Companies of all sizes rely on professionals with financial expertise to influence their decisions and strategies. Becoming a more experienced accounting professional could lead to a range of career focus areas from auditing to financial analysis or accounts payable/receivable. Individuals with the right skill sets could find themselves helping to assess the financial health of a business, preparing financial reports to help executives make good decisions, working with payroll, or dealing with tax compliance. That's why we offer 2 accounting master's programs along with 4 concentration options to help you reach your goals. Designed for corporate accountants, auditors, fraud examiners, and financial analysts, our Master of Science (MS) in Accounting program can help you move into high-level positions in banking, taxation, insurance, or any company with a financial division. Students hoping to earn their Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification will find this degree valuable. Depending on the state where you reside, earning your MS Accounting degree may satisfy the education requirements you need to sit for the CPA exam.

"The overall purpose of accounting is to tell the financial story of an organization (or individual) to allow for informed decision making," said Mona Stephens, CPA, MSA, and accounting faculty lead at SNHU. "Accountants now need to have good communications skills, technology skills, and the ability to analyze large amounts of data."

You'll enhance your analytical skills, deepen your knowledge of accounting principles and learn from instructors with real-world expertise. The Master of Science (MS) in Accounting Finance will help you gain the important financial analysis and quantitative skills required for leadership or management positions. This program is a good option if you have an interest in both accounting and finance. Corporations and organizations large and small are in need of qualified, trained financial professionals who recognize the importance of accurate quantitative analysis and compliance with strict financial statement regulations. You can also specialize your skills in one of our 4 industry-driven concentrations: auditing, forensic accounting, management accounting, and taxation. While you'll practice traditional accounting practices throughout your coursework, you'll also have the benefit of learning current accounting software, giving you a deeper understanding of the business.

Our online master's in accounting degree curriculum is designed to enhance your understanding and skills in a range of areas such as:

- Accounting principles and practices

- Professional auditing methods

- Cost analysis for informed decision-making

- Using information technology to evaluate the financial information

- Applications of financial regulations in business

- Quantitative analysis

- Individual and corporate tax preparation

The content of this program aligns with the Content and Skill Specification Outlines (CSOs/SSOs) set by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). To become a CPA, the AICPA has 3 requirements, known as the 3 Es: experience, exam, and education. SNHU's master's curriculum was designed by subject-matter experts working in the field specifically to meet the certification's educational requirements.

In turn, the content in the MS program prepares you for the various sections of the CPA exam:

- Auditing and attestation

- Business environment and concepts

- Financial accounting and reporting

- Regulation

Becoming a CPA allows you to join a network of over 430,000 who've earned the same certification. In addition, should you choose to add the management accounting concentration to your degree, the program was designed to allow you to meet the education requirements for the Certified Management Accountant exam.

The Institution of Management Accountants lists its 12 competencies as:

- Corporate finance

- Cost management

- Decision analysis

- External financial reporting decisions

- Financial statement analysis

- Internal controls

- Investment decisions

- Performance management

- Planning, budgeting, and forecasting

- Professional ethics

- Risk management

- Technology and analytics

Passing the exam puts you in good company: The IMA has awarded 70,000 CMAs to date. Don't have an accounting or business background? SNHU offers foundation courses for students that enter without an undergraduate degree in accounting or finance. Other courses are eligible for exemptions or waivers if a student has an undergraduate major or concentration in accounting, finance, or accounting/finance. Students should discuss with their admission counselor or academic advisor how previously earned credits could apply to their master's degree.

If you have a knack for numbers and enjoy solving business challenges, consider an undergraduate or graduate accounting certificate at Southern New Hampshire University. Organizations in every industry need accounting professionals to help them maintain the financial health of their business. An undergraduate accounting certificate can be the fastest option to earn documentation of progress on the road to a higher-level degree, or it can be an opportunity to learn a new skill that can support career advancement or change. Whether the accounting certificate is your first step toward a degree or a means to improve your skills, this customizable program provides the training you'll need to excel in today's competitive workplace.

The undergraduate accounting certificate is a good supplement to an existing bachelor's degree, or you can use this coursework as part of a bachelor of science degree in accounting. It will enhance your knowledge of accounting principles and practices. You'll learn how to interpret and use financial statements and apply financial, managerial, and accounting principles. A graduate accounting certificate can be an opportunity to learn new skills that support your career or keep your existing skills up to date. Earn an Accounting Graduate Certificate online, and take your first step toward a variety of professional certifications. This seven-course certificate gives you a strong foundation in accounting principles. You'll explore cost behaviors, alternative cost systems, financial accounting, multinational accounting, SEC reporting, federal income taxation, and the audit process.

The online certificate prepares you either for a career in accounting or to further your graduate studies in the field. All courses may be applied toward an MS in Accounting and count toward the 150-credit hours required to sit for the CPA certification exam. The accounting certificate online program is designed with your career trajectory in mind. Every student will take 4 courses (12 credits) in general accounting. This suite of major courses is meant to provide the foundation you need to earn a key credential that will help move your career in accounting forward by setting you apart from your peers.

The 4 major courses may include:

- Financial Accounting: This course details the accounting lifecycle. It includes instruction on preparing financial statements and learning rules and best practices as defined by industry standards. The focus is on both finance and communication skills, as stakeholder communication is a vital part of this coursework and of the profession of accounting.

- Managerial Accounting: The impact of both short- and long-term business decisions is the focus of this course. Improving the performance of any organization through best practices, as well as using accounting principles to create and advance business value, are also covered.

- Intermediate Accounting: More advanced instruction on the accounting lifecycle is covered here. Also addressed are more intricate accounting scenarios and how to manage them. Application of theoretical frameworks, standards, and regulations of accounting, as well as preparation of statements and reports, may also be covered.

- Federal Taxation 1: An understanding of tax laws is a crucial part of professional accountancy. In this course, you may expect to dive into the Internal Revenue Service tax code and focus on applying laws and standards relating to taxes and how they related to general accountancy.

You may also learn to prepare federal tax returns. While these courses are designed to present the foundation of accountancy as a profession, they each also incorporate transferable skills that can help in any business environment. Any position that involves working with numbers includes the need to communicate findings to stakeholders. A variety of written communication and creative thinking exercises and practices are included across the curriculum along with the best practices of professional accountancy. Graduate Accounting Certificate Courses & Curriculum Once these 12 credits are successfully completed, you will have the option of choosing 6 credits from the catalog of undergraduate accounting courses. There is a wide variety, so that you may customize your focus for the remaining 2 courses and apply this certificate directly to your career path.

Elective courses may include choices like:

- Accounting Information Systems: Explore business processes related to accounting systems, including documentation of internal controls. You may learn accounting applications and types of software commonly used in the profession. Data analysis and problem-solving are hallmarks of this course.

- Accounting for Nonprofit Organizations: Specific to nonprofit organizations, this course presents accounting principles geared to the way that nonprofits function. It includes a discussion on the unique structure, governance, legal requirements, and tax issues surrounding the management of a nonprofit.

- Cost Accounting: Cost data is the focus of the course, including how you may record, classify and report this data. Planning and control processes are covered, as are budgeting, job order, and process. Special topics relating to cost accounting may also be covered.

- Auditing and Forensic Accounting: If the world of criminal investigation interests you, consider this course. Focusing on the many ways that accounting expertise can be used to solve white-collar crime, you may learn how to recognize and investigate fraud, as well as how to control and prevent it, all from an accounting perspective.

Throughout the coursework, you'll learn accounting principles and practices while reinforcing applicable transferable skills, such as written communication and creative thinking. Each course is taught by instructors with professional credentials and experience in their respective fields.

Focus your accounting education on the investigation of financial records to detect fraud with the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting with a concentration in Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination degree. With a forensic accounting degree online, you can build a strong foundation of traditional accounting knowledge. You'll explore the auditing process in depth. And you'll gain key investigative skills to identify, document, and prevent fraud and cybercrime. You can finish your degree armed with the critical thinking skills and essential business knowledge you need to begin a rewarding career in the forensic accounting field.

Learn how to:

- Analyze and apply accounting rules and regulations

- Generate financial records and prepare tax returns

- Effectively communicate accounting information

- Audit financial information and controls

- Apply ethics to conduct and decision-making

Prepare to become a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). An undergraduate forensic accounting degree can also provide the first step toward taking the CFE exam. This credential can help you stand out to employers, as it denotes proven expertise in fraud prevention, detection, and deterrence. CFEs are credentialed by the National Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. SNHUs forensic accounting degree online can give you a strong foundation in accounting and financial analysis. Forensic accounting courses focused on fraud detection and investigation can supplement your core accounting classes. The online forensic accounting degree also includes a strong foundation in general business courses.

Business core courses include:

- Business law

- Finance

- Business systems analysis and design

- Marketing

- Human relations

- Strategic management

"These courses ensure you understand and can incorporate key business concepts into accounting and auditing roles. What originally attracted me to the forensic accounting program was the fact that it offers a combination of elements from accounting, law, and criminal justice," said Sean Ball '14 '17G '19MBA. "This program takes the concepts of accounting and shows you how to apply them in both law and criminal justice matters. This is also what separates the forensic accounting program from other programs, as at the end of the day you have a hybrid major of elements from accounting, law, and criminal justice. This is a combination that is not offered in other programs."

You can also build valuable career skills with general education courses, including writing, analysis, and quantitative reasoning skills. In your primary accounting courses, you'll explore a variety of topics, including:

- General accounting principles

- Financial statement analysis

- Auditing

- Taxation

- Business law

Your forensic accounting courses dive deeper into the investigation, detection, and prevention of fraud. You'll focus on the prevention of accounting fraud, stock fraud, employee theft, and embezzlement. You'll learn how to investigate and recognize fraud within an organization and how to implement the latest techniques for controlling it. You can also learn how to review, detect and investigate possible financial statement fraud and assess the risks of this type of fraud. One of your online forensic accounting courses will also cover interview principles and techniques that are key to fraud investigations.

In this course, you'll be exposed to some of the legal aspects related to the identification and prosecution of fraud. You can also learn about the importance of technology in the detection and prevention of modern financial crime. You'll learn more about computer crime and how to work with digital evidence. You can explore identity theft, locate digital evidence, work with data, and present investigative findings. Case studies of cybercrime examples can help you apply your learning to real-world situations.

Want even more hands-on learning opportunities? SNHUs career advising team can also help you set up an accounting internship to supplement your learning. An internship is not required to earn a forensic accounting degree online. But real-world experience can help you develop key soft skills and ultimately find success in your field.

These skills include:

- Communication: Effectively share financial information with internal and external audiences.

- Analysis: Gather and review financial data to identify fraud and examine financial risk.

- Problem-solving: Connect classroom learning and hands-on experience to solve real-world problems.

- Decision-making: Apply professional ethics to make decisions in the field of accounting.

"As an online student, you can also benefit from a variety of learning opportunities. You'll have access to virtual tutoring and writing services. You can even join online clubs and student organizations to supplement your learning and grow your personal network. "The support that SNHU offered me allowed me to fulfill my dream of graduating with high honors," said April Cutler '18, who also served as a graduation speaker during her graduation ceremony. "I did just that, graduating summa cum laude with a 4.0. This opened an invitation to be a student speaker. Standing before my kids on Mothers Day, not only finally getting my degree, but representing my class, was the proudest moment I have ever experienced."

You'll also have access to a full range of career services. Career services include networking opportunities, resume and cover letter reviews, mock interviews, and more. These services are even available after you graduate. SNHUs generous transfer policy can also help you save time and money when earning your degree. You can transfer up to 90 credits toward a bachelor's degree program. With the maximum transfer credit load, you could earn your degree in as few as 5 terms, or 10 courses.

Whether you want to pursue a career in banking, economics, or financial markets or have interests in an adjacent career path like financial accounting, tax accounting, management accounting, or forensic accounting, a degree in accounting or accounting/finance may be right for you. Accounting is more than just numbers. It's solving business challenges by helping organizations manage their finances and cash flow. In the online Bachelor of Science in Accounting program, you'll gain a deep knowledge of accounting practices, supplemented by the broader, business-specific skills employers look for.

Our online accounting degree focuses on developing business and accounting expertise. You'll build a foundation in financial analysis, general accounting principles, auditing, taxation, and more. If you're looking to blend elements of accounting and finance, the Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance may be right for you. This program offers you the coursework you need to qualify you for careers in the accounting or finance professions. In this program, you'll study the complexities of economic activity and the demands that all firms face getting to a profitable bottom line. The accounting and finance BS will give you a solid foundation in accounting and finance principles and practices. This program provides individuals with both accounting and financial acumen, positioning graduates for versatility within those fields.

Consider this program if you want to show flexibility to a potential employer, are unsure where you'd like to focus within the finance and accounting disciplines, or could see yourself working in a small organization where employees must show strength in many areas of accounting. Throughout your program, you'll position yourself for success in the field of accounting. At SNHU, an online accounting degree is affordable, accredited, and designed to take you where you want to go in your career and in your life.

Accelerated BS-to-MS Pathway Option: Planning a future beyond your bachelor's?

An accelerated BS-to-MS pathway option for this online degree program is also available. This lets you:

- Save money: Take up to 2 graduate-level courses (6 credits) during your bachelor's program at the online undergraduate tuition rate

- Save time: Apply your graduate credits to your master's degree to complete your program in as fast as one year

The online accounting curriculum will give you a solid foundation in essential accounting principles and practices. Courses are taught by instructors with professional credentials and experience in accounting, taxation, and fraud examination.

Develop the accounting and business skills that employers desire with an online Associate of Science (AS) in Accounting from Southern New Hampshire University. The associate degree in accounting is perfect for professionals who want to enter an accounting-related field or lay the groundwork for continuing their education in accounting or business.

In the associate in accounting program, you'll learn how to:

- Identify organizations that establish accounting standards regulations

- Maintain financial records and statements

- Analyze, interpret and present information to stakeholders

- Identify the steps in the ethical decision-making process

This 60-credit online accounting degree curriculum can give you a foundation in essential accounting principles and practices. You'll understand how to handle a company's finances, the basics of economics, statistics, and how marketing plays a role in the world of accounting. Courses are taught by instructors with professional credentials and experience in accounting, taxation, and fraud examination.

Interested in accounting, but afraid of taking math courses? Don't be. According to our instructors, communication skills are more important than being a math whiz when it comes to accounting.

"We have the technology to do the math," said Mona Stephens, accounting lead faculty at SNHU. "Accounting is really all about problem-solving and storytelling." Throughout your studies, you'll gain a foundational understanding of accounting."

Some expected courses in your associate in accounting program include:

- Financial Accounting. Study the steps of the accounting cycle and how to prepare financial statements. You'll develop skills in financial accounting information analysis, stakeholder communications, and accounting procedures.

- Managerial Accounting. Explore the financial impact of business decisions. Learn how to use accounting and productivity information to improve organizational performance. With new data-gathering skills, you'll be able to plan growth strategies and make informed decisions.

- Intermediate Accounting I. Examine foundational concepts including the accounting cycle, journal, and adjusting entries. You'll learn to address accounting scenarios by applying theory and using proper accounting standards.

- Federal Taxation I. Learn about current U.S. tax laws, the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), and source documents relevant to federal tax returns for individuals. Using the applicable tax laws, you'll learn how to prepare federal tax returns for individuals.

"These courses are taught by instructors with years of experience in accounting and who are committed to helping you earn your degree. "The instructors at SNHU are remarkable," said Tabitha Paige Tillery '20.

"They made sure that you knew they were there for you. Didn't matter the hours I was doing my schoolwork, someone was always there to help." Akeda Toby-Locke with text Akeda Toby-LockeAkeda Toby-Locke '19 agreed. "My instructors were always one call or email away when I had concerns or questions about my courses," she said. "They guided me on completing my assignments to their expectations and to the best of my ability, and shared helpful resources and information that provided additional knowledge and insights about the courses."

"No matter the course, our instructors can help equip you with the relevant specialized accounting skills you need to start a career in accounting. But according to our own faculty, accountants need to be more than just technically proficient in accounting. The accountant of the future needs to be intellectually curious, always learning, able to figure out how to solve problems, analyze and visualize data, and effectively communicate with non-accountants," said Stephens. "A great way to start is to hone that intellectual curiosity and problem-solving skills."

That's why the associate accounting curriculum integrates other general education and business-related knowledge. Major courses include some less expected classes such as Business Law I. Examine the background and ethical aspects of the U.S. legal system as it applies to business organizations. Understand how contracts, criminal and cyber law, product liability, and torts impact business. Business Systems Analysis and Design. Gain a basic level of IT knowledge relative to its use in business.

You'll learn to apply effective solutions to business programs using concepts and methodologies. This course includes both team-oriented assignments and structured computer labs using spreadsheet and database management tools. Introduction to Marketing. Discover how to create and deliver communications in order to reach consumers in a valuable way.

You'll learn about marketing research, audiences, product selection, promotion, distribution, and pricing. Human Relations in Administration. Good managers must develop skills in human resource management to support higher productivity.

You'll learn techniques for becoming a more effective manager and colleague. When you graduate with your associate degree in accounting, you can count on having both widely applicable skills and highly specified accounting knowledge. This means you can go on to pursue entry-level jobs or more advanced degrees in any number of fields.

Change your career on your terms. This data science bootcamp is fully remote and offered on a part-time schedule, so you can keep your daytime commitments while training at night and on the weekends. Featuring the same expert instruction, career coaching, and cutting-edge curriculum needed to help you land your next job in data science.

This course is also offered on a full-time schedule in remote and on-campus formats.

What You’ll Learn: Inside Our Curriculum

Made With — and for — Employers
Data science has ranked near the top of LinkedIn’s Emerging Jobs Report for three years running. Developed with guidance from our Data Science Standards Board — a group of data executives from companies like Bloomberg and Nielsen — our curriculum is primed for industry relevance so graduates can capitalize on this demand.

Gain a Well-Rounded Technical Foundation
Get hands-on training with the skills you need to derive value from complex data. Dive into Python programming, exploratory data analysis, and statistical modeling. Then, branch into machine learning with algorithms of increasing complexity, from decision trees and random forests to natural language processing and neural networks.

Put Predictive Modeling Techniques Into Practice
Through this Immersive, you’ll tackle five projects, compiling a professional-grade portfolio of compelling stakeholder presentations and data visualizations. For your capstone project, you’ll gain experience putting machine-learning models into production to address a real-world data challenge.

Course Overview

- Solve the World’s Most Interesting Problems
- Open Doors With Industry Connections
- Deliver a Professional Capstone Project
- Get Personalised Job Support at Every Step

Curriculum Overview

- Made With — and for — Top Employers
- Gain a Well-Rounded Technical Foundation
- Put Predictive Modeling Techniques Into Practice

Meet students who advanced their careers with General Assembly

Josephine Ho 
GA Los Angeles Graduate
Ho’s experience at General Assembly revitalized both her professional life and her drive to keep learning, something that will elevate her career for years to come. “I love that I am always learning at my new job. My GA teachers helped me get my foot in the door, and now I can pick it up from here and grow my career,” says Ho. “They helped me set a foundation in tech, speak the lingo, and know the tools — I have been building off that.” With a GA education, a new network of fellow data scientists, and a coveted role at NASA, it seems as though the sky is the limit for Josephine Ho.

Your best course for career transformation. This full-time data science bootcamp features expert instruction, one-on-one career coaching, and connections to top employers to get you hired.

Inside the Award-Winning Curriculum

Made With — and for — Top Employers
Data science has topped LinkedIn’s Emerging Jobs Report for three years running. Capitalize on-demand with a program that's primed for industry relevance. Our curriculum is guided by the Data Science Standards Board — a group of data executives from companies like Bloomberg and Nielsen.

Gain a Well-Rounded Technical Foundation
Get hands-on with the skills you need to derive value from complex data. Dive into Python, data analysis, and statistical modeling. Then, branch into machine learning with algorithms of increasing complexity, from decision trees and random forests to natural language processing and neural networks.

Put Predictive Modeling Techniques Into Practice
Tackle five projects, compiling a professional-grade portfolio of compelling stakeholder presentations and data visualizations. For your capstone, you’ll put machine-learning models into production to address a real-world data challenge.

Course Overview

- Made With — and for — Top Employers
- Gain a Well-Rounded Technical Foundation
- Put Predictive Modeling Techniques Into Practice

Curriculum Overview

- Pre-Work: 12 Hours of Online Tutorials
- Unit 1: Data Science Fundamentals
- Unit 2: Exploratory Data Analysis
- Unit 3: Classical Statistical Modeling
- Unit 4: Machine Learning Models
- Unit 5: Advanced Topics & Trends

Testimonials

Kevin Coyle
GA Los Angeles Graduate
"The best thing about my (program) was by far the sense of community… The instructors in my Data Science class remain close colleagues and the same for students. Not only that, but GA is a fantastic ecosystem of tech. I've made friends and gotten jobs from meeting people at events held at GA.”

Course Overview

Data Science and Machine Learning in Python
This bootcamp is a deep dive into the fundamentals of data science and machine learning in Python. Throughout the course, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the entire data science process from end-to-end, including data prep, data analysis, and visualization, as well as how to properly apply machine learning algorithms to various situations or tasks. You’ll also walk away with a portfolio of projects showcasing your data science acumen to prospective employers!

Curriculum Overview

- This bootcamp is a deep dive into the fundamentals of data science and machine learning in Python. You’ll walk away with a portfolio of projects showcasing your data science acumen to prospective employers!
- Week 1 | Foundations In Python
- Week 2 | Manipulating & Understanding Data
- Week 3 | Foundations Of Data Modeling & Intro To Machine Learning
- Week 4 | Statistical Inference

- Week 5 | Introduction To Machine Learning
- Week 6 | Decision Trees And Random Forests
- Week 7 | Logistic Regression And Regularization
- Week 8 | KMeans, Hierarchical Clustering, And DBSCAN

- Week 9 | Uses Of Dimensionality Reduction
- Week 10 | Gradient Boosting Algorithms And Kaggle Competitions
- Week 11 | Using SQL With Python
- Week 12 | Deep Learning Frameworks

- Week 13 | Intro To Databases
- Week 14 | Intro To ETL
- Week 15 | Statistical Analysis
- Week 16 | Model Assumptions

- Graduation

Meet students who advanced their careers with Coding Dojo

Cassandra Simmons
Coding Dojo Alumni
"The instructor could not have been more amazing! She was always helpful, never got frustrated with repetitive or 'dumb' questions, and gave positive reinforcement and encouragement regularly."

David Nick
Coding Dojo Alumni
"I completed both a full-stack Python and Data Science PT bootcamp with Coding Dojo. Can't say enough great things about the school, its online curriculum platform, and its relevance to current industry standards. I was fortunate to have both Michael and Noelle as my main instructors through both platforms, and cannot say enough about their patient teaching methods."