Master's in Accounting

Today’s global economy, changing regulations and tighter integration across key business functions have created an unprecedented demand for skilled accountants with advanced degrees.

Sacred Heart’s Master of Science in accounting (MSA) program will prepare you to be the accounting professional that high-powered organizations seek.

Why earn your master’s degree in accounting at Sacred Heart?

Sacred Heart’s Welch College of Business & Technology offers an innovative Master of Science in accounting (MSA) degree program. The program, its experienced faculty and rigorous curriculum aim to graduate highly qualified accountants.

The MSA program and its knowledgeable faculty, who are up to date on industry trends, help students prepare for the new Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam.

With close proximity and access to major corporations in Fairfield County and New York City, many graduates secure internships and jobs with “Big Four” accounting firms.

The MSA offers three concentrations, each one aligned with a discipline area of the new CPA model.

Information Systems & Forensic Accounting

In the information systems & forensic accounting concentration, you'll examine the principles, systems and technology in business processes -- from IT and data governance to legal analysis of financial data.

Business Analysis & Reporting

In the business analysis & reporting concentration, you will examine financial statement accounts, select transactions, not-for-profit and governmental accounting and advanced data analytics.

Tax Compliance & Planning

In the tax compliance & planning concentration, you'll examine the requirements and processes for individual and institutional compliance with tax rules, policies and reporting.

In the master's in accounting program, you will:

• Develop critical thinking, analytical and communication skills
• Earn a degree that provides a proven edge in the job market
• Study in SHU’s Welch College of Business & Technology — one of the elite business schools worldwide accredited by AACSB International, the premier global accrediting body for business schools
• Learn from accounting faculty members who are recognized experts in their fields, as well as accomplished guest speakers who provide expert insight on the latest accounting and financial trends

Can I complete a master's in accounting while working full time?

Master’s in accounting (MSA) students at Sacred Heart University benefit from a unique hybrid format that supports your continued full-time employment. Online courses are blended with monthly Saturday seminars on our Fairfield campus from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The MSA program is a cohort model ideally designed and recommended for completion in one year. Part-time MSA studies are possible with six-credit terms over two years.

Dual Degree Program Options for Accounting Majors

The Bachelor’s-Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) 4+1 Dual Degree Program allows incoming freshmen the opportunity to complete an undergraduate degree and a graduate degree in five years.

Sacred Heart University’s dual degree programs provide a defined pathway for incoming freshmen to move seamlessly from an undergraduate to a graduate degree.

While some of our dual degree programs require specific undergraduate majors, others are open to almost all undergraduate disciplines. Apply to a dual degree program as an incoming freshman and you’ll have the opportunity to be admitted directly into the graduate program of your choice at the same time as your admission as an undergraduate student. Students are encouraged to reach out to your admissions counselor to discuss dual degree options.

Coursework

Coursework features a rigorous core curriculum in foundational concepts, along with three concentrations, that aligns directly with the new CPA model.

Program Benefits

Experienced Faculty

Our MSA faculty members are established scholars in the accounting industry. The MSA program will feature notable guest speakers who will talk about current and developing accounting topics.

CPA Exam Preparation

The MSA program will provide graduates with the necessary skills and knowledge that are tested on the CPA exam. At 30 credit hours, the master's degree, together with a bachelor's degree, provides students with the 150 hours necessary as part of CPA licensure.

Students may be eligible to receive Becker CPA review at no cost.

Tuition, Financial Aid & Scholarships

At Sacred Heart University, we understand that the cost of graduate school is a significant investment. Tuition information for all our programs is available online. The Office of Student Financial Assistance will work with you to explore all your options and to maximize the financial aid that you are eligible for. Explore our website for our financial aid process, listing of loans and financing options, scholarships, grants and graduate assistantship opportunities.

Career Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accountants earn a median of $79,880 per year and people with MSA degrees typically earn higher salaries than those with only bachelor's degrees.

Many of our graduates receive employment offers from "Big Four" accounting firms, large and mid-sized regional accounting firms, multinational corporations and government agencies. Career paths include:

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