The Master of Science (M.S.) in Accountancy program at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, provides you with the skills needed to succeed in today’s accounting profession and prepares you to successfully enter a career in accounting, while satisfying the educational requirements to become a certified public accountant (CPA).
Marshall University’s Master of Science in Accountancy program is fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International and is the only accounting master’s degree program offered in the state of West Virginia.
The graduate program in accountancy at Marshall is essential to helping meet the demand for public accountants in West Virginia.
Why study Accountancy at Marshall?
The Brad D. Smith Graduate School of Business at Marshall University provides you with an opportunity for an exceptional business education and an extraordinary college experience.
Marshall’s M.S. in Accountancy degree program develops skills you need to succeed in today’s accounting profession. The M.S. in accounting is a 30-credit hour graduate program that can be completed within three to four semesters. Complete an undergraduate degree in accounting at Marshall University and take advantage of the 3 + 2 program by finishing the master’s program in a year.
The master’s degree in accountancy program will prepare you to successfully enter the accounting profession and satisfy the educational requirements to become a CPA. The program features professional accounting research methods using electronic databases as well as computer auditing techniques. Ethics and professional services are stressed throughout the program.
Our new, fully online M.S. in Accountancy program gives you the option to take classes from any location, providing convenience for students who have already started their careers and want more flexibility in their schedules. All online classes meet Quality Matters standards with well-conceived, designed and presented courses.
Marshall University is one of only 190 schools worldwide to have achieved accreditation by AACSB International for its undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business and accounting and offers the only Master of Science in Accountancy program in West Virginia.
Our Department of Accounting and Legal Environment has award-winning faculty with diverse backgrounds and teaching interests. Most faculty have worked in the profession and / or currently perform consulting in an array of accounting and legal services. Most are certified public accountants or hold other prestigious certifications. Our faculty is committed to teaching and student learning through a dedicated faculty-student mentoring program.
Marshall University, located in Huntington, West Virginia, is accredited as an institution of higher learning by The Higher Learning Commission.
Career Outlook for Accounting Graduate Students
Graduates from Marshall University’s accredited M.S. in Accountancy program have successfully obtained jobs at public accounting firms, industry and governmental agencies, and have entered teaching-related careers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2019 median salary for accountants and auditors was $71,550. Job growth from 2019-29 is projected to be four percent.
Accounting careers include:
Charitable Organization Accountant
Opportunities for Accounting Graduate Students
Graduate students in the Lewis College of Business at Marshall University in West Virginia are encouraged to participate in internships, professional events, experiential learning, research and job placement services. Opportunities are also available to you for graduate assistantship positions and participation in the Dean’s Student Advisory Board.
Professional Engagement and Experiential Learning – Students actively engage with professionals through events and internships to become active members of the professional community and are given opportunities to engage in experiential learning, in which real-world projects become part of the curriculum.
Certification – Graduates with a master’s degree in accounting from Marshall University’s Lewis College of Business are qualified to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam in West Virginia. Marshall’s CPA exam scores beat the national average for all testing events and first-time pass rates.
Student organizations are an important part of the Lewis College of Business and provide valuable interaction, knowledge and experience for those who participate. Organizations available to you include:
Delta Sigma Pi – The largest business fraternity in the world with 296 chapters, Delta Sigma Pi is a professional, co-ed business fraternity providing opportunities for networking as well as building ethical, leadership and social skills. All business majors are welcome.
Beta Alpha Psi – An honorary organization for financial information students and professionals, Beta Alpha Psi’s primary objective is to encourage and give recognition to scholastic and professional excellence in the business information field.
Alpha Kappa Psi – All majors are welcome to take advantage of educational, friendship and networking opportunities with Alpha Kappa Psi.
Admission Requirements
Applicants should follow the admissions process described in the Graduate Catalog, or at the Graduate Admissions website at www.marshall.edu/graduate/admissions/how-to-apply-for-admission.
In addition to the requirements for admission to Marshall University as a graduate student, applicants must either have:
- An undergraduate degree in business from an accepted, accredited institution with an undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all previously completed coursework;
or
- Completed the following or equivalent with a 3.0 GPA or higher:
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credit Hours |
| ACC 311 | Intermediate Accounting I | 3 |
| ACC 312 | Intermediate Accounting II | 3 |
| ACC 318 | Cost Accounting I | 3 |
| ACC 341 | Acc Information Systems | 3 |
| ACC 348 | Federal Taxation | 3 |
| ACC 429 | Auditing I | 3 |
or
-
A score of 500 or better on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or an index of 1,100 computed by multiplying the undergraduate Grade Point Average by 200 and adding the GMAT score. The minimum acceptable GMAT score is 400 and 15th percentile verbal.