Master’s in Accounting Degree Programs in Louisiana

Since there are six top-notch accredited accounting degree programs in Louisiana, it is important to distinguish among them to find the ideal fit for your specific career goals in the growing field of professional accounting. Not only is Louisiana the 25th most populous state in the country with some of the highest ranked universities in the entire United States, but it is also home to a mix of diverse cultural heritages that provide a unique learning environment along the Mississippi River. In order to aid in finding the program that meets your academic and professional needs, the following is a guide to the accredited accounting degree programs that are offered within the “Bayou State.”

Louisiana State University

E.J. Ourso College of Business

Based on a vast 2,000-acre urban campus in the heart of the state’s capital in Baton Rouge with satellite locations scattered across Alexandria, New Orleans, Eunice, Shreveport, and Pennington, Louisiana State University is one of just 25 public research institutions in the nation to have been designated with both land-grant and sea-grant status simultaneously. As the flagship and largest university in the state with more than 29,000 students, LSU is ranked as the 135th best college and 68th top public school in the country by U.S. News and World Reports. Furthermore, the E.J. Ourso College of Business has been acclaimed as being the 65th best graduate business school in the entire United States.

Master of Science (M.S.) in Accounting

As a fifth-year graduate professional program that has been designed to provide individuals with a more in-depth understanding of advanced accounting principles for application in business, the Master of Science (M.S.) in Accounting program will develop the technical, analytical, written and oral communication, and interpersonal skills that are needed to excel in any sector. Whether students wish to become professional accountants in public firms, financial institutions, government agencies, or non-profit organizations, the program offers a well-rounded education to those who have already achieved an undergraduate degree in accounting. After completion of the 30-credit non-thesis program, graduates will have finished the 150-hour requirement for taking the CPA examination in Louisiana.

Accreditations

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS COC)

Contact

Business Education Complex Room 2825
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Phone: (225) 578-6219
Email: msaaccounting@lsu.edu
Website: http://business.lsu.edu/Accounting/MS-Accounting/Pages/MS-Accounting.aspx

Louisiana Tech University

College of Business

Since first being established in 1894 on a large 1,774-acre rural campus in the outskirts of Ruston in the north-central region of the state, Louisiana Tech University has grown into a major public research institution with the highest graduate rate in the state for its more than 11,000 students. As the only university in northern Louisiana that has been designated as a doctoral institution with high research activity by the prestigious Carnegie Foundation, Louisiana Tech is ranked as the 190th best college and 108th top public school in the nation by U.S. News and World Reports. With full accreditation through the AACSB International, the College of Business has also been named a “Center of Excellence” by the Louisiana Board of Regents for providing meaningful learning experiences in business.

Master of Business Administration (MBA)—Accounting Concentration

In addition to Innovation, Finance, Telecommunications, and Information Assurance, the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at Louisiana Tech offers an Accounting Concentration to provide a broad graduate-level educational experience in contemporary business and management practices for accountants. As an inter-disciplinary program that is designed to accommodate the needs of future administrators in the evolving global business environment, the curriculum consists of core coursework in accounting analysis, decision making, information resource management, management, marketing, finance, economics, and global management perspectives. Not only will graduates be on the right track for starting a career in public accounting, but they will also have the practical skills needed to assume leadership positions as business managers across sectors.

Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA)

Structured to deliver a graduate-level education in accounting practices for students who are seeking professional career advancement in public accounting, government, and industry, the Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA) program is available for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution regardless of the field of study. That being said, students without a prior accounting and/or business degree will need to take additional basic courses to cover the common body of knowledge for the accounting profession beforehand. Within the 30-credit program, students can expect to gain expertise in the topics of business law, information systems, economic principles, business finance, statistics, income taxation, intermediate accounting, auditing, cost accounting, and contemporary accounting theories.

Accreditations

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS COC)

Contact

502 West Texas Avenue
P.O. Box 10318
Ruston, LA 71272
Phone: (318) 257-4526
Email: adrake@latech.edu
Website: http://www.business.latech.edu/accounting/programs.htm

Southeastern Louisiana University

College of Business

With a reputation for being the third largest public institution and second largest provider of distance learning opportunities in the entire state, Southeastern Louisiana University is home to a community of over 15,600 students on a beautiful 365-acre rural campus in Hammond within just 50 miles of downtown New Orleans. As one of the elite schools to receive the highly regarded accreditation through the AACSB International worldwide, the College of Business is committed to providing high-quality educational experiences that enable personal, intellectual, and professional growth in the practice of business.

Master of Business Administration (MBA)—Accounting Concentration

Offered with daytime, evening, weekend, and online classes available to accommodate diverse working professionals who are balancing their career while they study, the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program with an Accounting Concentration is designed to prepare graduate students for taking on high-level leadership positions of responsibility in today’s complex business world. In order to build students’ analytical skills, knowledge base, values, and decision-making abilities, the program requires the completion of at least 33 semester hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. Graduates may go on to fulfill in-demand roles as bank managers, financial analysts, compensation managers, management analysts, public accountants, mortgage loan officers, stock brokers, auditors, and more.

Accreditations

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS COC)

Contact

500 Western Avenue
Hammond, LA 70402
Phone: (985) 549-2146
Email: mba@southeastern.edu
Website: http://www.southeastern.edu/acad_research/degrees/bus_mba.html

Tulane University

Freeman School of Business

Standing proudly on a historic 110-acre urban campus in the hub of New Orleans within minutes from the world-famous Canal Street, Tulane University is one of the nation’s most selective premier private research institutions. Consistently named among the top two percent of universities nationwide with very high research activity by the prestigious Carnegie Foundation, Tulane is currently ranked as the 52nd best college, 14th top up-and-coming school, and 2nd best college for military veterans in the United States by U.S. News and World Reports. With one of the best accredited accounting degree programs in Louisiana, the Freeman School of Business is also distinguished for being the 63rd best graduate business school in the country.

Master of Accounting (MACCT)

Due to the fact that five years of formal undergraduate and graduate training is now considered the acceptable standard for education in professional accounting for pursuing the title of Certified Public Accountant (CPA), the Master of Accounting (MACCT) program is designed to fulfill the academic requirements for licensure while delivering a customizable breadth of knowledge in the business field. As a one-year 30-credit professional program with an appropriate specialization in accounting, the degree will qualify graduates for advanced leadership careers in accounting and financial consulting as well as further graduate studies. For admissions into the program, students must have an undergraduate business degree from an accredited school with prerequisites in financial accounting, cost or managerial accounting, and intermediate accounting.

Accreditations

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS COC)

Contact

7 McAlister Drive
New Orleans, LA 70118
Phone: (504) 865-8586
Email: tulanemacct@tulane.edu
Website: http://accounting.tulane.edu/description.php

University of New Orleans

College of Business Administration

Located on a 195-acre metropolitan campus within just 20 minutes from the French Quarter along the banks of Lake Pontchartrain in the “Big Easy,” the University of New Orleans is a comprehensive four-year major public research institution with more than 9,000 students. In addition to being named as one of the nation’s best institutions by The Princeton Review, UNO has been ranked as the best university in Louisiana for placing the least amount of financial burden on its students. Within the heart of one of the world’s most fascinating cities, the College of Business Administration has a legacy for providing excellence in higher education for preparing students to excel in even the most competitive job markets.

Master of Science (M.S.) in Accounting

As a 30-credit program that has been structured to prepare qualified graduate students for pursuing advanced careers in public, industrial, governmental, managerial, and non-profit accounting, the Master of Science (M.S.) in Accounting program builds upon students’ prior technical experiences in undergraduate business courses to provide an in-depth graduate-level education in professional accounting. Depending on future career goals, students can choose to complete a concentration in Accounting Information Systems, Auditing, or Finance to fulfill the required electives in the master’s program. For those seeking to develop a higher degree of professional competence for careers in taxation, there is also a Master of Science (M.S.) in Tax Accounting degree program offered at the graduate level.

Accreditations

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS COC)

Contact

2000 Lakeshore Drive
New Orleans, LA 70148
Phone: (504) 280-6954
Email: bj.ballanco@uno.edu
Website: http://www.uno.edu/coba/Accounting/Graduate/accountingms.aspx

In today’s competitive business marketplace, it is becoming even more essential for students interested in a professional accounting career to earn a master’s-level degree to build the knowledge that is needed for making solid financial decisions. Luckily, there are six accredited accounting degree programs in Louisiana to choose from that have all been given the stamp of approval by the highly regarded AACSB International for excellence.