MS in Accounting

Graphic with text stating "Master Your  Move Forward" accompanied by an image of a student smiling

Accelerate Your Accounting Career

Employment opportunities for accountants are projected to grow 10 percent by 2026, faster than the average for nearly all other occupations. Globalization, a growing economy, and complex tax and regulatory environments are driving demand for accountants.

Established in 2008, the Katz Master of Science in Accounting program (known as MAcc) prepares both accounting and non-accounting majors for positions in accounting firms, not-for-profits, industry, and government. Katz’s curriculum teaches the technical know-how required by employers and develops professional skills that set our students apart from other job candidates.

Katz’s STEM-designated Master of Science in Accounting and Business Analytics program integrates data analytics with in-depth training in accounting to prepare students to become multi-dimensional accountants. This future-focused approach produces graduates who can work with data to glean important financial insights.

Both programs prepare students to pass the CPA exam, by covering the content areas of the exam and by satisfying the 150-credit hour requirement of Pennsylvania and most other U.S. states.

Upon graduating, you’ll be prepared to pass the CPA exam, and you will have satisfied the 150 credit-hour requirement required by most U.S. states to qualify for CPA certification.

The MAcc program at Katz brings together award-winning professors, industry experts, and knowledgeable students to explore and analyze complex business activities and apply emerging technologies. With courses from Forensic Accounting to Data Analytics, we strive to help our students prepare for success in a shifting market and successfully pass the CPA exam. I value the preparedness and enthusiasm our students bring and the experiences we provide to help them be ready for their future.

Ryan Teeter

Clinical Associate Professor of Accounting, Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business

Career Examples

  • Forensic Accountant
  • Tax Associate   
  • Tech Assurance   
  • Accounting Data Analyst
  • Audit and Advisory Positions

Facts and Figures

  • Seventy percent of Pitt accounting graduates pass the CPA exam on their first attempt, compared with 55.7% across Pennsylvania and a national average of approximately 50%.
    The NASBA Report on the CPA Exam, 2019
  • The MS in Accounting program is ranked 9th among U.S. public schools.
    The Financial Engineer, 2018
  • The MS in Accounting and Business Analytics is STEM-designated.
  • Pitt undergraduate students can earn the BSBA and MAcc degrees in only four years through the University’s 3 + 1 Program.
  • The MS in Accounting program can be completed in 9-,12-, or 17- months depending upon the successful completion of the required prerequisites.
  • The MS in Accounting and Business Analytics program can be completed in 17 months or less.
Graduate student researching business topics on his laptop

Courses

Curious about the courses you’ll take as a Master of Science in Accounting student? View courses and recommended electives.

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Professional Development

Here you’ll find information about credit, course, degree, and work experience requirements for earning your CPA license

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Katz has been taking the best of efforts to keep things as normal as possible in these virtual times. With the mix of classes, clubs, professional development and networking events, my time at Katz has been educating, engaging and exciting.

Anusha Kesavan

MS '21

What makes Katz unique is the environment they cultivate for students right from the start. Katz encouraged a culture of collaboration, what I learned outside the classroom from my classmates has been just as valuable as what I learned from my professors.

Elizabeth Davis

MBA '17