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About This Program
Develop the advanced knowledge needed to tackle complex accounting issues found in business, nonprofit, government, and private organizations with a Master of Science in Accounting from American Public University (APU).
APU’s master’s in accounting online program emphasizes theory and practical skills, while enabling you to enhance written communication and research capacities to address complex problem solving. Simulations and labs provide an immersive learning experience. The program ends with a thesis based on your research of a current industry issue.
Our online master’s in accounting program has earned specialized accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.
Successful completion may or may not satisfy the educational requirements for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. Educational requirements for the CPA exam vary by state.
Note: Please note that sitting for and passing the CPA exam does not guarantee licensure in any state. The CPA exam is a state-by-state license, and each state requires different courses for licensure. As such, it is your responsibility to find the specific coursework that your state’s Board of Accountancy requires for licensure.
This program has specific admission requirements.
What You Will Do
- Analyze an organization’s financial information in depth, assessing the findings in writing
- Evaluate and organize financial data to aid managerial decision making
- Apply past, present, and emerging standards in accounting to complex financial transactions
- Produce and interpret financial statements for various organizations using Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and International Financial Reporting Standards
- Demonstrate knowledge of the ethical framework for accountants adopted by professional accounting organizations
Degree at a Glance

ACBSP® is a registered trademark of the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.
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Program Requirements Printable Catalog Version
Students must choose a concentration for this degree program:
This concentration is designed for students who have a solid understanding of accounting concepts and are interested in pursuing the Certified Public Accountant license. Mastery of accounting disciplines such as auditing, financial reporting, cost/management accounting, regulation, and taxation is expected from prospective students. This concentration will serve as a review of concepts that may be necessary for the CPA exam.
Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Apply appropriate Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) to various scenarios regarding auditing, business environment and concepts, financial reporting, regulation, and taxation.
- Solve problems relating to auditing, business environment and concepts, financial reporting, regulation, and taxation.
- Demonstrate written communications skills in preparing solutions addressing complex accounting problems and situations.
- Illustrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills in formulating solutions to cases.
Choose 9 credit hours from this section.
Course ID: 4622
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
03/27/23 - 09/01/23 | 09/04/23 - 10/29/23 | Summer 2023 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 4623
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 | 07/03/23 - 08/27/23 | Summer 2023 Session B | 8 Week session |
03/27/23 - 09/01/23 | 09/04/23 - 10/29/23 | Summer 2023 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 4624
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
02/27/23 - 08/04/23 | 08/07/23 - 10/01/23 | Summer 2023 Session I | 8 Week session |
03/27/23 - 09/01/23 | 09/04/23 - 10/29/23 | Summer 2023 Session D | 8 Week session |
04/24/23 - 09/29/23 | 10/02/23 - 11/26/23 | Fall 2023 Session B | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 4625
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
02/27/23 - 08/04/23 | 08/07/23 - 10/01/23 | Summer 2023 Session I | 8 Week session |
Must take all courses for this section.
Course ID: 5298
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 | 07/03/23 - 08/27/23 | Summer 2023 Session B | 8 Week session |
02/27/23 - 08/04/23 | 08/07/23 - 10/01/23 | Summer 2023 Session I | 8 Week session |
03/27/23 - 09/01/23 | 09/04/23 - 10/29/23 | Summer 2023 Session D | 8 Week session |
04/24/23 - 09/29/23 | 10/02/23 - 11/26/23 | Fall 2023 Session B | 8 Week session |
Must take all courses for this section.
Course ID: 4807
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 | 07/03/23 - 08/27/23 | Summer 2023 Session B | 8 Week session |
03/27/23 - 09/01/23 | 09/04/23 - 10/29/23 | Summer 2023 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 3906
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
02/27/23 - 08/04/23 | 08/07/23 - 10/01/23 | Summer 2023 Session I | 8 Week session |
04/24/23 - 09/29/23 | 10/02/23 - 11/26/23 | Fall 2023 Session B | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 4166
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 | 07/03/23 - 08/27/23 | Summer 2023 Session B | 8 Week session |
03/27/23 - 09/01/23 | 09/04/23 - 10/29/23 | Summer 2023 Session D | 8 Week session |
Choose 6 credit hours from this section.
Course ID: 4231
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 | 07/03/23 - 08/27/23 | Summer 2023 Session B | 8 Week session |
02/27/23 - 08/04/23 | 08/07/23 - 10/01/23 | Summer 2023 Session I | 8 Week session |
03/27/23 - 09/01/23 | 09/04/23 - 10/29/23 | Summer 2023 Session D | 8 Week session |
04/24/23 - 09/29/23 | 10/02/23 - 11/26/23 | Fall 2023 Session B | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 3907
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
02/27/23 - 08/04/23 | 08/07/23 - 10/01/23 | Summer 2023 Session I | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 4373
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 | 07/03/23 - 08/27/23 | Summer 2023 Session B | 8 Week session |
02/27/23 - 08/04/23 | 08/07/23 - 10/01/23 | Summer 2023 Session I | 8 Week session |
04/24/23 - 09/29/23 | 10/02/23 - 11/26/23 | Fall 2023 Session B | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 4808
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
03/27/23 - 09/01/23 | 09/04/23 - 10/29/23 | Summer 2023 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 4882
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 | 07/03/23 - 08/27/23 | Summer 2023 Session B | 8 Week session |
03/27/23 - 09/01/23 | 09/04/23 - 10/29/23 | Summer 2023 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 3908
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
02/27/23 - 08/04/23 | 08/07/23 - 10/01/23 | Summer 2023 Session I | 8 Week session |
03/27/23 - 09/01/23 | 09/04/23 - 10/29/23 | Summer 2023 Session D | 8 Week session |
04/24/23 - 09/29/23 | 10/02/23 - 11/26/23 | Fall 2023 Session B | 8 Week session |
Must take all courses for this section.
Course ID: 4626
Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
---|---|---|---|
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 | 07/03/23 - 08/27/23 | Summer 2023 Session B | 8 Week session |
02/27/23 - 08/04/23 | 08/07/23 - 10/01/23 | Summer 2023 Session I | 8 Week session |
03/27/23 - 09/01/23 | 09/04/23 - 10/29/23 | Summer 2023 Session D | 8 Week session |
04/24/23 - 09/29/23 | 10/02/23 - 11/26/23 | Fall 2023 Session B | 8 Week session |
Admission Requirements
All APU master's degree and graduate certificate programs require you to have earned a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an institution whose accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
In addition, you will need to provide an official transcript of your completed bachelor’s or master’s degree showing proof of completion of this required coursework:
- Auditing: 3 credit hours
- Cost Accounting or Managerial Accounting: 3 credit hours
- Individual Federal Taxation: 3 credit hours
- Intermediate Accounting: 6 credit hours
Preadmission courses must be grade C or better at the undergraduate level; B or better at the master’s level.
Students are required to take BUSN604 as their first required course. If you have a bachelor's degree that is accredited by ACBSP, AACSB, or IACBE, you are NOT required to take the course listed above, and instead may take one graduate-level elective course.
Students pursuing the Government Accounting Concentration will need to have credit for ACCT410 – Governmental and Not-for-Profit Accounting as it is prerequisite for ACCT614 – Government & Non-Profit Accounting.
You will also be required to submit a signed statement of understanding (SOU).
Please read all graduate admission requirements before applying to this program and be prepared to submit the required documentation including a legible copy of your valid government-issued photo ID (civilian students) or government-issued JST or CCAF transcript (military students).
There is no fee to complete the APU admission application. View steps to apply.
An APU admissions representative will contact you with further details about how to submit the required documentation after you complete the enrollment application.
Need Help?
Selecting the right program to meet your educational goals is a key step in ensuring a successful outcome. If you are unsure of which program to choose, or need more information, please contact an APU admissions representative at 877-755-2787 or [email protected].
State Requirements
The State Board of Accountancy requires fully online programs to use test proctoring. Students in all upper-level accounting courses (i.e., 300-level and above) are required to use test proctoring in several assessments. Any challenges that may impede the student from using test proctoring (e.g., military deployments, overseas travel, connectivity issues, etc.) need to be taken into consideration by the student before enrollment since exceptions to the use of test proctoring are not permitted.
Except as indicated below, APUS has not made a determination whether this program meets the educational prerequisites for licensure or certification in your state. For more information on educational prerequisites applicable to you, please see the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy website or select your state from the drop down list for more information.
Maryland: This program meets a portion of the educational prerequisites needed to sit for the CPA Exam in the state of Maryland. Click here for the full list of educational requirements in Maryland.
Texas: This program meets a portion of the educational prerequisites needed to sit for the CPA Exam in the state of Texas. Among other prerequisites, Texas requires that you complete a minimum of fifteen (15) credit hours of upper-level accounting coursework resulting from physical attendance in class, which this program does not provide. Additionally, this program, by itself, meets a portion of Texas’s credit hour requirements related to accounting courses and business courses to sit for the CPA Exam. Click here for the full list of educational prerequisites in Texas.
Materials Cost
Technology fee: $85 per course | $0 for active-duty military, National Guard members, and Reservists.
Consumer Information
Disclosures
Maryland Residents learn more about costs, completion rates, median debt, and more.
*Cost Per Credit Hour
U.S. active-duty servicemembers, National Guard members, Reservists, and military families, including parents, spouses, legal partners, siblings, and dependents, receive a tuition grant that caps undergraduate, master's degree, and graduate certificate tuition at $250/credit hour.
See all military student benefits.