Are you searching for accredited master’s in accounting degree programs in West Virginia to fulfill the state’s 150-hour requirement to become a CPA? Well, there are currently just two degrees offered in the “Mountain State” that will provide the academic credit needed to advance with these prestigious accounting credentials. Despite the fact that West Virginia’s position in Appalachia has created a major coal mining industry, the state has many other growing sectors related to tourism, manufacturing, agriculture, logging, green energy, and healthcare that will increase the demand for qualified accounting professionals. In fact, Forbes magazine has named Morgantown as one of the top ten small cities in America for conducting business! Read on to learn about the master’s in accounting degree programs that will advance your specialized accounting skills while surrounded by the natural beauty of West Virginia.

West Virginia University

College of Business & Economics

As a major comprehensive four-year public research institution with a community engagement classification through the Carnegie Foundation, West Virginia University is located on a vast 2,737-acre suburban campus along the Monongahela River in the small college town of Morgantown near the Pennsylvania border with over 29,400 students. Well-known for being among the top 15 public universities nationwide in the number of students earning Rhodes Scholarships, WVU is currently ranked as the 168th best college, 93rd top public school, and 55th best university for veterans in America by the U.S. News and World Report. Furthermore, the College of Business & Economics is nationally acclaimed for being the 92nd best graduate business school with the 23rd best online business degrees.

Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA)

Structured to prepare graduate students to meet the evolving challenges faced in the global business marketplace, the Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA) program at WVU is an educational experience that broadens and deepens students’ current knowledge and skills for a solid career foundation. Since West Virginia requires at least 150 credit hours to be fully certified as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), the program ensures students fulfill this requirement. Over just one academic year, the 30-credit program takes students on a journey through courses in assurance services, financial accounting theory, business decision making, income taxation, accounting consulting, mergers and acquisitions, and information systems. Students may also opt to earn a Graduate Certificate in Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination (FAFE) to specialize their career.

Accreditations

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)

Contact

1601 University Avenue
P.O. Box 6025
Morgantown, WV 26506
(304) 293-4959
scott.fleming@mail.wvu.edu
http://www.be.wvu.edu/mpa/index.htm

Wheeling Jesuit University

Department of Business

Nestled on a 65-acre suburban campus in the small city of Wheeling at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains along the Ohio River, Wheeling Jesuit University is a private co-educational Roman Catholic research institution rooted in Jesuit values to inspire over 1,600 students to lead civic-minded lives. Named the fourth best educational value in the Southeast by Princeton Review, WJU is currently ranked the 11th best regional college and 3rd top university for veterans in the South by the U.S. News and World Report. Featuring ACBSP accreditation, the Department of Business has the mission of preparing students with the value-based, practical skills to successfully enter the workforce and advance to leadership positions.

Master of Science in Accountancy (MSA)

Structured as a professional non-thesis graduate program for individuals who have already attained an undergraduate degree in accounting, the Master of Science in Accountancy (MSA) at WJU will enhance understanding on the most essential aspects of accounting practice to complete the academic credit required to sit for the CPA exam in West Virginia. Within the 30-credit curriculum, students will be required to take ten courses in business ethics, managerial economics, financial management, auditing, controllership, tax accounting, accounting practice, accounting law, investment analysis, and accounting information systems with an optional internship. Graduates will have the sound academic preparation needed to successfully enter a career in public accounting, industry, government, or non-profit organizations.

Accreditations

Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)

Contact

316 Washington Avenue
Wheeling, WV 26003
(304) 243-2313
younkins@wju.edu
http://www.wju.edu/academics/bus/msa.asp

Although entry-level positions can be found with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, a master’s degree is quickly becoming the preferred degree for employers as the profession continues to evolve and become more complex. Students who earn a master’s degree in accounting also have a much higher likelihood of advancing into the upper-level management roles of accounting manager, budget director, and even Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Therefore, choosing one of these top-notch accredited master’s in accounting degree programs in West Virginia may place you on the right track towards reaching your career dreams as an accountant.