A degree that pays off.
Breadcrumb
Credit hours: 30+ (possible prerequisites)
Full-time, part-time
Online and evening class options
7:1 student-faculty ratio
Start terms: fall, spring
GMAT/GRE Optional
Here, you’re more than a number.
Less than 2% of programs worldwide have CU Denver’s AACSB accounting accreditation. You’ll be a part of a diverse community of number-loving professionals who are ready to start or advance their careers in accounting. Your peers are motivated with most focusing on a goal of passing the CPA exam.
Network with top Denver accounting firms
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
Our MS in Accounting program is supported by an advisory council of top Denver accounting professionals. These minds come together to give you valuable networking experiences and to ensure our curriculum remains relevant. We offer the opportunity to develop close relationships with professors who care about your education.
- Get CPA exam ready by taking courses designed to cover material on the exam.
- Our downtown Denver location gives you access to business leaders and experiences.
- Active advisory council organizes several events hosted by Denver companies every year to give you access to business leaders.
For those students looking to change careers, we have additional coursework to get you up to speed on accounting and business fundamentals.
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 (24 hours)
Core classes give you a strong foundation in all areas of accounting. Course topics include:
- Auditing theory
- Advanced financial accounting
- Accounting information systems
- Taxation of business entities
- Seminar: Financial Accounting
- Seminar: Managerial Accounting
- Accounting ethics
- Seminar: Auditing and other assurance services
Accounting electives (6 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
CPA Exam information
As a student in the Master in Accounting program at CU Denver, you will be a part of a diverse community of financial professionals who are ready to advance their careers in accounting. Many of your peers are motivated by the goal of passing the CPA exam. The Uniform CPA Exam is required by all fifty states as well as five U.S. territories for anyone wishing to become a U.S. Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
Every jurisdiction has its own educational requirements to sit for the CPA exam and to become licensed as a CPA. These requirements are subject to change and may affect the educational requirements for examination and licensure. The University has not determined if our program curriculum meets any jurisdiction licensure requirements, however, we work hard to keep our program in alignment with the Colorado State statutory and regulatory requirements. Due to the changing nature of the education requirements, it is recommended that students review these requirements regularly.
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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.
Prospective students (not yet admitted):
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 specializations 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 Global Energy Management
- MS Information Systems
- MS International Business
- MS Management
- MS Marketing
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
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
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 either showcase your proficiency through past education in English instruction or an English Language Proficiency test. If you are a citizen of a country whose official language is English, you do not have to prove proficiency. See below for a listing of accepted countries.
To claim proficiency, you must complete one of the following criteria. Please note that test scores are valid for two years.
- Submit a TOEFL score that meets the minimum requirements of 83 (IBT) or 560 (PBT).
The minimum IBT sub-scores for each section are:- Reading: 18
- Listening: 17
- Speaking: 20
- Writing: 17
- Submit an IELTS score of at least 6.5 The minimum IELTS sub scores for the reading, listening, speaking, and writing sections are 5.5.
- Submit a copy of completion from the CU Denver ESL Academy.
- Be a citizen of a country whose official language is English. International applicants holding a citizenship from the following countries do not need to prove their English language proficiency for admission to CU Denver: Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Granada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, The Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago, United Kingdom.
- International applicants may meet the English language proficiency requirement through any of the options below for previous coursework completed. Options for previous coursework completed which will satisfy admissions ELP requirements:
- Earn an associate or bachelor's degree in the US
- Earn a post-secondary credential (comparable to a US associate or bachelor's degree) in any of the exempt countries listed above
- Earn a post-secondary credential (comparable to a US associate or bachelor's degree) at an exempt-country-accredited school located in a non-exempt country
- Earned 12 or more credit hours in a master or doctoral degree program in the United States, an exempt country, or at an exempt-country-accredited school in a non-exempt country AND earned an overall college-level GPA of 3.0 or higher.
To be eligible for scholarships you must apply by the priority deadlines. Plan to submit materials early to expedite processing. Deadlines apply to all required documents. Please note that if you apply by the final deadlines many classes may be full.
Fall
Domestic Applications
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Priority: April 15
- Final: July 15
International Applications
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Priority: March 15
- Final: May 15
Spring
Domestic Applications
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Priority: October 15
- Final: December 15
International Applications
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Priority: September 15
- Final: October 15
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.
Accomplished graduate student reflects on CU Denver’s new MS in taxation program and talks life post grad
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
Request More Information
Attend a graduate open house, online or in-person information session, or a GMAT test prep workshop. Visit our events page for all upcoming events.