Master’s in Accounting

MS Accounting students in class behind computers

Future-proof your career

Gain skills beyond the numbers

Acquire the foundational financial training and critical thinking skills that make certified public accountants (CPAs) highly valued professionals at public and private organizations around the world. Learn how to bring an accountant’s perspective to issues that are priorities in today’s boardrooms, including professional ethics, diversity, and sustainable business practices. Prepare for the CPA exam, which 71.4 percent of our graduates recently passed, ranking Clark’s program among the top in Massachusetts.

Secure your future with in-demand expertise

Big data, machine learning, and other technological advances are dramatically transforming the accounting profession, and your Clark degree prepares you for the exciting opportunities available. Our curriculum is constantly evolving to reflect changes to industry standards and the CPA exam. Our graduates have gained employment at a wide range of companies and organizations across industry sectors worldwide.

This program is STEM-designated for students beginning study in Fall of 2023. International students who graduate with a STEM degree today may be eligible to remain in the U.S. for up to 36 months on Optional Practical Training (OPT).*

Earn a highly respected degree

Clark University has been a prestigious pathway for advanced-degree students since its founding in 1887 as the first all-graduate institution in the United States. Scholar-practitioner faculty members bring real-world insights to their classroom teaching, and our students have secured excellent internships and jobs. Be a blue-chip candidate upon graduation.

A lifetime credential that sets you apart

Earn your master’s degree in accounting from a globally ranked and accredited university – Clark has been named a Princeton Review Best Business School, achieved repeated recognition from U.S. News & World Report, and is among the elite 5 percent of business schools to receive AACSB accreditation.
Qualify to sit for the CPA exam with a high likelihood for success – our graduates achieved a 71.4 percent pass rate in 2019, ranking Clark’s program among the top in Massachusetts.
Join a close-knit learning community representing 90-plus countries and 150 nonprofit and business partners around the world.
Learn in a highly collaborative academic environment with talented peers from all over the world and scholar-practitioners who share their deep professional experience with you.

Bringing American accounting principles home to China

Helen Wang, pursuing her M.S. in accounting in the School of Management, came to Clark University because of its prestigious reputation in Beijing. She has learned how to apply accounting best practices learned in the U.S. to help companies in China.

Most international companies know Clark, and they want to have people who know the American accounting standard well to help the company. Clark offered me lots of opportunities, and that’s very unique.
—Helen Wang

The Essentials

Program Overview

Clark’s M.S. in Accounting program is designed to prepare you for success. Your coursework begins with core accounting courses to learn foundational financial skills. From this foundation, you can choose more advanced courses to enhance your capabilities. Classes emphasize putting skills into practice through in-depth case studies and group projects based on real accounting scenarios.

You have the flexibility to complete your degree at your own pace — either as a full-time or part-time student, beginning in the Fall. You can earn your degree within one year if you meet certain requirements.

Tax strategies
Legal aspects of accounting
Cost-volume-profit analysis
Collaboration and communication skills

Management Accounting
Financial and Operational Auditing
Accounting Information Systems
Federal Taxation

Requirements

12 course units

2 foundation courses*
8 core courses
2 electives

*Foundation courses are waived for students with previous accounting coursework.

Course Catalog

Internships allow accounting students at Clark to make an impact at local businesses. Find one that dovetails with your particular area of interest. We have numerous resources to help you identify advantageous opportunities; you also can work with the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center, which is located on Clark’s campus.

With classes of about 25 students, you’ll forge valuable connections with your fellow students and with your professors.

Join the School of Management student organizations, including an active Finance Association and Net Impact chapter.
Attend guest speaker series and panel discussions, as well as departmental events with executives from corporations around the world.
Take advantage of customized advising support and career training workshops.
Undertake group projects that benefit Worcester’s urban community.

GSOM-Skills-You-Learn

SOM faculty members conduct research on a wide range of critical issues that transcend disciplinary lines. Students work closely with faculty members, serving as invaluable members of their research teams.

Sample Projects

Analyze the accounting system of the largest outdoor history museum in the Northeast
Support the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center on campus through an internship or graduate assistant position
Engage with national accounting associations and organizations, including the American Institute for Certified Public Accountants and Massachusetts Society for Certified Public Accountants

income tax form 6 — Clark student Justin Stewart aides lower income residents with free and accurate tax preparation by volunteering with the Worcester Free Tax Service Coalition (WFTSC).

In addition to preparing you to pass the CPA exam in Massachusetts, Clark’s M.S. in Accounting program also provides a rich foundation of interdisciplinary leadership skills that will lay the groundwork for success in any organization. SOM’s tight-knit community lets you forge essential connections with your fellow students and professors, as well as their extensive professional networks.

“My degree will open doors for me in public and corporate accounting all over the world. It also makes me eligible to get the CPA certification, which will enrich my profile as an accounting professional immensely.”
— Namisha Bhattarai, MSA ’18

Career Outcomes

Associate
PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers)
Senior Assurance Officer
Ernst & Young
Inventory and Operations Analyst
Clark University
Senior Manager, Revenue Recognition
Dell
Senior Adviser, Accounting
RSA Security

Relevant. Challenging. Transformative.

Faculty Research Areas

Inshik Seol

Associate Professor

Judgment and Decision Making

Professor Seol’s research interests include judgment & decision making, corporate social responsibility, environmental accounting, management accounting, & accounting education.

Zhihong Wang

Associate Professor

Apply big data in accounting research

Dr. Wang’s research utilizes machine learning technology to analyze unstructured accounting big data and generated great impact in accounting and business research.

Da "Will" Wu

Assistant Professor

Factors affecting audit quality and outcome

Professor Wu studies the effects of audit market competition and audit regulations on audit quality, and the impact of executive compensation on financial reporting and audit outcomes.

Explore what the School of Management has to offer.

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