Master of Accounting Online Degree Programs in Pennsylvania
Accounting is often called the “language of business,” which is why Master of Accounting online degree programs in Pennsylvania are becoming increasingly popular. Accountants prepare and examine financial records while also ensuring that financial records are accurate. Accountants are often responsible for filing taxes as well as financial documents with the state and federal government.
In 2016, there were over 52,500 accountants and auditors in the state of Pennsylvania, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average salary for an accountant in Pennsylvania was $73,500 in 2016, higher than the national average of $68,150 per year. Employment of accountants is expected to grow by 10 percent over the next decade due to complex tax and regulatory environments in the business world.
To become an accountant in Pennsylvania and in other states, an individual must have a college degree. To sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination, Pennsylvania requires that individual complete 150 credit hours of higher education. Because most bachelor’s degree programs are only 120-credit hours, additional education is required beyond a four-year degree. Master of Accounting online degree programs in Pennsylvania meet those requirements.
Penn State World Campus
Online
The Penn State World Campus online degrees allow individuals to seek leadership roles in their careers. Students learn from world-class faculty and study with others who are just as career-focused. The online programs allow working adults to achieve their higher education goals through flexible formats that let students attend class when it fits their schedule.
Master of Professional Accounting
As businesses face complex requirements, new tax laws take effect and the demand for services that are increasingly technical, the need for highly qualified accounting experts will also grow. The Master’s in Accounting online degree program in Pennsylvania offered at the Penn State World Campus opens doors to opportunities not only in accounting but across many industries. The degree program meets the 150-credit hour requirement to sit for the CPA examination in Pennsylvania. Courses required for the program may include:
- Accounting Information and Decision Systems
- Advanced UCC and Commercial Transactions
- Auditing Theory and Practice
- Business Tax Planning Theory and Practice
- Financial Reporting I
- Financial Statement Analysis II
- Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting
- Professional Responsibilities and Ethics in Accounting
- Strategic Cost Management
Students must also complete a capstone course in Forensic Accounting and Litigation Support. Tuition for the program is $930 per credit hour. Students who are taking 12 or more credits pay a flat fee of $11,160.
To apply for the program, students must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university. Students who do not have an undergraduate degree in accounting must have completed:
- Auditing
- Cost Accounting
- Federal Taxation I
- Financial and Managerial Accounting for Decision Making or Principles of Accounting I & II
- Intermediate Financial Accounting I & II
Students must provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended as well as official GMAT or GRE scores. Students must also provide their GPA from the final two years of undergraduate study.
Accreditations
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Contact
The Pennsylvania State University
128 Outreach Building
University Park PA 16802
Telephone: 800-252-3592
Email: pennstateonline@psu.edu
Saint Joseph’s University
Graduate
According to the Princeton Review, the business school at Saint Joseph University is one of the best in the country as are MBA programs at the school. The Master of Business Administration is ranked as 12th in the country by U.S. News & World Report. The online graduate business and online MBA are ranked in the top 100 schools of the country as well.
Master of Business Administration – MBA
Saint Joseph’s University offers a Master of Business Administration with an accounting concentration. The Master’s in Accounting degree program in Pennsylvania allows students to develop leadership skills and gain practical business knowledge in business as well as accounting. With full-time study, the degree can be completed in one to two years while it can be completed in under two years with part-time study. Courses required may include:
- Accounting, Business Analysis and Financial Reporting
- Business Analytics for MBA
- Contemporary Information Technologies
- Creation and Measurement of Shareholder Value
- Empowering Human Potential at Work or Excellence in Organizations
- Financial Management
- Financial Statement Analysis
- International Accounting Study Tour
- Managerial Economics
- Managing Work Organizations
- Marketing Concepts
- Marketing Strategy
- Research in Accounting
- Shareholder Value Management
- Tax Planning
- Topics in Accounting
To apply for the online program, students must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Applicants must provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended as well as official GRE or GMAT from within the past seven years. Two letters of recommendation, a professional resume and a personal statement are also required. Tuition for the program is $1,023 per credit hour.
Accreditation
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Contact
Christine Anderson
Saint Joseph’s University
5600 City Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19131
Telephone: 610-660-1690
Email: sjumba@sju.edu
Website: https://sju.edu/majors-programs/graduate-business/master-degrees/master-business-administration-mba
The University of Scranton
Graduate Education
The Graduate Education Department at the University of Scranton offers 29 master’s degree programs. The degrees provide individuals with the opportunity to move into leadership roles in their chosen field. Classes are led by faculty who are experts in their field which allows them to bring real-world experiences into the classroom.
Online Master of Accountancy
The online Master of Accounting degree program in Pennsylvania offered at the University of Scranton provides students with the hands-on skills necessary to become leaders in their profession. Students master skills in communication as well as the ethical components of the account field. The degree program has been ranked as one of the top accounting programs in the country. Courses are taught in the Jesuit method, so graduates have strong ethics and a commitment to social responsibility. Courses required may include:
- Accounting Ethics: The Foundation of the Profession
- Accounting Integration and Configuration*
- Advanced Auditing*
- Advanced Taxation & Regulation*
- Contemporary Financial Accounting Topics
- Contemporary Managerial Accounting Topics*
- Effective Accounting Communication
- Financial Management
- Financial Reporting and Research*
- Financial Reporting Fraud Detection & Prevention
- Intermediate Accounting I, II & III
- International Accounting*
- Management Economics
- Occupational Fraud and Risk*
*Electives – students choose four courses
Students must also complete a capstone course on Applied Accounting Research.
Accreditation
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Contact
University of Scranton
Scranton PA 18510
Telephone: 866-373-9547
Related Resource: 50 Great Small Colleges for an Accounting and Finance Degree 2017
This list will be a good start for students looking for an accounting degree program in Pennsylvania. Students who successfully complete Master’s in Accounting degree programs in Pennsylvania are qualified for leadership positions in the field.
