SUCCESSFUL ACCOUNTING STARTS WITH

Masters in Accounting

AT A GLANCE

Credit hours: 30+ (possible prerequisites)

Full-time, part-time

Fully online

Primarily 8-week courses

Start terms: fall, spring

GMAT/GRE Optional

Accounting excellence looks like YOU!

Step into the world of accounting with the CU Denver MS Accounting program, where your career opportunities are limitless. Designed for aspiring leaders in the field, this degree equips you with the expertise to excel in public accounting, industry, government, or nonprofit organizations. The program also prepares you to meet the requirements to sit for the CPA exam in Colorado, setting you on the path to becoming a Certified Public Accountant. As one of less than 2% of programs worldwide to hold AACSB accounting accreditation, the CU Denver Accounting Master’s program is recognized for its exceptional quality and industry relevance, making it a premier choice for advancing your accounting career.

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AACSB

Accounting

Separately accredited by AACSB

Specific courses targeting the CPA exam

No course prerequisites for admission

“Employers are noticing CU Denver, because we are right in the middle of everything. I think that gives us an advantage, because they do know where we went to school.”
– Amanda Pajonk '18
Audit Senior, Haynie & Company

The CU Denver MS Accounting program is backed by an active advisory council of top Denver accounting professionals. These industry leaders collaborate to provide invaluable networking opportunities and ensure the curriculum stays relevant to the demands of today’s business world. Develop meaningful relationships with professors who are dedicated to your success and prepare to take your accounting career to new heights.

Program Features:

Get CPA exam ready: Take courses specifically designed to cover the material on the CPA exam, equipping you to meet the certification requirements in Colorado.

Prime downtown Denver location: Study in the heart of Denver’s bustling business district, where you’ll stay connected to local industries with a global perspective.

Exclusive networking opportunities: Participate in events hosted by Denver-based companies, organized by our active advisory council, and build connections with leaders in the field.

Career changers welcome: If you’re transitioning into accounting, CU Denver offers additional coursework to help you strengthen your accounting and business fundamentals.

Lifetime career support: Gain lifelong access to our Business Career Center, which has over a decade of experience in recruiting and advising. With connections to more than 300 business partners, you’ll enjoy exclusive access to:

Career workshops: Refine your resume, LinkedIn profile, and job search strategies.
Individual appointments: Chart your personal career path, receive resume feedback, or participate in mock interviews.
Career events: Build your networking skills and meet hiring managers from leading organizations.
Job announcements: Receive monthly emails with tailored job and internship opportunities.

You'll have full access to our Business Career Center team for life. With over 10 years of recruiting and advising experience, they'll help you navigate your way through the corporate recruiting process. Our connections to over 300 business partners provide exclusive opportunities to network with industry leaders. Their services include:

Career workshops – perfect your resume, LinkedIn profile, and job search process
Individual appointments – explore what your personal career path looks like, review your resume, or schedule a mock interview
Career events – hone your networking skills and meet hiring managers from top companies
Job announcements – monthly emails with the latest job and internship opportunities specific to your degree

Our curriculum consists of 30 credit hours and is aligned with the US GAAP and international financial reporting standards and practices. We offer courses targeting topics covered on the CPA exam, so you’ll be well-prepared when you sit for the exam.

Accounting prerequisite coursework (9 hours)

If you have not had a formal accounting education, you will need to complete an additional three courses or 9 hours of prerequisite coursework to ensure you have a strong accounting foundation. This coursework does not need to be completed at the time of admission and can be waived based on previous academic coursework.

Core classes (21 hours)

Core classes give you a strong foundation in all areas of accounting. Course topics include:

Auditing theory
Accounting information systems
Taxation of business entities
Seminar: Financial Accounting
Seminar: Managerial Accounting
Accounting ethics
Seminar: Auditing and other assurance services

Accounting electives (9 hours)

Electives allow you to dive deeper into the areas of accounting that are most relevant for your future career. Course topics include:

Accounting for government and nonprofits
International accounting
Accounting for finance and sustainability
Fraud auditing

Take classes in a hybrid format (classroom and online) or complete your degree in a fully online curriculum. Your online courses are taught by the same professors and lecturers that teach on campus. We also offer hybrid courses in the evening for those working full-time.

Online courses are asynchronous, meaning there is no specific meeting day/time. Hybrid courses combine in-person and online learning. The in-person experience typically occurs once a week, from 6:30-9:15 p.m., one evening between Monday and Thursday. There will be at least six in-person meetings during the 8-week session, complemented by asynchronous content.

Most graduate courses are offered as an 8-week session within the 16-week fall and spring semesters. Graduate courses in the summer semester extend for the entire semester, which is an 8-week session as well.

National research shows increased graduation rates among students taking courses in an 8-week session. The data on 8-week courses shows increased student success and course completion rates. The course material is condensed into eight weeks. So, while the weekly workload is greater, you can complete the course in half the time! It is recommended to take one course per each 8-week session, particularly if you work full-time, which allows you to place your focus on just that course.

Additionally, offering courses in 8-week sessions every semester enables you to balance and manage life responsibilities while still prioritizing your education. For instance, if you have a vacation, family commitment or business trip occurring in the first 8-week session, you can choose to enroll only in a course offered in the second eight-week session.

Accounting graduates from the University of Colorado Denver have a wide array of career paths available, particularly in public accounting, where obtaining a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) credential is highly recommended. While a CPA designation is not mandatory for all accounting careers, it significantly enhances career prospects across the field due to its prestige and recognition.

CPAs are highly sought after and typically command higher salaries and more career opportunities compared to non-CPA counterparts. The path to becoming a CPA involves successfully completing the Uniform CPA Examination, which is part of the broader licensure requirements known as the four E's: Education, Examination, Ethics, and Experience.

CPA licensure requirements vary by state, often making the process seem overwhelming. Each state mandates that candidates complete a minimum of 150 credit hours, whereas a typical bachelor's degree in accounting provides only 120 credit hours, insufficient to meet these requirements on its own.

It's crucial for students aiming to become CPAs to thoroughly research and understand the specific licensure requirements of the state or states where they plan to practice. Each state’s board of accountancy provides detailed, sometimes complex requirements that can frequently change. Prospective CPAs should consult these guidelines early in their educational journey to ensure compliance and readiness for licensure.

Learning outcomes

MS Accounting

Value 1: Analyze Critically

Outcome: Identify key issues, think critically, and derive appropriate solutions for advanced, complex, uncertain or unstructured accounting problems and issues, at a level appropriate for senior-level professional accountants.

Value 2: Behave Ethically

Outcome: Apply appropriate ethical standards in evaluating and choosing among alternative solutions to ethical dilemmas commonly faced by senior-level professional accountants.

Value 3: Communicate Effectively

Outcome: Demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills appropriate for senior-level professional accountants.

Value 4: Leverage Technology

Outcome: Demonstrate familiarity with information systems and business processes, competency in data analysis and agility in utilizing an array of information technology tools.

These objectives are assessed in relevant courses across the curriculum using projects, presentations, assignments and exam questions.

Accounting careers

Accounting jobs are found in nearly all corporate, public sector, and non-profit organizations. There are over 46,000 US public accounting firms. Key areas include audit, tax, and corporate accounting. A CPA designation is required for most public accounting firm jobs and will also help you maximize a career in corporate accounting. Accounting and auditing jobs in the Denver metro area average $85,980 in 2019 (bls.gov).

Accounting Job Titles

Audit/Assurance Associate
Tax Associate
Advisory Associate
Staff Accountant
Cost Accountant
Forensic Accountant
Compliance Accountant
Budget Analyst
Treasury Analyst
Internal Auditor
Bank Auditor
IRS Agent
Cost Estimator
Wealth and Trust Advisor

Visit our Careers page for more detailed information on the resources available.

Tuition

The cost of tuition for the MS Accounting degree is different for in-state and out-of-state students.

Residents of western states may qualify for in-state tuition. The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) requires that students maintain current residency of WRGP state until degree completion.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available for students. As a current student, you can apply for scholarships every semester. Some awards are based on program and course enrollment.

Newly Admitted and Continuing Students:

You can apply for additional scholarships every semester of enrollment. Some awards may be specific to individual programs or enrollment in specific courses. Certain certificates, including risk management and insurance, commodities, and entrepreneurship, have additional scholarship opportunities.

Dual degree options for Master of Science programs include all of our MBA programs and all Business School Master of Science programs. We design a specific degree plan so you get through both programs as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. The amount of credits in each dual degree depends on the amount of overlap between degree programs. Eligible Master of Science programs include:

MS Accounting
MS Business Analytics
MS Finance and Risk Management
MS FinTech
MS Information Systems
MS International Business
MS Management
MS Marketing
MS Sustainable Business

If you are applying for both degrees, you will only need to submit one online application and pay one application fee. Be aware that you must meet specific admission standards for each degree. For more information about dual degree options and the application process, please contact BSchool.Admissions@ucdenver.edu.

Application Checklist

Online application
Official transcripts from each college or university attended
Essay responses
Resume
GMAT/GRE optional
English language proficiency—international applicants only
$50 domestic, $75 international application fee

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Application Process

Applicants are required to submit all application materials. Interviews are not a part of the admission process. To receive priority admission, we must have received your online application and all other required materials including transcripts and GMAT/GRE (if required by program) by the deadline.

You can check your admission status online through the account you created for the online application. You will receive a final decision by email within two to three weeks from the submission of all materials.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have completed an undergraduate program at an accredited United States college or its equivalent in another country.
No work experience or formal business education is required for admission, however, you may have to provide a GMAT or GRE score if you do not have enough work experience, see below.

The GMAT/GRE is not required for this program

The MS Accounting program does not require GMAT or GRE scores for their degree program as part of the graduate admissions requirements. The requirements are a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better from a US accredited four-year undergraduate institution or the successful completion of a graduate degree, and three or more years of full-time professional work experience.

However, if you received your bachelor’s degree with a grade point average of less than 3.00 or have less than 3 years of professional work experience, you will be asked to submit a statement that outlines other indicators of exceptional motivation, such as solid upper-division performance, GMAT or GRE scores, and other relevant professional experience. The MS Accounting admissions committee may require a minimum GMAT or GRE score for students that do not automatically qualify by GPA and prior work.

How Decisions Are Made

The admissions committee considers each candidate’s entire record of achievement. This is demonstrated through:

Academic transcripts
Essay responses
Work experience
Extracurricular and community activities
Letters of recommendation if applicable
GMAT/GRE scores (optional)

No work experience or formal business education is required for admission. However, professional experience strengthens your application. Candidates with less work experience can show potential through academic and experiential success.

For any questions, please contact our admissions team at bschool.admissions@ucdenver.edu or call 303-315-8200.

International Students

Note: F1 visas are not issued for online only programs

International graduate applicants must have their academic credentials evaluated by either Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) or World Education Services (WES). If you have already had an international credential evaluation from another company, please contact CU Denver International Admissions at intldocuments@ucdenver.edu to determine whether it meets our requirements.

To meet the English Language Proficiency (ELP) criteria, you must showcase your proficiency through different exemptions or an English Language Proficiency test (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE or Duolingo).

To determine English Language Proficiency (ELP), you must complete one of the following criteria. Please note for Business School graduate programs the minimum TOEFL score requirements of 83 (IBT) or 560 (PBT).

Fall

Domestic Applications

Priority: April 15
Final: July 15

International Applications

Priority: March 15
Final: May 15

Spring

Domestic Applications

Priority: October 15
Final: December 15

International Applications

Priority: September 15
Final: October 15

Take the next step in your career.

ΒΑΨ

Beta Alpha Psi - CU Denver’s active chapter of the premier national fraternity hosts several networking events every semester. You’ll connect with your peers and network with top Denver firms looking to hire.

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BIG 4

Every year, the Big Four accounting firms directly recruit our students every fall for internship and full-time jobs.

PricewaterhouseCoopers
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
Ernst & Young
KPMG

Masters in Accounting alumnus speaks on successful pathways after graduation

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