MSc in Accounting

The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that many employers prefer to hire applicants in the field of accounting who have a master’s degree, either in accounting or in business administration with a concentration in accounting. As a result, students who pursue an M.S. in Accounting gain an advantage in the job hunt.

Our College of Business is Among the Top 5% Worldwide

Specialize in the sub-disciplines within the field

To be successful in the field of accounting, you must not only have a full understanding of accounting principles and the skills to put them into practice. You also must be an expert in the sub-disciplines within accounting.

That’s why our program is focused on preparing you for a career that requires significant exposure to — and a firm grasp of — these sub-disciplines:

Artificial Intelligence(AI)/Analytics concentration (STEM-certified)

Develop a competency for data analysis and the tools used in auditing, predictive modeling, forensic accounting, and business operations analytics, equipping you with the skills need to succeed in a cutting-edge field in the modern American marketplace.

Corporate concentration

Prepare to refine your accounting skills for a career in either a publicly held or private company.

Learn about financial, managerial, taxation, and international accounting and taxation standards and procedures and how to apply them to various entities.

Forensic concentration

Demand for positions in forensic accounting has risen due to the increase in regulations in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. You will learn about investigative accounting, valuation theory and practice, fraud examination, and more.

Taxation concentration

The taxation concentration will enable you to advise clients regarding the tax law. This track concentrates on federal income taxation as it relates to corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies.

Job Outlook

A Masters in Accounting opens the doors to the top-level jobs in the accounting profession, including Certified Public Accountant. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the employment of accountants is expected to grow 11% through 2024, which is faster than the average for all occupations. The BLS reports that the top 10% of those in the accounting profession earned around $116,000.

CPA Credential

For accounting and non-accounting undergraduates and international students, our M.S. in Accounting program meets the requirements to sit for the CPA exam and qualify for CPA licensing.

Become a valuable asset in decision-making

The in-depth understanding you will gain will equip you with the knowledge and ability to understand the role of accounting information in the decision-making process. When you are able to make that kind of contribution to your employer, you become a highly valuable asset. The program further strengthens your abilities in the arena of decision-making by stressing effective communication, collaboration skills, and ethical-reasoning ability.

Curriculum

• At least 30 graduate credits are required for completion.
• Prerequisite coursework includes: ACCT 6620, ACCT 6621

Courses are offered in multiple formats including on-campus, hybrid, and online.

All on-campus sessions are held at the Orange Campus in the evening from 6–9 p.m.

Required Courses

• ACCT 6620 Financial Accounting for Managers (waivable)
• ACCT 6621 Managerial Accounting (waivable)
• ACCT 6630 Current Topics in Financial Accounting
• ACCT 6631 Advanced Financial Accounting
• ACCT 6650 Advanced Accounting Theory
• ACCT 6652 Auditing and Assurance Services Seminar
• ACCT 6654 Financial Statements: Reporting and Analysis
• ACCT 6695 Independent Study I

AI/Analytics Concentration

• BANL 6100 Business Analytics
• BANL 6310 Data Visualization and Communication
• BANL 6320 Supervised Machine Learning
• BANL 6420 Unsupervised Machine Learning
• BANL 6430 Database Management for Business Analytics

Corporate Accounting Concentration

• ACCT 6636 Analysis of Federal Income Taxation II
• ACCT 6637 International Accounting and Taxation
• ACCT 6641 Accounting Information Systems
• ACCT 6661 Managerial Accounting Seminar

Forensic Accounting Concentration

• ACCT 6655 Forensic and Investigative Accounting
• ACCT 6656 Valuation Theory and Practice in Forensic Accounting
• ACCT 6662 Fraud Examination

Plus one of the following:

• LSTD 6640 Litigation and Ethics for Forensic Accounting
• LSTD 6642 Legal Issues in Litigation Support and Forensic Accounting
• LSTD 6643 Fraud Schemes and the Law

Taxation Concentration

• ACCT 6601 Fundamentals of Federal Income Taxation
• ACCT 6602 Taxation of Property Transactions
• ACCT 6604 Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders
• ACCT 6605 Partnership and Limited Liability Company Income Taxation

Course Length

• 15-week (full semester term) format
• 6.5-week (summer term) format

Time to Completion

• 12 months (3 semesters), 18 months (4 semesters), or 24 months (6 semesters)
• The average time to degree completion is 12 months.

Scholarships

We offer two types of scholarships/assistantship to our international master’s students.

Dean’s scholarship provides up to 50% tuition assistance during their enrollment.

Provost Assistantship offers 75% tuition assistance and the opportunity to work for an academic department up to 20 hours per week during their enrollment.