Individuals seeking accredited accounting degree programs in Pennsylvania will discover an abundance of respected programs to choose from. As the home of the first college founded in the nation after the formal formation of the United States, the Keystone State has a proud tradition of encouraging academic excellence. In fact, the University of Pennsylvania is the state’s second largest employer. The Mid-Atlantic state is also rich in economic opportunity with some 50 Fortune 500 companies like U.S. Steel, PPG Industries, King of Prussia and GE Transportation Systems at work within its borders.

University of Pennsylvania

The Wharton School

Created by a group of citizens led by Benjamin Franklin, the Academy and Charitable School in the Province of Pennsylvania opened its doors in 1751 with the revolutionary goal of preparing students for leadership roles in business, government and public service. Known today as the University of Pennsylvania, it continues that mission as a world-class education institution offering an impressive assortment of degree programs through its four undergraduate schools and 12 graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1881, the Wharton School was the nation’s first collegiate business school. It offers highly respected degree programs in accounting, business administration, finance, health care management, legal studies, real estate, management, marketing, statistics, economics, and operations and information management.

Doctor of Philosophy in Accounting

A highly quantitative and analytical program, the accounting doctorate program at the University of Pennsylvania is intended to produce graduates who are capable of performing meticulous research in accounting. This research typically evaluates the effects of accounting information and policy on the behavior of a firm’s decision makers and the capital market. It also examines the effects on the actual structure of various firms. Students in this extremely challenging program are expected to complete 18 courses, complete two research experiences that they document appropriately with research papers, and complete a comprehensive exam in order to become doctoral candidates. Candidates are then expected to prepare and successfully defend a dissertation. Graduates generally go on to positions with leading universities all around the country.

Master of Business Administration in Accounting

The University of Pennsylvania’s Master of Business Administration in Accounting degree program merges an intensive general business core with a major in accounting to prepare students for careers in investment banking, corporate finance, private equity, investment management, trading, consumer finance, treasury and hedge funds. The accounting coursework focuses on providing students with knowledge of the field’s concepts, applications and procedures as well as a comprehensive understanding of exactly how accounting information is gathered and its inherent reliability. To earn this degree, students must complete 19 credits units, or roughly 76 credits. This total is comprised of nine credit units (36 credits) in business administration core coursework and 10 credit units (40 credits) in accounting coursework. Graduates of the program will have accumulated the credits necessary to fulfill the 150-credit education requirement to seek licensure as a certified public accountant.

Accreditation

  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
  • The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Contact

1300 Steinberg-Dietrich Hall
3620 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6365
Phone: (215) 898-7772
Email: acct-staff@wharton.upenn.edu
Website: https://accounting.wharton.upenn.edu/

University of Pittsburgh

Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business

With a proud history that stretches back to the same year the United States Constitution was signed, the University of Pittsburgh offers respected undergraduate and graduate degree programs through 16 schools and colleges. Its Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business frequently appears near the top of the list in college rankings by U.S. News and World Report, Forbes, The Economist and Bloomberg Businessweek. In fact, The Economist named the school’s Master of Business Administration program as the best in the country for return on investment in 2014. The school offers several Master of Business Administration programs, a Master of Science in Accounting degree program, doctoral degree programs and non-degree executive education programs.

Master of Science in Accounting

A 30-credit degree program designed to allow individuals with a bachelor’s degree in accounting to earn their master’s degree in one year of full-time study, the Master of Science in Accounting degree program at the University of Pittsburgh permits students to fulfill the 150-credit hour education requirement for licensure as a certified public accountant. Students with undergraduate degrees in subjects other than accounting can pursue this degree, but will need to complete prerequisite coursework in accounting before beginning the master’s program. The coursework expands students’ understanding of accounting, readies them for the certified public accountant exam, and prepares them for successful accounting careers. To earn their degrees, students must complete 24 credits from the accounting core and 6 credits of selected electives. They also have the option of choosing courses from the school’s Master of Business Administration catalog. Popular options enrich students’ understanding of finance, entrepreneurship and management information systems.

Accreditation

  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
  • The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Contact

224 Mervis Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Phone: (412) 624-0147
Email: macc@katz.pitt.edu
Website: http://www.business.pitt.edu/katz/macc

Villanova University

Villanova School of Business

Founded in 1842 by the Order of St. Augustine, Villanova University takes pride in creating an atmosphere where students learn about critical thinking, compassion and success through service. The university’s own success is made apparent by its frequent appearance on the various lists of top colleges and universities; for more than a decade, the university has been ranked first in the Best Universities — Masters Category by U.S. News and World Report. Its Villanova School of Business is also committed to quality. In 2014, Bloomberg Businessweek ranked it 24th in the country among undergraduate business schools. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate-level degree programs through five departments: Accountancy and Information Systems, Finance, Economics, Marketing and Business Law, and Management and Operations.

Master of Accountancy

With a comprehensive curriculum that incorporates a broad range of areas to provide students with a strong business and accounting background that will allow them to flourish in the real world of global business, the Master of Accountancy degree program at Villanova University provides the 30 credits students who hold already hold an appropriate bachelor’s degree need to meet the 150-credit education requirement for the certified public accountant exam. A unique hybrid program that allows student to earn their degree in one year, it combines an intense summer session where students complete more than 50 percent of the necessary coursework with full-time study and flexible, online learning in the spring and fall sessions that make it possible for students to study and intern simultaneously. Topics covered include the taxation’s impact on business operations, financial markets, the effects of e-business, strategic planning and cost measurement. Graduates who have earned their master’s in accounting through this program also have the opportunity to jumpstart a master’s degree in business by transferring up to 12 credits with the university’s Flex Track Master of Business Administration degree program.

Accreditation

  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
  • The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Contact

Bartley Hall, Room 1045
Villanova, PA 19085
Phone: (610) 519-4330
Email: cfinfo@villanova.edu
Website: http://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/business/graduate/specializedprograms/mac.html

Widener University

School of Business Administration

From its humble beginnings as a Quaker school for boys in 1821, Widener University has grown to offer more than 60 degree programs through eight schools and colleges. Despite the many changes the university has undergone in its nearly two centuries of existence, its commitment to producing graduates who are ready to serve as leaders in their respective fields has remained constant. One of the university’s oldest schools, its School of Business Administration integrates challenging coursework delivered in state-of-the-art facilities with multiple experiential learning opportunities to provide students with the comprehensive education necessary for success in today’s competitive global business environment.

Master of Science in Forensic Accounting and Analytics

Called in to find evidence of illegal activity after a crime is committed and to aid a company in taking proactive steps to reduce risk by designing controls and processes to deter fraud, forensic accountants are increasingly in-demand. Intended to prepare students for careers in the hot field of fraud detection and financial investigations, the Master of Science in Forensic Accounting and Analytics at Widener University helps students hone the skills necessary to succeed in forensic accounting by preparing them for tasks like examining databases, assessing businesses’ controls and analyzing their processes. Suitable for either full-time or part-time study, this 31.5-credit program allows students to meet the educational requirements for licensure as a certified public accountant. It includes 25.5 credits of core coursework in business, finance, information technology and accounting and six credits in related electives.

Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting Information Systems

Widener University’s Master of Business Administration degree is meant to develop analytical, communication and leadership skills in its participants while also encouraging them to consider issues like sustainable growth, ethics and diversity. It allows students to understand various business functions and their role in the overall business process. By adding the concentration in Accounting Information Systems, students can gain a thorough understanding of how to use, design and audit today’s complex accounting information systems, preparing them to advise various entities about the benefits and risks of evolutions in technology. While much of the master’s program is online, this concentration is only available on campus. To earn this degree, students must complete 33 credits of coursework. This is comprised of 18 credits from the business administration core and 12 credits in accounting coursework to complete the concentration requirements.

Accreditation

  • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
  • The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Contact

Quick Center, Room 140
Chester, PA 19013
Phone: (610) 499-4305
Email: sbagradv@mail.widener.edu
Website: http://www.widener.edu/academics/schools/business/graduate/

While its business community may be somewhat overshadowed by that of its neighbor to the north, New York, financial companies and other major businesses thrive in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Committed to providing students with the knowledge and skills they need to serve as future economic stewards, the state’s colleges and universities offer several top-quality options for aspiring accountants. Students who wish to participate in accredited accounting degree programs in Pennsylvania will find several interesting options to consider.

Related resource: What Is the Job Outlook for Accounting Professionals?