Master of Science in Accounting

Salem State's master of science in accounting program prepares accounting students for leadership positions in this field. The program builds on the knowledge and tools from the students’ undergraduate education, allowing them to achieve a greater degree of sophistication in accounting, auditing, and tax. The MS in accounting degree provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to have successful careers in public and private accounting.

The MS in accounting is designed to provide a strong core to advance accounting, auditing, and tax that serve the following main purposes:

1. Offering the educational emphasis consistent with the educational requirements of the American Society of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) for the CPA examination.
2. Meeting the 150-hour education requirement (30 credits at the graduate level after completion of 120 undergraduate credits in accounting) as prescribed by the Board of Public Accountancy in Massachusetts for eligibility for a Certificate as a Certified Public Accountant.
3. Meeting standards that are congruent with criteria for level 1 status by the Board of Public Accountancy.
4. Offering a flexible program in the evening (classes begin at 7 pm) for working adults that is feasible to complete in sixteen or fifteen months depending upon a fall or a summer semester start.

Six additional graduate level credits are required as accounting electives chosen from international financial reporting, advanced forensic accounting, financial statement analysis and accounting for governmental and not-for-profit entities. Six additional graduate-level business electives are required to be chosen from the following MBA courses in operations management, managing in the global environment, financial decision making and value creation, managing human performance in organizations and marketing management and strategy.