Accounting (M.S.)
Accounting (M.S.)

Ready for a rewarding career in public or private accounting? This rigorous 30-credit part-time hybrid (evening) or full-time program will prepare you for the corner office. Develop rock-solid accounting expertise, plus the technical, analytical and communication skills needed to become the problem-solving candidate employers seek.
Credit Hours: 30 | Program Length: 9–20 months full-time; 33 months part-time
TUITION RATES for AY 21-22 are expected to be the same as those currently published for AY 20-21.
Why get a master’s degree in accounting?
A master's degree in accounting will prepare you for fast-track advancement in the field. According to Monster.com the business field of accounting is one of the strongest sectors of the economy and Yahoo! Education notes that an M.S. in accounting is one of the top options for those looking to fuel a career switch from their current position. Paul College's rigorous program will give you the competitive edge you need and prepare you for the corner office. You'll develop rock-solid accounting expertise plus the technical, analytical and communication skills needed to become the problem-solving candidate employers seek.
Why choose UNH's M.S. in accounting program?
No. 1 CPA pass rate: UNH is tops in New Hampshire (first-time test takers).
Outstanding job placement: Our graduates are highly sought after, typically accepting jobs prior to the end of their first semester. The current job placement rate is 100 percent for those eligible for U.S. employment.
Nine-month program: Accelerated, for accounting degree holders.
Options for non-accounting and non-business majors: Including 16- to 20-month programs.
Three tracks: Choose auditing and assurance, tax, or integrated audit and tax.
Small classes: This is a place where professors know your name and you'll build a network of professional and personal relationships with your peers.
Real-world learning: Our faculty does an excellent job mixing theory with real-world experience to give students a more complete and relevant knowledge base they can apply in the workplace.
Professional networks: We've got connections to partners and principals at top accounting firms to ensure our program provides the most up-to-date skills and knowledge and career connections.
Potential careers
- Auditing
- Financial management
- Forensic and investigative accounting
- Government accounting
- Public accounting
- Real estate accounting
- Tax and financial advising
Contact
Linda Ragland
9-20
MONTH PROGRAM OPTIONS. 9 MONTHS FOR ACCOUNTING DEGREE HOLDERS. 16-20 MONTHS FOR NON-ACCOUNTING AND NON-BUSINESS MAJORS
#1
CPA PASS RATE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
100%
JOB PLACEMENT RATE SIX MONTHS POST-GRADUATION
Curriculum & Requirements
The Master of Science in Accounting, offered by the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics, develops students’ advanced accounting knowledge, strong analytical and communication skills, as well as an awareness of ethical issues for careers in public accounting firms, small businesses, non-profit organizations, and major corporations.
The AACSB-accredited MSA program satisfies the 150-hour course load required by most U.S. state licensing boards, including the state of New Hampshire. Students learn additional accounting knowledge in specialized courses focusing on the CPA exam.
Designed for students with undergraduate degrees in accounting, the graduate program can be completed in one year. Applicants without an undergraduate degree in accounting or business will be required to complete additional foundation undergraduate courses prior to beginning the graduate program.
Upon admission to the program, applicants complete seven required courses and three elective track courses. ACFI 850 Accounting Theory and Research is the capstone course.
All admitted candidates are expected to have completed a series of foundation courses. If an applicant has not completed all of the foundation courses, the admissions committee may offer provisional admission and require that the applicant take the foundation courses prior to beginning the standard course of study. Refer to the list of foundation courses below labeled "For Students with Non-Accounting Business Degrees".
Required Core Courses
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ACFI 820 | Corporate Taxation | 3 |
ACFI 825 | Ethics and Non-Profit Accounting | 3 |
ACFI 835 | Governmental Accounting | 3 |
ACFI 844 | Topics in Advanced Accounting | 3 |
ACFI 860 | Advanced Business Law | 3 |
ACFI 890 | Accounting Information Systems | 3 |
ACFI 850 | Accounting Theory and Research | 3 |
Select a track below | 9 | |
Total Credits | 30 |
Auditing and Assurance Track
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ACFI 830 | Advanced Auditing | 3 |
ACFI 896 | Topics (International Accounting) | 3 |
ACFI 840 | Forensic Acctg & Fraud Exam | 3 |
Total Credits | 9 |
Tax Track
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ACFI 896 | Topics (Applied Tax Research and Planning) | 3 |
ACFI 896 | Topics (Advanced Topics in Tax) | 3 |
ACFI 896 | Topics (Advanced Business Taxation) | 3 |
Total Credits | 9 |
Integrated Audit and Tax Track
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Select three of the six track courses above | 9 | |
Total Credits | 9 |
For Students with Non-Accounting Business Degrees
Foundation courses that must be completed at the undergraduate level are:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ACC 721 | Intermediate Financial Accounting I | 4 |
ACC 722 | Intermediate Financial Accounting II | 4 |
MGT 647 | Business Law I | 4 |
ACC 723 | Advanced Managerial Accounting | 4 |
ACC 724 | Auditing | 4 |
ACC 726 | Introduction to Federal Taxation | 4 |
Total Credits | 24 |
For Students with Non-Business Degrees:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ADMN 502 | Financial Accounting | 4 |
ADMN 503 | Managerial Accounting | 4 |
ECON 401 | Principles of Economics (Macro) | 4 |
ADMN 510 | Business Statistics | 4 |
ADMN 570 | Introduction to Financial Management | 4 |
In addition, students must choose two of the following: | 8 | |
ADMN 575 | Behavior in Organizations | |
ADMN 585 | Marketing | |
ADMN 580 | Quantitative Decision Making | |
Total Credits | 28 |
Deadline
Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:
- Fall: November 15th (Early Decision); June 15 (regular admission)
- Spring: November 1st (strongly recommended), November 15th (final deadline for completed application with all required test scores, transcripts and supplemental materials submitted)
- Summer: N/A
- Special: Contact Program
Application fee: $65
Campus: Durham
New England Regional: Case by case for ME
Accelerated Masters: Yes (for more details see the accelerated masters information page)
New Hampshire Residents
Students claiming in-state residency must also submit a Proof of Residence form. This form is not required to complete your application, but you will need to submit it after you are offered admission or you will not be able to register for classes.
Transcripts
If you attended UNH after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester and UNH Non-Degree work.
If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must request one official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. International transcripts must be translated into English. We accept transcripts both electronically and in hard copy:
- Electronic Transcripts: Please have your institution send the transcript directly to grad.school@unh.edu. Please note that we can only accept copies sent directly from the institution.
- Paper Transcripts: Please send hard copies of transcripts to: UNH Graduate School, Thompson Hall- 105 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824. You may request transcripts be sent to us directly from the institution or you may send them yourself as long as they remain sealed in the original university envelope.
Transcripts are required for any school you earned a degree from, attended for at least one year, or attended for 2 or more semesters. Exceptions to this rule may be approved at the discretion of the program you are applying to and the UNH Graduate School Admission’s office.
Letters of Recommendation: 2 Required
Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.
Test Scores: GMAT Required
The GMAT is required for admission to the M.S. Accounting program. Request official test scores to be sent directly to the Graduate School by the testing service. Our CEEB code is 3918. Test scores more than five years old are not acceptable. Student copies and photocopies of scores are not considered official. To register for the exam or for more tools to help you prepare for the exam, please visit the Graduate Management Admissions Council homepage.
If you are a current UNH undergraduate accounting options student, or an accounting undergraduate student from another AACSB-accredited English speaking business school, or you hold an undergraduate degree in accounting from an AACSB-accredited English speaking business school and meet one of the following conditions below, please e-mail Paulcollege.grad@unh.edu requesting a GMAT waiver: Cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher or Accounting Option GPA of 3.5 or higher.
For general information about test scores required for admission into our programs please visit our Test Scores webpage.
Personal Statement
Applicants to the Accounting Program must provide answers to these specific questions: 1) Do you believe your college grades reflect your ability? Explain. 2) Describe a situation in which you have had to assume a significant responsibility. What effect did that situation have on your personal development? 3) What do you consider to be your major strengths and weaknesses and how do you expect graduate study to affect them? 4) Discuss your long range objectives and the ways in which your planning has been influenced by past academic or work experiences. Additionally, please discuss the anticipated benefits you hope to gain from graduate education. *Optional: Provide any additional information which you feel should be considered by the Admission Committee.
Resume
A current resume is required with your submitted application.
Important Notes
All applicants are encouraged to contact programs directly to discuss program specific application questions.
International Applicants
The University of New Hampshire recommends that international applicants who are living outside of the United States, and are planning on pursuing a research based degree, submit a preapplication form before submitting a full application. Your preapplication request will be carefully reviewed and a decision usually provided within 3 weeks. If your preapplication is approved then it is recommended you then submit a full application. If you are currently living in the United States (on a H1B visa, etc.), or you plan on pursuing a professional master’s degree, then you do not need to submit a preapplication.
Prospective international students are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent examination scores. English Language Exams may be waived if English is your first language. If you wish to request a waiver, then please visit our Test Scores webpage for more information.
Explore Program Details
-
Scott Berube
PRINCIPAL LECTURERAccounting and Finance -
Stephen Ciccone
ASSOCIATE PROFESSORChair, Accounting and Finance -
Caitlin DeSoye
SENIOR LECTURERFinance -
Ahmad Etebari
PROFESSORAccounting and Finance -
Michael Hanlon
LECTURERFinance -
John Hasseldine
PROFESSORAccounting -
Zhaozhao He
ASSISTANT PROFESSORFinance -
Fred Kaen
PROFESSOR EMERITUSEmeritus Professor of Accounting and Finance -
Richard Kilbride
SENIOR LECTURERFinance -
William Knowles
PRINCIPAL LECTURERAccounting and Finance -
Sinthy Kounlasa
Administrative Assistant III -
Huimin Li
ASSISTANT PROFESSORFinance -
Yixin Liu
ASSOCIATE PROFESSORFinance -
Kevin McLaughlin
SENIOR LECTURERAccounting and Finance -
Mihail Miletkov
ASSOCIATE PROFESSORFinance -
Jonathan Nash
ASSISTANT PROFESSORAccounting -
Catherine Plante
ASSOCIATE PROFESSORAccounting -
Linda Ragland
ASSOCIATE PROFESSORAccounting -
Viktoriya Staneva
ASSISTANT PROFESSORFinance -
Wenjuan Xie
ASSOCIATE PROFESSORFinance -
Le Emily Xu
ASSOCIATE PROFESSORAccounting
Where are they now?
Paul College M.S. Accounting graduates have launched successful careers with organizations including:
- ALEXANDER ARONSON FINNING & CO.
- BAKER NEWMAN NOYES
- BERRYDUNN
- CARON & BLETZER
- DELOITTE
- EY
- FEELY & DRISCOLL
- HOWE, RILEY & HOWE
- JOHNSON AND JOHNSON, INC.
- KPMG
- LEONE, MCDONNELL & ROBERTS
- LIBERTY MUTUAL
- MELANSON HEATH & COMPANY
- NATHAN WECHSLER
- PWC
- TONNESON AND COMPANY
- WALTER & SHUFFAIN