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Accounting - M.S.A.

Discover how Kent State's Master of Science in Accounting degree can take your accounting career to the next level and equip you with the skills and knowledge necessary for success in the ever-evolving accounting industry.

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Earn Your Online Master’s in Accountancy 

Launch Your Career with Kent State’s Master’s in Accounting Online

When you choose to enroll in the master’s in accounting online program at Kent State, you are opening the door to many successful and fulfilling career opportunities. Graduates from our program pursue careers in the following:

  • Auditing
  • Taxation
  • Fraud investigation
  • Law enforcement
  • Investment banking
  • Management
  • Consulting

MSA graduates sit for a variety of professional certifications, such as CPA, CMA, CISA, CFE and CIA. The online M.S. in Accounting provides a great foundation for career advancement and growing your professional network.

Please refer to the most recent academic requirements for admission to the CPA exam issued by the applicable state, e.g., Accountancy Board of Ohio.

 

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Features of Our Online Accounting Master’s Program

At Kent State University, our online master’s in accounting gives you the opportunity to earn your degree at your own pace and with convenience from virtually anywhere.

Our online M.S. in Accounting is about much more than just debits and credits. The program promotes critical thinking, hands-on application of technology, communication skills and ethical decision making. In addition to experiencing personal and professional growth, our students will enjoy the following features of our online master’s degree in accounting:

  • A flexible approach
  • Outstanding faculty of leading executives and expert scholars
  • Cutting-edge curriculum
  • Ability to learn at your convenience
  • Thorough preparation for the CPA exam
  • Accounting degree not required
  • Ability to qualify to take CPA exam and more
  • Individual meetings with your advisors each semester
  • Networking opportunities with industry professionals
THE COMBINED BBA/MSA PROGRAM

Opportunities for double counting courses and provisional admission are provided to Kent State University undergraduate accounting students with outstanding records or individuals with exemplary professional credentials. Undergraduate students in or entering their senior year who have completed 105 semester hours and have a 3.2 or higher overall GPA and accounting major GPA (or undergraduate students in their junior year who have completed 90 semester hours with a 3.3 or higher overall GPA and accounting major GPA) may obtain provisional admission to the M.S. in Accounting program.

Five undergraduate courses are available as so-called “slash” courses: ACCT 43009, 43013, 43020, 43033 and 43043. The graduate-level equivalents are: ACCT 53009, 53013, 53020, 53033 and 53043. A student who is provisionally admitted takes the 53000 level courses to count as both BBA and MSA hours toward the respective degrees. A maximum of 9 hours may be counted toward both the BBA and MSA degrees. 

Program Information

Program Description

Full Description

The Master of Science in Accounting degree is for students interested in higher-level positions in banking, taxation, insurance or any company with a financial division. More than just focusing on debits and credits, the M.S.A. degree promotes critical thinking, hands-on application of technology, effective communication skills and ethical decision making. Graduates pursue careers in auditing, taxation, fraud investigation, law enforcement, investment banking, management and consulting. The flexible combination of required coursework in accounting and electives from a wide variety of business disciplines provides students with a strong foundation in accounting, as well as an understanding of the practical applications of the discipline across all facets of business.

Graduates of the M.S.A. degree meet the educational requirement to sit for a variety of professional certifications, including becoming a Certified Public Accountant1 (CPA) or Certified Management Accountant (CMA).

1

Please refer to the most recent academic requirements for admission to the CPA exam issued by the Accountancy Board of Ohio.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.

Admissions

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
  • Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
  • Minimum 3.000 accounting GPA, if applicable
  • Official transcript(s)
  • GMAT scores1 (effective for spring 2024 admission term, GMAT scores are no longer required)
  • Résumé
  • Goal statement
  • Two letters of recommendation 
  • English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning one of the following:
    • Minimum 550 TOEFL PBT score (paper-based version)
    • Minimum 79 TOEFL IBT score (internet-based version)
    • Minimum 77 MELAB score
    • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
    • Minimum 58 PTE score
    • Minimum 110 Duolingo English score
1

Submission of GMAT scores is waived for applicants with a recent (within five years) Kent State accounting degree and a minimum 3.200 accounting major GPA. GMAT waiver for applicants with a recent (within five years) non-Kent State degree is subject to approval by the Department of Accounting.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester
    • Application deadline:  July 1
  • Spring Semester
    • Application deadline: December 1
  • Summer Term
    • Application deadline: May 1

Applications received after these deadlines will be considered on a space-available basis.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Analyze, evaluate and report on complex accounting and economic transactions using the accounting framework.
  2. Apply research and analytical skills to solve accounting problems.
  3. Given an ethical dilemma in an accounting setting, analyze the issue, apply an ethical framework and develop a resolution.
  4. Effectively communicate using oral and written communication skills in a business setting.
  5. Assemble, cleanse and analyze the information provided by information systems, and prepare summary reports useful for business decision-making.
Coursework

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements
ACCT 53020ADVANCED FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING 13
ACCT 53033INCOME TAXATION II - ENTITY TAXATION 13
ACCT 63050ADVANCED ACCOUNTING ANALYTICS AND TECHNOLOGY 3
Accounting Electives, choose from the following:9-12
ACCT 53013
ADVANCED MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING 1
ACCT 53043
INTERNAL AUDIT AND FRAUD EXAMINATION 1
ACCT 63024
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AUDIT: CONTROLS AND ANALYTICS
ACCT 63025
ANALYSIS AND VALUATION OF BUSINESS USING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
ACCT 63031
ADVANCED AUDITING THEORY AND PRACTICE
ACCT 63045
TAX RESEARCH AND PLANNING
ACCT 63095
SPECIAL TOPICS IN ACCOUNTING
Approved Non-Accounting Business Electives, choose from the following: 26-9
Economics (ECON 60000 level) Elective Courses
Finance (FIN 60000 level) Elective Courses
Management and Information Systems (MIS 60000 level) Elective Courses
Marketing (MKTG 60000 level) Elective Courses
Culminating Requirement
ACCT 63022PROFESSIONAL ISSUES AND ETHICS IN ACCOUNTING 33
Minimum Total Credit Hours:30
1

Students who successfully completed ACCT 43013, ACCT 43020, ACCT 43033 and ACCT 43043 as a Kent State accounting undergraduate (or completed comparable classes in another accounting undergraduate program) will not take the comparable graduate courses ( ACCT 53013, ACCT 53020, ACCT 53033 and ACCT 53043) for the M.S.A. degree. Rather, they will work with their advisor to select a graduate accounting elective as a substitution for those courses.

2

Non-accounting electives must be selected in consultation with the M.S.A. program coordinator.

3

Students must complete a minimum 9 credit hours before taking ACCT 63022.

Graduation Requirements

  • Additional coursework may be required for the M.S.A. degree if the student does not have an undergraduate degree in accounting.
  • ACCT 63092 cannot be used to satisfy any requirement for the M.S.A. degree.
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • Fully online
Accreditation

AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries

Accountants and auditors

4.3%

about as fast as the average

1,436,100

number of jobs

$73,560

potential earnings

Financial and investment analysts, financial risk specialists, and financial specialists, all other

5.5%

faster than the average

487,800

number of jobs

$83,660

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Master’s in Accounting Online

Have questions for us? Here are some common questions we receive and answers to help.

What Is an Online Master’s in Accountancy?

A master’s in accounting online is a flexible graduate degree program in accountancy that allows you to pursue your degree at your own pace, and it also lets you enter a variety of career paths following graduation.

How Long Does It Take to Complete an Online Master's in Accounting Program?

With completion in as little as 51 credit hours, our online accounting master’s programs will get you prepared for your career quickly and efficiently. Students who possess an undergraduate accounting degree can finish the online M.S. in accounting in as few as two semesters.

Is an Online M.S. in Accounting as Rigorous as an On-Campus Program?

An online M.S. in accounting program allows students more freedom and flexibility to work at their own pace than an on-site program. Online degree programs are generally less demanding, but the coursework remains challenging and engaging.

Can I Pursue an Online Master's in Accounting While Working Full Time?

Absolutely! With successful planning and time management, an online master’s in accountancy can be earned while working a full-time job.

Are Online Master's in Accounting Programs Accredited?

The online MSA program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Completing your online master’s degree in accounting will also allow the opportunity to sit for a range of professional certifications. Available certifications include:

  • CPA
  • CMA
  • CISA
  • CFE
  • CIA

Graduates have the opportunity to qualify to take the CPA exam upon completion of the online accounting master’s program.

Choosing the Right Online M.S. in Accounting Program

Selecting the right online master’s degree in accounting is important. Consider which career path you are interested in pursuing with your degree and whether or not a combined BBA/MSA program might be a good fit for you.

 

 

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