Nancy-Lee Rodden was given an unexpected task after she got an accounting degree in college and started working.

The college began phasing out several academic programs, including its law, accounting and finance majors last summer. Students enrolled in those programs say they were caught off-guard.

Accountants like Ed are as dedicated to helping their peers in the profession as they are to helping their clients.

Becoming a licensed CPA in the U.S. requires 150 college credit hours, which has become a major barrier. And the profession ...