Master’s in Accounting Degree Programs in Tennessee (A-M)

Before heading back to grad school, it is important to be aware of the different accredited accounting degree programs in Tennessee to ensure you find the right fit for your career interests and learning style. As the nation’s 17th most populous state and an educational hub for the southeastern United States, Tennessee is home to a rich variety of higher education institutions. Whether you are interested in studying at a large public research university, a private liberal arts college, or a small faith-based school, chances are high that you will find exactly what you are looking for in the “Volunteer State.” To help you get started on your academic journey towards a career in professional accounting practice, below we will introduce the first half of accredited master’s-level accounting degrees available in Tennessee.

Austin Peay State University

College of Business

As one of Tennessee’s fastest-growing universities with enrollment increasing by 30% over the last six years to break the 10,000 students mark, Austin Peay State University is a comprehensive four-year public non-profit institution located on a main 169-acre urban campus in the Clarksville. Named one of the safest universities in the state by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, APSU is currently ranked as the 62nd best college and 27th top public school in the South by the U.S. News and World Report. With full AACSB accreditation, the College of Business is also highly regarded for having the 131st best online graduate business programs in America.

Master of Science in Management (MSM)

Available for qualified graduate students with an accredited bachelor’s degree in any field, the Master of Science in Management (MSM) program offers the valuable opportunity to prepare for leadership in managerial roles in today’s dynamic business world. With coursework covering a wide range of topics from accounting to human resources and information technology, the 30-credit program satisfies the requirements needed to take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. While the program is typically completed in just one year full-time for students with a business background, there is also a two-year option available for part-time study. Furthermore, out-of-state students have the option to pursue all courses online and benefit from a significantly reduced “e-rate” for their tuition costs.

Accreditation

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

601 College Street
Clarksville, TN 37044
Phone: (931) 221-7674
Email: MSM@apsu.edu
Website: http://www.apsu.edu/masters-mgmt

Belmont University

Jack C. Massey Graduate School of Business

Founded in 1890 as a private non-denominational Christian liberal arts institution, Belmont University is home to a student-centered community of over 7,300 students of diverse faiths on a historic 75-acre urban campus near downtown Nashville. By blending the best of liberal arts and professional education, Belmont is currently ranked as the 5th best college and 3rd top up-and-coming school in the South by the U.S. News and World Report. Even more importantly, the AACSB-accredited Jack C. Massey Graduate School of Business stands proudly with the 154th best part-time MBA program options available in the United States.

Master of Accountancy (MAcc)

Since its inception in 1992, the Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program has quickly grown into what is currently regarded as the largest graduate accounting program in Tennessee for preparing qualified students with non-accounting undergraduate degrees to become CPAs. In an intellectually challenging curriculum, students learn from professionally certified faculty members in a rigorous individualized program tailored to meet their own interests. Although full-time work experience is not a requirement for admissions, all MAcc students will be required to participate in student internships to acquire some business experience before graduation. After completing the degree in as little as 15 months, graduates often receive offers from Big 4 firms, Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and other leading local firms.

Professional Master of Business Administration (PMBA): Accounting Track

As the Massey School’s flagship graduate business program, the Professional Master of Business Administration (PMBA) offers a flexible and academically challenging curriculum for experienced full-time working professionals seeking advanced training to meet the contemporary needs of the business marketplace. With small class sizes for business education with a personal touch, the 34-credit program is available weekdays in an evening format on-campus in Nashville. Students are given the option to customize their PMBA program of study by pursuing an Accounting Track, which will fulfill the requirements needed to take the Uniform CPA exam. In order to apply to the program, individuals will need to have a minimum of two years of significant full-time work experience in a business discipline.

Accreditation

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

1900 Belmont Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: (615) 460-6480
Email: joe.alexander@belmont.edu
Website: http://www.belmont.edu/business/masseyschool/index.html

Christian Brothers University

School of Business

Originally founded in 1871 by the De La Salle Christian Brothers as a four-year private Roman Catholic institution, Christian Brothers University is nestled on a wooded 75-acre urban campus in midtown Memphis within just four miles east of bustling downtown. As home to a residential community of just over 1,580 students, CBU is currently ranked as the 26th best college and 7th top value school in the South by the U.S. News and World Report. Also renowned for being a premier source of business education in the Mid-South, the School of Business is committed to helping students develop their business skills for a leadership future within an exciting academic environment.

Master of Accountancy (MAcc)

Recently added to the lineup of graduate degrees in August 2013, the Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program is designed to build upon undergraduate experiences to prepare qualified accounting professionals for achieving increasingly high market demands for success. Delivered in a flexible format ideal for full-time working professionals to maintain a balance between work and family obligations while attending school, the program can be completed in just two semesters with evening courses for a total of at least 30 credits. Depending on specific career goals, the specialized accounting coursework offers a concentration in Forensic Accounting or Financial Management on the pathway towards satisfying the 150-hour CPA requirement.

Accreditation

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

650 East Parkway South
Memphis, TN 38104
Phone: (901) 321-3562
Email: mlawyer@cbu.edu
Website: http://www.cbu.edu/master-accountancy/master-accountancy.html

East Tennessee State University

College of Business and Technology

Based on a main 336-acre urban campus in Johnson City in the northeastern tip of the state near the border with North Carolina and Virginia, East Tennessee State University is comprehensive four-year public research institution of over 15,000 students. As a recent recipient of the Silver Medal Award for being the fifth best university in Tennessee, ETSU has been ranked as the 179th best college in the South and 242nd top research university in America by Forbes magazine. The College of Business and Technology provides high-quality accredited education with the effort of supporting economic and technical development across the Southern Appalachian region.

Master of Accountancy (MAcc)

Featuring full accreditation through the respected AACSB International, the Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program is available for qualified graduate students who desire to receive advanced training in the principles of accounting to pursue a career in professional accounting practice in public accounting, industry, or government. Within the required 33 credits, students will take courses covering topics in financial reporting, managerial accounting, accounting regulation, auditing, data analysis, statistics, social responsibility, business law, taxation, and accounting information systems. When combined with an undergraduate business or accounting degree, the MAcc program will qualify graduates to pursue CPA licensure in Tennessee and all other states nationwide.

Accreditation

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

807 University Parkway
Johnson City, TN 37604
Phone: (423) 439-4432
Email: burkette@etsu.edu
Website: http://www.etsu.edu/cbat/departments/GraduatePrograms.aspx

Lipscomb University

College of Business

Strategically located on a 75-acre suburban campus in the Green Hills neighborhood of Nashville with satellite centers in Murfreesboro, Cool Springs, and Sumner County, Lipscomb University is a comprehensive private four-year Christian institution that services more than 3,400 students. Named as one of the top five regional universities for students with the least loan debt at graduation, Lipscomb is currently ranked as the 18th best college, 5th top up-and-coming school, and 2nd best university for veterans in the South by the U.S. News and World Report. In addition to its rigorous accredited curriculum, the College of Business stands out for its commitment to real-life learning with accounting students working for the IRS to help complete tax returns for the elderly.

Master of Accountancy (MAcc)

Highly regarded as Middle Tennessee’s accounting degree of choice for more than five decades, the Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program is dedicated to preparing graduate students for their role in professional accounting by combining rigorous academics with practical hands-on learning experiences in a faith-based approach. Developed by seasoned professors who have made significant contributes in the private sector, the program builds on prior coursework and experience to fulfill the state’s CPA requirements. In a 30-credit curriculum, the program is tailor-made for working adults with flexible courses on weekday evenings. Graduates have had a 100% job placement within one month of graduation for the past three years in public accounting, industry, and government markets.

Professional MBA: Accounting Concentration

Leading to a Master of Business Administration degree, the Professional MBA program is designed with a weekend format to accommodate busy full-time experienced professionals seeking to receive a leg up in the business world with advanced training, knowledge, skills, and attributes. Through a combination of classroom and web-based online learning, the program offers an Accounting Concentration to impart a broad base of relevant business knowledge with the specialized technical skills needed to become effective advisors in today’s changing financial climate. Within the 18-month program, PMBA students also receive the valuable opportunity to build a global business perspective by participating in an international consulting project abroad.

Accreditation

Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

1 University Park Drive
Nashville, TN 37204
Phone: (615) 966-1833
Email: onedegreeaway@lipscomb.edu
Website: http://www.lipscomb.edu/business/programs

Middle Tennessee State University

Jennings A. Jones College of Business

Tracing back to 1911 as the oldest university in the Tennessee Board of Regents System, Middle Tennessee State University is a major public research-intensive institution of over 23,000 students on an 850-acre urban campus in Murfreesboro in the geographic center of the state. Renowned for being the #1 producer of graduates for the Greater Nashville economy, MTSU is ranked as the 238th best research university in the nation and the 172nd top college in the South by Forbes magazine. Guided by the principles of quality, accessibility, and value, the Jennings A. Jones College of Business is committed to producing career-ready graduates with the skills needed to meet challenges in today’s dynamic business world.

Master of Accountancy (MAcc)

Recently revised to allow graduate students more flexibility in customizing their curriculum to meet personal career interests in the growing and dynamic accounting profession, the Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program is designed to satisfy the 150-hour requirement for taking the CPA examination in Tennessee and most other states across America. Offered primarily in the evening, the program is focused on preparing graduates for advanced professional positions in accounting and other related business fields. In the general MAcc degree, students are required to complete courses in intermediate accounting, cost accounting, economics, information systems, managerial finance, internal auditing, and accounting law. Those interested in pursuing tax-related careers also have the opportunity to receive a Specialization in Tax.

Accreditation

Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

1301 East Main Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
Phone: (615) 898-2764
Email: smitty@mtsu.edu
Website: http://www.mtsu.edu/accounting/requirements.php#graduate

If you are considering starting a career in accounting, thinking of a career change, or are already in the accounting field and want to advance, earning a master’s degree from an accredited business school is the perfect option for becoming a CPA. As well-respected members of every business organization, CPAs are in high demand for their technical aptitude, professional experience, ethical responsibility, and commitment to the career. Attending any one of these top-notch accredited accounting degree programs in Tennessee will place you on the right track towards building the credentials needed for being a trusted voice in financial consulting.