Accounting (MS)

Who should apply?

Mason’s online accounting degree is designed for students seeking flexibility in their schedule and working professionals looking to continue their career while attending graduate school.

Why choose George Mason?

• Students enrolled in the program can complete their graduate degree in as little as 11 months. Part-time, the program is two years.
• Online accounting courses are offered in a module format, allowing students to enroll in one or two courses every eight weeks.
• The average starting salary of a Mason MSA graduate is $10,738 more than those with only a BS in Accounting.
• 64% of Mason MS in Accounting graduates had secured a job by the time of their graduation.
• 71% of Mason MS in Accounting graduates secured a position related to their academic or career during their time in the MS in Accounting program.
• Designed to assist you in gaining professional accounting skills in the competitive global arena, the MSA program incorporates a one-week international study tour, or global residency, led by an MSA professor. Previous residencies have taken place in Prague, London, and Frankfurt.
• This program is accredited by AACSB International – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Program requirements are subject to change; please refer to the Mason Course Catalog for the most up-to-date requirements.

Requirements: 30 total

• 15 credits required courses
• 15 credits elective courses

The online format gives you the flexibility to complete the program in your own time.

All courses are delivered asynchronously and elective offerings may vary slightly due to faculty availability.

Required Courses

• ACCT 690 Professional Accounting Colloquium | 3 credits
• ACCT 651 Advanced Issues in Taxation | 3 credits
• ACCT 633 Advanced Issues in Financial Accounting | 3 credits
• ACCT 636 Fraud Examination | 3 credits
• ACCT 795 Global Accounting Environment | 3 credits*

*All students participating in the online program will be required to complete ACCT 795, which includes a one-week global residency abroad.

Elective Courses

Electives may be chosen from any 600- or 700-level ACCT course that does not duplicate coursework taken as an undergraduate.

• ACCT 611 Advanced Managerial Accounting | 3 credits
• ACCT 672 Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting | 3 credits
• ACCT 695 Graduate Field Experience | 1-3 credits
• ACCT 701 Business Valuation | 3 credits
• ACCT 737 Fraud and the Law | 3 credits
• ACCT 738 Advanced Topics in Fraud | 3 credits
• ACCT 742 Governance and Ethics | 3 credits
• ACCT 772 Federal Financial Reporting | 3 credits

Please note that students are responsible for airfare to and from the country during the required week-long global residency. These costs are not covered by tuition or fees.

Tuition (2021-2022)

Please note:

• Several courses require additional course fees of $5-$40 per credit hour and/or lab fees ranging from $25 to $130.
• If you do not hold an undergraduate accounting degree, you will be required to take 12 to 15 additional credits at the per-credit tuition rate.

Please review the Accounting Program Costs page or the Students Accounts Office website for more information on tuition and fees.

Financial Aid

For information on loans and scholarships, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid. For information regarding grants, tuition waivers and other merit aid, please inquire with your graduate department.

Career Opportunities

Visit the School of Business website to see the Impact of the Mason MS in Accounting on Your Career.

Those who earn a graduate degree in accounting and pass the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam have greater accounting career opportunities and earning potential. In addition to the opportunities that exist within accounting firms, CPAs can advance to positions including, but not limited to, the following:

• Chief Financial Officer
• Controller
• Chief Operating Officer

Top employers for graduates of this program include Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Grant Thornton, KPMG, and many more.

As an accounting student, you may contact the School of Business Career Services center for career information and counseling related to your major.

All applicants should review School of Business Application Requirements. For international applicants, see additional requirements for International Students.

Eligibility

• Applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree in accounting or equivalent from a US institution that is accredited by one of the organizations found here
• Applicants who have completed 27 college credits in accounting.

Application Materials

• Graduate application (must select part-time option)
• Application fee
• Current resume
• One official copy of transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
• Official GMAT/GRE score (click here for GMAT/GRE waiver information)
• Two letters of recommendation (professional or academic)
• One goal statement (no more than 750 words) – As we review your application, what more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy?

If you have any questions during the application process, please contact the School of Business at 703-239-2670 or gradbus@gmu.edu.