For students seeking accredited accounting degree programs in Connecticut, the state offers a variety of schools that combine modern instruction with in-depth traditional coursework to prepare students for one of the nation’s most consistently growing industries. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, accountants can expect a 13 percent increase in jobs over the next decade along with median salary of $63,550. In the Constitution State, students who pursue a master’s degree in accounting will enjoy lucrative career options thanks to the state’s proximity to major metropolises like New York City. Those interested in a graduate accounting program will find the following programs particularly useful.

Fairfield University

Charles F. Dolan School of Business

U.S. News and World Report ranks Fairfield University at number three on its list of Best Regional Universities in the north, and this small college founded in 1942 boasts a rigorous academic curriculum that both challenges and empowers its students. For those seeking accredited accounting degree programs in Connecticut, the Charles F. Dolan School of Business at Fairfield University offers two approaches: a Master of Science in Accounting or a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in accounting. Both programs will prepare students to engage in the modern business and accounting fields while developing skills that relate to a broad spectrum of related topics.

Master of Science in Accounting

Students who choose to pursue the Master of Science in Accounting degree program will start in the summer semester and continue through to the following May in this one-year, 30-hour curriculum. This particular master’s program is highly competitive due to the limited space in each class, and students are encouraged to begin their application process as soon as possible to secure a seat. The program requires 10 courses comprised of seven core classes and three electives, and students will also have the opportunity to engage in a paid internship during their tenure at the program. Courses cover a broad spectrum of topics including international issues, taxation, and focused research. Students looking into accredited accounting degree programs in Connecticut will find that this program prepares them to take the licensure exam to become a certified public accountant or CPA in most states, and they may be given time off from the program to complete portions of the exam.

Master of Business Administration – Accounting Concentration

The Master of Business Administration offered by the Charles F. Dolan School of Business is a broad degree program that enables students to develop general business management skills while concentrating in a related sub-field such as accounting. The program requires 54 credit hours divided into the following areas: 18 hours of core coursework, 18 hours of breadth coursework, 12 hours of concentration coursework, three hours of electives and three hours for a capstone project. Core courses provide an overview of key business concepts, breadth courses cover more in-depth business topics and concentration courses delve more deeply into the student’s specified sub-topic. Students may complete the M.B.A. program on a part-time or full-time basis and have up to five years from the start date to finish the program. Typical students can complete the program in two or three years, but full-time students may complete the master’s program in as little as one year.

Accreditation

  • New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)

Contact
1073 North Benson Road
Fairfield, CT 06824
Phone: (203) 254-4184
Email: gradadmis@fairfield.edu
Website: http://www.fairfield.edu/academics/schoolscollegescenters/charlesfdolanschoolofbusiness/graduateprograms/

Post University

The Malcolm Baldrige School of Business

Founded in 1890, Post University is a relatively small institution that has been nationally recognized by U.S. News and World Report for its prestigious online offerings: its undergraduate program, graduate program, and business program have all been ranked highly among a thousand surveyed schools. Students can take advantage of these online credentials to pursue a Master of Science in Accounting degree from the Malcolm Baldrige School of Business which offers an online-only program at the graduate level. Despite the business school’s online-exclusive approach, the program still offers students seeking accredited accounting degree programs in Connecticut demanding coursework that will prepare them for solid careers.

Master of Science in Accounting

In addition to its ranking with U.S. News and World Report, the Master of Science in Accounting program offered by Post University was given a Silver Level Innovation Prize by the Connecticut Quality Improvement Award Partnership in 2009 and has received other designation from various online ranking sites over the years. Students looking for a flexible accounting program at the graduate level will enjoy the curriculum offered by the school as well as the academic approach to business accounting. The program stresses four areas specific to accounting: regulation, financial accounting and reporting, environment and concepts, and audits. Students must complete 30 credit hours with an additional 24 prerequisite courses if they do not hold a bachelor’s in accounting. Post University’s MSA coursework also helps prepare students for the CPA exam using known questions from the exam. Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible to sit for the CPA licensure exam in most states.

Accreditation

  • New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Contact
800 Country Club Road
P.O. Box 2540
Waterbury, CT 06723
Phone: (203) 596-4500
Email: admissions@post.edu
Website: http://www.post.edu/online/degrees/ms-accounting/index.shtml

Sacred Heart University

John F. Welch College of Business

Sacred Heart University celebrated its 50th year in 2013, and this small, private institution in Fairfield boasts a high placement on U.S. News and World Report’s list of Best Regional Universities in the north at number 33. The school’s elite John F. Welch College of Business offers a rigorous course of study for students interested in accredited accounting degree programs in Connecticut. The Master of Science in Accounting degree prepares students for a career in the high-demand career of accounting while enhancing their practical abilities, broadening their business skills, and providing a thorough overview of today’s modern accounting issues and solutions.

Master of Science in Accounting

The Master of Science in Accounting or MSA degree offered by the John F. Welch School of Business enables those pursuing graduate study in the field of accounting to enhance their overall skills and abilities through the use of changing technology and solid coursework related to the industry. Designed for students who hold full-time employment, the program requires 30 credit hours spread out over a hybrid format of online discussion boards and on-site meetings on Saturdays once per month at the university. Students also have the option to pursue the MSA degree as a five-year dual bachelor’s and master’s program. Regardless of the track chosen, students who complete the MSA will be qualified to take the exam to become certified public accountants if they wish. The MSA program offers two specializations: forensic accounting which deals with the legal aspects of investigative accounting and international accounting which encompasses broader international issues related to business accounting.

Accreditation

  • New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)

Contact
Roncalli Hall 219
5151 Park Avenue
Fairfield, CT 06825
Phone: (203) 365-4716
Email: pillop@sacredheart.edu
Website: https://www.sacredheart.edu/academics/johnfwelchcollegeofbusiness/graduateprogramscertificates/msinaccounting/

University of Bridgeport

Trefz School of Business

The University of Bridgeport offers more than 125 programs to undergraduate and graduate students and has been recently ranked among the top schools when it comes to online education. At the Trefz School of Business, students seeking accredited accounting degree programs in Connecticut will find that the Master of Business Administration in Accounting provides a full curriculum of relevant and applicable accounting classes that enable them to pursue careers in the accounting field. Students who pursue an M.B.A. with the college will develop key skills needed to remain competitive in the industry while enjoying close proximity to substantial financial corporations in major cities nearby.

Master of Business Administration in Accounting

Students should note that the Master of Business Administration in Accounting program offered by the University of Bridgeport is first and foremost an M.B.A. program in both its structure and curriculum requirements. While students can designate a concentration in the field of accounting, all students completing an M.B.A. at the college will primarily take courses related to business management. Students need to complete at least 30 credit hours, but depending on their educational background they may also need to take up to 24 hours of additional coursework to make up for any deficit in their undergraduate degree. Coursework for the master’s in business is designated into three categories: core, concentration, and capstone. The core curriculum comprises courses on several business topics; the accounting concentration includes nine hours of accounting topics; and the capstone project involves a class on integration as well as an internship, a thesis project, or a course on entrepreneurship.

Accreditation

  • New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
  • Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
  • Board of Governors of the Connecticut Department of Higher Education

Contact
126 Park Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06604
Phone: (203) 576-4384
Email: admit@bridgeport.edu
Website: http://www.bridgeport.edu/academics/graduate/master-business-administration-mba/

University of Connecticut

School of Business

Founded in 1881, the University of Connecticut boasts a wide range of prestigious awards and national rankings in varying categories including research, best value, public colleges, and diversity. As a nationally recognized school with top-tier programs, the University of Connecticut also boasts a strong business curriculum housed under its School of Business which was established in 1941. Students seeking accredited accounting degree programs in Connecticut will find the school’s online-only Master of Science in Accounting or MSA program both convenient and rewarding as it offers the same rigorous coursework of traditional on-campus degrees while allowing students to continue working at their own pace.

Master of Science in Accounting

Changing technology allows for greater flexibility even in areas where strict academic standards supersede technological advancement, and the University of Connecticut’s Master of Science in Accounting degree breaks the mold when it comes to accredited accounting degree programs in Connecticut. Students who need the flexible allowance of an online degree will enjoy this particular program’s dependency on virtual coursework. Despite its being an online-only program, the MSA degree requires that students appear on campus for the initial course which lasts one week at the beginning of the term in May. Because the program is online and asynchronous, individual student need determines how long the program will take. In general, students need to complete 30 semester hours total which can be spread out over a part-time or full-time curriculum. The MSA program will enable students to sit for the CPA exam in most states because it addresses the 150-hour accounting requirement for the exam. University of Connecticut’s online Master of Science in Accounting was rated number two in the top ten best online Masters in Accounting degree programs for 2014 by our editors.

Accreditation

  • New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)

Contact
School of Business
2100 Hillside Road Unit 1041
Storrs, CT 06269-1041
Phone: (860) 486-3860
Email: msacct@business.uconn.edu
Website: http://msaccounting.business.uconn.edu/

University of Hartford

Barney School of Business

Located halfway between major cities Boston and New York City, the University of Hartford in Connecticut ranks highly on U.S. News and World Report’s list of top regional schools at number 98, and students here enjoy small class sizes and close proximity to the city’s biggest financial businesses. The Barney Business School offers a top-notch master’s program for students looking into accredited accounting degree programs in Connecticut. Students who enroll in the Master of Science in Accounting and Taxation program offered by Barney will develop into strong business leaders who are “globally aware and socially responsible” according to the website’s mission statement.

Master of Science in Accounting and Taxation

The field of accounting encompasses a broad range of topics and related fields including tax law and taxation issues. With the Master of Science in Accounting and Taxation or MSAT degree from the University of Hartford, students will gain a more in-depth perspective on both modern accounting principles and taxation. Students may pursue two different tracks within the MSAT program: Financial & Assurance Services and Taxation. Both tracks require 15 credit hours each to be chosen from select elective course offerings specific to the track chosen by the student. In total, the MSAT degree requires 30 hours above and beyond an undergraduate degree; general business electives make up the remaining 15 hours not covered by the specified track courses. At the end of the program, students will be eligible to take the necessary exam to become a certified public accountant. Students may also enroll in a dual MSAT/M.B.A. program offered by the business school.

Accreditation

  • New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)

Contact
200 Bloomfield Avenue
West Hartford, CT 06117-1599
Phone: (860) 768-4243
Email: barneydo@hartford.edu
Website: http://www.hartford.edu/barney/masters-in-accounting/default.aspx

University of New Haven

College of Business

The University of New Haven in Connecticut ranks as number 101 on U.S. News and World Report’s list of the Best Regional Universities in the north, and students seeking accredited accounting degree programs in Connecticut will appreciate the school’s commitment to excellent educational opportunities. Offered by the College of Business, the Master of Business Administration with an Accounting Concentration as well as the Master of Science in Taxation both provide students with an in-depth perspective on modern accounting principles and issues. The college’s aim for all of its students is to prepare candidates of all backgrounds for solid careers in the competitive world of finance.

Master of Business Administration – Accounting Concentration

Students looking for accredited accounting degree programs in Connecticut will appreciate the University of New Haven’s wide variety of options when it comes to business and accounting coursework. The M.B.A. program with a concentration in accounting prepares students to work on applicable accounting techniques within today’s global business framework. For the accounting concentration, students need to complete 51 credit hours. Those without a business background should be prepared to complete up to 18 hours of introductory business courses as determined by the College of Business. In addition, students will need to include the following five courses for a total of 15 credit hours in order to satisfy the degree requirements: auditing and assurance, business entity taxation, current topics in financial accounting, reporting and analysis of financial statements, and a relevant accounting elective. Students can also choose the fifth year CPA track that fulfills the 150-hour requirement to become a certified public accountant.

Master of Science in Taxation

For students, CPAs, business people, accounting professionals, and others interested in the diverse field of United States taxation law, the Master of Science in Taxation offers an interesting discussion on the role that taxes play in economic and social arenas. University of New Haven’s College of Business has designed a 31-hour program dedicated solely to the field of taxation, and students looking for programs related to accounting will find the degree useful as it relates to future employment. In addition to the 31-hour credit requirement, students will be required to complete a research project. Coursework centers on topics such as qualified retirement plans, internal taxation, state and local taxation, and corporate income taxation. Already established accountants may find the master’s in taxation degree program to be of value to their practices. In general, students will learn about relevant tax issues as they relate specifically to business and accounting principles as a whole.

Accreditation

  • New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
  • Member of but not yet accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)

Contact
Echlin Hall, Second Floor
300 Boston Post Road
West Haven, CT 06516
Phone: (203) 932-7440
Email: GradInfo@newhaven.edu
Website: http://www.newhaven.edu/business/programs/graduate/

The salary reporting website Salary.com indicates that accountants working in Connecticut as a whole earn a higher average salary than the national average, and those who take the time to earn a master’s degree may fare even better in this competitive industry. From selective private schools to large state colleges, the programs listed above offer students seeking accredited accounting degree programs in Connecticut ample opportunity to develop their skills for a promising career in the field.