Master of Science in Accounting

As a part of Strayer Universities Masters Degree Programs, the Master's Degree in Accounting provides students with the advanced accounting competencies needed to excel in careers as professional accountants in industry, government, and non-profit organizations. Students will practice applying accounting theory and methods, and investigate emerging trends in the accounting field. They will also gain much of the academic background necessary to pursue certification in public accounting (CPA) and management accounting (CMA). Upon completion of the Master's of Accounting, students will have gained both functional and managerial skills needed to advance their careers.

Key Learning Objectives

Accounting Management: Apply theoretical constructs related to accounting practices and explain the resulting impact on domestic and global business operations.
Business Concepts: Demonstrate an understanding of business concepts within an organization to analyze, plan, and implement the information requirements of an organization.
Economic Concepts: Apply relevant economic theory to business problems and develop general principles that can be applied to the business decision-making process.
Analysis: Demonstrate the ability to analyze accounting and finance information and systems, comprehend its value, uses, and limitations, and communicate the information effectively to upper level management.
Decision Making: Prepare, analyze and interpret internal managerial accounting data and reports to make relevant business decisions.
Ethics: Develop ethical decision-making abilities that support business practices, policies, procedures, and integrity within an organization.
Communication: Effectively use communication skills in a business environment to convey accounting policies, practices, and procedures throughout the organization.
Technology: Use technology to apply and research accounting concepts.

Concentrations

The master of accounting degree provides a broad accounting skill set with emphasis on advanced accounting principles, theoretical concepts, and modern quantitative methods essential for professional accountants and the practical application of accounting concepts to a business. Students must choose one of the following concentrations:

Accounting Information Systems

In the Accounting Information Systems concentration, students explore the development, implementation and auditing of the computer-based systems used to manage and track business transactions. Students also study how foreign accounting systems differ from U.S. systems and how system implementations may vary.

Accounting Information Systems graduates will gain additional competencies necessary to audit financial systems for data integrity, establish proper internal controls over IT applications, and understand decision-making systems required by organizational management.
Controllership

The concentration in Controllership offers deeper advanced concepts and practices in managerial accounting and auditing, financial accounting and reporting, cash and resource planning, analysis and decision making concepts, and systems and internal control management.

Controllership concentration graduates will gain additional competencies necessary for a managing the accounting and financial reporting function within an organization. Graduates of this program may be interested in corporate accounting positions such as: Controller, Assistant Controller, Financial Accounting & Reporting Manager, and Accounting Manager.
Public Accounting

In the Public Accounting concentration, students explore advanced accounting topics while also preparing to become a professional in a public accounting firm. The courses are aligned with the knowledge areas that public accountants are expected to possess related to regulation, auditing, the business environment, and financial accounting and reporting.

Public Accounting concentration graduates will gain additional competencies necessary to work in public accounting or take on the responsibilities of a certified public accountant in any sector. The MSAC-PA program alone does not meet the requirements to obtain licensure to be a CPA. Check with your state board of accountancy for the specific requirements for your state.

Students in NC must have completed a bachelor's degree in accounting in order to be admitted into this concentration
Taxation

In the Taxation concentration, students will learn to research and apply complex tax laws and practices that affect both individuals and organizations. They will also explore the tax systems of other countries and their impact on cross-border transactions.

Taxation concentration graduates will gain additional competencies necessary for tax management, analysis, and preparation in any sector.

Program Information

Program Length

Strayer University students are mostly working adults who earn their degrees at their own pace and on their own schedule. Most students attend part-time, and the normal time to complete this program is 4.5 years.

On-Time Graduation Rate

86% of our students who graduated from this program between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010, did so within 4.5 years.

Median Loan Debt

For all students completing this program between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010, the median cumulative loan debt for each of the following are:

Federal student loans: $52,700
Private loans: $0
Institutional finance loans: $0

Note: This preliminary median loan data is pending confirmation from the U.S. Department of Education. It reflects total debt, including costs of living, while the median loan amount prescribed under the Department’s gainful employment regulations excludes such costs of living.

Program Costs

Cost information for Strayer University programs is available at http://www.strayer.edu/tuition_and_fees. The tuition and fees for the entire program, assuming current tuition rates, are $27,740. The total estimated cost for books and supplies for the entire program is $1,800. Strayer University does not offer on-campus housing.

Occupations

The following U.S. Department of Labor Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Codes and occupational titles are disclosed pursuant to U.S. Department of Education regulations, and correspond to the U.S. Department of Education Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Code for this program.

Title	O*Net Link	SOC Code
Financial Managers	http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/11-3031.00	11-3031.00
Treasurers and Controllers	http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/11-3031.01	11-3031.01
Financial Managers, Branch or Department	http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/11-3031.02	11-3031.02
Accountants and Auditors	http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/13-2011.00	13-2011.00
Accountants	http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/13-2011.01	13-2011.01
Auditors	http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/13-2011.02	13-2011.02
Budget Analysts	http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/13-2031.00	13-2031.00
Financial Analysts	http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/13-2051.00	13-2051.00

Disclaimer: Credits, degrees, certificates and diplomas earned from Strayer University do not automatically qualify the holder to participate in professional certification examinations to practice accounting professions in a particular state. Persons interested in practicing a regulated profession such as the Certified Public Accountant should contact the appropriate state regulatory agency in the state where you hope to work. Please click here to learn more about professional licensure. Notice to CPA Exam Candidates: Completion of a Strayer University program, to include the concentration in Public Accounting in the Master of Science in Accounting degree, does not guarantee a student will pass the CPA Examination. In order to apply for licensure as a CPA in any U.S. jurisdiction (the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands), a candidate must pass the Uniform CPA Examination. However, passing the exam alone is not enough to obtain CPA licensure in most states. Requirements vary by state and can be difficult to understand. For further information about the CPA Examination or how to apply to take the CPA Examination, please call 1-800-CPA-Exam (1-800-272-3926) toll free. For additional information on CPA licensure, go to http://www.nasbatools.com and click the "Tools for Licensure" tab at the top.

Academic Programs