Business industries are providing expanding career opportunities for qualified accountants nationwide, especially for those with credentials from accredited accounting degree programs in Georgia. Fueled by a recovering economy and the rising retirement rate, favorable job opportunities for accountants and auditors will continue to increase by 13% through 2022. Georgia’s colleges and universities are on the forefront to educate future accountants to work in this important service industry field. Future accountants, meanwhile, can look forward to a sustainable career with advancement opportunities in a variety of exciting, challenging settings world-wide.

Brenau University

College of Business and Mass Communication: School of Business

Brenau University had its beginnings in 1878 as a private institution for the education of women. Since then, the college has expanded to five campus locations serving a diverse student body through more than 120 degree programs. Brenau has received recognition from The Princeton Review and was ranked 49th for southern regional universities in U.S. News and World Report for 2014. Their School of Business is highly regarded and dedicated to preparing all graduates for real-world job opportunities.

Accounting MBA

The Master of Business Administration in Accounting is a versatile degree. Graduates will find employment in public accounting firms, government agencies, businesses, medical industries, financial institutions, and non-profit organizations. The program lays the foundation for students to take professional accounting certifications within the field. Coursework is completed through 15 classes totaling 45 credit hours, which earns an MBA degree with an accounting concentration in one of two areas: Public Accounting or Management Accounting. The program has a flexible design to accommodate working professionals and can be finished completely online or in a hybrid online/on-campus format.  Brenau’s online MBA in Accounting was ranked #5 of the top ten online MBA in Accounting degree programs by our editors. 

  • Public Accounting Concentration: This concentration prepares students to take the Certified Public Accountant (CPS) exam and to work in public accounting settings as auditors, tax accountants, forensic accountants or in client consulting. Additional credentials associated with this concentration include: Chartered Accountant, Certified Fraud Examiner, and Certified Internal Auditor.
  • Management Accounting Concentration: Management accountants work as chief financial officers, controllers, accounting managers or small business accountants. Graduates in this concentration are prepared to earn credentials as Certified Management Accountants or Chartered Global Management Accountants.

Accreditations

  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
  • Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

Contact

Brenau University
500 Washington Street SE
Gainesville, Georgia 30501
Phone: (770) 538-4760
Email: tthamer@brenau.edu
Website: http://www.brenau.edu/businessmasscomm/business/businessdegrees/accounting-mba/

Clark Atlanta University

School of Business Administration

Clark Atlanta University is a comprehensive educational institution of higher learning offering undergraduate and professional degrees to a diverse population of students. The university was consolidated in 1988 by combining the histories, traditions, and educational values of two unique schools: Clark College and Atlanta University. Today, Clark Atlanta is an urban research university designed to transform the lives of its students to be problem solvers through innovative programming. Its School of Business has operated for over 70 years and graduated some of the top business leaders in the country. Current students enrolled in CAU’s School of Business come from over 40 states and 30 countries.

Master of Arts in Accounting

CAU’s Master of Arts in Accounting degree can be finished in two semesters if enrolled full time. The program is 30 credit hours and will satisfy the remaining hours necessary for most students with undergraduate degrees in business to sit for the uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. Prescribed coursework for the M.A. in Accounting covers:

  • 18 credits in: advanced theory of accounting practices, international accounting, cost management systems, auditing, fund accounting, advanced information systems.
  • 12 credits in: approved business electives.

Graduates with an M.A. in Accounting find careers working in financial institutions, corporate accounting offices, commercial and investment banking centers and insurance agencies.

Accreditations

  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Contact

Clark Atlanta University
Office of Graduate Admissions
223 James P. Brawley Drive S.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30314`
Phone: (404) 880-8454
Email: graduateadmissions@cau.edu
Website: http://www.sbus.cau.edu/maccounting.html

Clayton State University

College of Business: School of Graduate Studies

Like many state universities, CSU grew from a regional junior college into a thriving, metropolitan university that enrolls more than 6,800 students annually. Since 2000, U.S. World and News Report has ranked CSU several times as one of the best universities in the South. The College of Business is also highly regarded and confers degrees in several business concentrations including accounting. CSU’s MBA programs are designed to prepare graduates for local, national, and international work opportunities as leaders within the business world.

MBA Degree with Accounting Concentration

Paired with the MBA degree, the accounting concentration further enhances graduates’ value to employers by bringing expertise in financial law and operations to the job. Students take 11 advanced business and accounting classes spanning 33 credit hours over at least two semesters. Core classes cover business principles and electives focus on the accounting concentration. Class content includes:

  • 24 credits of required core classes in: decision making, managerial economics, communication and leadership skills, finance principles, international business and global logistics, chain and innovation management, strategic management and marketing strategies.
  • 9 credits of advanced accounting content in: taxation, cost accounting, financial accounting and international issues, accounting issues for government and not-for-profit settings and forensic accounting.

Accreditations

  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Contacts

Clayton State University
Master of Business Administration
College of Business
2000 Clayton State Boulevard
Morrow, Georgia 30260-0285
Phone: (678) 466-4520
Email: MichelleTerrell@clayton.edu
Website: http://www.clayton.edu/mba/Accounting-Concentration

Emory University

Goizueta Business School

Emory University continues a long tradition of providing quality education to prepare its diverse student body for careers in the business world. In particular, Emory’s Goizueta Business School has earned numerous distinctions for its highly regarded business programs as noted in Forbes, Bloomberg Business Week, The Financial Times, The Economist, and U.S. News and World Report. The business school offers a range of degrees and concentrations for those interested in the popular field of accounting but emphasizes its Ph.D in Accounting program for those interested in upper level management or teaching positions.

Ph.D. in Accounting

It is recommended that students entering the Ph.D. program in accounting exhibit strong math competencies. For those entering the program without an accounting background, some prerequisite coursework may be required. The curriculum for the Ph.D. in Accounting is intensive and takes four years to complete, due in part to the two year cycle for some course offerings. In addition to covering advanced theory and coursework in accounting and finance, the program places emphasis on statistics, econometrics, microeconomics, and exploration of current trends and issues in accounting. Students in the program will be expected to complete research, a teaching assistantship and a teaching associateship.

Accreditations

  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Contacts

Emory University
Goizueta Business School
1300 Clifton Road N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30322
Phone: (404) 727-6353
Email: GBSPhd@emory.edu
Email: http://goizueta.emory.edu/degree/phd/accounting/

Georgia College & State University

J. Whitney Bunting College of Business

Known as Georgia College, GCSU is a public, coeducational school ranked 29th in 2014 by U.S. News and World Report for best regional universities in the South. The university had its beginnings as a state college for women and has since expanded to four colleges on two campuses. It is currently providing instruction in undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 6,600 students. The J. Whitney Bunting College of Business promotes the university’s philosophy of student-centered learning that enables graduates to succeed in today’s diverse global society.

Master of Accountancy

The Master of Accountancy degree was developed to reflect the critical areas that industry leaders deemed important for success in the ever-changing and challenging business world. As such, the curriculum for the M.Acc. degree offers its graduates the most innovative, relevant instruction that examines current trends and issues in the accounting field. Though demanding, the program provides students with a solid foundation for an upwardly mobile career in accounting, as well as fulfilling the requirements to sit for the uniform CPA exam. The course of study covers 30 semester hours combining foundational core classes with advanced accounting studies. Content of coursework includes:

  • 21 credit hours of advanced study in: controllership, auditing, financial accounting, tax research, government and non-profit accounting, business environment concepts and professional research.
  • 9 credit hours of advanced study in approved business electives which includes a business internship.

Accreditations

  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Contacts

Georgia College & State University
Master of Accountancy Program
231 W. Hancock Street
Campus Box 15
Milledgeville, Georgia 31061
Phone: (478) 445-4023
Email: catherine.whelan@gcsu.edu
Website: http://www.gcsu.edu/business/graduateprograms/maac.htm

Georgia Institute of Technology

Scheller College of Business

Affectionately known as Georgia Tech, GT is one of top research universities in the country, consistently ranking within the top 10 for public universities by U.S. News and World Report. The Scheller College of Business has been a part of the school’s history for over 100 years. The college has international recognition for its business programs that offer undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees for aspiring business professionals. The MBA graduate program is designed to fit the lifestyle and relevant career choices that today’s students want to pursue. The field of accounting benefits from Scheller’s melding of quality research techniques with advanced technological perspectives, preparing its students with the leadership, management, and financial skills necessary to advance in a global business environment.

MBA Accounting Concentration

The MBA Accounting degree offers flexible programming for working professionals and traditional full-time students alike. The flexibility also accommodates program choices by offering a wide array of elective options to correlate with students’ experiences and career goals. Candidates will take 30 hours of core business classes and 24 credits of electives. Many students are able to obtain credit for core requirements based on past academic work, professional work experience or through a waiver exam. Elective credits in accounting require that all students take a course in financial and managerial accounting. The remaining electives may be chosen from 11 courses that cover topics such as: financial reporting and analysis, international accounting, auditing and financial controls, advanced financial reporting, non-profit organizational practices, and ethics. Upon completion of this degree program, students may sit for the CPA exam in Georgia.

Accreditations

  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Contacts

Georgia Institute of Technology
Office of Graduate Admissions
631 Cherry Street, Room 318
Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0321
Phone: (404) 894-1610
Email: admission@gatech.edu
Website: http://scheller.gatech.edu/degree-programs/mba/evening-program/curriculum/course-listings/accounting.html

Georgia Southern University

Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies and College of Business Administration

GSU has a rich tradition of academic excellence dating back more than a century. An estimated 20,000 students take part in classes each year through more than 120 nationally recognized degree programs. These programs are offered via traditional on-campus classes or through distance learning formats to accommodate the needs of all students. Masters’ degrees in accounting are overseen through the College of Business through the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies.

Master of Accounting (M.Acc.)

This program of study covers 30 degree hours in cutting edge courses emphasizing components required for taking the uniform CPA exam and focusing on relevant topics such as: tax codes and liabilities, issues pertaining to partnerships and corporations, and regulations concerning gifts, trusts, and estates. Students in the M.Acc. program also have the option of concentrating in the field of forensic accounting. Graduates find successful accounting careers in many settings of industry and business, including public accounting firms, government agencies, financial institutions and not-for-profit organizations.

Master of Accounting Online, (WebM.Acc.)

The curriculum for the web version of the Master of Accounting degree follows the same course guidelines and requirements as the M.Acc. curriculum but is offered through a distance learning format to accommodate work and family schedules. This popular format uses a team-based approach to facilitate online learning to ensure success and help students stay on-track in the program.

Accreditations

  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Contacts

Georgia Southern University
Office of Graduate Admissions
Post Office Box 8113
Statesboro, Georgia 30460-8113
Phone: (912) 478-5384
Email: GradSchool@georgiasouthern.edu
Websites:

Georgia State University

J. Mack Robinson College of Business

Recognized as a major research institution, more than 32,000 students take advantage of GSU’s diverse degree offerings in over 250 study areas. Through the J. Mack Robinson College of Business, the university produces graduates with strong leadership skills who can compete for top positions in businesses on a global scale. It was recently ranked one of the top 50 business schools for research productivity by the Naveen Jindal School of Management at the University of Texas at Dallas.

Master of Professional Accountancy (One-year)

This program is specifically designed for those business employees who do not hold an undergraduate business degree but are interested in obtaining licensure as a CPA or Certified Management Accountant (CMA). Strong accounting and financial reporting skills are a must. The curriculum entails completing 30 credits in three consecutive semesters. The program operates through a collaborative learning framework that readies students to take the uniform CPA exam. Content covered includes: advanced taxation theory and principles, financial accounting, controller systems, federal taxation, and auditing measures.

Master of Taxation

This is the second largest Master of Taxation program in the U.S. and the largest in Georgia. The program is designed to empower graduates with the tax knowledge necessary to work in major corporations, financial institutions, not-for-profit businesses and government agencies. Curriculum spans 30 hours of intensive studies in tax research, federal taxation principles, state and local taxation, estate planning, gift and estate taxes, tax partnerships and current issues and topics about taxation. Classes may be taken over a two year period with many students finishing in about 18 months. Graduates are prepared to sit for the CPA or CMA exam upon program completion.

Accreditations

  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Contacts

Georgia State University
P.O. Box 3965
Atlanta, Georgia 30302-3965

Metro Atlanta: Tiffany Nelson
Associate Director, Graduate Recruiting
404-413-7041
tnnelson@gsu.edu

Outside Metro Atlanta: Allison Jacobs
Associate Director, Graduate Recruiting
404-413-7130
ajacobs@gsu.edu

Websites:

By offering multiple pathways of education, Georgia’s colleges and universities will continue to meet domestic and global demand for qualified accounting professionals. This is especially important as the marketplace expands and financial regulations become more complicated. At the same time, accounting graduates will find fulfilling work opportunities across diverse settings and be assured of career stability with possibilities for advancement. Accredited accounting degree programs in Georgia can make this a reality for those who are ready to pursue an accounting career.