The world needs more highly skilled accountants. Advances in technology are revolutionising all industries, taxation and governmental control measures are getting increasingly complicated, and businesses are growing to be more aware of the need for accurate control methods in existing businesses.
Luckily for you, the Adkerson School of Accountancy at Mississippi State University has the programmes to empower today’s professionals to capitalise on these industry demands.
Embedded within the university’s College of Business, the school offers online master’s programmes designed for future accountants ready to seize the industry’s many opportunities. These degrees combine general and broad business and accounting education into an effective, specialised curriculum, thus maintaining its AACSB accounting accreditation.
One such degree is the Master of Taxation (MTAX), a non-thesis degree programme that provides a general foundation in the world of accounting and business with an emphasis on taxation. With five core courses and multiple accounting and business electives to choose from, this online programme is among the very few available in the US that does not only provide you with technical expertise but also the soft skills needed in the industry.
“Students need critical thinking skills that enable them to analyse and understand new tax laws. They also need communication skills that allow them to explain these changes to their clients and employers effectively,” assistant professor Dr. Alan Stancill says. “We seek to impart these critical thinking and communication skills through classroom discussions and assignments.”
The AACSB accounting-accredited online programmes can be completed in just one year. Source: Mississippi State University
Another online programme available is the Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA) which will explore all aspects of business, financial, and management accounting. Similar to MTax, this programme requires you to complete 15 hours of core courses, nine hours of accounting and six hours of business electives. Both programmes can be done in just one year.
“The professional accountancy environment is constantly evolving, with alternative pathways to qualification and elective concentrations in the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam, so we must adapt to prepare our students,” says associate professor Dr. Nathan Berglund. “Specifically, we launched a new course on information technology audit that will prepare our students for the Information Systems & Controls section of the CPA exam and their careers.”
What makes both these master’s degrees special is the concentration in Accounting Data Analytics, a subject that will provide you with the ability to understand and analyse large quantities of data – a skill sought after by many employers.
“Employers have communicated that they need accountants who are experienced in data analytics, specifically students who have as much hands-on experience with data analytics software as possible,” Dr. Berglund says. “Going forward, such exposure and technology literacy will likely be the baseline expectation for professionals in the accounting field.”
“Online students work through the same case studies, CPA exam questions, and data analytics exercises that the in-person students work through,” says Dr. Berglund. Source: Mississippi State University
Dr Berglund, who teaches the Assurance and Audit Data Analysis class in both MPA and MTax programmes, structures the course into three activities: looking up case studies covering a variety of contemporary audit issues with rigorous group participation and discussion, preparing for the auditing section of the CPA exam, and hands-on training with prominent audit data analytics software.The MTAX and MPA programs each have 4 required classes (12 hours), 4 accounting electives (12 hours), and 2 business electives (6 hours).
“The data analytics concentration and CPA exam preparation enhance the marketability of our students,” Dr. Stancill adds. “Many of our online students are already employed full-time.”
In fact, these online programmes have a 100% job placement rate, proving that employers tend to recruit graduates with expert knowledge of data analytics.
To help you score your dream job, the school organises a free career fair, especially for accounting students, where they can connect with potential employers, network with industry experts, and build relationships with leading companies. This exclusive event will not only open doors to various job opportunities but also give you an overview of how you chart your career path in the accounting industry following fellow alumni who have gone on to work as private, public, or government accountants, auditors, controllers, fraud examiners, entrepreneurs, and even attorneys.
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