The Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) program at University of Washington Bothell boosts your career trajectory with the foundational knowledge needed wherever your career takes you — to CPA or CFO. With both part-time and full-time options, our program is ideal for busy working professionals and recent graduates.
Master of Science in Accounting graduates can work in public accounting or private accounting. Students develop critical thinking, data analysis and research skills, and build specialized areas of knowledge. Many MSA graduates become certified public accountants (CPAs). The MSA program is not a CPA prep course. However, the MSA degree satisfies the fifth-year educational requirement for taking the CPA exam. The program also prepares graduates for roles as internal auditors, managerial accountants, tax examiners, budget analysts, and government auditors.
The MSA program is offered at our Bothell campus. The program begins each September. Core courses are typically taught autumn, winter, spring and summer quarters on weeknights from 6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. We also offer some electives on Saturday mornings.
Concentrations
Financial Reporting
The Financial Reporting Concentration is designed to provide students with a solid background in identifying and resolving key issues that arise in accounting for complex business transactions and arrangements. The combination of courses in this track builds skills in accessing, interpreting and applying authoritative guidance (FARS/GARS), accessing and interpreting academic and professional research when authoritative guidance is incomplete or non-existent and to provide admissible resolutions for new and emergent classes of transactions and arrangements. Students who choose this concentration will be particularly well trained for positions where a deep understanding of financial reporting standards and practices is the required domain of expertise.
Taxation
The Taxation Concentration is designed to provide students with a solid background in identifying and resolving key legal and tax issues that arise in personal and business taxation. The combination of courses in this track emphasizes skills in researching, interpreting and applying authoritative guidance on legal and taxation issues pertaining to individuals and business entities. Students who choose this concentration will be particularly well trained for positions where a solid understanding of business law and taxation rules is the required domain of expertise.
Invest in yourself with a Master's in Accounting
“I was getting to the point where I was posting positions with basic requirements beyond my own in terms of education and background. I had no CPA, no master’s degree. I realized even though I had 20 years of experience that maybe I should expand my tool set.” - Howard Snow. Read the story at uwb.edu/news