Master’s in
Accounting (Online)
- Master of Science (MS)
- Online
- Hybrid
At Monroe’s King Graduate School, we designed the Master’s Degree in Accounting for people like you: people who have already completed their undergraduate degree in accounting, and are ready to take their careers even further as a certified public accountant (CPA).
Our Master of Science in Accounting program will prepare you for success in any number of advanced positions: as a corporate accountant, financial advisor, internal auditor, finance director, or even as a chief financial officer (CFO). You’ll fulfill the 150-semester hour education requirement for becoming a CPA, and be well-prepared to sit for the Uniform CPA Examination — and thanks to our innovative online learning technology, you can do it all on a flexible schedule that works with your busy life.
If you’ve earned your bachelor’s in accounting, you’re already most of the way there. With an MS in Accounting from Monroe, you can take your professional accounting career to the next level. Read on to learn how.
King Graduate School has shown me how to do an in-depth analysis of my company's financials, which makes me an asset anywhere.
Jennifer Morales, MS
MS Accounting, 2017, BBA Accounting, 2011, Staff Accountant, Asphalt Green
Why an Online Major in Accounting?
CPAs have the authority to perform many duties that non-licensed accountants cannot. They can perform a company’s internal and external audits, file financial reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and defend clients before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). That means a greater range of career opportunities — and a greater degree of career mobility.
There are three main requirements to becoming a CPA in New York State:
- A 150-semester hour education requirement
- Passing the Uniform CPA Exam
- One year of professional experience working under an already-licensed CPA
Our online Master’s in Accounting program can help you to fulfill all three requirements.
Online Curriculum
As an online Accounting student, you’ll take the same courses, from the same expert faculty, that our on-campus students do. Our instructors are accounting professionals themselves, who bring with them years of real-world experience in public, private, nonprofit, and government accounting. With their guidance, you’ll deepen your knowledge of:
- Taxation
- Data analytics
- Accounting information systems
- Research methods and critical analysis
- International accounting
- Advanced auditing and financial reporting
- Investment management
- Managerial economics
- Management in the global business environment
You’ll develop a mastery of the most up-to-date accounting standards, you’ll hone your critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, and you’ll learn to tackle ethical problems in accounting at firms both large and small.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Master’s Degree in Accounting Online?
The online MS in Accounting is a four (4)-semester program. On Monroe’s three (3)-semester academic calendar, full-time students who complete all four semesters consecutively can finish their master’s degree in less than a year and a half.
Requirements for the Online Master’s in Accounting
- 36 total credits consisting of 12 professional core courses*
- Students might also be required to take one (1) credit of Graduate Professional Experience.**
For students who desire on-site, in-person classes, we also offer both on-campus and hybrid program formats.
Learn more about the requirements for the Master of Science in Accounting.
*Depending on their prior education, some MS students may be required to take a foundation course in Statistics Foundations., Management & Marketing Foundations, Economics Foundations, and/or Finance Foundations.
** Graduate professional experience courses do not count toward the credit requirements for completion of the degree program.
Advanced Investment Management
This course enables students to master modern portfolio theory by focusing on risk-return trade-off, investors' risk preferences, portfolio optimization, and index models. It addresses the implications of portfolio theory for the equilibrium structure of expected rates of return on risky assets, and covers other topics important for portfolio oversight — most notably, performance evaluation and active portfolio management.
Admission Requirements
Candidates for the online Accounting Master’s Degree must fulfill the following requirements:
- Candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution of higher education.
- Candidates must submit:
- A completed application for admission.
- A 500-word essay describing your career goals and why you want to pursue a master’s degree.
- A current résumé.
- Transcripts from all prior educational institutions attended.
- Two (2) professional letters of recommendation.
- MS in Accounting candidates must also participate in a pre-admission interview.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Accountants work hard to sustain the fiscal health of people and organizations. To do that, you have to find ways to sustain your own fiscal health as well. At Monroe, we do everything we can to make that a little easier.
Year after year, U.S. News & World Report has named Monroe one of the Best Value Schools in Regional Universities North. That’s because we offer competitive tuition and fees, manageable payment plans, and a financial aid office that will help you find every grant, scholarship, and loan for which you’re eligible.
If you’re already employed as a non-licensed accountant at one of our more than 400 partner organizations, you may even qualify for a corporate partnership grant that can cover up to 20% of your tuition. Both the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA) also offer scholarships specifically for aspiring CPAs.
Your Future Accounting Career
An Accounting Master’s Degree is the first step toward earning your CPA licensure. Not only will it fulfill the educational requirements mandated by many states (including New York), but earning your online MS in Accounting will also prepare you for the Uniform CPA Exam.
As a licensed CPA, you’ll have the authority to:
- Examine financial records to create budget reports and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws
- Conduct both internal and external audits
- Calculate tax returns for both individuals and corporations
- Prepare financial documents for individuals and corporations, including quarterly earnings reports and expense reports
- Conduct forensic accounting examinations to investigate fraud and help settle contract disputes
- Advise clients’ financial decisions, such as making recommendations to improve business operations, manage risk, or lower tax liabilities
These skills will qualify you for a range of advanced positions in publicly-traded corporations, privately-owned firms, nonprofit organizations, and federal, state, and local governments. Jobs for MS in Accounting graduates can include:
- Personal financial advisor
- Finance director
- Corporate accountant
- Tax accountant
- Forensic accountant
- Budget analyst
- Internal auditor
- Accounting manager
- Chief financial officer (CFO)
Our graduates have even secured positions at the Big Four accounting firms: KPMG, PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers), Deloitte, and Ernst & Young.
Professional Opportunities
Just like our on-campus students, online Accounting candidates can build their professional résumés at the same time that they earn their degrees. They can join Monroe’s many clubs and organizations to start building their professional network before they graduate:
- The Delta Mu Delta International Honor Society in Business — Delta Mu recognizes excellence in students working toward careers in business, offering members dozens of scholarship opportunities every year. Members can also connect with students and alumni around the world with peer-to-peer networking opportunities.
- The National Association of Black Accountants, Inc. (NABA) — With scholarship opportunities, regional student conferences, and an online career center, NABA offers Black business students multiple avenues to advance their careers.
The Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) — ALPFA offers students access to scholarship opportunities, workshops, and internship opportunities with hundreds of Fortune 1000 companies.
Discover What You Can Achieve
If you’ve been looking to take the next step in your accounting career, you’ve found it. Our online Master’s Degree in Accounting will give you both the skills and the confidence you’ll need to earn your licensure as a CPA.
Factsheet
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