Accounting Master Degree Programs in Alabama (A-R)

For students looking into great value accounting master degrees, Alabama offers a wide range of programs designed to prepare students for lucrative careers in a state that values top-notch education at the collegiate level along with economically sound industrial development. Known in the United States as the Heart of Dixie, the state has revitalized its economy in recent years by investing more into arms manufacturing, aerospace, banking and a variety of other growing industries. The following offers a list of programs that offer comprehensive graduate degree programs in accounting. Great Value Colleges were selected for this list because they are accredited colleges with affordable tuition.

Alabama State University

Department of Accounting & Finance

Founded in 1867 as a school specifically designed to educate black Americans to become teachers, Alabama State University has evolved into a school that enrolls a diverse range of students and offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 5,600 students. The school is ranked as a Tier 2 regional university for the south and continues to uphold its tradition of offering practical and academically challenging programs that speak to the needs of diverse students today. For students researching graduate accounting programs, the Department of Accounting & Finance offers a comprehensive and efficient Master of Accountancy or MAcc program.

Master of Accountancy

The goal of Alabama State University’s Department of Accounting & Finance is to prepare students for careers in corporate or governmental accounting by helping them develop the skills they need to succeed in the business while giving them in-depth instruction that enables them to sit for the CPA licensure exam or pursue terminal accounting degrees. Students who want or need a cost-effective accounting graduate program will appreciate Alabama State University’s accelerated approach as graduate candidates may complete the program in just one year by taking evening classes taught by faculty who hold advanced degrees and real-world accounting experience. The program requires completion of 30 semester hours, and classes cover a broad range of topics suited to a career in either public or governmental accounting. Topics include the following seven core subjects: accounting skills, advanced accounting, advanced auditing, advanced financial reporting, business and legal environment, governmental accounting, and managerial accounting and cost and risk analysis.

Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

Contact
Alabama State University
Department of Accounting & Finance
915 S. Jackson Street
Montgomery, AL 36104
(334) 229-6809
Email: [email protected]
Tuition: $8,720 for in-state and $15,656 for out-of-state

Columbia Southern University

College of Business

Based out of Orange Beach in Alabama, Columbia Southern University is school that offers all of its programs entirely online in an effort to promote convenient and practical education for today’s busy or working students. The school is the first of its kind as an entirely online university and was established in 1993 to meet the demands of those who wanted to pursue higher education but were unable to do so due to scheduling conflicts. Today, the university offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs using the same convenient and affordable method it established more than 20 years ago.

MBA Finance

The Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance offered by Columbia Southern University is designed to help students prepare for a diverse career in accounting by helping them to develop the prerequisite business skills needed for an advanced career. Students will undertake a series of practical courses meant to instill proper research habits while participating in hands-on projects and coursework that enhances business development. The program requires 37 credit hours divided into 25 business core credits and 12 concentration credits in accounting, and most students can complete the program in three years. Business core classes cover topics such as advanced marketing, business ethics, and management information systems while accounting concentration classes cover corporate finance, international economics, international finance, and public budgeting. Students can expect solid faculty support during the program according to Columbia’s gainful employment information. Of those who graduated from the 2012-2013 program, 83 percent finished in the expected three years.

Accreditation
Distance Education and Training Council (DETC)

Contact
Columbia Southern University
21982 University Lane
Orange Beach, AL 36561
(800) 977-8449
[email protected] / chat available on website
Website
Tuition: $9,900 for all students

Troy University

Sorrell College of Business

Ranked number 80 on U.S. News and World Report’s list of the best regional schools in the south, Troy University enjoys a longstanding history as a teaching college originally founded in 1887. In 1957, the school expanded its focus to include many different subject areas and became a popular choice for military veterans thanks to the school’s cooperation with several local military bases. Troy University’s Sorrell College of Business strives to prepare students to become competent business leaders, and its Master of Accountancy or M.Acc. program upholds this mission by providing students with practical courses covering a broad range of topics.

Master of Accountancy (M.Acc.)

For those interested in affordable master’s programs in accounting, Troy University’s Sorrell College of Business offers a comprehensive Master of Accountancy program designed to help students gain a deeper understanding of relevant accounting topics while engaging them in coursework that prepares them for advanced careers or doctoral programs in accounting. Prior to enrollment, students need to demonstrate certain business competencies. For the M.Acc. program, students will undertake 30 semester hours divided into 21 hours of accounting coursework and nine hours of related electives. Students will meet with an adviser to select appropriate electives, and topics cover specific areas such as forensic accounting and fraud investigation, gift taxation, and advanced management. While students have the option to enroll in online courses, only four online classes may be counted toward the M.Acc. degree. In order to complete the program successfully, students need to maintain a 3.0 grade point average in all required classes.

Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

Contact
Troy University
Sorrell College of Business
151 Bibb Graves Hall
Troy, AL 36082
(334) 670-3989
[email protected]
Website
Tuition: $7,276 for in-state and $13,612 for out-of-state

The University of Alabama at Birmingham

Collat School of Business

In its relatively recent history of 45 years, the University of Alabama at Birmingham has evolved into a nationally ranked school that boasts a wide variety of academic and extracurricular achievements. The Collat School of Business ranks 39th for part-time M.B.A. programs in the nation, and the university as a whole continues to offer a variety of programs aimed at preparing students for the most relevant careers in the 21st century. Among these career programs is the Master of Accounting or M.Ac. program offered by the Collat School in which students gain access to hands-on instruction that enhances their technical accounting abilities.

Master of Accounting Program (M.Ac.)

The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Collat School of Business offers a comprehensive graduate program in accounting that is both affordable and convenient for working professionals. Students may complete the degree on campus, online or in a hybrid method that combines both approaches, and physical classes are offered during the evening to accommodate working students. The program requires 30 total credit hours covering a broad range of accounting subjects such as internal auditing, fraud examination and corporate governance. In addition, students may participate in internships throughout the program that help them gain real-world experience in the profession. For those who pursue an undergraduate accounting degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the school offers a fast-track program that allows proficient students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s simultaneously. At the graduate level, students pursuing an M.Ac. degree can choose to specialize their degree further by adding an Internal Auditing Concentration and completing the required coursework.

Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Contact
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Collat School of Business
BEC 303-A
1720 2nd Ave. S.
Birmingham, AL 35294-4460
(205) 934-8501
[email protected]
Website
Tuition: $7,206 for in-state and $16,398 for out-of-state

University of Mobile

School of Business

Founded in 1961 as a Baptist college, the University of Mobile enjoys a number 27 ranking on U.S. News and World Report’s 2014 list of the best regional schools in the south and offers more than 40 areas of study, a faculty-student ratio of 14:1 and ample funding for students who need financial assistance. The school continues to abide by its Baptist roots by developing challenging courses and programs that reflect the principles of Christian faith along with modern academic study. Students researching affordable graduate programs in accounting will appreciate the flexibility of the School of Business’s combined undergraduate and graduate program.

Accounting

The University of Mobile offers a joint five-year program that leads to an undergraduate degree in Accounting and a Master’s in Business Administration or M.B.A. degree. For students with limited exposure to the field of accounting or those who want to change careers, Mobile’s integrated program provides a good starting point in terms of technical application and instruction on theoretical concepts necessary for the field. Graduate courses cover topics like managerial accounting, social responsibility and managerial ethics, and global business while the accounting courses discuss topics such as not-for-profit accounting and federal taxation. Due to the combined nature of the program, students will complete all requirements for a bachelor’s degree along with courses at the graduate business level and nine hours of accounting courses at the graduate level for a total requirement of 152 credit hours. Additionally, students will complete both an oral and written exam in order to complete the program.

Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

Contact
University of Mobile
5735 College Parkway
Mobile, AL 36613
(251) 675-5990
Direct email available on website
Website
Tuition: $18,690 for all students

University of North Alabama

Accounting and Business Law

The University of North Alabama enjoys a rich history dating back to its founding in 1830 as well as modern distinction as the 80th best regional university in the south according to U.S. News and World Report. Housed under the school’s College of Business, the University of North Alabama’s Department of Accounting and Business Law encourages students to pursue a wide array of accounting professions by offering contemporary classes based on relevant business needs in today’s field. Students enjoy one-on-one assistance from experienced faculty as well as comprehensive coursework based on technical equipment and resources necessary for a position in the current business world.

MBA — Accounting Concentration

The University of North Alabama offers a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting in lieu of a master’s program that focuses directly on accounting in an effort to give students a broader educational base when it comes to modern accounting needs. The program covers upper level instruction as well as practical application. For students who hold a bachelor’s degree in accounting, the M.B.A. program enables graduates to sit for the CPA licensure exam as the program will complete the remaining hours needed to fulfill the 150-hour requirement in most states. The MBA — Accounting Concentration program requires 34 semester hours covering business and accounting coursework at the graduate level. Students have some flexibility in terms of course selection, but all students who pursue the graduate program must have completed a bachelor’s degree in accounting or equivalent prerequisite coursework in order to enroll in the necessary graduate courses.

Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

Contact
University of North Alabama
UNA Box 5013
Raburn 311, Keller Hall
Florence, AL 35632-0001
(256) 765-4245
[email protected]
Website
Tuition: $7,078 for in-state and $12,670 for out-of-state

University of South Alabama

Mitchell College of Business

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2013, the University of South Alabama boasts a large annual enrollment, a diverse range of programs and impressive economic statistics as well as a Tier 2 regional university designation by U.S. News and World Report. Throughout its growth, the university has remained committed to providing modern, affordable education particularly in the fields of healthcare, research, public service and teaching. Students looking to pursue graduate programs in accounting will find the school’s Master of Accounting program both informative and practical in its execution, and those who enroll here will gain access to a top-notch education focused on contemporary ideals.

Master of Accounting

The Master of Accounting program offered by the University of South Alabama’s Mitchell College of Business assumes that students who enroll will have successfully completed the nine competency courses in accounting that form a prerequisite. These courses include fundamental courses such as taxation, cost accounting, and advanced computer applications. Once these prerequisites have been met, students will need to complete at least a total of 30 hours at the graduate level divided into 18 credits of core classes and 12 credits of applicable electives chosen from a given list. Electives include topics like economic theory, managing people and organizations, and intermediate corporate finance while core classes cover relevant material necessary for completion of a CPA licensure exam. At the end of the program, students will be eligible to sit for the CPA exam in most states. Students should note that the Master of Accounting program only allows enrollment during the spring and fall.

Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Contact
University of South Alabama
Mitchell College of Business
5811 USA Drive South
Mobile, AL 36688
(251) 460-6412
[email protected]
Website
Tuition: $6,948 for in-state and $13,596 for out-of-state

Students who pursue accounting degrees in Alabama will enjoy many career opportunities particularly in the state’s capital of Montgomery, which is located just over two hours from major metropolis Atlanta, Georgia. Senior level accountants in Montgomery earn an average salary of $62,931 per year. With a solid investment in one of the great value accounting master degrees programs listed above, students should expect a solid return when it comes to employment in the state.