Accounting is a vital part of business operations today, and accredited accounting degree programs in Missouri offer students the opportunity to advance their careers in a growing industry. From forensic accountants that must investigate the history of a business’s accounting practices to Certified Public Accountants who complete taxes and other accounting projects for businesses, the industry is a varied and diverse area of higher education. Virtually no business can operate successfully without a talented accountant on the payroll. Missouri has more than its share of highly rated schools, and is a terrific state in which to become eligible to take the CPA exam and become an accountant.
Saint Louis University
John Cook School of Business
A Missouri university with a history stretching back to 1818, Saint Louis University is a private institution associated with the Catholic Church. The school was once known as Saint Louis Academy and was founded by a bishop. By the late 1820s, the school was granted a charter by the Missouri legislature and placed under the guidance of the Jesuits. The school features a lot of “firsts” in its history as the first federally licensed school of aviation opened at the college in 1927. In addition, the school was the first to open a school of law in the West in 1843.
Master of Business Administration (MBA): One-Year Accounting Emphasis
This degree is designed for students who already have a bachelor’s degree in business or who have been in the workforce for a few years. The program is designed to last from summer through the spring and students will even get to study abroad in Hong Kong for a short time as part of an international hands-on learning experience. The curriculum of the program features courses on developing professional skills and the important networking abilities that help businesspeople advance their careers. The one-year MBA program at SLU is the only such program of its kind in the region, and is designed to maximize the short time it takes to get the degree. Some of the subjects students will study include economics, management, financial accounting, and statistics. The final session of the program features a capstone project where students work in teams to complete assignments based upon the knowledge gained during the previous two sessions.
Master of Accounting
Students who wish to expand upon their knowledge of accounting will thrive in Saint Louis University’s accounting master program. Students take classes on a variety of communication, problem-solving, and analytical subjects and are well-prepared to take the CPA exam upon graduation. Graduates of the program have a high rate of passing the CPA exam on the first try and the school recently attained the number one status in the state for passing grades on the exam. Subjects of study in accounting include general accounting topics, auditing classes, and taxation. Additionally, students are eligible to choose an area of expertise in which to focus including Financial Reporting, Auditing, or Taxation. Some of the classes students take while enrolled include Financial Accounting, Quantitative Methods and Statistics, and Cost Management. Graduates with accounting knowledge and experience are valuable employees for businesses today because of the importance of financial accuracy for company budgets and business plans.
Accreditation
- The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA HLC)
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
John Cook School of Business
Saint Louis University
3674 Lindell Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63108
Phone: (314) 977-3828
Email: acas@salu.edu
Website: http://business.slu.edu/programs-of-study/graduate-business-programs
Southeast Missouri State University
Harrison College of Business
Established in 1873, Southeast Missouri State University was a traditional school for teachers in the 1800s before it became a regular university in the 1900s. With enrollment of around 12,000 students, the university offers more than 200 areas for students to study for bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Interestingly, the first building associated with the college burned down in the early 1900s and was eventually replaced with a design by an architect who helped light the 1904 World’s Fair. The low tuition rates enjoyed by students led to significant growth of the university throughout the first half of the 20th century and the college was eventually given university status.
Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) with Accountancy Concentration
Students who enroll in the MBA program with an accounting concentration will be able to take the CPA exam after graduation. Some students choose to obtain an undergraduate degree in accounting and then move on to the MBA program at SMSU. Students have access to graduate assistantship jobs which help reduce the overall cost of graduate school. Some of the classes students will take include Management Communication and Leadership, Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods, and Strategic Decision Making. After completing 15 hours of coursework in various areas of business, students will then move onto classes in the accounting track. After graduation, students will be prepared for a variety of types of employment including public accounting, non-profit accounting, and educating others in accounting. To be admitted to the program, students must demonstrate appropriate GMAT scores, as well as a minimum GPA. Some foundation courses may also be required as prerequisites to enter the program.
Accreditations
- The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA HLC)
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
Southeast Missouri State University
One University Plaza
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
Phone: (573) 651-2000
Email: contact@semo.edu
Website: http://www.semo.edu/mba/
Truman State University
School of Business
Around 6,100 students attend classes at Truman State University, which is located in a small Missouri town named Kirksville. The school came in at the tenth position on a recent listing of the best schools in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report. The university is also the only one in Missouri that bases its admission criteria on highly selective requirements. The school was once known as a Missouri Normal School and Commercial College and was the first official public teaching college in the state. The school underwent a name change rather recently when it went from Northeast Missouri State University in 1996 to Truman State University.
Master of Accountancy
Students who want to become a CPA would be well served by enrolling in Truman State University’s accountancy program. Students who have a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a similar field are eligible to apply; however, other majors may be considered if the student is able to comply with some prerequisites for certain classes. Truman’s accountancy degree is one of the 178 universities around the world with AACSB accreditation and as such, graduates are sought-after by businesses seeking accounting professionals. Some of the companies with which graduates have found work after getting their degree have included the Department of Defense, the Boeing Company, and the Federal Reserve Banks of Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City. Additionally, the university was placed among the top-performing universities for graduates scoring well on the Uniform CPA Examination. Whether students want to become a CPA or become involved in the inner-workings of a major business, a Master of Accountancy paves the way for success.
Accreditation
- The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA HLC)
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
Truman State University
100 E. Normal Ave.
Kirksville, MO 63501
Phone: (660) 785-4109
Email: gradinfo@truman.edu
Website: http://www.truman.edu/majors-programs/graduate-studies/master-of-accountancy/
University of Central Missouri
Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies
With around 12,500 students enrolled, the University of Central Missouri is a four-year college located in Warrensburg. There are over 150 programs from which to choose and students are also eligible to participate in several study-abroad programs throughout the world. The school was founded as the second Normal School in Missouri in the 1870s and eventually became known as Warrensburg Teachers College before undergoing a series of name changes to eventually become the University of Central Missouri in 2006. In addition to the main campus in Warrensburg, the school also has extension campuses in Lee’s Summit and offers students a variety of classes that they can take online.
Accountancy – Master of Art (MA)
According to the University of Central Missouri, accounting is one of the most important facets of business today and an master’s degree in accounting offers a student an exciting opportunity for a successful career. Some of the places the school suggests are available for employment after graduation include the FBI and the Department of the Treasury, where accountants are tasked with investigating high-profile financial fraud cases. Students can also find work with Fortune 500 companies, other universities, or may choose to open their own business. With the school landing on a list of “best” Midwestern colleges by The Princeton Review, students get to experience a valuable program that features a 94% job placement rate. The school also suggests that the program is large enough to offer students variety and diversity in the university experience, but that effort is made to ensure that each student receives the personal attention needed to succeed in the program.
Master of Business Administration (MBA) Accounting Concentration
The MBA program at the University of Central Missouri is designed to teach through “doing,” so that students are able to graduate and enter the workforce as a confident member of a business. The program prepares students for roles of leadership in business today and also features an evening schedule that can be completed in as little as a single year. With the accounting concentration, students take a variety of business classes and also focus on accounting courses. Business core classes include Information Management Systems and Economic Analysis for Business Decisions. Accounting classes include Seminar in Accounting Theory and Auditing. The school recommends that students come to the program with a solid background of business study, so a bachelor’s degree in business is a good degree to have prior to applying. Also, the accounting track also requires 15 semester hours of prerequisite courses that students should have under their belt before enrollment in the MBA program.
Accreditation
- The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA HLC)
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
UCM
P.O. Box 800
Warrensburg, MO 65093
Phone: (660) 543-4246
Email: mba@ucmo.edu
Website: http://www.ucmo.edu/hcbps/programs/
University of Missouri
Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business
The University of Missouri counts itself as the first school of higher learning established west of the Mississippi River. The school is also the largest in the state and has around 35,000 students enrolled. Located in Columbia, Missouri, the school is the flagship of the university system in the state and is a public research university. The programs at the school are diverse and the University of Missouri is the only school in the country with a school of agriculture, engineering, law, medicine, and veterinary medicine on one campus. The school’s mascot is Truman the Tiger, named after President Harry S. Truman.
Master’s of Accountancy (MAcc)
The MAcc degree at the University of Missouri is designed for students who have already obtained a bachelor’s degree in accounting, but students who don’t have this degree may choose to attend accounting classes as prerequisites before applying to the program. Classes required to receive the degree include 9 credit hours of business electives, several professional accounting courses, and some courses that offer specialization in areas like taxation. As long as students have completed the prerequisites of the program which include the 120 hours of undergraduate classes and the full allotment of graduate classes, graduates will be eligible to sit for the official CPA exam. Students may also choose to use MBA courses to satisfy the business electives required of the degree. Some of the classes students will choose from for the program include Financial Accounting Theory and Practice, Fraud Examination, and Tax Research and Planning. The Master’s of Accountancy program at University of Missouri was rated number 27 of the top 30 affordable Master of Accountancy programs by our editors.
Accreditation
- The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA HLC)
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business
University of Missouri
Cornell Hall
Columbia, Missouri 65211
Phone: (573) 882-9346
Email: mizzoubiz@missouri.edu
Website: http://business.missouri.edu/programs-and-admissions/accountancy/masters-accountancy-program-macc-degree
University of Missouri – Kansas City
Henry W. Bloch School of Management
Located in Kansas City, the University of Missouri has almost 16,000 students attending classes and was once part of the “Lincoln and Lee University” movement. That movement wanted to create a university that would honor Abraham Lincoln and Robert E. Lee at the site of the Battle of Westport. After some changes and time spent in development, the college would start to resemble its modern self in the late 1930s. The school joined the University of Missouri system in the 1960s. Recently, the school was ranked 201st in a list of the best schools around the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
Master of Science in Accounting (MSA)
The Master of Science in Accounting program offers a variety of opportunities for students who already have an undergraduate degree in accounting and for those who don’t. Like other accredited accounting degree programs in Missouri, the classes for this program are offered at night, which caters to the schedules of people who are already in the workforce and must maintain a full-time job while enrolled in the program. Students who complete the master’s program will be eligible to take the CPA exam. Students who exit the program enjoy one of the highest passing rates for anny accounting program in the country. The program takes 30 or 60 credits to complete, depending on a student’s background. Students who don’t have a background in accounting can take advantage of the 60 credit program, which will ensure a student’s ability to enter an accounting job of his or her choice after graduation. Students may also transfer up to six credits from another accredited accounting program.
Accreditations
- The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA HLC)
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
University of Missouri
Henry W. Bloch School of Management
5110 Cherry Street
Kansas City, MO 64110
Phone: (816) 235-2215
Email: bloch@umkc.edu
Website: http://bloch.umkc.edu/graduate-program/msa/
University of Missouri – St. Louis
Accounting Department
Established in 1963, the St. Louis branch of the University of Missouri is the newest of the four schools in the University of Missouri system. With around 17,000 students enrolled, the school is the largest university in St. Louis and sits on the grounds of what was once a country club. Although the school didn’t open until the early 1960s, a push to build a university in the area was underway as early as 1957. The reasoning for the new school was that local students needed access to a college that wasn’t an expensive private school like the local Saint Louis University and Washington University.
Master of Accounting (MAcc)
Students who wish to enter the accounting profession are invited to enroll in the Master of Accounting program at UMSL. Additionally, students who already have an accounting career under their belt are advised that advanced career opportunities exist for students who decide to further their education with a master’s degree in accounting. For students who already have an undergraduate degree in accounting, the program may be completed in as little as 30 credit hours. Students who have a degree in another area will need to take around 60 credits to complete the program. Some of the prerequisite classes students must take include Managerial Accounting and Financial Accounting and Reporting. Upon entry into the program, students will take classes like Strategy Formulation and Implementation and Managerial Communication as part of the business-centric courses required by the degree. Students also get to choose from several electives designed to further their concentration in a specific area of study.
Accreditation
- The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA HLC)
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
Graduate Programs in Business
University of Missouri – St. Louis
One University Boulevard
350 JC Penney North
St. Louis, MO 63121
Phone: (314) 516-6142
Email: moehrle@umsl.edu
Website: http://www.umsl.edu/divisions/business/accounting/Degree%20and%20Certificate%20Programs/maccotln.html
Washington University in St. Louis
Olin Business School
A private research university located in St. Louis, Washington University is a respected school with over 14,000 students enrolled. The school has distinguished itself academically with 22 Nobel laureates hailing from the school as a student or teacher. The school boasts of pioneering research in a variety of areas and is considered one of the most selective universities in the country for admissions. To distinguish the school as a Missouri-based university, trustees for the school added “in St. Louis” to the school’s name in the early 1970s. The school was conceived by local leaders in St. Louis in the 1850s who decided that a local school was needed for St. Louis residents.
Master of Accounting (MACC)
Students must complete a minimum of 33 credits to graduate from the university’s Master of Accounting program. Students will usually take around two or three semesters to complete the program with the timeline depending upon the course load taken on by the student each semester. The school considers its program as a very flexible program and provides ample opportunity for students to choose courses in which they have an interest. In a feature that is unique for accredited accounting degree programs in Missouri, students must also complete a capstone project during the final semester at the college which requires students to perform research on a topic that impacts the accounting profession. Students may also consider taking an internship during the summer between their second and third semesters. Students who already have credits from another master’s program may have the opportunity to see some of those credits transfer to Washington University’s program. Some of the courses students will take include Introduction to Financial Accounting and Accounting Foundations.
Accreditation
- The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA HLC)
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
Washington University
Olin Business School
Campus Box 1156
One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130
Phone: (314) 935-8546
Email: MACCinfo@wustl.edu
Website: http://www.olin.wustl.edu/EN-US/academic-programs/specialized-masters-programs/master-of-accounting/Pages/default.aspx
Webster University
George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology
Webster University is a private school with over 22,000 students enrolled in the Webster Groves area of St. Louis. One of the defining features of the school is the ranking its study abroad program received from a list composed by U.S. News & World Report where the school was ranked number two on the list. The school also has an official community service day each year and has offered over 106,000 hours of community service through this program. The school also suggests that diversity is essential to the school with students representing every state in the country as well as 140 different countries around the world.
Master of Science (MS) in Forensic Accounting
Students who are interested in fascinating topics in accounting like fraud investigation will want to consider the MS in Forensic Accounting from Webster University. The school describes its program as “rigorous” and that it demands that students become experts on a variety of important accounting topics. Some of the topics covered by the program include cyber forensics, management of evidence, and substantive law. The corporate scandals of the 1990s and early 2000s led to a significant rise in the need for forensic accountants, so the job market for such professionals is very strong and growing. The program takes 18 months to complete and offers courses in interesting subjects like legal procedures, valuation, and internal auditing. The program includes 30 credit hours of required classes and 6 credit hours of electives. Students benefit from learned faculty who have worked as Certified Public Accountants, Certified Financial Forensic (CFF) accountants, and as professionals Accredited in Business Valuations (ABV).
Accreditation
- The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA HLC)
Contact
Webster University
470 East Lockwood Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63119
Phone: (800) 981-9801
Website: http://www.webster.edu/masters/forensic-accounting.html
Accounting is a vital industry where advanced degrees at the master’s level and in MBA programs offer students the opportunity to become involved in a number of vital areas within business today. Students who feel a connection with mathematics and numbers, as well as students who are able to think analytically will thrive in accounting programs and in an accounting career. For residents of the Midwest, there are several valuable accredited accounting degree programs in Missouri from which to choose.
