UCSB    
ECON X499.2 - Financial Economics II 2

UCSB

 UCSB  

 

Ventura Online       UCSB In Person - UCSB        UCSB  / Ventura HyFlex
Required Ethics Course Units Fall Winter Spring Summer
ECON X499.3 - Risk and Ethics 1 UCSB UCSB    
Additional Required Course:
Prerequisites: Econ X499.1 and X499.2 		Units Fall Winter Spring Summer
ECON X499.4 - Portfolio Management 2   UCSB UCSB  
Elective Courses (Minimum of 3 units Required)
Prerequisite: ECON X499.4		 Units Fall Winter Spring Summer
ECON X499.10 - Exchange Traded Funds & Portfolio Construction  1        
ECON X499.11 - Financial Crises 1        
ECON X499.12 - Impact Investing 1

 

      
ECON X499.13 - Financial Wellness 1        
ECON X499.14 - Getting Started in Investing 1        
ECON X499.15 - Successful Investing 1        
ECON X499.16 - Fixed Income Fundamentals 1     UCSB  
ECON X499.17 - Fundamental Investing 1      

 
ECON X499.18 - Market Analysis 1        
ECON X499.19 - The Psychology of Wealth 1     UCSB  
ECON X499.21 - Basic Personal Financial Literacy & Planning 1        
ECON X499.23 - Mergers & Acquisitions 1     UCSB  

Ventura Online       UCSB In Person - UCSB        UCSB  / Ventura HyFlex
Important Course Information

Important Note About Financial Aid and Professional Course Units

Current UCSB matriculated students, who are eligible for financial aid, may be required to maintain a minimum of 12 academic units of undergraduate or graduate level courses. The ECON X professional units do not count toward that minimum, nor do they count toward the units required to graduate from UCSB undergraduate degree programs. 

9.8%

9.8% project growth annually, for global market for strategic consulting (McKinsey, 2025)

Top 3

skills required (Negotiation) for successful business partnerships and revenue growth (Forbes, 2023)

84%

of executives state that Strategy and Decision Making are critical skills for leadership (Harvard Business Review, 2024)

$147k

Average salary for Business Strategy & Analytics Managers (Salary.com)

Pricing

  Public UCSB Students
Individual Courses $165 - $330 $165 - $330
Estimated Certificate Cost $1,695 $1,695
     

3 Easy Steps to Request Certificate

1 Log into your PaCE Student Account to verify that you have completed all Certificate requirements

2 Click here to request your certificate release

3 Check your email for a Certificate notification from Parchment.com, our official credential provider.

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CPA Licensure Prep Summer Program

CPA Licensure Prep Summer Program

Earn 24 quarter units toward the California education requirements for CPA Licensure in just 10 weeks! This accelerated course of studies is designed to help you prepare to enter the elite professional association of Certified Public Accountants. (June 23 - August 29 online via Zoom)
 

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email  

 

Why Take the CPA Licensure Prep Summer Program?

In only 10 weeks (June 23 - August 29, 2025), you can fulfill 24 quarter units (16-semester units) toward the California education requirements for CPA licensure. 

Courses are in real time via Zoom in an intense, high-quality sequence, designed to provide the detailed knowledge and skills desirable in a professional accountant. 

Courses cover professionally based material that expands upon the academic accounting curriculum offered by the UCSB Economics Department. 

Courses provide information that broadens student understanding and knowledge of modern business methods and environments. 

Taken together, the four courses in the sequence also cover topics included in the Uniform CPA Examination. 

Who should take the CPA Licensure Prep Summer Program?

The program assumes prior knowledge of cost and financial accounting at a college level; typically students should have completed a bachelor's degree program in accounting or an equivalent number of units in accounting subject matter. 

Dates and Time: June 23 - August 29, 2025

Location: Online via Zoom

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday Sessions

1:00 - 4:45PM

Friday Sessions:

9:00AM - 12:45PM

Seven Wednesday Sessions:

TBD

How do the 24 units apply toward the CPA licensure requirements?

12 units - Accounting
6 units - Either Accounting or Ethics
6 units - Business-Related Subjects

You will be enrolled in the following courses

Advanced Auditing and Attestation (ECON X426A)

This course provides in-depth coverage of the theory and practice of the attest role of the accountant. Both auditing and other areas of attesting are addressed. The class provides comprehensive coverage of the entire audit process including engagement planning, audit sampling, audit evidence and the role of technology in the audit. The class also provides coverage of the role and procedures of internal audit. The course is part of a group of four courses that together will provide broad exposure to professional aspects of accounting that are not covered in a traditional college accounting curriculum.

Current Issues in Financial Reporting (ECON X426B)

This course provides a comprehensive study of a range of issues in financial reporting and accounting, including the theoretical and regulatory frameworks of financial statements, recognition, valuation, and measurement of assets, liabilities, equity and income, and the impact of special transactions and events on financial statements.

The Regulatory Framework of Business (ECON X426C)

This course provides comprehensive coverage of both the legal and tax aspects of the business. Tax issues covered will include the taxation of different business entities as well as individuals, and the impact these have on business decisions. The business law component of the class will include legal issues regarding contracts, professional responsibilities, government regulation, and property, among other items.

Special Topics in Accounting (ECON X426D)

This course provides extensive coverage of selected topics including economic theory, accounting for not-for-profit and government entities, cost and managerial accounting and special issues in corporate taxation.

 

Program Payment Information and Important Deadlines

To secure a seat in the UCSB PaCE CPA Licensure Preparation Program, students must complete full tuition payment. Enrollment is first-come, first-served, and space is limited.

Program Fee and Payment Breakdown

The total program fee is:

  • $3,800 if paid in full by June 1, 2025

  • $4,000 if paid after June 1, 2025 (includes a $200 late registration fee)

Payment Deadlines

  • Regular Registration Deadline – June 1, 2025
    Students must submit the full tuition payment of $3,800 by this date to avoid the late fee.

  • Late Registration Period
    A $200 late fee will apply to payments submitted after June 1, 2025, bringing the total to $4,000.

  • Final Payment Deadline – June 20, 2025
    Tuition payments will be accepted until this date only if space remains available. Enrollment may close earlier if the program reaches capacity.

Accessing Your Course Materials in Canvas

All coursework is delivered online through Canvas. After your tuition is processed you will:

  • Receive an automated invitation to each course site

  • Log in using your PaCE Student ID as the username

  • Set your password the first time via the “Forgot Password” link

For a step-by-step guide, visit our Canvas FAQ.

Refund Policy in Case of Cancellation

If the program is canceled due to insufficient enrollment, all tuition payments will be fully refunded, including any prior deposits.

Additional Considerations

  • Discounts: Group, employee, and alumni discounts cannot be applied to this program.
  • International Students: For current tuition rates and payment information, international students should contact us directly.

For any questions or further assistance regarding payment options, deadlines, or any other program details, please reach out to us. We're here to help ensure a smooth application process and a rewarding program experience.

 

Step 1: Enroll in the Program
Enroll

Important Links

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