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Industry Certification & License Prep
Emergency Management
Information Technology
Teaching and Learning
Colorado State University Global
Industry Certification & License Prep
Emergency Management
Information Technology
Teaching and Learning
CSU Global’s 30-credit online master of professional accounting ranks #3 on the Best Online Masters in Accounting of 2023 by Online Masters Colleges. Accredited by the ACBSP, this program prepares graduates for key industry exams, including CPA, CMA, CIA, CFE, FSAC, and CFA.
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Our online master of professional accounting degree is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) and includes 24 credits of required coursework and six credits of track-specific emphasis coursework:
By completing your master of professional accounting online at CSU Global, you’ll meet the educational requirements to prepare for careers in professional accounting, the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) academic requirements, and other accounting-related professional license examinations.
Dual enrollment/accelerated master’s program: Undergraduate accounting majors can earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in a single, combined program. This dual enrollment option helps qualified students prepare for careers in accounting and may also meet the education requirements for the CPA exam and other professional licenses.
CSU Global’s accredited online Master of Professional Accounting Degree requires the completion of 24 credits of core coursework and 6 credits of emphasis coursework.
In addition to CSU Global’s institutional graduate admission standards, students seeking admission to the Master’s in Professional Accounting program must have an undergraduate degree with a major or concentration in accounting, which includes a minimum of 21 credit hours of upper-division accounting coursework. If this requirement is not met, students can seek admission with the program chair’s approval as long as they meet one of the following conditions:
Provisionally admitted students must complete the above coursework within 12 months of starting and maintain a 3.0 GPA without receiving a grade lower than a C in any coursework.
The prerequisite coursework is designed to prepare students for the program. Students seeking to become CPAs may need to take additional courses to meet state requirements. Other courses may need to be taken to comply with the prerequisites of some electives.
* Master’s Plus – Some Master of Professional Accounting students may also be required to take BUS500 and/or RES501 as part of their coursework if they have an undergraduate GPA below 3.00/do not earn an accredited ACBSP-degree in business courses and/or accounting, finance, or business statistics. In this case, the degree is 33 credits.
** Students who do not have a previous degree from an an ACBSP-accredited program must complete BUS500 before completing other program requirements. Once the undergraduate program evaluation is completed, students whose prior degree does not meet the requirements will complete BUS500, rather than RES500 or RES501. Provisionally admitted students whose undergraduate degree meets the requirements will complete RES500 or RES501, rather than BUS500.
Students who meet one of the above conditions but do not have prerequisite CSU Global coursework (including ACT350, ACT360, ACT406, ACT450, ACT460, and ACT470), or its equivalent are provisionally admitted to the program.
Data Analytics
The Data Analytics Emphasis is designed for those who want to acquire advanced analytical skills in addition to having in-depth accounting knowledge. Using various data analytics tools, students learn how to collect and categorize voluminous data as well as how to analyze and prioritize relevant data to make them useful for decision-making.
Data Analytics is a skill that can apply to many facets of accounting including taxation, auditing, consulting, and risk management. Hence, it is important for accountants who work or plan to work in these areas to know how to undertake and analyze data analytics-related activities. Students in the Master of Professional Accounting who select this emphasis with be equipped with such versatile and valuable skills by the end of their coursework. Students declaring Data Analytics Emphasis should have prior coursework and/or experience in statistics and basic programming.
Courses in the Data Analytics emphasis include:
Fraud Investigations & Forensic Accounting
Increased occurrences and awareness of fraudulent activities have resulted in increased demand for fraud investigators and forensic accountants. Forensic accounting extends beyond uncovering and investigating fraud. Forensic accountants utilize their accounting skills to provide investigative, litigation, and valuation support in cases involving financial statement fraud, mergers and acquisitions, bankruptcy and insolvency, and divorce. Consequently, forensic accountants can work in public accounting, consulting, and forensic accounting service firms. Forensic accountants can also provide expert services to lawyers, law enforcement agencies, insurance companies, governmental entities, non-profit organizations, and financial institutions.
Students who select this emphasis may be interested in obtaining the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) designation. CSU Global does not provide or prepare students for the CFE designation.
Courses in the Fraud Investigations & Forensic Emphasis include:
Auditing & Assurance
Auditing and assurance service is a vital accounting niche. Auditors play important roles in the financial reporting process. Audit and assurance service informs users by painting a true picture of where an organization’s financial information stands, providing relevant insights about financial and non-financial information, changes that are needed as well as how the changes happen so users can make sound decisions. The emphasis is designed for students interested in pursuing careers in internal audit, assurance services, and information technology auditing. Students will learn how to evaluate internal controls and best practices in auditing using computer-based accounting systems.
Students who select this emphasis can further benefit by obtaining the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) or Certified Information Systems Auditor(CISA) designation. CSUGlobal does not provide or prepare students for the CIA or CISA designation.
Courses in the Auditing & Assurance Emphasis include:
Taxation Emphasis
The taxation emphasis builds on students’ previous conceptual understanding of taxation, awareness of tax professionals’ responsibilities, technical competence as tax professionals, and understanding of tax laws and policies. Students will also learn tax research tools and policies.
Tax professionals are in demand in public accounting, corporations, and governmental entities. Students who select this emphasis can further benefit by earning the Enrolled Agent designation. CSU Global does not provide or prepare students for the Enrolled Agent Designation.
Courses in the Taxation Emphasis include:
Professional Accounting
This emphasis is designed for students who want to take diverse courses for career growth or for meeting the education requirements of the CPA and other professional licenses examinations. In addition to the eight required core courses, students can select two courses from the following list.
Courses in the Professional Accounting Emphasis include:
*ACT595 is an optional course that will provide students with practical experience in accounting. This course may not be available in all states; see the State Specific Authorization Policy under Admissions Policies.
As a not-for-profit public university, our goal at CSU Global is to make your online tuition cost as affordable as possible. We offer low-cost online degree tuition rates without taking anything away from the quality of the education you receive. We also lock in that low tuition rate with our tuition guarantee, and we provide additional discounted tuition rates for members of the armed forces and employees of our corporate affiliate partners.
Learn more about CSU Global tuition rates, and explore financial aid options available that can help cover the cost of your education.
In addition to the comprehensive knowledge that you’ll earn through a degree, industry certifications are an excellent way to demonstrate your proficiency in a specific area. As you complete your Master’s in Professional Accounting, you will be prepared to take several industry-recognized exams:
The Accelerated Master’s Program (AMP) allows motivated accounting students to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in one streamlined program. By replacing two upper-division undergraduate courses with advanced graduate courses, students can begin earning graduate credits while completing their bachelor’s degree, setting them up for a head start on higher-level and higher-paying roles in accounting.
This program not only meets educational requirements for careers in professional accounting but may also satisfy the academic standards needed to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam and other licensing exams. Completing both degrees requires a total of 144 credits, with the master’s portion totaling 24 credits. While the AMP covers key requirements for the CPA exam, some students may need to complete additional courses to meet state-specific licensing requirements. Speak to your success counselor for complete program details.
CSU Global is proud to offer affordable, reputable programs that have received recognition for their quality, value, and more. Click here to learn more about our rankings and acknowledgments.
Your Master's in Professional Accounting from CSU Global is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.
Employment of Financial Manager is projected to grow 17 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.
According to the BLS, the average annual salary for Financial Managers in 2021 was over $131k.
The top three titles as reported by CSU Global’s Master’s Degree in Accounting include: Accountant/Auditor, Financial Manager and Bookkeeper
A lot of the master's programs that had initially accepted me were not willing to work around my schedule. CSU Global gave me the opportunity to achieve my master's while working full time and challenging me educationally. This enables me to obtain my CPA with the required amount of units while having pushed me to my full capabilities in my work/home life.
Ruben Pekary
M.S. in Professional Accounting
Institutional accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) means your degree comes from a top-quality, trusted university.
