Introduction to Accounting
There are many names for US accounting master's degrees, but the actual coursework is almost identical, including:
Master of Science in Accounting (MSA)
Master of Accountancy (MACC)
Master of Accounting Science (MAS)
Master of Professional Accounting (MPA), etc.
As the first country to offer specialized master's education in accounting, the US has a very mature and complete training system.
The duration of accounting master’s programs at US institutions ranges from 1 to 2 years. Most require only 1 year, with the shortest being just 9–10 months.
The core curriculum includes financial statement analysis, managerial accounting, financial analysis, auditing, and tax law. Many schools also offer electives and concentrations in areas like auditing and taxation.
Career Prospects in Accounting
Accounting is highly practical, and compared to other business majors like finance or human resources, its employment prospects are almost the best. Future careers include:
•Working in accounting firms, primarily the Big Four—PwC, EY, KPMG, and Deloitte—as well as other accounting firms. Work in these firms generally falls into three areas: Auditing, Tax, and Financial Advisory.
•Traditional corporate finance roles, including bookkeeping and financial statement reporting.
•Financial Analyst, involving budgeting, financial planning and forecasting, and financial evaluation.
•Internal Audit. Internal audit is an independent function separate from the finance department, part of corporate risk management, responsible for auditing internal processes and financial compliance.
•Corporate Tax, handling internal tax matters; multinational corporations have especially high demand for tax work.
Application Background Requirements
For applying to US accounting master's programs, top schools have high requirements for standardized test scores. Generally, a GPA of 3.0 and TOEFL 80 or 100+ are minimum requirements, but due to intense competition, higher scores are often needed. A GMAT 700+ and TOEFL 100+ will make an applicant more competitive.
When applying to US accounting master's programs, most schools have restrictions on undergraduate background, requiring an accounting or business-related major. For schools without such restrictions, most require prerequisite courses, divided into two categories: math & economics, and accounting.
Math and economics includes calculus, statistics, economics, finance, quantitative methods, business statistics, etc.
Accounting includes intermediate accounting, cost accounting, accounting information systems, principles of accounting, financial accounting, managerial accounting, auditing, and tax law.
Recommended Accounting Programs
With many US universities offering accounting master's programs, there is a wide range of choices. Here, CheersYou（清柚教育） recommends some popular accounting master's programs for reference.
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin was the first to offer an accounting master's program and has maintained a leading position.
UT Austin’s accounting master's program has three tracks. The Traditional MPA is open to applicants from all backgrounds. The Integrated MPA and ECON-MPA are for current UT students; the Integrated MPA is designed for undergraduate business students, and the ECON-MPA is a combined bachelor’s/master’s track for students majoring in economics and pursuing an accounting master's.
International student application deadline: January 5, 2020
US student application deadline: March 31, 2020
Prerequisite courses for UT Austin's MPA program
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
UIUC offers two accounting master's programs: MAS (Master of Accounting Science) and MSA (Master of Science in Accountancy).
The MAS program is only open to US-educated students. The MSA is a one-year program starting each June. Both are STEM-designated accounting master's programs, giving students a total of 36 months of OPT, a significant advantage for international employment.
International student deadline: February 1, 2020
US student deadline: March 1, 2020
UIUC's MAS program is not open to non-US undergraduates
University of Southern California
USC's accounting program is a one-year program that emphasizes applying disciplinary knowledge to accounting or taxation. It also develops critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as an understanding of the strategic role of accounting in business organizations and society.
International student deadline: January 15, 2020
US student deadline: March 31, 2020
USC ranks among the top US accounting master's programs
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Michigan's Ross School of Business offers a one-year accounting master's program. Not only does it boast a high CPA pass rate, but students can also customize one-third of their coursework through renowned interdisciplinary electives, gaining a comprehensive understanding of accounting in various business areas. Outside the classroom, students have the opportunity to participate in an EY public policy symposium in Washington, D.C.
International student deadline: March 1, 2020
US student deadline: May 1, 2020
The Big Four favor graduates from Michigan's accounting program
New York University
Founded in 1831, NYU is one of the largest private universities in the US. Its Stern School of Business is world-renowned for exceptional academic achievements in economics, business, and management.
NYU's one-year accounting master's program requires 30 credits, with most courses meeting CPA exam requirements. It offers numerous specializations such as auditing and financial analysis for students to choose from.
International student deadline: November 15, 2019
US student deadline: June 1, 2020
NYU's accounting master's curriculum covers many specializations
Appendix: 2019 U.S.News Accounting Master's Program Rankings
