The fiercely independent state that was the first of the original 13 colonies to denounce allegiance to the British crown during the American Revolution also has some first-rate accredited accounting degree programs in Rhode Island. Known as the Ocean State, Rhode Island’s pristine beaches, historical attractions and a well-known arts scene draws many within its borders from students to retired persons. Business and accounting students particularly benefit from the services industry which is one of the main ones in the state; they find early work experience in the form of internships as well future employment with businesses operating within that industry. Here are some of Rhode Island’s most popular accounting programs.
Bryant University
Graduate School of Business
Bryant University’s Graduate School of Business administers a variety of advanced degree programs in business for those interested in business management and accounting. Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAC) and Master of Science in Taxation (MST) are the three types of graduate degree programs at Bryant that students can take to prepare them for leadership positions in today’s global business environment. In addition to accredited degree programs, Bryant’s Graduate School of Business also offers a certificate program in business analytics in answer to industry demand for skilled data analysts with keen quantitative, problem solving skills.
Master of Professional Accountancy
Bryant University’s MPAC degree program is specifically designed for students who want the most direct path to becoming certified public accountants (CPAs). This degree program is an intense, one year program that instructs students on advanced accounting topics from corporate governance to global accounting. The concise, comprehensive program instructs students about accounting technical knowledge, and it helps them to develop leadership skills through its interactive curriculum. Some examples of course topics taken during this program include government and not for profit accounting, research and communications and accounting for income taxes. One of the important features of this program includes the opportunity for students to customize their MPAC degree through a specialization in taxation. Even though the program is for full, day time schedules, students have the choice between attending class in person or participating in class discussions online.
Accreditation
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International
- New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Inc. (NEASC)
Contact
1150 Douglas Pike
Smithfield, RI 02917
Phone: (401) 232-6230
Email: gradprog@bryant.edu
Website: http://gradschool.bryant.edu/business/mpac.htm
Master of Science in Taxation
Some of the core duties of accountants working across all sectors involve income tax preparation and reporting. Bryant University’s MST is for accounting students who want thorough immersion in tax accounting practice that goes beyond a mere specialization in the subject. The MST program courses all relate to federal and state internal revenue codes, and the part-time program which is designed for working adults is usually completed in four years. The program’s course introduces students to the common Internal Revenue regulations within the federal and state governments, and it presents them with typical challenges faced by accountants working in industry. The classes are led by instructors who are tax accountants with extensive professional experience so students are assured that their course topics are relevant. A significant program outcome is that students are able to assess tax issues and apply the best solutions based on their extensive knowledge of the tax codes. The MST program offers students a great deal of flexibility when it comes to class schedules; students usually take one or two classes that meet once weekly in the classroom and simultaneously online.
Accreditation
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International
- New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Inc. (NEASC)
Contact
1150 Douglas Pike
Smithfield, RI 02917
Phone: (401) 232-6230
Email: gradprog@bryant.edu
Website: http://gradschool.bryant.edu/business/mst.htm
Johnson & Wales University
College of Management
Johnson & Wales University’s (JWU) College of Management is home to the Schools of Business and Hospitality. The career focused programs administered by both schools prepare students to be culturally aware, creative problem solvers ready to take on challenges from a global perspective. Students gain valuable guidance from experienced faculty and staff about career goals and programs that suit their personal interests. Most programs include internship and study abroad options that give students a rich portfolio of experience that supplements the theoretical concepts taught in the classroom.
Master of Business Administration (MBA) – Accounting
The JWU MBA with a concentration in accounting is one of the many graduate business degree programs offered by the university that allows students to gain relevant business knowledge and specialized accounting skills within one program. The program’s curriculum is periodically updated using the latest industry feedback so that students graduate with knowledge, skills and demonstrated abilities that they can use right away in entry-level accounting and finance positions. For example, the curriculum combines classic theoretical concepts, updated regulatory codes and case studies of the latest industry issues where students must apply knowledge of business and accounting theory to achieve the best solutions for real world challenges. In addition to a comprehensive curriculum, students’ learning experiences are enhanced by internships, study abroad activities and honors programs that provide more challenging academic opportunities through faculty guided research exercises.
Accreditation
- New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Inc. (NEASC)
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International
Contact
8 Abbott Park Place
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
Phone: (401) 598-1000
Email: pvdgrad@admissions.jwu.edu
Website: http://academics.jwu.edu/school-of-business/mba-accounting/
Master of Business Administration (MBA) – Accounting Concentration, Enhanced Accounting Track
Students who have aspirations of sitting for the CPA examination after earning a graduate business degree have a better academic option available to them than the typical MBA program. The Enhanced Accounting Track combines traditional MBA management courses with a comprehensive CPA review that helps students prepare for each section of the CPA exam. Besides providing a thorough review of all the CPA exam sections like financial accounting and reporting, auditing, business environment and regulation, the curriculum also helps students to satisfy the state’s licensing requirement of 150 hours of accounting related study. This program is taught in a cohort fashion, and entering students are required to have at least a 3.2 grade point average in an undergraduate accounting degree program to help make sure that everyone is prepared to keep pace with this challenging program.
Accreditation
- New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Inc. (NEASC)
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International
Contact
8 Abbott Park Place
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
Phone: (401) 598-1000
Email: pvdgrad@admissions.jwu.edu
Website: http://catalog.jwu.edu/programsofstudy/management/mba-accounting-concentration-enhanced-accounting-track-mba/
Providence College
School of Business
The Providence College (PC) School of Business offers students a wide range of traditional, undergraduate business concentration areas as well as graduate business degree programs with a number of course load options. The PC School of Business programs allow students to learn the mechanics of business from a liberal arts perspective. The faculty and staff at PC encourage students to use their core values and strong ethics to look for new ways to analyze business issues and realize effective solutions that contribute to positive societal changes. PC School of Business also offers valuable internship opportunities that enhance the learning experience of its students.
Master of Business Administration, Accounting Concentration
PC’s MBA with a concentration in accounting builds on students’ fundamental business knowledge to promote mastery of business management principles and accounting expertise. The program welcomes business professionals who want to further their careers as well as business students who are just beginning theirs. The curriculum consists of prerequisite, core and elective courses that combine interactive classroom based theory with experiential learning opportunities. Some of the prerequisite course topics are economics, statistics and managerial finance. Operations, financial and marketing management are some of the core topics of the MBA program. The elective courses are solely dedicated to accounting theory and practice, and some course topics are advanced taxation, accounting ethics and accounting for government and non-profit entities. PC business students have the option to complete the 36 credit hour degree program within a one year when they maintain full-time status and in two years when they opt to participate in the program on a part-time basis.
Accreditation
- New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Inc. (NEASC)
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International
Contact
1 Cunningham Square
115 Koffler Hall
Providence, RI 02918 USA
Phone: (401) 865-2294
Email: mba@providence.edu
Website: http://www.providence.edu/business/mba/Pages/programs.aspx
Rhode Island College
Accounting and Computer Information Systems Department
Rhode Island College’s (RIC) Accounting and Computer Information Systems Department which comes under the School of Management offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs that cover a variety of accounting topics and computer systems specializations. The department also administers a graduate level accounting program that effectively prepares students to sit for the CPA exam and meet the educational time requirements for the designation. Besides rigorous program curricula, the department provides students with honors programs and a student association that further challenges them in their studies.
Master of Professional Accountancy
RIC’s MPAC program goes well beyond simple preparation for the CPA exam. The program helps to prepare students for careers in financial planning and tax accounting specialties. The accounting topics are taught at an advanced level and require that incoming students have an undergraduate degree in accounting to gain entrance. Upon completion, students are also exposed to retirement planning, investment and risk management techniques. Students are also able to customize their degree program with electives so that personal and professional interests are met. The 30 credit hour degree program consists of core and elective courses. Examples of core course topics include financial, estate and tax planning. Students who want to gain specialized knowledge of accounting topics like accounting information systems (AIS) choose elective topics like systems modeling, decision support systems and legal aspects of AIS.
Accreditation
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International
- Certified Financial Planner Board-Registered Program
Contact
600 Mount Pleasant Avenue
Providence, RI 02908
Phone: (401) 456-9593
Email: lchurch@ric.edu
Website: http://www.ric.edu/accountingComputerInformationSystems/accountingProgram_pa.php
University of Rhode Island
College of Business Administration
The University of Rhode Island’s (URI) College of Business Administration offers students a variety of undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs that are designed to match students’ interests and industry’s demand for skilled professionals. Some of the traditional undergraduate business majors offered include accounting, finance and marketing, and some specialty undergraduate majors are global business, entrepreneurial management and supply chain management. The school also features a variety of resources like academic advising, internship assistance and career aid that help guide students in academics and their career goals. The comprehensive degree programs’ student faculty ratio of 17:1 represents reasonable class sizes that give students ample opportunities to network among peers while receiving adequate personal attention from instructors.
Master of Science in Accounting
The URI MS in Accounting is customizable for students with a variety of career interests and academic backgrounds. For instance, a graduate student who majored in business administration as an undergraduate and decided to focus their career goals in the accounting discipline would choose this degree option. These students take accounting foundational courses, graduate accounting core and elective classes as well as graduate level business electives. Some of the course topics include advanced auditing, international accounting and taxation of corporations and shareholders. Alternately, a student who has an undergraduate degree in accounting and wants to pursue a career in public accounting can use the MS in Accounting program to prepare for the CPA exam. These students take graduate level accounting core and elective courses as well as business elective classes. Examples of class topics for these students include financial statement analysis, law and accounting and tax research, policy and planning.
Accreditation
- New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Inc. (NEASC)
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International
Contact
Ballentine Hall
7 Lippitt Road
Kingston, RI 02881
Phone: (401) 874-2337
Email: henrys@uri.edu
Website: http://web.uri.edu/business/m-s-in-accounting-2/
As financial regulations become more stringent and fiscal crimes become more prevalent, there will continue to be a need for accountants in the public and private sectors. There are a number of colleges and universities with comprehensive, accredited accounting degree programs in Rhode Island to meet a variety of students’ career goals and personal interests.
