Master’s in Accounting and Financial Management

Program Overview

DeVry University's Master's in Accounting and Financial Management offers several emphasis areas, including CPA and CMA exam preparation, general accounting, and finance. The program is designed to develop skills in financial accounting, managerial accounting, and corporate finance, preparing students for careers in accounting and finance management. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and has specialized accounting accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Master's Degree in Accounting and Financial Management at DeVry's Keller Graduate School of Management offers several emphasis areas: Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam Preparation, Certified Management Accountant (CMA) Exam Preparation, General Accounting, and Finance. The program is designed to help students transition into accounting and finance careers. It's taught from a practitioner's perspective, developing skills in financial accounting, managerial accounting, and corporate finance. The program aims to provide in-depth knowledge of accounting theory and its application to practice in a global economy; develop and demonstrate professional communication skills; foster collaboration skills with diverse populations; conduct quantitative and qualitative business analyses, evaluate outcomes, and make recommendations for effective legal and ethical business decisions; and explore technology's role in contemporary organizations. The CPA Exam Preparation emphasis integrates Becker Professional Education's CPA exam prep into the curriculum. The program is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and has specialized accounting accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

Outline:

The program offers an accelerated schedule (1 year 4 months, averaging 10 credits per semester) and a normal schedule (2 years 2 months, averaging 6 credits per semester). The specific courses vary depending on the chosen emphasis.

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam Preparation Emphasis:

This emphasis integrates Becker Professional Education's CPA Exam Review. Core courses include: ACCT550 (Intermediate Accounting I), ACCT551 (Intermediate Accounting II), ACCT553 (Federal Taxes and Management Decisions), ACCT555 (External Auditing), ACCT557 (Intermediate Accounting III), ACCT559 (Advanced Financial Accounting and Reporting Issues), and three courses chosen from a list including ACCT525, ACCT530, ACCT540, ACCT560, ACCT563, ACCT564, ACCT567, ACCT568, ACCT571, ACCT573, and MGMT520, MGMT550. CPA exam preparation courses include: ACCT591C (CPA Exam Core Preparation: Auditing and Attestation), ACCT593C (CPA Exam Core Preparation: Financial Accounting and Reporting), ACCT594C (CPA Exam Core Preparation: Regulation and Taxation), and one course from ACCT597D, ACCT598D, or ACCT599D. The capstone course is ACCT605 (MAFM Capstone). Students are expected to have knowledge of introductory accounting and finance courses (ACCT503, ACCT505, and FIN515) but may not take these to fulfill program requirements. Students in New York are ineligible for this emphasis.

Certified Management Accountant (CMA) Exam Preparation Emphasis:

This emphasis focuses on managerial accounting, budgeting, and financial analysis skills. Courses include: ACCT503 (Financial Accounting: Managerial Use and Analysis), ACCT505 (Managerial Accounting), FIN515 (Managerial Finance), ACCT530 (Accounting Ethics and Related Regulatory Issues), ACCT550 (Intermediate Accounting I), ACCT551 (Intermediate Accounting II), ACCT568 (Analytics for Accountants), ACCT571 (Accounting Information Systems), FIN575 (Advanced Financial Statement Analysis), ACCT563 (Advanced Managerial Accounting Issues), ACCT595 (CMA Exam Preparation I), ACCT596 (CMA Exam Preparation II), and the capstone ACCT605 (MAFM Capstone).

General Accounting Emphasis:

This emphasis explores various accounting subject areas. Courses include: ACCT503, ACCT505, FIN515, ACCT550, ACCT551, ACCT553, ACCT555, ACCT559, and one of ACCT557 or MGMT520. Three additional courses are chosen from a list including ACCT525, ACCT530, ACCT540, ACCT552, ACCT557, ACCT560, ACCT563, ACCT564, ACCT567, ACCT568, ACCT571, ACCT573, and MGMT550. The capstone is ACCT605.

Finance Emphasis:

This emphasis applies finance concepts to areas like financial management and analysis. Courses include: ACCT503, ACCT505, FIN515, ACCT500 (Essentials of Accounting, Finance and Economics), FIN516 (Advanced Managerial Finance), FIN560 (Securities Analysis), FIN564 (Management of Financial Institutions), MATH534 (Applied Managerial Statistics), MGMT501 (Organizational Structures and Business Processes), and three courses from a list including BIAM500, FIN561, FIN565, FIN575, and INTL500. The capstone is ACCT605. Students in New York are ineligible for this emphasis.

Careers:

Graduates may pursue careers as Accounting Managers, Budget Analysts, Financial Analysts, Financial Managers, or Management Accountants. The program prepares students for the CPA exam (with the CPA emphasis) and the CMA exam (with the CMA emphasis).

Other:

The program's curriculum is designed to prepare students for professional licensure, such as the CPA exam, but obtaining a degree does not automatically qualify a holder to sit for these exams. State requirements vary. The program is offered online and on campus/online. Classes start May 5, 2025. DeVry University and its Keller Graduate School of Management are accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and the Master's Degree in Accounting and Financial Management has specialized accounting accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Related programs include a Master's Degree in Accounting, an MBA in Accounting, an MBA in Finance, a Graduate Certificate in Accounting, and a Graduate Certificate in CPA Preparation.