Online Accounting Master’s Degree & Certificate Programs

Advance into Accounting Leadership

Welcome to a transformative learning experience at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, where innovation meets education. Our online degree and graduate certificate programs redefine a flexible and proven education, empowering you to excel in your career on your terms.

Earn your Master of Science in Accounting while receiving credits toward those required to prepare for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam and the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) exam requirements. With this online program, you’ll learn from and network with an expert faculty that teaches innovative courses like forensic accounting, advanced audit and tax, and contemporary and emerging issues.

In addition to this master’s degree, Saint Mary’s Accelerators – online graduate certificates – now include the Accounting Leadership certificate. The curriculum for this certificate focuses on providing students with the ability to articulate processes for making ethical decisions in the workforce. You can also specialize your online MSA by pursuing a certificate in Artificial Intelligence, Business Analytics, or Healthcare Analytics for just six additional credits. This program gives students the opportunity to learn from a supportive faculty and grow leadership skills needed to streamline their career goals.

No matter what stage of your career you’re in, “what was” isn’t as important as “what’s next.” The online accounting programs (master’s and certificate) at Saint Mary’s are designed for students seeking both to advance their career, as well as for those without an existing background in accounting seeking to enter the field. The esteemed faculty of Saint Mary’s is forward-thinking in developing curricula that give you the skills to compete in today’s workforce and excel in tomorrow’s.

CPA Exam Content

Waived GRE/GMAT

CMA Certification Content

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A Professionally Developed Curriculum

Developed in collaboration with Certified Public Accountant (CPA) partners and Chief Financial Officers (CFO), the master level program goes beyond a mastery of core quantitative abilities and focuses on the skills required for advanced managerial roles such as communication, ethical leadership, and strategic management.

Preview just a few of the courses in the online M.S. in Accounting program:

ACCT 680 Contemporary and Emerging Issues

This course identifies developing areas in accounting and encourages students to research the issues, think critically, evaluate alternatives and communicate conclusions orally and in writing. The course addresses the role of the contemporary accountant, international accounting standards, the future of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), standard setting and regulation, ethics and other developing issues.

ACCT 600 Financial Communication

Gain an understanding of how accounting and other information necessary to assess a firm’s economic status is created, packaged and disseminated to a company’s management team and external users such as investors, customers, analysts and the financial media.

ACCT 650 Forensic Accounting and Fraud Analysis

Examine fraud schemes and address fraudulent financial reporting, misappropriation of assets, and corruption. In this course, you’ll learn how to develop evidence to support a fraud case through litigation assist and expert testimony techniques.

ACCT 660 Strategic Management Accounting

Explore cost accounting as a source of data for measuring and improving the economic condition of the business. Topics include strategic planning and control, cost analysis, overhead allocation and financial statement analysis.

IACBE Program Accreditation

This program is accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE), recognizing our commitment to delivering business education that aligns with the university’s mission of developing confident, competent, and ethical leaders for today’s changing business environment. 

This accreditation not only reflects the high quality of our graduates — who possess in-demand skills valued by employees — but also reflects the strong presence of the Lasallian mission in action, as witnessed by the IACBE in every interaction with students, alumni, faculty, staff, leaders, and external business partners. At Saint Mary’s, we deliver on our promises. They go beyond words — they’re a commitment we live by.

IACBE Accredited

Try Before you Buy with Saint Mary’s Accelerator Graduate Certificates

With many certificate options available, take the opportunity to get ahead and advance in your career. Saint Mary’s Accelerators – online graduate certificates – now include the Accounting Leadership certificate. This program will introduce students to concepts and ideas that will teach skills such as assessing emerging and global accounting issues that can contribute to organizational success, as well as leadership skills that will increase the chances of management-level advancement opportunities.

Saint Mary’s Accelerator Graduate Certificates were created to provide graduate-level and transcribable courses of study to streamline their educational and career goals. Students can use the skills they learn in a graduate certificate program to design a custom learning experience. Students who chose an accelerator will earn a digital badge for each class within the certificate program, along with a badge for completing the entire four-course certificate. Digital badges are a graphic representation of achievement after successfully completing a specific course or graduate certificate program. They allow students to verify and visually showcase specific leadership knowledge and skillsets they’ve gained through each of Saint Mary’s certificate programs for current and potential employers, credentialing programs, admissions offices, as well as with other colleagues.

  • Only 12-15 credits, most can be finished in eight months
  • Limited financial and time investment
  • Get a glimpse into graduate work – try before you buy
  • Earn digital badges and show off your hard work
  • With six additional credits, specialize your MSA with certificates in Artificial Intelligence, Business Analytics, or Healthcare Analytics

Online Convenience, On Point Outcomes

Saint Mary’s online programs are designed to provide excellence in education beyond campus borders. With user-friendly formats and flexible scheduling, our commitment to delivering leading-edge knowledge and valuable credentials allows you to excel in your profession while balancing family and work responsibilities.

A Prosperous Career in Steady Demand

CPA starting salaries are generally at least 10-15% higher than non-CPA accountants. Salary differentials may be even higher for positions in public accounting firms. Over the course of a career, the average CPA will earn $1 million more that counterparts without CPA designations.1 Employment for accountants and auditors is projected to grow 7 percent from 2020 to 2030.2

Median Income for Accounting Professions

  • Accountant/Auditor $73,5602
  • Budget Analyst $78,9703
  • Financial Manager $134,1804
  • Financial Analyst $83,6605

Enriched by the Lasallian Catholic heritage, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota awakens, nurtures, and empowers learners to ethical lives of service and leadership. The Saint Mary’s community, together and by association, is dedicated to quality, diversity, accessibility, social justice, and sound stewardship in all its endeavors.

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Sources and Disclaimer

  1. Salary.com, Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Salary in the United States. Retrieved from https://www.salary.com.
  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Accountants and Auditors. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov.
  3. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Budget Analysts. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov.
  4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Management Occupations. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov.
  5. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Financial Analysts. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov.

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.