Masters in Accounting
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Masters in Accounting:
1.) Career Outlook
2.) Scholarships
3.) Student Guide
4.) Articles
Your Guide to an Advanced Accounting Degree
This site strives to be the most comprehensive resource for prospective Masters in Accounting students. Visitors can access free student guides, scholarship information, free online lectures, and career outlook data for advanced degrees in Accounting. Prospective students can also research and quickly request free information about an online masters in accounting degree, program and/or school. The site also features non-accounting related programs for students looking to start a career in a different field. Thank you for visiting, we hope you find our work useful, and please contact us if we can be of help. -MastersInAccounting.info
Masters in Accounting Degree
A Master’s in Accounting Degree (MAcc), also known as Master’s of Professional Accountancy (MPAcy) is an advanced graduate level business degree focused on curriculum that prepares individuals to work in the accounting field in various roles such as an auditor at a large accounting firm, management positions in corporate accounting, or as a CPA for individuals or businesses. Graduates are prepared to take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam which is required for many advanced accounting jobs.
Reasons to Earn a Master’s Degree in Accounting
The curriculum covered in a masters in accounting degree program is focused primarily on learning fundamental concepts of accounting, effective accounting methods, and gaining knowledge required to pass the CPA exam. An individual with talent and interest in working with numbers and strong attention to detail can excel in this career field. The demand for skilled accountants is strong and as a result companies offer attractive staring salaries that can exceed six figures. There are also strong opportunities for accountants to advance to upper management or CEO of a corporation. If you prefer to be your own boss, you can start your own accounting firm and provide accounting services for businesses or individuals.
Master of Accounting Course Requirements
A master’s in accounting degree program often takes one year of intensive study as a full-time student or longer as a part-time student. The course topics vary depending on the school and may include tax and auditing courses, business electives, and financial analysis courses.
Masters in Accounting Educational Prerequisites
Typically an undergraduate degree in accounting is not required but if your degree was outside of business there may be prerequisites that may need to be completed before starting. Prerequisite coursework may include basic accounting, pre-calculus, and statistics. A satisfactory score on the GRE or GMAT is usually required for admission as well as some prior work experience. Schools may also require a satisfactory grade point average in undergraduate coursework.
Master’s in Accounting Curriculum
Master of Accounting degree programs typically focus on advanced level accounting topics, methods, and theory.
The coursework for a Master’s in Accounting Degree Program may include:
- Financial Decision Making
- Applied Statistics for Business Decisions
- Financial Accounting
- Corporate Financial Reporting
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Auditing and Assurance
- Federal Taxation
- Contemporary Issues in Accounting
- Accounting and Audition Aspects of Computer-based Information Systems
- Business Taxation
Career Outlook for Accounting Graduates
Accounting offers an exceptional outlook with projections of much faster job growth than other professions over the next decade according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS projects that employment for accountants and auditors will grow 22 percent from 2008 to 2018 with about 279,400 new jobs during this period.1 Compliance with increased financial regulation is one factor driving demand for skilled accounting professionals.
Master’s in Accounting Graduate Salary
The median salary of accountants and auditors is about $59,430 per year 1 and the top 10 percent of accountants earn over than $100,000 per year.1
Top Masters in Accounting Schools
US News ranked the following schools as having the top 10 accounting graduate programs in the country 2 based on factors such as recruiter assessment, mean starting salary, employment rates, and student selectivity.
1. University of Texas-Austin (McCombs)
2. University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
3. University of Chicago (Booth)
4. University of Illinois – Urbana
5. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor (Ross)
6. Stanford University
7. Brigham Young (Marriott)
8. University of Southern California (Marshall)
9. New York University (Stern)
10. University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler)
Online Master’s in Accounting Degree Programs
For prospective students who do not live near a campus that has a master’s in accounting program or for those who prefer the greater flexibility and time savings of completing a degree from home, an online MAcc program may be right for you.
Additional Resources for Prospective Accounting Students
Accounting Today – a top news source for the accounting community including information on tax and regulation changes.
American Accounting Association – official site for the American Accounting Association.
Masters in Accounting Scholarships
Perhaps no one is more acutely aware of the high cost of higher education than a student of accounting. An education in an advanced degree represents an investment of money and time. Clearly, someone entering an accounting field is likely predisposed to considering the return on this investment and looking for ways to improve it. The following list of accounting scholarships may help the graduate accounting student ease the financial burden enough to complete the course. See the full list of Masters in Accounting Scholarships
Masters of Accounting Student Guide
It often happens that a graduate holding a bachelors degree will return to the possibility of higher education after spending a few years on the job. A promising career in the world of business or finance might have reached a point of stagnation, where the potential for promotions and career advancement is less likely without an advanced degree in accounting. Read entire Student Guide for Earning a Masters in Accounting
Top 50 Accounting Blogs
Our Top 50 Accounting Blogs reflect the blend of traditional principles, modern perspectives and revolutionary technologies that is shaping the profession and its industry today, frequently busting staid stereotypes in the process. Find a variety of viewpoints, straightforward advice and updates on issues that affect everyone with an eye on the bottom line.
Grumpy Old Accountants
Associate professors Anthony Catanach, Jr. and J. Edward Ketz are the “Grumpy Old Accountants” who find plenty of fodder in today’s headlines, including big bank woes, Enron’s ongoing lessons and rogue accountants that reflect the skewing of society’s moral compass.
Golden Practices Blog
The principle that progress starts with perceptions is the basis of “Golden Practices Blog” by consultant, strategist, author and trainer Michelle Golden, CPF, who reflects on letting an organization’s social media stars shine, learning to say no and setting the right tone with clients for the sake of time management, and defining effective roles for partner and apprentice.
Featured Schools
Programs:
- M.S. in Accountancy
- M.B.A. - Accounting
DeVry University provides quality education that employers respect, and is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (ncahlc.org), the same organization that accredits many other well-known public and private schools.
Programs:
- Master's-Accounting and Financial Management
- Graduate Certificate-Accounting
- Graduate Certificate-Financial Analysis
Programs:
- MS: Accounting: Controllership
- MBA: Accounting
- MS: Accounting: CPA Prep
- And more...
References:
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos001.htm
2. US News: http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools/accounting-rankings
