Accounting Master's Programs in the United States

Abstract

The U.S. accounting graduate education has evolved considerably over the last few years and offers a plethora of accounting master’s programs. The Department of Accountancy at the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois has a rich tradition of excellence in graduate accounting education, awarding its first master’s degree in 1922, and remaining at the forefront of accounting education ever since. Gies is a top-three business school for graduate accounting, and the accounting faculty is #1 in the BYU accounting research ranking. It is one of the largest suppliers of leaders of the accounting profession and among its graduates are legions of CFOs, accounting firm partners, and entrepreneurs. Graduates of Gies accounting programs have tremendously successful careers, and the STEM designation provides international students an opportunity to work in the U.S. for 36 months after graduation, and a competitive advantage.

As the academic director of the MSA program at Gies, and faculty members with many years of experience in the graduate accounting field, we are in a unique position to share our knowledge and observations with you. Our goal is to guide you through the process of assessing US accounting master's programs, explain the general admission requirements, and provide tips for a successful application. We conclude the editorial with an example of graduate accounting programs offered by the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois.