Accounting

Learning Outcomes
Requirements

New England College’s Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) is a 40-credit-hour program designed to help student’s expand their breadth and depth of knowledge in taxation, financial reporting, cost accounting, auditing, legal concerns, mergers, and acquisitions. Students will be prepared for careers in auditing and risk management, corporate accounting, management consulting, banking and financial services, governmental and nonprofit organizations, and taxation practices.

Based on the functional, personal and broad business competencies identified by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the MSA program satisfies the 150-hour requirement for the CPA examination in most states. It also helps you prepare for other professional certification programs such as Certified Management Accountant (CMA), or Certified Internal Auditor (CIA). If you plan to sit for the CPA exam, check with your state board for specific course requirements and eligibility.

The MSA degree is also offered with a concentration in Forensic Accounting which is designed for those students interested in fraud prevention or criminal investigation. This concentration helps prepare you for the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) designation. Please note that this concentration track may not meet CPA exam requirements in all states. If you plan to sit for the CPA exam, check with your state board for specific course requirements and eligibility.

Faculty in the MSA degree come from a variety of professional and academic backgrounds, and pedagogical emphasis is placed on practical application of knowledge and developing strong professor to student rapport.

Who Should Enroll in the MSA Program?

The traditional MSA is ideal for students wishing to sit for the CPA or enter careers in auditing and risk management, corporate accounting, management consulting, or banking, governmental, and not-for-profit accounting. The Forensic Accounting concentration is ideal for students interested fraud prevention and criminal investigation and who are interested in preparing for the Certified Fraud Examiner designation.

NEC Master’s of Science in Accounting is designed to accommodate busy working professionals seeking a “student-centered” touch to complement their education.

Program Sequence

6 Entry points per year
100% online

Career and Professional Development Opportunities

New England College’s Master’s of Science in Accounting degree provides professionals an opportunity to advance in their careers, whether they have prior professional accounting experience or not. For those who have an undergraduate degree in accounting, NEC’s MS in Accounting will satisfy the requirements to sit for the CPA exam in most states.

Learning Outcomes

(adapted from AICPA core competencies):

Decision Modeling: consider issues, identify alternatives, choose and implement solutions;
Risk Analysis: identify and manage audit risk and understand how business risk affects business strategy;
Measurement: use traditional and non-traditional (e.g. quantitative and qualitative) measures that are relevant and reliable;
Reporting: communicate clearly and objectively the work done and the resulting findings in accordance with professional standards;
Research: access relevant guidance/information, understand it, and apply it;
Strategic Thinking: link data, knowledge, and insight together to provide information for decision making;
Legal: describe and apply the legal, regulatory, and ethical requirements of the profession.

Programs

Major

Courses

Accounting