Along with California’s sunny climes, miles of coastline, and friendly people, there are a large variety of quality universities with accredited, rigorous accounting degree programs which will prepare students to jump into the growing job market for accountants. If you wish to pursue an accounting degree to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), or a Certifed Internal Auditor (CIA), the programs listed below would be a great way to jumpstart your career.

Golden Gate University (GGU)

Department of Accounting

The accounting department at Golden Gate University operates from their San Francisco campus, as well as their online campus. It is their goal to train graduates in the world of accounting helping them to become a trained Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Management Accountant (CMA) accountant.

Master of Accountancy (MAc)

This master’s degree requires the graduate to complete 36 units of graduate coursework and nine additional units of foundation that were required for the graduate to have a career as a CPA or CMA certified accountant. This program is designed for not only those already in the accounting profession, but can be used to change careers as well.

Master of Science in Accounting (MSA)

This program is designed to assist a graduate in not only furthering their expertise in the world of accounting, but also helps him or her to obtain and complete the 150 hours of education that is required in order to obtain CPA certification. This program can be completed at the GGU San Francisco campus, and 49% of it can be completed online, in as little as nine months.

Master of Business Administration Accounting Concentration (MBA)

This course is recommended for MBA students that already have a background in accounting, or for those students that are interested in making accounting their career. The MBA is a more general degree than the Master of Accountancy or Master of Science in Accounting and develops skill sets used in all areas of business. It requires 12 units, but they must also satisfy certain proficiency requirements and courses.  Required courses include Accounting Research and Communication, Advanced Financial Accounting, Issues in Modern Management Accounting,  Financial Accounting, Financial Accounting for Accounting Majors, Intermediate Accounting I, and Intermediate Accounting II.

Accreditation

  • Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact
Golden Gate University
536 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105-2968
Phone: 415-442-7200
Website: http://www.ggu.edu/programs/accounting

La Sierra University (LSU)

The Tom and Vi Zapara School of Business, Department of Accounting

The mission at the Tom and Vi Zapara School of Business is “Creating Value, Making a Difference.” In order to fulfill this mission, the school goes to great lengths to deliver a curriculum that stimulates creativity, challenges their students to redefine business, and raises global living standards. Students can choose to take their courses full- or part-time, and can choose courses at different times of day to accommodate busy lives.

Master of Business Administration (“MBA”)

LSU’s MBA Accounting program is taught by professors with master’s degrees or above who are also Certified Public Accountants, which provides them with real-world tests and experience to share with students. This MBA program is built to motivate students through a commitment to integrity, compassion, and social justice when it comes to the world of business. The program prepares students for a variety of opportunities in the accounting field, including CPA, auditor, budget analyst, actuary, loan officer, and financial analyst.

Accreditation

  • Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
  • Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA)

Contact
School of Business
4500 Riverwalk Pkwy
Riverside, CA 92515
Phone: 951-785-2064
Fax: 951-785-2700
Email: mba@lasierra.edu
Website: http://lasierra.edu/school-of-business/mba-accounting/

Loyola Marymount University (LMU)

College of Business Administration, Department of Accounting

Loyola Marymount University was founded in 1911 on the Catholic and Jesuit traditions.  The campus was recently named  one of the “10 Most Beautiful Campuses” by Princeton Review and the College of Business Administration has been ranked number six in the nation for their MBA program.   The College of Business prides itself on challenging curriculum that prepares students with the problem-solving skills and business knowledge necessary for a successful career.

Master of Science of Accounting

The Master of Science of Accounting is designed to help students who already have their undergraduate degree in accounting to gain a higher quality education program that will allow them to enhance future possibilities.  The program helps students with a Bachelor’s of Accounting  to comply with the 150 hour California requirement for their CPA license, but students who have not completed an undergraduate degree in accounting can still participate in the program as long as they have already met the prerequisites for the accounting and business courses.

Prerequisites:

  • 24 units (or semester hours) of accounting subjects, including Intermediate Accounting
  • 24 units in a business-related subject. In these units, the student needs the 6 units covered in business law
  • 7 units of ethics study

Any student may take the prerequisites at LMU to gain entry to the MS Accounting program.

Accreditation

  • Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Contact
Michael Moore, Ph.D.
Director, Master of Science in Accounting Program
Loyola Marymount University
Phone: 310-568-6266
Email: michael.moore@lmu.edu
Website: http://cba.lmu.edu/academicprogramscenters/masterofscienceinaccounting/

Master of Business Administration/Accounting Decision Systems

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at Loyola Marymount University is designed specifically for students that already have at least two years of professional or internship experience, with an Executive MBA program for those with six or more years of professional experience.  Students with the Accounting Decision Systems emphasis will be expected to take electives outside their area of emphasis to create a well-rounded MBA degree.  All MBAs will be expected to take the core courses that follow: 

  • The Legal Environment of Business
  • Financial and Managerial Accounting
  • Business Statsitics
  • Business Economics
  • Management and Organizational Behavior
  • Marketing Management
  • Operations Analysis & Decision Support Systems
  • Financial Management
  • Management Information Systems.

The MBA program at Loyola Marymount University is set apart from many others for the global experiences that they can offer to their students. They offer two programs:

  • Comparative Management Systems (CMS) – This is considered to be one of the most popular international programs offered to MBA students. Once studying for a year, the student is then dispatched to a region in the world to learn about the countries business environment, social culture, and customs.
  • The Bonn Program – This program also gives MBA students the opprotunity to not only travel to the hear of the European Union, but they can also earn three credit hours while participating in this program.

Accreditation

  • Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Contact
Loyola Marymount University MBA Program
Hilton Center for Business, Room 233
Loyola Marymount University
1 LMU Drive, MS 8387
Los Angeles, CA 90045-2659
Phone: 310-338-2848
Fax: 310-338-2899
Email: mba.office@lmu.edu
Website: http://mba.lmu.edu/

National University (NU)

School of Business and Management

Opened in 1971, National University is a private, nonprofit university providing Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees as well as certifications.  The School of Business and Management seeks to help students advance their business careers with understanding of global business practices.   The Business and Management mission is “to provide students with flexible access to relevant business education in order to enhance their opportunities as ethical, effective, and knowledgeable leaders in a global community.” NU prides itself on its flexible delivery of  Master’s of Business Administration through distance learning.

Master of Accountancy (MAcc)

This particular Master degree program is set up to prepare graduates for a wide range of different careers in accounting, including public accounting, corporate accounting, auditing, analysis, accounting for NFPs, and local, state, and federal agencies. The content in this course is based around the content specifications of the Uniform CPA Exam.  The program is tailored for students who have little to no experience in the field of accounting, and would be less useful for students with a Bachelor’s degree in accounting.  To meet the requirements of the Certified Public Accountant certification, students would need to spend significant amounts of time in a recognized CPA Exam review course on top of their NU coursework.  Graduates of the program should be able to: 

  • Measure, prepare, analyze, and report accounting information based on generally accepted accounting principles for business.
  • Utilize current information techniques, methodologies, and systems.
  • Apply tax rules and regulations for both individuals and business enterprises.
  • Apply both ethical and legal concepts to accounting and tax problems.
  • Utilize auditing principles and procedures that are applicable in the business profession.
  • Analyze and solve accounting related issues.
  • Demonstrate effective communication of accounting information.

Accreditation

  • Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Contact
National University Academic Headquarters
11255 North Torrey Pines Road
La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: 1-800-628-8648
Email: advisor@nu.edu
Website: http://www.nu.edu/OurPrograms/SchoolOfBusinessAndManagement/AccountingAndFinance/Programs/MasterAccountancy.html

Pepperdine University – Malibu (PU)

Graziadio School of Business and Management

The Graziadio School of Business and Management is the affiliate college that is pared with Perpperdine University in order to deliver their business and accounting courses.  Graziadio offers a number of options for students seeking graduate degrees including traditional full-time courses, courses for employed students, international courses, and joint programs in which students can pursue their Juris Doctorate or Master of Public Policy in conjunction with their MBA.

Master of Science in Accounting

Pepperdine University’s Malibu campus offers students the Master of Science in Accounting preparing them for the CPA exam and launching them into a successful career in public accounting, industry, government, or nonprofit organizations. The program is primarily for students who have a Bachelor’s of Accounting and are seeking to sit for the CPA exam.  Upon graduation, students can expect to be able to:

  • Understand and apply concepts of accounting and auditing practice and theory.
  • Establish positive group interactions while working effectively in teams with people from diverse backgrounds.
  • Produce clearly written, concise, business analyses and deliver well-organized persuasive oral presentations.
  • Be fully prepared to sit for the Certified Public Accounting (CPA) exam and have the 150 credits required to take the exam in most states.

Accreditation

  • Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Contact
Pepperdine University
Graziadio School of Business and Management
Drescher Graduate Campus
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA, 90263-4858
Phone: 310-506-4858
Email: gsbmadm@pepperdine.edu
Website: http://bschool.pepperdine.edu/programs/masters-accounting/

The programs above are just a few of the many that exist in the state of California.  Opportunities abound for students interested in pursing a career in accounting, and choosing an accredited accounting degree program in California is a great way to experience beautiful surroundings and prime yourself for a blossoming career.