The University of Scranton - Online Master of Accountancy (MAcc)

The Kania School of Management at The University of Scranton offers an online Master of Accountancy (MAcc) degree program with a general path or a choice of specializations in Forensic Accounting or Accounting Analysis. The MAcc program seeks to prepare individuals with a set of well-rounded skills and knowledge to succeed in financial leadership across a variety of roles. The master’s degree covers subjects such as economics, financial management and reporting, auditing, ethics, taxation, and financial regulations. This 30-credit master’s program can be completed in 12 months on a full-time basis or 18 months on a part-time basis. It is offered completely online and does not require any campus visits.

The University of Scranton uses the Engage learning management system (LMS) through which courses are delivered asynchronously, which means students can view course materials according to their own schedule. Assignments, which may be individual or group, have specific deadlines. Scranton Accountancy students interact through various online multimedia tools including virtual chat sessions, discussion threads, email, and Instant Messaging (IM).

The University of Scranton Online Master of Accountancy degree comprises ten courses broken down into five core courses and five electives. Core courses include Effective Accounting Communication; Contemporary Managerial Accounting Topics; Accounting Ethics: The Foundation of the Profession; Contemporary Financial Accounting Topics; and the capstone course Applied Accounting Research. There are several elective courses to choose from for the general MAcc, some of which include International Accounting; Advanced Taxation and Regulation; Advanced Auditing; Occupational Fraud and Abuse; and Managerial Economics.

Specialization courses for the Forensic Accounting specialization include Financial Reporting and Research; Advanced Auditing; Occupational Fraud and Abuse; Financial Reporting Fraud: Detection and Prevention; and Introduction to Business Analytics.

Students in the Accounting Analysis specialization take the courses Introduction to Business Analytics and Data Mining. In addition, they choose three courses from the following: Business Analytics Using R; Business Simulation; Business Forecasting Models; Business Database Management System; and Business Intelligence.

The Kania School of Management also offers a MAcc Bridge option for those with a non-accounting bachelor’s degree. Through this path, students complete up to six courses beyond what is required for those with a BS in Accounting. Typically, students complete Accounting for Management and Intermediate Accounting I-III. Additionally, Accounting Communication and Accounting Ethics: The Foundation of the Profession may be required as bridge courses. As such the core course Contemporary Financial Accounting Topics is typically waived, requiring a total credit load of 39 to 45 credits. Accounting experience may also play a role in the bridge courses required. The Program Director will determine the necessary courses for each Bridge option student. The MAcc Bridge option may take approximately two to 2.5 years to complete.

The University of Scranton offers Wiley CPAexcel at a significant discount in order that all students have the necessary tools to pass the CPA exam upon program completion. This program is endorsed by the Big 4 firms and is a tool used in CPA exam preparation. Another standout feature of this program is the Jesuit tradition of the university which promotes ethics, social responsibility, and global justice.

The University of Scranton is accredited by The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). The Kania School of Management is accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International).