Master
A Message from the Graduate Programs Office
Isenberg’s Master of Science in Accounting —one of the top-ranked programs nationally—prepares you for top-tier accounting jobs, in a way that fits your lifestyle. You can take classes on campus or online. Take advantage of our accelerated, two-semester program or finish your degree on your own schedule and timetable. Whatever path you choose, Isenberg’s world-class faculty is committed to your success. Our MS in Accounting, one of a select few to achieve the prestigious AACSB accreditation in accounting, also provides the foundation for a number of accounting-related certifications in the field.
What’s more, Isenberg’s educational experience and large alumni network give you a strong advantage in today’s business environment. Our graduates, consistently recruited by elite firms including the Big 4, are collaborative, strategic leaders who have the insights and the expertise to flourish in a fast-paced, global marketplace. I invite you to explore this brochure to discover more about our dynamic program.
Nikunj Kapadia, PhD
ASSOCIATE DEAN
GRADUATE & PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS
ISENBERG SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
About the program.
With an MS in Accounting from Isenberg, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills to break away from the competition. Working with internationally recognized faculty in accounting and auditing, you will learn to apply real-world solutions and practices through a progressive curriculum, online or on-campus classes, and hands-on problem solving.
Isenberg’s MS in Accounting degree equips you for all aspects of accounting and auditing, including tax implications, financial valuation, ethical standards, changing technologies, and data analytics.
All classes are offered 100% online, or you can choose to take some classes on the UMass Amherst campus. Classes are offered on campus in the fall and spring semesters. Our online format allows you to take classes from any place at any time since classes are asynchronous. This means that you can complete your assignments at a time that works for you. The knowledge you gain in the MS in Accounting will be applicable to a number of accounting-related certifications in the field.
Isenberg
was the only school of its kind offering an Accounting Transitions Track for students who earned their bachelor’s degree in another field. This program helped me switch from a career in health sciences to accounting.
SYLVIA WU, MSA ’18 ASSURANCE ASSOCIATE, PWC
Learn more at isenberg.umass.edu/msa
The Isenberg MS in Accounting offers two tracks to meet you where you are and better serve your career goals.
PROFESSIONAL TRACK
If you have already earned an undergraduate degree in accounting, the 30-credit Professional Track will advance your accounting knowledge, enhance your understanding of the tax implications behind business decisions, gain expertise in financial valuation, and explore ethical standards. Many students complete the program in just two semesters, but students can finish their degrees on their own schedules and timeframes.
TRANSITIONS TRACK
Are you contemplating a change of career? With any undergraduate degree, including social sciences or economics, you can shift gears into the world of accounting and auditing. The 33- to 45-credit Transitions Track, offered 100 percent online, is designed for students with non-accounting degrees who want to enter the accounting or auditing fields. In this program, which can be completed in as few as four semesters (1.3 years), you will complete the accounting foundation classes that will prepare you for more advanced coursework.
I appreciate the flexibility of the MSA program and taking classes online, because it allows me to grow to my full potential without that in-person requirement. My professors have been nothing but amazing and have granted us the opportunity to meet with them, understand their backgrounds, and learn from them in various ways, rather than that in-person experience
MADISON HUGHES ‘24
What sets Isenberg apart.
FLEXIBLE, AFFORDABLE, AND VALUABLE
We’ve designed the MS in Accounting to meet your life and career needs—and provide an affordable, world-class education in the process. In fact, Isenberg delivers one of New England’s top accounting educations at about half the cost of the many Boston-area private universities.
Isenberg offers two options to complete your degree. If you choose to study on campus, Isenberg provides you with an ideal collaborative environment anchored by our new Business Innovation Hub: an ultra-modern 70,000-squarefoot space including classrooms, labs, and tech-enabled shared learning spaces for students.
Our online option lets you fulfill your credits from anywhere. We understand that each student has different demands on their time, and our online platform provides a world-class learning solution tailored to your unique schedule. Take as few as three credits (one course) per semester, and up to four years to complete your degree.
Being involved in this program has really helped me in preparing for my CPA exam. A lot of my courses, such as the not-for-profit course, was extremely helpful in mastering three of the chapters that were included on my first CPA exam.
JENNA COX ‘23
Expert faculty lead the way
Isenberg’s MS in Accounting faculty members include award-winning research scholars and industry experts who know what it takes to succeed in the business world. They are thought leaders and industry practitioners with global perspectives who bring theory to life in their classrooms with a synthesis of case studies, real-life experiences, and discussions.
MS in Accounting faculty members are gifted teachers and mentors committed to your success in and out of the classroom—and throughout your career in accounting. Isenberg keeps class sizes small so you receive individual attention and form strong bonds with faculty and peers.
KAYLA BELLMORE ’14 FINANCIAL ANALYST ONYX SPECIALTY PAPERS, INC.
The faculty is unlike any other—they truly care about your success and their lessons carry on long after you leave the classroom. I’ve heard from many employers that they were impressed with the education I received, and that a degree from the Isenberg School of Management holds weight.
ADD A FOCUS TO YOUR DEGREE
Fulfill your elective credit requirements with courses in data analytics, forensic accounting, or taxation, and add the specialized skills and knowledge demanded by firms today.
Focus in Data Analytics
Focus in Taxation
There is a strong demand for accounting professionals who are trained in data analytics. In the data analytics focus, students will develop the skillset and approaches needed to be an analytically minded accounting professional. Students will learn how to assess and communicate business problems, to evaluate and analyze data, and to develop and effectively present data-driven recommendations.
The focus in taxation provides students with the depth, knowledge, and skills needed for a successful career in public accounting. Students take three tax courses alongside the traditional MS in Accounting curriculum: Taxation of Partnerships and Limited Liability Company (LLC); Tax Research; and State and Local Taxation. Students will also benefit from using software that public accounting firms use for tax research.
Focus in Forensic Accounting
Forensic accounting applies the tools of an Isenberg education to the complex and challenging accounting problems that arise when businesses have disputes and conflicts, when businesses address fraud risks, and when investigations ensue. Courses include Intro to Forensic Accounting; Fraud Examination & Investigation; and Cybersecurity Risk Management. Whether you want to become a forensic accountant, auditor, manager, or business leader, a focus in forensic accounting prepares you to dig even deeper and deliver greater insight.
Graduate Certificate in Forensic Accounting
In addition to the MS in Accounting degree, Isenberg also offers a Graduate Certificate in Forensic Accounting. This option is ideal for professionals seeking to enhance their careers and stay on top of challenges in the ever-changing world of business.
Students will gain the ability to track patterns of financial transactions and identify discrepancies within the corporate environment. All four courses in this 12-credit program are taught by practitioners with extensive experience and connections in the industry:
• Exploring Data Analytics for Accounting Professionals
• Introduction to Forensic Accounting
• Fraud Examination and Investigation
• Cybersecurity Risk Management
All courses are available online and can be used to fulfill the continuing professional education requirements for licensed CPAs.
GET A HEAD START ON YOUR MS IN ACCOUNTING DEGREE
Credits earned in this certificate program are transferable and fulfill one core course and three of the four elective requirements of the MS in Accounting degree.
The
most exciting part of our business is combining the many things our talented people do… accounting with data analytics, or cybersecurity, to bring solutions to clients.
TONY
JORDAN, BBA ’95 FORENSIC & INTEGRITY SERVICES LEADER ERNST & YOUNG
Fast track to success.
The accounting field is growing rapidly. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that demand for accounting and auditing expertise will grow 10 percent from 2016 to 2026. That’s more than 140,000 new jobs.
Isenberg’s Office of Career Success will work with you to craft a personalized job-search strategy based on your individual strengths and career goals, prepare you for interviews, and leverage Isenberg’s alumni and recruiter network.
CAREERS IN ACCOUNTING
The MSA program prepares you for some of the highest paying jobs in all areas of public accounting, financial institutions, and government, including:
• Chief Executive Officer
• Chief Financial Officer
• Controller
• Forensic Accountant
• Government Auditor
• Information Technology Accountant
• Internal Auditor
• Risk and Compliance Officer
• Tax Accountant
PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Isenberg is a primary recruiting school for the Big 4 and a host of other leading companies:
• BDO USA, LLP
• BlumShapiro
• CliftonLarsonAllen
• CohnReznick
• Deloitte
• EY
• Grant Thornton
• KPMG
• Liberty Mutual
• Marcum
• PwC
• Raytheon
• RSM
• State Street
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
$68,136
MS IN ACCOUNTING GRADUATE AVERAGE STARTING SALARY
ALUMNI NETWORK
10,000+
ACCOUNTING ALUMNI
50,000+
ISENBERG ALUMNI IN 82 COUNTRIES REPUTATION
#6
BEST ONLINE MASTER’S IN BUSINESS PROGRAMS (U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, 2024)
Isenberg is accredited at the highest level by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Get a degree from one of the best public business schools in the country.
The Isenberg School of Management is part of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, one of the leading public research universities in the United States. It is also one of the top-ranked business schools in the country. Our student-focused environment, concentration on experiential learning, and exceptional career support allow students to achieve their goals.
In addition, Isenberg is accredited at the highest level by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). What does this mean for you? Your degree is monitored and held to a higher standard. Less than five percent of the world’s 16,500 business schools have achieved AACSB International Accreditation. Of those, only one percent have also earned elite AACSB Accounting Accreditation, which is a distinction that sets Isenberg apart.
A diverse body of 250 students from across the nation and around the world are served by top-ranked scholars and researchers in our large and rapidly growing Master of Science in Accounting program.
BRADLEY BENNETT, PHD ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT CHAIR AND RONALD C. MANNINO FACULTY FELLOW
Every step of the way.
From the moment you connect with us, a recruitment specialist will be there to answer any questions you might have. Whether you need assistance with the application process or have questions about the degree requirements, they have you covered.
Once your journey as a graduate student begins, a dedicated academic advisor will stay with you from enrollment up until the day you graduate—fully supporting your needs as a student.
Application Deadlines
Admission Requirements
• Fall start: Priority June 1, Final July 15
• Spring start: Priority Oct 1, Final Nov 15
• Summer start: Priority Feb 1, Final Mar 15
• Application and fee
• Personal statement
• Graduate School Short Essay
• Resume/CV
• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
• Two letters of recommendation
• GMAT/GRE score (waiver may apply)
• For non-native English speakers only: English language proficiency scores
Professional Track Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or its equivalent from an accredited academic institution.
• The degree must include or be supplemented by courses that provide a solid foundation in accounting and business. In general, this requires 18 semester hours in accounting and 24 semester hours in business-related courses. See our website for a list of prerequisites.
Transitions Track Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited academic institution.
CONTACT
Isenberg Graduate Programs Office grad@isenberg.umass.edu | 413.545.5608 | isenberg.umass.edu/contact-us
Isenberg MS in Accounting Curriculum
ACCOUNTING FOUNDATION COURSES
Students selecting the Transitions Track are required to complete the Accounting Foundation Courses before moving on to core or elective program classes. Your Academic Advisor will work with you to plan out a
Isenberg School of Management
University of Massachusetts Amherst 121 Presidents Drive, Amherst, MA 01003 www.isenberg.umass.edu
The Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has one of New England’s top-ranked public business school undergraduate programs, according to U.S. News & World Report. Founded in 1947, Isenberg is AACSB accredited and has 4,300 undergraduates majoring in seven business disciplines, ranging from accounting and marketing to sport and hospitality and tourism management. More than 2,000 students are enrolled in nationally and internationally recognized on-campus and online graduate programs. The school’s 50,000 alumni live and work in 86 countries, and many of them serve as mentors, guest lecturers, and network connectors for Isenberg.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst, one of the nation’s top-ranked public universities, is located in the heart of New England where our 24,000 undergraduate and 7,800 graduate students discover their strengths, expand their vision, and reach out to change the world. Here we have more than 1,400 full-time faculty members dedicated to creating vast opportunities for our students. UMass Amherst is distinguished not only by the excellence and breadth of its research and academic programs but by a diverse community united in the commitment to the relentless pursuit of progress. For more information, visit umass.edu.
