Program Overview

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Master of Professional Accounting

The Master of Professional Accounting is a graduate degree program designed to prepare students for the CPA exam and advancement within their field. This online program develops knowledge of auditing, commercial transactions, consulting, and more.

Program Details

Program Summary

Develop knowledge of auditing, commercial transactions, consulting, and more through this online graduate degree program designed to prepare students for the CPA exam and advancement within their field.

100% Online

Complete your Penn State course work at your own pace and 100% online.

Application Deadline

Apply by February 1 to start May 18.

Credits and Costs

30 Credits, $1,037 per credit.

Nationally Recognized

Select graduate business programs are highly ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

Gain Skills to Become a CPA with a Master of Professional Accounting Degree

• Leverage an expanded accounting knowledge base to become an effective, efficient accounting professional.
• Build the technical expertise and confidence needed to adapt to increasingly complex business methods, growing sophistication in auditing approaches, new tax laws, and demand for highly technical services.
• Successfully prepare for the CPA exam and gain the academic credentials needed for licensure as a CPA.
• Understand business processes, transaction cycles, and internal control structures of computerized accounting information systems.

Your Online Professional Accounting Courses

You will take 10 online courses in this comprehensive 30-credit master's in accounting program. The curriculum is carefully designed to include courses that explicitly address the content critical to your successful preparation for the CPA exam.

Required Courses (27 credits)

• ACCT 504: Auditing Theory and Practice (3 credits)
• ACCT 510: Business Tax Planning Theory and Practice (3 credits)
• ACCT 532: Accounting Information and Decision Systems (3 credits)
• ACCT 545: Strategic Cost Management (3 credits)
• ACCT 550: Professional Responsibilities and Ethics in Accounting (3 credits)
• ACCT 561: Financial Statement Analysis II (3 credits)
• ACCT 572: Financial Reporting I (3 credits)
• BLAW 444: Advanced UCC and Commercial Transactions (3 credits)
• PADM 523: Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting (3 credits)

Capstone Course (3 credits)

• ACCTG 803: Forensic Accounting and Litigation Support (3 credits)

Advance Your Career

The online Master of Professional Accounting degree and Penn State's career resources can prepare you for a career in auditing and public accounting, industrial and managerial accounting, and governmental and not-for-profit accounting.

Job Titles Related to This Degree

• Accountant
• Budget Analyst
• Accounting Officer
• Budget Officer
• Internal Auditor

Employment Outlook for Occupational Fields Related to This Degree

• Accountants and Auditors: 5.8% employment growth (10 years), 1,448,290 total employment
• Financial Examiners: 21% employment growth (10 years), 62,830 total employment
• Budget Analysts: 3.9% employment growth (10 years), 47,170 total employment

Earn a Valuable Credential along the Way

Show mastery of specific subjects before your degree is complete. Thanks to shared courses across accounting programs, students can often earn a certificate along with their degree in less time than if they earned them separately.

Certificate Programs Related to This Degree

• Accounting (Graduate Certificate)

Who Should Apply?

If you have completed an undergraduate degree in business or accounting and need to satisfy the 150-credit hour educational requirements for CPA licensure in Pennsylvania and most other states, this online master's degree in accounting is designed for you.

Admission Requirements

• An applicant must hold either (1) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution.
• Prerequisites — Please be sure you have the required prerequisite courses.
• GPA from the final two years of undergraduate studies is required.

AACSB Accredited

The School of Business Administration carries the elite AACSB accreditation, an honor reserved for the top 5% of business schools worldwide.

Set Your Own Pace

Whether you are looking to finish your program as quickly as possible or balance your studies with your busy life, Penn State World Campus can help you achieve your education goals. Many students take one or two courses per semester.

To Finish Your Degree in Two and a Half Years

• Take 2 courses each semester

To Finish Your Degree in Three Years

• Take 1 course each semester

Convenient Online Format

This program's convenient online format gives you the flexibility you need to study around your busy schedule. You can skip the lengthy commute without sacrificing the quality of your education and prepare yourself for more rewarding career opportunities without leaving your home.

A Trusted Leader in Online Education

Penn State has a history of more than 100 years of distance education, and World Campus has been a leader in online learning for more than two decades. Our online learning environment offers the same quality education that our students experience on campus.

Professional Licensure / Certification

Qualify for a CPA certificate and license to practice public accounting.

How to Earn the CPA Licensure

• Meet the 150-credit hour education requirement for entry into the accounting profession.
• Pass the Uniform CPA Examination to qualify for a CPA certificate and license (i.e., permit to practice) to practice public accounting.

How to Apply to Penn State

Application Instructions

1. Review the admission requirements.
2. Gather your required materials.
3. Create a Penn State login account.
4. Read the application instructions.
5. Complete the application.

Admissions Help

If you have questions about the admissions process, contact an admissions counselor.

Learn from the Best

The master's in accounting program, offered in partnership with the Penn State Harrisburg School of Business Administration, is developed and taught by experienced full-time Penn State faculty with diverse backgrounds.

Faculty

• Thomas T. Amlie
• Charles A. (Chuck) Brown
• Patrick Cusatis
• Ashutosh Deshmukh
• Renee Flasher
• Bo Ouyang
• Richard Scheib
• Haimeng Teng
• Zachary Williams

News

Penn State featured in U.S. News’ 2025 ‘Best Online Programs’ rankings.

We Are Penn State

This is the real Penn State. You will take courses with curriculum developed by the same professors who teach on campus. You can expect the same caliber of academic quality that you associate with Penn State.