I take the same exact same web application and deploy it as an WAR with no problems. However, same application deployed as EAR fails. Same files, just different deployment. F
First of all Your EJB beans should never depend on JSF libraries. JSF is framework designed for view part of the application (html+backing beans). EJB module should operate without the knowledge about JSF.
If You really need to reference JSF from EJB method you have to explicitly inform container (JBoss 7.1.) that this module depends on JSF module. You can find details here: https://docs.jboss.org/author/display/AS7/Class+Loading+in+AS7