Designed for students with no prior background in accounting or business, this cohort-based program includes four semesters of full-time study that fulfill the education criteria required to obtain initial licensure as a certified public accountant in New York State. (A part-time option is also available for this program. Full-time requires availability days and evenings, Monday-Friday).

Coursework covers management fundamentals, in-depth study of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and practical training in contemporary accounting software and emerging technologies. Advanced topics include liabilities, assets, and income tax; auditing and internal controls; and budgeting and cost-profit analysis. In your last semester, you complete an academic research seminar.

In your first year in the program, you’ll take introductory accounting courses and gain a solid foundation in general business and management subjects. In your second year, you’ll dive into advanced accounting principles and develop the skills you need to land the job you want.

Prerequisites: Admission to the master’s in accounting program requires the completion of an undergraduate degree, including 3 credits in each of statistics, economics, computer science, and financial accounting. 

You may be able to waive up to 10 credits of the curriculum if you previously completed equivalent coursework.

As a graduate student in accounting at UAlbany, you’ll be able to access special career services offered by the School of Business and connect with recruiters from the Big Four professional services firms (Ernst & Young, Deloitte, KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers).

Graduates of this program are also highly sought after by private corporations such as IBM and government agencies such as the Office of the NYS Comptroller and the Internal Revenue Service.

Admissions Requirements

Deadlines

Priority Review Deadline

• Fall: August 1
• Spring: November 1
• Summer: Not Available

Departmental Assistantship Consideration

• Fall: May 1
• Spring: Not Available
• Summer: Not Available

 No Departmental Assistantship Consideration

• Fall: Rolling
• Spring: December 1
• Summer: Not Available

Admission Deadline for International Students (Full-time is required) is July 1 for the Fall.

Please note: Spring is for Part-time only and can take up to 3 or more years to complete.

Required Application Materials

• Transcripts from all schools attended
• Three Letters of Recommendation
  One academic reference is required, however two academic references are preferred
• Resume
• Statement of Goals
  The statement is generally one to two pages discussing what you have to offer the program and what you wish to get out of the program.  It should include a brief description of the applicant's field of interest, related background, desired area of study and research emphasis or career goals.
• GMAT*
  A GMAT waiver is available for current UAlbany undergraduate and graduate students with a GPA of 3.6.

*The GMAT will be waived until Fall 2023.

Tuition fee-2 years$58,000