What can you expect from an MS in Accounting program?

Walden’s online accounting master’s degree program is designed to help you improve your analytical abilities and understand accounting in the context of today’s legal and regulatory environment. An MS in Accounting degree helps prepare you to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam and a number of other professional accounting certifications, and positions you for a rewarding career in the field. Earning your degree through this program can help you prepare for a variety of accounting career options, including financial accounting, compliance auditing, cost accounting, external auditing, and IT auditing.

Why should you choose an accredited accounting program?

When it comes to finding a high-quality accounting program, you should look for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Walden’s MS in Accounting program has received ACBSP’s Specialized Accounting Accreditation, which reaffirms the quality of the university’s program and support services, as well as our commitment to continuous assessment and improvement. Earning a degree from an ACBSP-accredited program can better prepare you to compete and succeed in the global marketplace. Employers recognize the value of graduates of a program with educational standards modeled on the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, used by businesses, government, and other organizations as a measure of quality.

Why should you pursue a master’s degree in accounting?

Earning your MS in Accounting is a great choice if you’re looking to further your career in finance. That’s because having a master’s enhances your résumé and can open a wide range of opportunities in your accounting career. In addition, if you have earned a BS in Accounting, you will have completed 120 credit hours that can be applied toward the 150 you’ll need to be eligible to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam and obtain a CPA license. A master’s in accounting can get you the rest of the way there, giving you the other 30 credit hours you need to take the CPA licensing exam. Whether you’re looking to prepare for the CPA exam or pursue other accounting jobs, earning a master’s in accounting can help you transition to the next phase of your career.

What does the Certified Public Account (CPA) exam entail?

The CPA exam is divided into four sections, each of which takes four hours to complete. The sections cover the topics of Auditing and Attestation, Business Environment and Concepts, Financial Accounting and Reporting, and Regulation. In order to assess your knowledge of accounting and your ability to apply that knowledge to real-world situations, the CPA exam measures four types of skills, adapted from Bloom’s Taxonomy. The four types of skills measured, from most basic to most complex, are: Remembering and understanding: The perception and comprehension of the significance of an area utilizing knowledge gained Application: The use or demonstration of knowledge, concepts, or techniques Analysis: The examination and study of the interrelationships of separate areas in order to identify causes and find evidence to support inferences Evaluation: The examination or assessment of problems, and the use of judgement to draw conclusions To help you prepare for the CPA exam, Walden University’s MS in Accounting program offers a capstone course that includes simulated CPA test questions.

What’s another role in the field that earning an MS in Accounting can prepare you for?

While most tend to associate a master’s in accounting with a career as an accountant, another interesting option is the role of auditor. What’s the difference between the two? While an accountant prepares financial records, an auditor examines them. Auditors play an essential role in both business and government, including reviewing internal controls and examining financial records for errors and compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.

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MS in Accounting

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Advance your analytical and financial decision-making skills and stay current on challenges in the field with a master’s in accounting.

Next start dates

Course-Based Courses with a set schedule January 11, 2021

Accreditations

ACBSP Accredited

Transfer Credits

Up to 15 Credits

Explore our Online MS in Accounting

Whether you are preparing for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam,¹ exploring other accounting-related certifications, or seeking to begin or move ahead in a career in accounting, pursuing your master’s in accounting can help you advance in the field.

Walden University’s online master’s in accounting explores advanced accounting principles to help improve your analytic and financial decision-making and prepare you to address today’s accounting challenges. Designed to help you stay current in a rapidly changing profession, the master of science in accounting program covers subjects relevant to the field, such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, recent regulatory decisions by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and other emerging topics and trends.

Embedded Graduate-Level Certificate

Receive a graduate-level certificate after successfully completing the first four courses in the program, giving you a valuable credential while you work toward completing your online MS in Accounting.

An ACBSP-Accredited Program

ACBSP - Accredited in Accounting logoWalden University’s MS in Accounting program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) and has earned the organization’s Specialized Accounting Accreditation. Key benefits of ACBSP accreditation are:

Validation that your program meets nationally recognized standards of quality endorsed by businesses, government, and other organizations.
Assurance that your program can provide you with the skills you need to compete in today’s global marketplace.
Recognition by employers, graduate schools, and regulatory organizations.

Program Savings

Speak with an Enrollment Specialist to learn about our current tuition savings.

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Specializations

Accounting for the Professional

This specialization provides accounting theories, current trends and ideas in the accounting industry, and techniques needed to manage regulatory compliance, business risk, and the future of an organization.

Accounting with CPA Emphasis

This specialization is designed to help prepare students for the CPA exam as well as the CPA profession.

Self-Designed

The Self-Designed specialization allows you to investigate industries and technical accounting areas that might not otherwise be readily accessible.

Admission Requirements

Program Admission Considerations: A bachelor's degree or higher.

General Admission Requirements: Completed online application and transcripts. Please note that the materials you are required to submit may vary depending on the academic program to which you apply. More information for international applicants.

Learning Outcome

Graduates of the online MS in Accounting program will be prepared to:

Assess the impact of managerial decisions in organizational contexts using research techniques and results.
Communicate effectively about accounting and business practices, demonstrating knowledge of and respect for a variety of audiences.
Effectively employ quantitative and analytical skills essential in the accounting profession.
Construct alternative solutions to unique accounting situations and challenges.

Evaluate accounting and business practices from ethical, legal, and regulatory perspectives, considering diverse stakeholders and competing interests.
Appraise the mission-critical role the accounting professional has as an active partner in supporting the goals and needs of the organization.
Evaluate opportunities accounting professionals have to promote sustainable, socially aware organizations.

Career Impact

Walden’s MS in Accounting offers a foundation from which to pursue career options in such areas as:

Compliance auditing
Cost accounting
External auditing
IT auditing

Governmental accounting
Management accounting
Private accounting
Public accounting

Testimonials

The whole Walden experience was so smooth that this was the best of the three degrees I have obtained.

Peter Inserra MS in Accounting Graduate

The flexibility of working and studying without having to stop work or leave family or my country was a major reason I chose Walden.

Susan Aforonwa MS in Accounting Graduate

Resource Articles

Put Your Accounting Master’s to Work as a Forensic Accountant

Resource Articles

Information to Consider if You’re Earning a Master’s in Accounting

Walden News // Nov 18, 2020

Walden University’s School of Management Earns Performance Excellence Award

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MS in Accounting