Master of Science in Accounting
Learn to Lead in the Complex Field of Accounting
Accepts Non-Accounting Students
Career-Focused Curriculum
Industry-Experienced Faculty
Learn More Today
Complete the form to learn more about this program.
- Duration 2 years
- Cost per Credit $775
- Credit Hours 30
Program Benefits
- CPA exam preparation
- Complete the coursework required for licensure in most states
- Master the in-demand skills most desired by top accounting firms, government agencies, and more
Apply Your Skills and Prepare for Your CPA
Dive deep into the numbers to ensure compliance, make data-driven decisions, and provide ethical accounting leadership in any public, private, or government organization with the Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) from Utica College.
Combined with a typical undergraduate accounting degree, you’ll complete 33 credit hours in accounting and 36 general business credits, helping you meet the academic course requirements for licensure as a CPA in most states.
Career Outlook: Earn up to $208,000 Annually
As a graduate of Utica College’s online MSA program, you’ll be prepared to apply what you learn in the public, private, or government sector. With comprehensive financial knowledge and accounting skills, you’ll be equipped to fill in-demand roles like Accountant, Financial Analyst, Controller and Financial Manager—as well as earn up to $208,000 a year.1
Jobs and Income
Curriculum
Gain essential accounting skills as you explore financial models, quantitative analysis, corporate tax issues, and more. Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared to conduct financial and compliance audits, and interpret and prepare financial statements, reports, budgets, analyses, and forecasts. Coursework also prepares you to take the CPA exam.
Explore CoursesAdmission Requirements
To apply for the online M.S. in Accounting, you’ll need the following:
- Completed application
- 2.70 minimum GPA on a 4.0 scale
- B.S. in Accounting
- A non-accounting bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution is acceptable as long as the following course prerequisites are met:
- At least 30 credit hours in business courses, including microeconomics, statistics, and finance
- At least 18 credit hours in accounting courses, including intermediate accounting I and II, a tax accounting course, and auditing
Tuition and Financial Aid
This 30-credit program costs $775 per credit hour. Utica College is dedicated to making an advanced education accessible and affordable and offers many avenues for financial aid.
Learn MoreFaculty Spotlight: Learn From Accounting Experts
Get to know our faculty of accounting professionals with decades of experience working in a variety of positions within the financial sector as they share their perspective and expertise. Their industry-tested insights can help you succeed as you enter the field.
Glen A. Hansen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Accounting
Glen Hansen, Ph.D., MBA, is Associate Professor of Accounting and coordinator of the on-campus Accounting program at Utica College. He has taught finance, accounting, and statistics at Brigham Young University, the University of Rochester, Penn State University, Baruch College, and Hunter College.
Dr. Hansen has worked in the financial industry designing accounting-based investment strategies for Ziff Brothers Investments, Battenkill Asset Management, and Morgan Stanley. He is currently a member of Utica College’s Retention and Completion Task Force and of the Business Department Business Leadership team.
Hansen has published finance and accounting articles in several international journals and a book chapter in the Handbook of Security Analyst Forecasting and Asset Allocation. His current research focuses on how managers use their discretion to influence accounting earnings and other financial statement accounts. Hansen has applied this research primarily in the banking industry.
Honors and Distinctions
- Ph.D. in Business Administration and M.S. in Applied Economics, University of Rochester
- MBA, Brigham Young University
- B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University
Atasi Basu, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Accounting
Atasi Basu, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Accounting who joined the Utica College faculty in 2005. With more than 10 years of college teaching experience, Basu has taught at Syracuse University, Le Moyne College, Purdue University, and the Indian Institute of Technology.
Basu’s primary research interests include financial meltdown effects on the consumer discretionary sector, allocation of service department costs, retail competition on the Salop Circle, and the effects on budgets as demands fluctuate.
Honors and Distinctions
- Ph.D. in accounting from Syracuse University
- Ph.D. in statistics from Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, India
- M.S. in statistics from Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, India
- Presented her published paper “Impact of Financial Meltdown on Consumer Discretionary Sector” at the Business Research Consortium in April 2016
- Presented parts of a paper she wrote jointly with C.A. Ingene, “Retail Competition on Salop Circle Under Linear Demand,” at several thought-leadership conferences around the world:
- April 2016 BBCRST (Buffalo, Binghamton, Cornell, Rochester, Syracuse, and Toronto) Conference at Rochester University
- June 2016 Informs Marketing Science Conference in Shanghai, China
- November 2016 North American Meetings of the Regional Science Association International in Minneapolis
- June 2017 Informs Marketing Science Conference in Los Angeles
Selected Publications
- Basu, A.K. and Heian, J.B. (2012). A Study of Environmental Capital Expenditures and TRI in Petroleum Refining Industry. International Research Journal of Global Business Development, Vol. 1, No. 1, 35–40
- Basu, A.K., Elder, R., and Onsi, M. (2011). Reported Earnings, Auditor’s Opinion, and Compensation: Theory and Evidence. Accounting and Business Research, Vol. 42, Issue 1, 29–48
- Basu, A.K. (2010). A Study of Environmental Capital Expenditures and TRI. International Journal of Global Business and Economics, Vol. 3, No. 1, 136–143, 2010
- Basu, A.K. (2009). Corporate Environmental Performance: A Proposal for Standards. Journal of Global Business Development, Vol. 2, No. 1, 155–162
Frequently Asked Questions
Advancing your life and career with an online degree comes with lots of questions, and we want to ensure your search for answers is effortless. If you have a question we haven’t covered, call (866) 295-3106 to speak with an enrollment manager.
The online program is designed for professionals who work full-time and is offered part-time, which allows you to achieve a realistic balance between work, school, and personal responsibilities and gives you the opportunity to fully absorb the information in your coursework. To see the curriculum, view our courses page.
The first step is to start your online application. Then, you’ll need to gather official transcripts, one letter of recommendation, a personal statement, and a résumé. Read more about admission to the M.S. in Accounting.
No, work experience is not required for admission to the M.S. in Accounting. Read more about admission to the M.S. in Accounting.
You’ll complete 8 major-related course requirements for the M.S. in Accounting, and then choose two of your own elective courses to finish the remaining credit requirements. Read more about the curriculum here.
While the M.S. in Accounting does not offer specializations, you have the opportunity to choose two elective courses that pertain to your ideal career and interests. Read more about the curriculum here.
As you work through the M.S. in Accounting program, you’ll be preparing to sit for the CPA exam and completing the 30 hours of coursework required for CPA licensure* in most states. You should check the CPA licensure requirements of your state. Learn more about this program’s curriculum.
*View this grid to verify the licensure requirements in the state in which you plan to practice.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (April 12, 2019). Financial Managers. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved on May 21, 2019, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/financial-managers.htm