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Graduate Certificate Program in Accounting

Build specialized accounting expertise and a pathway to professional growth with UMass Lowell's Graduate Certificate in Accounting.

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Alarm Clock Courses Start: January 20

Graduate Certificate in Accounting Overview

Sharpen your technical knowledge, strengthen your credentials or prepare for graduate study with the Graduate Certificate in Accounting. Whether preparing for professional certification, considering a future master's degree or simply staying ahead in a fast-evolving field, this 12-credit program offers a flexible way to advance your career.

Courses are taught by expert faculty from UMass Lowell's AACSB accredited Manning School of Business and cover critical areas like financial reporting, taxation, cost management, audit analytics and data interpretation. The carefully designed curriculum aligns with today's industry needs and allows you to select electives based on your goals and interests.

Courses completed in the Graduate Certificate in Accounting may also apply toward UMass Lowell's M.S. in Accounting, M.S. in Accounting Analytics or MBA programs, making it an ideal stepping stone to further graduate study.

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Complete in 9 Months

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No GRE Required

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One of the Most Affordable Tuitions in the Nation

Career Outlook

147,954
Jobs (2023)
+ 6.1 %
% Change (2023-2035)
$95.1K/yr
Median Earnings
13,167
Annual Openings
Source: Lightcast, Jobs in New England, 2025
"Employment of accountants and auditors is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. About 124,200 openings for accountants and auditors are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire."
— U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025.

Where UMass Lowell's Accounting Graduates Work

  • State Street
  • Fidelity Investments
  • PWC
  • RSM U.S. LLP

Learning Outcomes

Students completing this program will be able to:

  • Apply advanced cost, audit and financial reporting techniques
  • Analyze financial statements and complex accounting issues
  • Use accounting data analytics for informed decision-making
  • Understand U.S. taxation frameworks for various business structures
  • Prepare for graduate-level work or certification exams such as the CPA

One Success Leads to Another

Apply credits from lower credentials to higher ones. Our programs are designed to build upon themselves:

Why Choose UMass Lowell Online?

  • Taught by faculty from a nationally ranked public research university
  • Affordable and stackable toward a master's degree
  • Flexible delivery designed for working professionals
  • Industry-aligned curriculum with real-world relevance

Curriculum Outline

-Total Courses Required: 4 (12 Credits)

Core Courses (Choose 3-4 Courses / 9-12cr)

Elective Courses (Choose 0-1 Courses / 0-3cr)

Course Descriptions

ACCT.6020 Advanced Management and Sustainability Accounting (3cr)

In the new environment of change, accountants are increasingly called on to support strategy through increasing efficiencies and reducing costs. This course will examine the different ways that accountants can add value through an understanding of value chain activities, use of technology, and extending value chain activities to develop a sustainability strategy.

Notes:

If not currently matriculated in a Manning School of Business program, please contact the MBA staff at MBA@uml.edu or call 978-934-2848 for permission to take courses.

Requirements:

Pre-req:MSA or(non-MSA 60.601)

ACCT.6050 Government and Non-Profit Accounting (3cr)

This course introduces students to financial accounting and reporting issues related to stat and local government and non-profit organizations. Students will learn how to prepare, analyze, and interpret these entities financial statements.

Requirements:

MSA Program

ACCT.6120 Advanced Cost Management (3cr)

An examination of cost data in ambiguous situations to assist managers in decision-making and strategy implementation. Emphasis is placed on advanced cost management for strategic planning, management control and, performance evaluation in multinational business entities.

Notes:

If not currently matriculated in a Manning School of Business program, please contact the MBA staff at MBA@uml.edu or call 978-934-2848 for permission to take courses.

Requirements:

MSA or MBA; found.core; 60.601

ACCT.6220 Globalization and Accounting (3cr)

What role do accountants play in the globalizing business environment? This course will explore this topic, emphasizing global capital markets and financial reporting, the impact of global organizational structures and information systems on managerial accounting, and complex issues of audit and taxation that emerge in this global environment. To appreciate the impact of globalization, the course will consider such aspects as variations in the currencies, cultures, history, ethical issues and legal systems of different regions of the world, emphasizing how managers need to consider global opportunities and risks in their decision-making manage effectively.

Notes:

If not currently matriculated in a Manning School of Business program, please contact the MBA staff at MBA@uml.edu or call 978-934-2848 for permission to take courses.

Requirements:

MSA student; MBA students who have completed ACCT.6010.

ACCT.6230 Contemporary Accounting Issues (3cr)

Significant and rapid changes in accounting rules are impacting the financial reporting and analysis that management uses to make business decisions. This course will explore contemporary accounting topics that accounting professionals will face in the workplace and how the accompanying requirements are changing the way that companies and their business partners use, report, analyze, and interpret financial data. Subjects covered will vary as conditions change but may include International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), Fair Value Measurements, Post-Retirement Benefits, Revenue Recognition, or other current accounting topics.

Notes:

If not currently matriculated in a Manning School of Business program, please contact the MBA staff at MBA@uml.edu or call 978-934-2848 for permission to take courses.

Requirements:

Matriculated MBA

ACCT.6300 Taxation of Business Entities (3cr)

This course provides coverage of gross income and business deductions, and provides a comprehensive overview of the taxation of corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietorships. This course will also cover the history of federal taxation, estate and gift taxes, and how the taxation of business entities fits into the entire tax system.

Requirements:

MSA or MBA;found.core;60.601

ACCT.6400 Financial Accounting Theory and Research (3cr)

A comprehensive exposure at an intermediate level to accounting theory and practice. Emphasis is placed on applying underlying accounting theory to complex accounting measurement problems. The effects of alternative methods are considered throughout the entire course.

Requirements:

MSA or MBA;found.core;60.601

ACCT.6450 Fraud Examination and Forensic Accounting (3cr)

This course introduces students to forensic accounting, with a significant focus on fraud examination, elements of fraud and the types of fraud schemes, including fraudulent financial statements, asset misappropriation, corruption, and money laundering. This course will focus on how professionals including business owners, executives, managers and accountants will benefit from understanding the causes, types and scope of fraud, fraud prevention, fraud detection, and fraud investigation. This course will cover management fraud, employee embezzlement and other types of fraud. The principles and methodology of fraud prevention, detection and investigation (e.g., forensic accounting) will be discussed. Students will develop skills in this course which will help them in multiple professions.

Requirements:

MSA or MBA;found.core;60.601

ACCT.6550 Advanced Auditing and Audit Analytics (3cr)

This course provides a more in-depth study of auditing topics including judgment and decision making, analytical procedures, and the use of data analytics to audit financial statement accounts.

Requirements:

MSA students, or permission

ACCT.6600 Accounting Data Analytics (3cr)

Topics to be covered in this course include managing and leaning data, building and evaluating models, visualizing the results of data analyses, and drawing conclusions from the analytics. A series of accounting topics with data analytics application will be discussed, such as fraud and earnings management detection, and financial statement analyses. Students should leave this course with skills necessary to understand data and manage data, to translate accounting and business problems into actionable proposals, and to present data/results to managers and data scientists.

Graduate Certificate Requirements

Students enrolled in graduate certificate programs through UMass Lowell must complete all courses indicated in the curriculum outline. Students may complete the certificate program at their own pace by registering for and successfully completing one or more courses each semester, depending upon his/her personal time constraints. Students are required to maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.000 with no more than one course grade below B to receive the certificate.

Online courses meet throughout the year during the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters (see Calendar for details). Online students generally log into their online course website one or more times per week to retrieve lectures and assignments or to participate in a chat session. Online students should expect to spend 6 to 10 hours per week engaged in course-related activities for each course. For more information on online courses, visit our online program home page .

Completing a Graduate Certificate Program

Graduate certificate courses must be completed within a five-year period with a minimum 3.000 grade point average and no more than one course with a grade below B. Once all courses for a graduate certificate have been completed, students must complete and submit the Graduate Certificate Clearance Form. Students must submit their clearance form to their coordinator. The coordinator will apply them in SIS, Graduation Tracking.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition at UMass Lowell is typically half the cost of private colleges, and our online tuition is among the lowest in the nation. Tuition for online programs offered through the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies is the same whether you live in-state, out-of-state or outside of the U.S.

Fall 2025 Tuition

Cost Per Credit Cost Per 3-Credit Course*

Graduate

Online $610 $1,830
Online Business1 $655 $1,965
All other On Campus courses2 View Here
*Tuition is priced on the listed credit hour unless the contact hour is different. Tuition is then based upon the listed contact hour.
1Applies to ACCT, BUSI, ENTR, FINA, MGMT, MKTG, MIST and POMS courses.
2Applies to graduate on campus courses excluding select courses

Additional Costs

Cost
Term Registration Fee $30
Returned Check Fee $30
Graduate Engineering and Business Degrees and Certificate Applications $75

Please note: Tuition and fees are subject to change.

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Applying into a Graduate Certificate Program

You can apply anytime. There are no deadlines. Applications are accepted throughout the year.

All applicants must submit:
  • An application
  • An application fee ($75)
  • Official transcripts
  • Official test scores
    • GRE not required
    • If English is NOT the national language in your home country, please submit one of the following English proficiency tests:
      • TOEFL: minimum acceptable score is 100
      • IELTS: minimum acceptable score is 7.0
      • Duolingo: minimum acceptable score is 135
      • ASC English: minimum acceptable level is 6
      • PTE: minimum acceptable score is 72

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
  • Applicants must have completed prerequisite courses: Intermediate Accounting I and II (or equivalent), Cost Accounting, Taxation and Auditing.

Additional Information

F1 student visas are not issued for this program.

You may apply to more than one certificate program but can only take 12 credits maximum before enrolling in an advanced degree.

Certificates must be completed within 5 years.

Official transcripts can be sent to us directly from your previous institution either electronically or mailed to:

Graduate Admissions
University of Massachusetts Lowell
839 Merrimack St., Floor 2
Lowell, MA 01854-5104

We cannot accept previously opened transcripts, photocopies, PDF email attachments or faxed transcripts.

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Graduate Application Questions

Please check your application status emails. Still have questions? Contact Graduate Admissions at Graduate_Admissions@uml.edu or 800-656-4723. International students: Please call 978-934-2390.

For General Assistance:

For general questions about registering for courses or to find out who the advisor is for your graduate program, call 800-480-3190. Our admissions and advising teams are here to help!

Complete Your Online Graduate Certificate Program in Accounting from an Award Winning Public University.

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