Master of Science
Accounting Degree
Advance your career in accounting.
Ranked among the 25 Most Affordable, Top Ranked Master’s in Accounting Degrees 2018 by Best Master’s Degrees
Accounting Degree
A master's in accounting led by proven leaders—is a practical investment.
The Bellevue University master’s in accounting degree is not only affordable, but it also gives you first-hand access to a faculty that have years of experience in the field to guide you. In the Master of Science in Accounting program, you will develop advanced technical accounting knowledge, strong analytical skills, and exceptional written and oral communication skills to apply to your current profession and take your career to the next level.
Backbone of business success
You will develop high-level skills in auditing, tax accountancy, advanced cost accounting and accounting theory and internal accounting. Prepare to apply realistic business scenarios to your work right away.
Simplified admission—no GMAT or GRE required.
Select a career-focused master’s in accounting program without the cost and hassle of admissions tests. Our admissions team is here to help you apply and enroll so you can get started quickly on the education you want.
Take the next step in earning your Master of Science in Accounting degree. We’re ready to help you get there.
Courses
What You’ll Learn
As a graduate of the master’s in accounting programs online or on-campus you will be prepared to:
- Apply financial accounting, tax and auditing information to solve relevant issues and problems.
- Effectively communicate essential financial and nonfinancial information to organizational stakeholders.
- Apply strategic and critical thinking to solve problems and develop decisions.
- Evaluate the ethical and professional components of various accounting and organizational decisions.
- Interpret the impact of global and international business issues on the reporting of accounting information.
Accounting Degree Courses
Current students please login to BRUIN and select “Academic Progress” for your curriculum requirements.
Requirements (36* credit hours)
Choose nine of the following 11 courses. Each Course is 3 credit hours.
(Click a course name below to view course details)
This course is designed for accounting students to gain the ability to assess system security using an investigative and data-driven approach. Security frameworks, investigation techniques, and data analytics will be used to identify and assess risk. Prerequisites: BA222 and AC312
This course covers advanced financial accounting topics relevant to professional exams as well as practice. Such topics include: Business combinations and consolidated financial reporting; foreign currency transactions; hedging and related derivatives; partnerships and LLCs; and SEC reporting. Authoritative accounting research is also incorporated. Prerequisite: AC 312
Accounting Theory is a course in basic accounting theory or the “whys” of the current reporting standards. The course reviews the historical development of accounting theory and explores its impact on current accounting practices. Current reporting standards are reviewed regarding the theoretical rational for such and the tie-in to the conceptual framework. Other areas of discussion will include the policy making process, contemporary accounting issues, and some comparisons of U.S. reporting standards to international accounting requirements. Prerequisite: AC 312
This course is a continuation of cost accounting and is designed for those interested in gaining a more thorough knowledge of advanced managerial and cost accounting concepts and practices. Topics include current managerial and cost accounting issues such as the balanced scorecard, responsibility accounting, inventory and production management, strategic cost management, capital budgeting, and quality and performance measurement. Prerequisite: AC 321 Cost Accounting or MBA 641
This class covers the creation, formation, and liquidation of C corporations as well as tax practices and ethics as they relate to C corporations. Also covered will be taxation across state lines, business tax credits, and international tax. Prerequisite: AC 331 or AC 631
This course addresses auditing standards and techniques as prescribed by the PCAOB and ASB. Emphasis is placed on internal control, developing audit evidence, evaluating audit risks, and preparing audit reports. Also covered are professional standards, ethics, and legal liability; internal, operational, and compliance auditing; and other assurance services such as reviews, compilations, and agreed-upon procedures. 12 credit hours of accounting including AC 312
This course integrates basic auditing with an advanced application of related concepts and standards. Topics of exploration may include: Audit sampling, ethical dilemmas, professional discipline, fraud detection, special purpose frameworks, and particular assurance engagements, among others. Prerequisite: AC 442
This course examines current concepts in accounting information systems emphasizing the security/control of systems as well as digital forensic information and investigation. Focus is placed on security and control issues from an accounting and auditing perspective along with the related technology issues and the impact on business cycles. The processing of accounting data and the controls necessary to assure accuracy and reliability of data by a responsive accounting system are also emphasized. Technology issues used by auditors and forensic accountants and highlighted by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (i.e. data mining) are an integral part of this course. Prerequisite: AC312
This course covers governmental accounting and the various funds associated with non-profit enterprises including a study of accounting techniques as applied to federal and state governmental units, public school systems, colleges and universities, hospitals, voluntary and welfare organizations, and other non-profit organizations. Students will be expected to prepare basic financial statements for a sample government using a dual-track computerized accounting software package. Prerequisite: AC 312
This course provides an opportunity for students to expand their learning by gaining experience in the workplace. The learning objectives and specific program of study must be developed in consultation with, and should be approved and sponsored by a full-time College of Business Accounting faculty member and the work supervisor of the intern prior to the start of the internship.
This course provides an analytical toolset to address modern, data-intensive business problems. To be effective in a competitive business environment, a business analytics professional needs to be able to use analytical tools to translate information into decisions and to convert information about past performance into reliable forecasts. Using a case-based approach, the course provides an overview of the key concepts, applications, processes and techniques relevant to business analytics. The course makes use of the leading software products to illustrate the use of business analytics methodologies to enhance business decision-making. Prerequisite: None
Additionally, complete these three required MBA courses.
The use of a variety of business analytics techniques, including quantitative and qualitative descriptive analysis tools, to support informed decision-making serves as a major focus of this course. Techniques addressed include tabular and graphical displays of data such as the bar chart and histogram, numerical measures such as the mean and standard deviation, and linear regression. Critical evaluation of actual business scenarios will be conducted during this course. Cross-listed with MSF 624. MBA 624 Prerequisite: MBA 500 and MBA 520 Prerequisites for MSCM program only: MBA 500 and MBA 520 or MSCM 500 and MBA 520.
Skills learned in this course include:
- Analytical Techniques
- Business Statistics
- Data Analysis
- Decision Making
- Descriptive Statistics
- Forecasting
- Linear Regression
- Prediction
- Project Management
- Quality Management
Students acquire knowledge, skills, and abilities to evaluate financial performance and strategies to utilize limited resources to optimize the financial value of a business. Key elements of the course include assessing financial performance, understanding financial and economic markets, computing the value of money and cash flows over time, performing risk analysis and project valuation. Cross-listed with MSF 655 MBA 655 Prerequisite: MBA 624
Skills learned in this course include:
- Capital Budgeting
- Communications
- Critical Thinking
- Decision Making
- Financial Analysis
- Financial Management
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Problem Solving
- Risk Analysis
- Valuation / Time Value Of Money
Emphasis is placed on the operational activities that successfully create and deliver products and services across the entire supply chain from the raw material to the final product. Included is the development of those performance skills which enhance the supplier and customer relationships and the order fulfillment activities. Techniques addressed include demand forecasting, quality performance analysis, and productivity measurement. Prerequisite: MBA 641 and MBA 655; Prerequisite for SCMTMS: MBA 670 and MSCM 550; Prerequisite for MAQC: MBA 641 only; Prerequisite for MSBAN: MBA 520 and BAN 600; Prerequisite for MSA: MBA 624.
Skills learned in this course include:
- Demand Forecasting
- Inventory Management
- Just In Time Methodology
- Operations Management
- Performance Analysis
- Problem Solving
- Product Design
- Project Management
- Quality Management
- Supply Chain
*If students choose to earn a concentration in Tax or Finance, they will have to complete up to 9 additional credit hours.
Tax Concentration
You must select a minimum of 9 credit hours from the following:
This course covers advanced topics for the individual taxpayer including: Working under the tax code and related ethical frameworks; various deductions and losses; property transaction gains and losses; investor losses; depreciation, amortization, and depletion; the qualified business income (QBI) deduction; and accounting periods and methods. Tax research and planning are also incorporated. Prerequisite: AC 331 or AC 631
This course will cover tax issues for flow-through entities such as Subchapter S corporations, partnerships, Limited Liability Companies, trusts and estates. Also addressed will be estate and gift taxes, tax planning issues, tax practice and ethics. Sources and applications of federal tax law are also covered. The course also emphasizes tax research processes including appropriate communication. Prereq: AC 331 or AC 631
This course covers tax issues relating to investments, charitable giving, estate planning, business succession planning, ethics, and cross-border tax considerations. Sources and application of federal tax law are also covered. The course emphasizes tax research processes including appropriate communication. Prereq: AC 331 or AC 631
Finance Concentration
You must select a minimum of 9 credit hours from the following:
This course includes fundamental principles and practices of risk management and insurance with an applied focus on risk management processes as well as institutional and contractual details of the insurance industry. Topics include risk identification; risk characterization; pricing of risk reduction techniques; risk retention; regulatory, legal and tax implications; insurance; and other hedging strategies. Additionally, personal, business, and public policy perspectives concerning life, health, property, and liability risk management and insurance are addressed. Prerequisite: MBA 520 and MBA 624 or MSF 624
Investment principles and practices are studied in the context of individuals and or organizations. The course will integrate economic relationships and practices for an understanding of the current investment environment. Additionally, the course will survey the institutions and securities that make up the investment environment to provide students a history of how Wall Street operates. Students should learn to understand and experience how individuals trade financial instruments, including stocks, options, bonds, futures, and other derivative securities. Prerequisite: MBA 520 and MBA 624
This course will focus on international financial tools, applications, and concepts. Topics covered include fundamental international financial relationships and their application to firms and individuals, international transactions, tax issues, and multinational corporations. It will cover many essential elements of transacting in an international market place. It also will address the fundamental risks inherent in international business and the use of financial securities to hedge these risks. Prerequisite: MBA 520 and MBA 624 or MSF 624
Cash Management, also known as treasury management, short-term financial management, or working capital management, addresses fundamental principles and practices concerning cash management for businesses operating in today’s financial markets. This course challenges students to understand and assess fundamental principles, practices, and applications relevant to efficient and effective cash management and to understand why cash management is a critical success factor for businesses of any type. Topics addressed include: the role of cash management, credit, accounts receivable, collection management, accounts payable, disbursement management, electronic commerce, information / technology needs, forecasting, short term investments / borrowing, international concerns, relationship management, and other contemporary issues. (Dual listed as BA 618 / MSF 618) Prerequisite: MBA 520 and MBA 624; or MSF 624
Data Analytics Concentration
You must select a minimum of 9 credit hours from the following:
This course is designed to provide a foundation of SAS analytics programming concepts and environments. It provides the tools necessary to write SAS programs to perform data management, analysis, and reporting. Topics include creating and documenting data sets, managing and reshaping data, writing reports, computing statistics on data set variables, and performing effective SAS programming. Hands-on exercises designed to facilitate understanding of all the topics are included. The course also provides the basis for more advanced work in data analytics and advanced programming techniques for data management. This course aligns with the SAS Base Programming certification concepts offered through the SAS Institute, Inc. Prerequisite: None
This course offers an in-depth exploration of all the major topics in the field of data and information management from an applied perspective with an emphasis on data warehouses. The course is designed to provide not only a strong theoretical foundation, but also the technical skills required in analyzing, designing, implementing, managing, and utilizing information repositories. Topics covered include relational database model, data modeling, logical and physical database design, structured query language (SQL) implementation, procedures and triggers, data integration and quality, data warehouses and other relevant techniques for addressing big data issues in organizations today. The strategic roles that data and information play in business operations, customer relationship management, business decision-making, and strategy development are also discussed.
As business organizations collect more and more data as a byproduct of their operations, decision-makers are beginning to proactively and systematically analyze these data to improve decision quality. This course focuses on topics relevant to data mining, which is the process that uses a variety of data analysis tools to discover patterns and relationships in data that may be used to make proactive, knowledge-driven decisions. The course provides an in-depth discussion on various techniques of data mining including predictive modeling, pattern recognition, prescriptive analytics, and text mining. Both the theoretical and practical aspects of data mining are discussed in this course. Prerequisite: BAN 600.
University Accreditation
Bellevue University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org).
Whether a college, university, or program is accredited is important to students with financial aid, employers who provide tuition assistance, donors, and the federal government.
This program is considered a non-licensure degree/certificate program and is not intended for those seeking licensure or the practice of licensed profession. This program may be relevant to multiple occupations that do not require licensure and was not designed to meet educational requirements for any specific professional license or certification.
*Consult with an admissions counselor to determine your eligible credits, as well as to verify minimum graduation requirements for this degree. Transfer credits must be from a regionally accredited college or university. Bellevue University makes no promises to prospective students regarding the acceptance of credit awarded by examination, credit for prior learning, or credit for transfer until an evaluation has been conducted.
We work with the experience you bring to the table for your master’s in accounting degree.
Format
100% Online learning that works for your life and your goals.
Our flexible online courses are designed to bring quality learning into a format that fits your schedule, without sacrificing meaningful faculty feedback and collaboration with peers across the country. Stay on track with the help of your Student Coach — with you from day one to graduation.
On-campus classes offered on a convenient schedule.
If you prefer an in-person learning experience, our Omaha-area campus offers classes that accommodate the working professional’s schedule.
Level up quicker with online learning, making a master’s in accounting more convenient for you and your schedule.
Tuition & Financial Aid
Graduate degrees can be more affordable than you think.
Earning a degree is an investment in yourself. We want to help you make sure it’s a wise one.
2024 / 2025 Academic Year
$660 In-Class or Online Cost Per Credit
(Additional fees may apply to individual courses within your major requirements)
Curious about financial aid? We’ve got the answers.
As a graduate student, you may be eligible for up to $20,500 per year in unsubsidized Direct Student Loans.
And, students often apply for graduate program scholarships through Bellevue University or tuition reimbursement through their employers. Talk to us and we’ll help you explore your options.
Admissions
Start on the path to your master’s. No GRE or GMAT required.
We believe in reducing roadblocks to education. That’s why our admissions requirements focus only on what matters—helping hardworking students access the education they deserve.
For admission to Bellevue University, applicants must:
- Possess a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, or a U.S. equivalent degree from a nationally or internationally accredited college or university.
- Have maintained a GPA of 2.5 or better from the most recent 60 credits of coursework earned toward the bachelor’s degree or have maintained a GPA of 3.0 or better in previous graduate level coursework earned toward the graduate degree.
If you haven’t already, take a moment to request information about your masters program and get in touch with our admissions team. We’ll help make sure you have what you need and answer your questions.
When you’re ready to apply, start your application online. You’ll then:
- Submit your deposit to Bellevue University. (You can do this at any point in the process.)
- Submit your transcripts from past institutions and any other required documentation.
- Complete the FAFSA and see what grants and loans you’re eligible for.
If you are an international student, please see the following specific information: International Student Master Admissions.
You'll just need to create an account and complete a pre-application to Bellevue University through Guild. Once you receive confirmation that your pre-application to Bellevue University has been approved, you'll need to complete the required steps to get fully accepted and registered. These include:
- Submitting transcripts from past institutions
- Submitting related documentation
Ready to get started?
Reach out to admissions.
- Get your questions answered about the Accounting Degree
- Understand your financial aid and scholarship options
- Map out a schedule that fits with your priorities
