Master's Degrees: MBA and MAcc
Accountants who wish to pursue master's degrees may enroll in a Master of Business Administration in Accounting program (MBA) or a Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program.
A master's degree is a postgraduate academic degree that is awarded for extensive study of a particular major or course. Master's degree programs can last between one to six years. To be eligible to pursue a master's degree, one must have already earned an undergraduate degree from a four-year college or university.
Those with an Accounting MBA or a MAcc will generally have a higher salary potential than accountants with only an Accounting Bachelor’s Degree or Associate’s degree in Accounting .
The Master’s Degree graduate would be most qualified for advancement into higher level management positions.
MBA in Accounting
MBA Accounting programs aim to optimize students' financial management skills within government, business and non-profit organizations.
Though classes differ slightly from accounting program to program, students can generally expect Accounting courses in an MBA program to include advanced study in Managerial Communications, Managerial Accounting, Managerial Decision Making, Strategic Planning, Issues in Corporate Taxation, Accounting Information Systems, International Business, Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting, Assurance and Risk Management and more.
MBA programs generally run two years. Many professionals choose to enroll in online accounting courses to earn their graduate degree.
Graduates of an Accounting MBA program can succeed in the following careers:
Master of Accountancy (MAcc)
Master of Accountancy (MAcc) degree programs are designed to prepare students to take their Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam.
The MAcc degree program also prepares students for a career in upper-level accounting positions in public, private or not-for-profit organizations. Programs usually run one year.
In addition to having a bachelor's degree, there are generally GPA, work experience and other requirements when enrolling in a MAcc program. These will vary at each school of accounting.
Accounting courses may differ depending on the program, but those in an Accounting Master’s degree program can expect to learn about Accounting Theory, Accounting Information Issues, Issues in Corporate Taxation, Executive Management, Human Resources Management, Budgeting, Organizational Development, Conflict Management, Strategic Planning, Information Management, Decision Making and more.
At completion of an accredited MAcc degree program, most students should have met their educational prerequisites to take the following certification exams:
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
- Certified Financial Manager (CFM)
- Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
Compare Accounting Master’s Degree and MBA Programs
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