Online Master's In Accounting
The online Master's in Accounting (MSA) offered by UMass Lowell's Manning School of Business will prepare you for higher-level accounting positions in public, corporate, government and nonprofit business environments. Select from areas of focus in Business Analytics, Corporate Leadership, Accounting and International Business. Qualified students will meet the licensing requirements to become Certified Public Accountants (CPAs).* UMass Lowell's MSA is one of a select few programs in the country to be recognized by two of the industry's leading organizations: the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) - offering students one of the most respected and affordable graduate programs available.
Please note that applicants to the Master's in Accounting program must have completed these prerequisite courses.
*Please refer to your own state's CPA licensing requirements for further information.
Career Outlook
Occupations
- Accountants
- Auditors
- Bookkeepers
- Budget Analysts
- Credit Analysts
- Financial Managers
- Financial Specialists
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks
- Revenue Agents
- Tax Collectors and Examiners
- Tax Preparers
"Employment of accountants and auditors is projected to grow 10 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. In general, employment growth of accountants and auditors is expected to be closely tied to the health of the overall economy."




Success Story
"While completing my MS Accounting degree I was also studying for the CPA exam, so the flexibility of UMass Lowell's online program was essential - as was the program's affordability."

Shaymus Dunn
One Success Leads to Another
Apply credits from lower credentials to higher ones. Our programs are designed to build upon themselves:

Learn from Leaders Who Strive for Real-World Results
UMass Lowell's Manning School of Business faculty and instructors are dedicated to excellence in teaching and research, and the program's challenging, relevant curriculum is aligned with current industry trends and employer needs.
Prerequisite Undergraduate Courses
Many prerequisite courses can be fulfilled through completing the online Certificate in Accounting. Students with undergraduate degrees in majors other than accounting and students with undergraduate degrees in any major from outside the U.S. need to take the following undergraduate-level courses or their equivalent before taking the MSA graduate-level courses.
- ACCT.2010 Accounting/Financial (3cr) - Available Fall 2023!
- ACCT.2020 Accounting/Managerial (3cr) - Available Fall 2023!
- ACCT.3010 Intermediate Accounting I (3cr)
- ACCT.3020 Intermediate Accounting II (3cr)
- ACCT.3210 Cost Accounting (3cr)
- ACCT.4210 Auditing (3cr)
- ACCT.4310 Federal Income Taxes (3cr)
Curriculum Outline
- Total Courses Required: 10 (30 Credits)
Required Courses (5 Courses / 15cr)
- ACCT.6050 Government and Non-Profit Accounting (3cr)
- ACCT.6120 Advanced Cost Management (3cr)
- ACCT.6300 Taxation of Business Entities (3cr)
- ACCT.6400 Financial Accounting Theory and Research (3cr) - Available Fall 2023!
- ACCT.6550 Advanced Auditing (3cr)
Required Elective Courses (5 Courses / 15cr)
Students can complete a general program of study or concentrate in a particular field by selecting one of the options listed below to fulfill the 5 elective courses:
General Program of Study
Choose 2 of the following
- ACCT.6020 Advanced Management and Sustainability Accounting (3cr)
- ACCT.6220 Globalization and Accounting (3cr)
- ACCT.6230 Contemporary Accounting Issues (3cr)
- ACCT.6450 Fraud Examination and Forensic Accounting (3cr) - Available Fall 2023!
- ACCT.6600 Accounting Data Analytics (3cr)
Choose 3 Non-Accounting Elective Courses
Courses are generally selected from the UMass Lowell MBA program. Other courses can be selected with the approval of the MSA Coordinator.- ----.----
- ----.----
- ----.----
Business Analytics Option
Required Course
- ACCT.6600 Accounting Data Analytics (3cr)
Choose 1 of the following
- ACCT.6020 Advanced Management and Sustainability Accounting (3cr)
- ACCT.6220 Globalization and Accounting (3cr)
- ACCT.6230 Contemporary Accounting Issues (3cr)
- ACCT.6450 Fraud Examination and Forensic Accounting (3cr) - Available Fall 2023!
Choose 3 of the following
- POMS.6120 Statistics for Predictive Analytics (3cr) - Available Fall 2023!
- POMS.6240 Analytical Decision Making Tools (3cr)
- POMS.6220 Decision Analytics (3cr) - Available Fall 2023!
- MIST.6060 Business Intelligence and Data Mining (3cr)
- MIST.6150 Data Quality for Business Analytics (3cr)
- MIST.6030 Database Management (3cr) - Available Fall 2023!
Corporate Accounting Leadership Option
Required Course
- ACCT.6020 Advanced Management and Sustainability Accounting (3cr)
Choose 1 of the following
- ACCT.6220 Globalization and Accounting (3cr)
- ACCT.6600 Accounting Data Analytics (3cr)
- ACCT.6230 Contemporary Accounting Issues (3cr)
- ACCT.6450 Fraud Examination and Forensic Accounting (3cr) - Available Fall 2023!
Choose 3 of the following
- MGMT.6100 Managerial Leadership (3cr) - Available Fall 2023!
- MGMT.6150 International Business (3cr) - Available Fall 2023!
- FINA.6010 Corporate Finance (3cr) - Available Fall 2023!
- MGMT.6520 Human Resources Management (3cr)
- FINA.6110 Financial Statement Analysis (3cr)
- MGMT.6250 Negotiations (3cr)
International Business Option
Required Course
- ACCT.6220 Globalization and Accounting (3cr)
Choose 1 of the following
- ACCT.6020 Advanced Management and Sustainability Accounting (3cr)
- ACCT.6600 Accounting Data Analytics (3cr)
- ACCT.6230 Contemporary Accounting Issues (3cr)
- ACCT.6450 Fraud Examination and Forensic Accounting (3cr) - Available Fall 2023!
Choose 3 of the following
- FINA.6910 International Financial Management (3cr) - Available Fall 2023!
- MGMT.6150 International Business (3cr) - Available Fall 2023!
- MKTG.6700 International Marketing (3cr)
- POMS.6020 Global Supply Chain Management (3cr)
- ENTR.6100 Global Entrepreneurship and Innovation I (3cr)
- ENTR.6110 Global Entrepreneurship and Innovation II (3cr)
- ----.---- Additional student abroad courses can be selected by permission of the MSA Coordinator.
Course Descriptions
Prerequisites:
ACCT.2010 pre-req
Prerequisites:
ACCT.2020 pre-req
Prerequisites:
ACCT.3 ( 'C' or above) pre-req
Prerequisites:
ACCT.30 with 'C' or above pre-
Prerequisites:
ACCT.3030 with ('C' or above)
Prerequisites:
ACCT.2020 pre-req
Prerequisites:
Pre-req:MSA or(non-MSA 60.601)
Prerequisites:
MSA Program
Prerequisites:
MSA or MBA; found.core; 60.601
Prerequisites:
MSA student; MBA students who have completed ACCT.6010.
Prerequisites:
Matriculated MBA
Prerequisites:
MSA or MBA;found.core;60.601
Prerequisites:
MSA or MBA;found.core;60.601
Prerequisites:
MSA or MBA;found.core;60.601
Prerequisites:
MSA students, or permission
Prerequisites:
MBA/ MSF/MSEM/MGFB/PSM or PHD.
Prerequisites:
MBA, MSA, MS ITE or MSF.
Prerequisites:
MBA, MSF, or MSA & Core Pre-req
Prerequisites:
Matriculated MBA students
Prerequisites:
Matriculated MBA students
Prerequisites:
MBA, FoundCore or MSITE or MSA
Prerequisites:
MIST.6010 Management information systems, and Matriculated MS Business Analytics, or Business Analytics Certificate, or Permission of Program Coordinator.
Prerequisites:
MIST.6010 Management information systems, and Matriculated MS Business Analytics, or Business Analytics Certificate, or Permission of Program Coordinator.
Prerequisites:
MIST.6010 Management information systems, and Matriculated MS Business Analytics, or Business Analytics Certificate, or Permission of Program Coordinator.
Prerequisites:
Matriculated MBA students
Prerequisites:
POMS.6010 Operations Management, or Matriculated MS Business Analytics, or Business Analytics Certificate, or matriculated MS Engineering Management, or permission of program coordinator.
Prerequisites:
POMS.6010 Operations Management, or Matriculated MS Business Analytics, or Business Analytics Certificate, or matriculated MS Engineering Management, or permission of program coordinator.
Prerequisites:
POMS.6010 Operations Management, or Matriculated MS Business Analytics, or Business Analytics Certificate, or matriculated MS Engineering Management, or permission of program coordinator.
Program Requirements
To be recommended for a University of Massachusetts Lowell master's degree, candidates must satisfy all of the general requirements below, plus any additional requirements that may be required by the department through which the program is offered. Any additional requirements for this program are either listed below or may be found in the University's Graduate Program Catalog.
General Requirements:
- Students must complete the program of study designed by the Department in which they are enrolled and approved by the University.
- Satisfactory grades in all subjects offered for the degree must be earned. See Academic Standing.
- All financial obligations, including tuition, fees and expenses, must be satisfied as evidenced by completion.
- Upon completion of all their courses, graduate degree candidates must submit a signed Declaration of Intent to Graduate (DIG) form to their coordinator. The coordinator will apply them in SIS, Graduation Tracking.
Graduate Program Policies
In applying for a degree program or registering for courses, each student assumes full responsibility for knowledge of and compliance with the definitions, regulations and procedures of UMass Lowell as set forth on our website. For additional information, please refer to the Graduate Program Policies found within the UMass Lowell Graduate Catalog.
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 2023 Tuition |
Cost Per Credit | Cost Per 3-Credit Course* |
---|---|---|
Graduate |
||
Online | $585 | $1,755 |
Online Business** | $655 | $1,965 |
On Campus | View Here | View Here |
Additional Costs |
|
---|---|
Term Registration Fee | $30 |
Late Fee | $50 |
Graduate Engineering and Business Degrees and Certificate Applications | $75 |
Please note: Tuition and fees are subject to change.
Estimate the cost of this program with our online tuition calculator
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Admission to the Program
Applicants should complete the Online Graduate Application and submit it to the Office of Graduate Admissions, along with the following:
- An official transcript of grades mailed directly from your undergraduate institution to the address below.
- No GMAT/GRE required.
- Two letters of recommendation from employment or academic sources
- A resume containing appropriate background information.
- A one-page essay, highlighting your academic and career goals (Statement of Purpose)
- For citizens of non-English speaking countries who have never earned an academic degree in the United States: A score report for TOEFL with a 600 (paper based), 250 (computer based) or 100 (Internet based) minimum.
Graduate Program Admissions Requirements
Admission to all graduate programs at UMass Lowell is contingent upon successful completion of a bachelor's degree. In many cases, applicants may register for a course before formally applying to the program; however, students requiring financial aid may want to wait until they have been formally accepted into the program to ensure that their course(s) will be covered. Contact UMass Lowell's Office of Graduate Admissions if you have questions about the application process.
Questions Regarding Your Graduate Application?
Email Graduate_Admissions@uml.edu or call 800-656-4723 (for U.S. students) or 978-934-2390 (for international students).
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!