Since higher education, finance and business all play major roles in this New England state’s economy, prospective college students should not be surprised to find a treasure trove of accredited accounting degree programs in Massachusetts. Home to the country’s oldest public elementary school, oldest high school, oldest college and oldest women’s college, Massachusetts has clearly been a leader in education for more than a century. But no one could accuse this small, yet densely populated state of resting on its laurels; today more than 100 colleges and universities draw students from around the globe with dynamic, top-quality degree programs.

American International College

School of Business, Arts & Sciences

A private, four-year college set on 72 acres in the heart of Springfield, Massachusetts, American International College strives to ready its students for life with academic programs that emphasize both the value of the liberal arts and experiential learning. Its School of Health, School of Graduate and Adult Education, and School of Business, Arts & Sciences offer nearly forty programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Every degree program at the School of Business, Arts & Sciences creates a solid foundation with a liberal arts core of knowledge and skills that prepare students to keep up with the continually changing professional world. Individual programs build on that base with specialized curriculums that prepare students for successful careers in their chosen fields.

Master of Science in Accounting and Taxation

Open to both people who hold bachelor’s degrees in accounting and those who don’t, the Master of Science in Accounting and Taxation degree program at American International College equips students with the skills necessary to offer business and tax advice to the private sector. Participants study general accounting principles, auditing standards, and tax law. They also gain experience with the technology commonly used in the field, hone their communication, problem-solving and leadership skills, and learn to work both independently and as part of a team to analyze and interpret data. If students do not already have an undergraduate business degree, they must complete selected preparatory coursework from the business foundation courses; likewise, students lacking an accounting background are required to complete accounting foundation courses. Students whose undergraduate degree already covered these topics are exempted. After any needed remedial credits are earned, all students must complete a total 30 credits to earn their master’s degrees. This total is comprised of 18 credits from the accounting core and 12 credits in appropriate electives. Graduates will be ready to serve as professional consultants or to sit for the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination.

Accreditation

  • New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
  • International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE)

Contact
1000 State Street
Springfield MA 01109
Phone: (800) 242-3142
Email: graduate.admissions@aic.edu
Website: http://www.aic.edu/academics/programs/accounting_and_taxation_msat/degree

Assumption College

Graduate Studies

Ranked among the top 30 regional universities in the North by U.S. News and World Report, Assumption College is a private Catholic liberal college that is dedicated to shaping graduates who are ready and willing to offer critical intelligence, thoughtful citizenship, and compassionate service to their communities. Its curriculums are designed to offer a thoughtful, value-based education that is rooted in the liberal arts and extends into professional studies. Graduate Studies at Assumption College provides advanced certificates and master’s degrees in counseling psychology, special education, school counseling, and rehabilitation counseling. Its Master’s of Business Administration program offers students the option of completing a concentration is seven areas: accounting, finance/economics, nonprofit leadership, marketing, human resources, international business, and management.

Evening Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting

Created with the needs of working professionals in mind, Assumption College’s part-time Evening Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting offers classes that help participants expand both their technical and professional skills and their understanding of business concepts, theories, and knowledge. Students learn techniques for ethical leadership, effective oral and verbal communication, critical thinking, and integrated analysis while developing a global perspective that will aid them in today’s complex worldwide economy. The program is open to professionals from any field, but those who lack sufficient business background may be required to take additional coursework to fill in the gaps in their knowledge. To receive their master’s degrees, students must complete 12 graduate-level classes for a total of 36 credits. This include 15 credits in coursework from the business core, 12 credits in accounting to fulfill the concentration requirements, six credits in approved electives and three credits in a capstone course. Graduates will be prepared to seek promotions or pursue new positions in a variety of businesses.

Accreditation

  • New England Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges (NEASC)

Contact
500 Salisbury Street
Worcester, MA, 01609
Phone: (508) 767-7387
Email: graduate@assumption.edu
Website: http://graduate.assumption.edu/mba/part-time-evening-mba-program-working-professionals

Babson College

F. W. Olin Graduate School of Business

Deemed an “entrepreneurial powerhouse” by Forbes, Babson College is a small private college located not far from Boston that offers both bachelor’s and master’s degrees to students from more than 70 countries. Stressing the need to turn ideas into action, its curriculums combine experiential learning, multidisciplinary approaches and an understanding of the complexities of global business. The college’s F. W. Olin Graduate School of Business, a frequent presence on U.S. News and World Report’s list of “Best Business Schools,” offers master’s degrees in accounting, business administration, and management in entrepreneurial leadership. The school also offers a graduate-level certificate in advanced management.

Master of Science in Accounting

Intended to prep students who already hold at least a bachelor’s degree in business for a world of opportunities with global careers in accounting, Babson College’s Master of Science in Accounting degree program meets the educational requirements for the CPA exam and teaches the technical accounting skills necessary for success. Students also learn about entrepreneurial thinking, communication skills, professional responsibilities and ethics, and global and cultural concerns. To complete their master’s degrees, students must earn 30 credits. Participants earn the initial 18 credits by attending classes that cover the accounting core full-time over the summer. The final 12 credits in electives are then completed at the students’ preferred pace. Elective topics include entrepreneurship, economics, finance, accounting and law, technology, operations, information management, and marketing. After completing their degrees, students can sit for the CPA exam or begin a career in accounting at a private business, nonprofit organization or governmental agency. They may also choose to create their own opportunities by opening their own businesses.

Accreditations

  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
  • European Quality Improvement System (EQIS)
  • New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)

Contact
231 Forest Street
Babson Park, MA 02457
Phone: (781) 235-1200
Email: gradadmissions.babson.edu
Website: http://www.babson.edu/admission/graduate/programs/Pages/msa-program.aspx

Bentley University

Graduate School of Business

As a business university, Bentley University is committed to providing international leadership in business research and education by offering bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs that blend business with the arts and sciences. It is a formula that works. In 2014, Bentley University was ranked as the fourth “Best Regional University” in the North by U.S. News and World Report, and named as one of the “Best Northeastern Schools” by The Princeton Review. The university’s Graduate School of Business is equally well regarded. In fact, it was named one of New England’s the top five graduate schools in U.S. News and World Reports’ 2014 edition of “America’s Best Graduate Schools.”

Master of Science in Accounting

With flexible scheduling and online courses that make it easier to balance responsibilities, Bentley University’s Master of Science in Accounting degree program is designed to prepare students from a variety of backgrounds to serve as the business leaders of the future. Offering a practical grounding in accounting theories and practices, exposure to the latest research, and access to cutting-edge technology via the Howard A. Winer Accounting Center for Electronic Learning and Business Measurement, this program allows students to fulfill the educational requirements to sit for the CPA exam. It also prepares them for successful professional careers with opportunities to network, secure placements through the university’s established relationships with assorted businesses and governmental agencies, and travel internationally for study abroad programs. This 30-credit program requires students to complete nine credits of foundational accounting coursework, 12 hours of required accounting coursework and 9 hours of electives. Graduates will be able to take advantage of recruiting programs and a strong alumni network to find desirable positions in the accounting field.

Accreditations

  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
  • European Quality Improvement System (EQIS)
  • New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)

Contact
175 Forest Street
Waltham, MA 02452
Phone: (800) 442-4723
Email: lkelleher@bentley.edu
Website: http://www.bentley.edu/graduate/ms-programs/accountancy/curriculum

Boston College

Carroll School of Management

Ranked among the top forty college and universities in the nation by both Forbes and U.S. News and World Reports, Boston College has a reputation as a very selective institution of higher learning. Its respected Carroll School of Management offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs through seven academic departments: Accounting, Operations Management, Business Law, Marketing, Information Systems, Finance, and Management and Organization. All of the school’s programs are designed to prepare students to succeed in today’s competitive business environment as ethical leaders and decision makers.

Master of Science in Accounting

Boston College recognizes that every student has unique strengths and weakness, and that students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in accounting benefit most from a different curriculum than those students whose undergraduate degrees were granted in another field. That’s why advisors at Boston College provide a truly personalized educational experience. After studying a student’s transcript, they tailor the requirements for the Master of Science in Accounting degree program to match the needs of the individual. Each student receives a worksheet mapping out his or her unique path to a master’s degree. While the specific courses may vary, all students must complete at least ten courses for a total of 30 credits to receive their master’s degrees. This includes at least 18 credits in graduate level accounting coursework. All students must also complete 10 hours of volunteer service work. After completing the degree program, graduates will be ready to pursue accounting positions with a wide variety of public and private entities.

Related Resource: Do I Need a Bachelor’s in Accounting to Get Into a Master’s in Accounting Program?

Accreditations

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

Contact
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467-3809
Phone: (617) 552-8420
Email: carrollschool.dean@bc
Website: http://www.bc.edu/content/bc/schools/csom/graduate/msa/academics.html

Bridgewater State University

Louis M. Ricciardi College of Business

Conceived as teacher’s college when it was founded roughly 175 years ago in 1840 as the Bridgewater Normal School, Bridgewater State University now provides its students with a wide array of bachelor’s and master’s degree programs as the eighth largest university in Massachusetts. One of its five colleges, the Louis M. Ricciardi College of Business offers an assortment of degree programs in areas that include accounting, finance, aviation science, aviation management, flight training, management, global management, operations, marketing, and information management.

Master of Science in Accounting

Reflecting the evolving roles of accountants in today’s business world, the Master of Science in Accounting degree program at Bridgewater State University arms students with accounting, technical and management skills. Because the program is intended to both sharpen the skills of working professionals pursuing promotion and to train professionals who are seeking to aim their careers in new directions, participants are not required to hold a bachelor’s degree in accounting; some students without an accounting background may find it necessary to complete certain foundational accounting courses. This program emphasizes technical accounting skills, analytical and problem solving strategies, communication and presentation skills, and ethics. It also readies students to sit for the CPA exam. To receive their master’s degrees, students are required to complete 30 credits. This includes 24 credits in graduate-level accounting coursework and 6 credits in appropriate electives. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be well prepared to take on management careers in accounting.

Accreditation

  • New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)

Contact
10 Shaw Road
Bridgewater State University
Bridgewater, MA 02325
Phone: (508) 531-1300
Email: gradadmissions@bridgew
Website: http://www.bridgew.edu/academics/graduate-studies/master-science-in-accountancy

Clark University

Graduate School of Management

A small, urban liberal arts school founded in 1887, Clark University is proud to provide its students with the tools they need to make a difference for themselves and their communities. The university offers 32 undergraduate degrees, 14 accelerated bachelor’s/master’s programs, 12 master’s programs, and eight doctorate programs. With nearly 60 study abroad programs in over 30 countries, almost a third of students get the opportunity to study abroad, furthering Clark University’s goal of instilling a global perspective in all its students. The university’s Graduate School of Management, which was included in The Princeton Review’s 2014 edition of “The Best 295 Business Schools,” strives to prepare students who are ready to face the challenges of convention and enact positive change in the world.

Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting

Focused on the contemporary practices being utilized in today’s global economy, Clark University’s Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting degree program is a flexibly paced program available to both full-time and part-time students. It provides a rigorous curriculum taught by dedicated professors and access to global experiential learning opportunities. Students sharpen their leadership, strategic decision-making, negotiation, critical thinking and communication skills while simultaneously absorbing the foundational knowledge and technical skills necessary to work effectively in their chosen field. In order to earn their master’s degrees, students must complete at least nine units. This includes a minimum of four units earned in 11 business core courses, at least one unit earned in appropriate electives, and one unit earned in a capstone course. To satisfy the requirements for the concentration, students must also earn three units in accounting coursework on topics like financial accounting and reporting, financial and operational auditing, and financial statement analysis. Graduates of the program will be prepared to pursue promotions and other opportunities for professional advancement.

Master of Science in Accounting

Designed to allow students to progress at their own pace with part-time and full-time options, Clark University’s Master of Science in Accounting degree program teaches students to interpret accounting data, evaluate financial data, identify appropriate strategies for investment and taxes, assure financial accuracy and control, and advise company decision makers. Completing their master’s degrees requires student to earn 10 units. Five units are in core accounting coursework that covers areas like management accounting, financial accounting and reporting, tax strategies and management decisions, financial and operational auditing, and financial statement analysis; an additional five units are drawn from selected accounting electives. After finishing the degree program, students will be qualified to pursue professional positions in financial management and public accounting with private firms, nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies.

Accreditation

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

Contact
950 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01610
Phone: (508) 793-7543
Email: gradadmissions@clark.edu
Website: http://www.clarku.edu/gsom/

With some of the nation’s most respected colleges and universities within its borders, Massachusetts clearly understands and appreciates the value of higher education. College students from around the world who are seeking accredited accounting degree programs in Massachusetts will find themselves almost spoiled for choice with so many top-notch schools and programs to consider.