University of Missouri launches online master's degree in accounting

The University of Missouri announced this week that its School of Accountancy, located in the Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business, has started accepting applications for its first online master of accountancy degree (MAcc) program. The fully digital classes are set to begin August 2018.

“Making our degree available online gives students and working professionals the chance to be part of a nationally ranked program and broadens their access to an extensive network of faculty and accounting industry peers,” stated Vairam Arunachalam, director of the MU School of Accountancy and PricewaterhouseCoopers/Joseph A. Silvoso distinguished professor of accountancy. “This high demand presents the perfect opportunity for students [and] they can pursue graduate education in a nationally ranked program and know that their skills will be valued.”

The online master’s degree will require 30 credit hours, and when added to a student’s undergraduate studies, will fulfill the requirements to sit for the CPA exam.

The university reported that busy students with full-time jobs can take one class per semester and complete the online master's program in approximately three years. The program's online director, Shannon Ferguson, also stressed that the program is not a replacement for on-campus degrees, but simply an expansion due to overwhelming demand.

“The course work and rigor of the online MAcc is consistent with that of the campus-based program," stated Ferguson. "Our online instructors are drawn from the same faculty, so they bring the same high-quality instruction to students on their computers as they bring to the students in their classrooms.”

The School of Accounting's advisory board, responsible for the development of the online master's degree, represents all Big Four accounting firms as well as numerous other firms.

“The hard-working members of our advisory board have been engaged in the development of the online program,” Arunachalam added. “They are an integral part of our program’s success.”

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The program is currently accepting applications for the fall 2018 semester. For more information, head to the University of Missouri's site here.

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