Accounting (M.S.)

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 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 that provide strong preparation for the CPA exam process.

Designed for students with undergraduate degrees in accounting, the graduate program can be completed in one year of full-time study or three years of part-time study, with classses offered during the day.

Applicants without an undergraduate degree in accounting or business will be required to complete additional foundation undergraduate courses prior to beginning the graduate program. If an applicant has not completed all of the foundation courses, the admissions committee may offer provisional admission and require that the applicant take certain foundation courses prior to beginning the standard course of study.

Students with Non-Accounting Business Degrees

Foundation courses that must be completed at the undergraduate level are:

Students with Non-Business Degrees

In addition to the accounting foundation courses listed above, students with non-business degrees are typically required to complete these courses at the undergraduate level:

Degree Requirements

Students complete seven required courses and three elective courses.

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Electives are chosen to help develop specialization in a particular area. Please note that elective course offerings are subject to class enrollment and may not be offered each year.

Our Accelerated Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) option provides an opportunity for UNH undergraduate students to begin graduate study while completing a bachelor's degree—making you stand out among other job applicants with advanced skills and increasing your earning potential. Qualified students can begin earning graduate credit during their undergraduate programs, allowing them to maximize their time on campus and return on their educational investment.

Eligibility:

• Current UNH undergraduate student with a GPA of 3.2 or higher.
• Apply before completing 90 undergraduate credits.
• Acceptance into the Accelerated Master’s Program before taking 800-level courses.

Accelerated MSA Requirements:

• Qualified students may complete up to 12 credits at the 800-level during their undergraduate studies, earning dual credit toward their B.S. and M.S. degrees.
• Once a qualified student matriculates into the MSA program (after completing undergraduate degree), the student will take a minimum of 18 additional credits to complete the 30 credit MSA program requirement.
• Students are required to earn a B- or better in graduate courses to earn credits toward their degree.

To earn graduate credits, students need to enroll in the 800-level sections of approved dual credit courses. The 800-level sections require additional work beyond the requirements for the undergraduate course. The following is the list of approved dual credit courses for the accelerated path in the MSA program:
 

Within the accelerated option, high achieving students also have an opportunity to participate in the MSA Financial Leadership in Accounting pathway. This provides an opportunity to complete an UG accounting degree + winter internship + MSA in 4.5 years. This expands on the benefits of the accelerated MSA option with a "busy season" winter internship and access to unique leadership events. Please seek more details from the MSA Director and/or Accounting Department Chair and apply for Accelerated Master’s admission before completing 90 undergraduate credits.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Students will demonstrate core accounting knowledge.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to solve complex problems in accounting.
• Students will engage in effective teamwork behaviors.
• Students will communicate effectively in an accounting context.
• Students will demonstrate an understanding of the key differences between US and international accounting standards.
• Students will demonstrate an understanding of the ethical and professional dimensions of accounting practices.

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Deadline

Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:

• Fall: October 15th (Early Decision, scholarship priority deadline); June 1 (regular admission)
• Spring: December 1st (Current UNH undergraduates only; for Accelerated Masters)
• 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 or Granite State College (GSC) after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester, UNH Non-Degree work and GSC. 

If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must upload a copy (PDF) of your transcript in the application form. International transcripts must be translated into English.

If admitted, you must then request an official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. 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 from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted and applicants must disclose any previous academic or disciplinary sanctions that resulted in their temporary or permanent separation from a previous post-secondary institution. If it is found that previous academic or disciplinary separations were not disclosed, applicants may face denial and admitted students may face dismissal from their academic program.

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

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.