Online MBA With Accounting Specialization

With MBA@Syracuse, the online MBA program offered by Syracuse University’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management, students gain essential business skills while continuing to work and maintain their commitments. The online MBA program was ranked in the top 20 by The Princeton Review in 2020.¹

Why Specialize Your Master’s Degree in Accounting?

Syracuse’s online MBA Accounting specialization prepares students to advance their careers in accounting fields across a range of industries. Coursework explores current issues in accounting, preparing students with the foundation they need to evaluate, analyze and strategize operational decisions in corporate and small-business environments.

Alumni of the online MBA program have advanced in well-known financial and accounting organizations such as Ares Management, Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, KPMG and OppenheimerFunds.

Online Accounting Curriculum

All MBA students will take 36 credits of core courses, which include Financial Accounting and Managerial Accounting. To fulfill the Accounting specialization, students choose three of the following elective courses:

• Intermediate Financial Accounting I
• Intermediate Financial Accounting II
• Cost Analysis & Control
• Accounting Analytics
• Principles of Taxation
• Auditing Theory & Practice
• Advanced Financial Accounting
• Principles of Fraud Examination
• International Accounting & Reporting
• Financial Statement Analysis
• Advanced Topics in Auditing
• Taxes & Business Strategy

Students may choose up to five electives. The online MBA degree program with an Accounting specialization can be completed in as few as 24 months.

Accounting Learning Outcomes

After completing the Accounting specialization courses, students will gain:

• advanced knowledge of theory and practice within traditional topics such as taxation, financial reporting, auditing and cost accounting;
• opportunities to study in emerging fields such as forensic accounting and international accounting;
• an emphasis on the ability to analyze and think critically about business questions;
• training in the use of research databases; and
• a strong grounding in the ethical dimension of the profession.

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Ready to advance into leadership roles in your organization? Request information today to see how MBA@Syracuse can help you reach your career goals.

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Admissions

The Whitman School seeks motivated applicants who want to apply management and accounting skills to their careers and organizations. GMAT scores are not required to apply. See upcoming application deadlines.

"Everything you end up doing, as you work your way up management levels, is going to be impacted by accounting. Accounting is how you measure not only the performance of your division, but your performance and your people’s performance. Knowing how that works is pretty valuable."

Bill Walsh,

Retired Professor of Accounting Practice

Studying Accounting at Whitman

Accounting classes in the MBA@Syracuse program are offered through the Joseph I. Lubin School of Accounting. In online and on-campus programs, students explore how financial management affects today’s businesses. Expert faculty share their invaluable experiences developing and executing financial strategies for organizations.

MBA vs. Master’s in Accounting

In addition to the MBA program with an Accounting specialization, the Whitman School also offers a full online master’s degree program in accounting. The Master of Science in Professional Accounting is designed for students who want to become accountants and/or sit for the Certified Professional Accountant (CPA) exam.

The online MBA with an Accounting specialization provides a well-rounded education to future business leaders. With the additional accounting expertise, professionals gain a competitive edge that positions them for roles as managers, directors or executives.

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Featured Whitman Faculty

The expert faculty for the Whitman School of Management and Lubin School of Accounting bring their academic knowledge and practical experience into the classroom. Meet some of the faculty who teach courses for the Accounting specialization.

Joseph Comprix

Associate Professor of Accounting, Chair of the Lubin School of Accounting

Professor Comprix has worked as a staff accountant and accounting manager at Mead Corp., and he teaches financial accounting. Comprix was named the Whitman Graduate Faculty of the Year from 2011 to 2013. He has published in journals such as the Journal of Accounting and Economics and the Journal of the American Taxation Association.

Bill Walsh

Retired Professor of Accounting Practice

Professor Walsh is a CPA and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Walsh was the 2006–07 recipient of the Whitman School of Management’s Oberwager Prize, honoring faculty who influence students outside of the classroom. He teaches courses in accounting as well as entrepreneurship.

See what Professor Walsh has to say about the Accounting specialization.

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Online and In-Person Learning

With MBA@Syracuse, students gain leadership and management skills through live online classes, multimedia assignments and in-person learning. Students discuss accounting theories and applications in class after completing related interactive coursework at their own pace each week.

MBA students also attend three in-person residencies, where they apply their skills and network with classmates and faculty. These immersive, multiday events are held in major cities around the world.

Several past residencies have focused on accounting topics, such as a recent residency exploring accounting for small businesses.

Career Services

Syracuse’s Career Services team is dedicated to helping students develop the skills and credentials to reach their goals before and after graduation. Our team of experts provides career coaching, resume review and interview preparation to equip students with the tools to succeed.

“I’m a mother, owner of an accounting practice, controller of an insurance brokerage, real estate investor and landlord. Once I complete MBA@Syracuse, I hope to pass the New York State CPA exam and be able to further grow my accounting practice, armed with the credentials I need.”

Christine Bergold, MBA@Syracuse Graduate

Vice President of Finance and Accounting at Custom Computer Specialists
Formerly Controller at Halland Companies LLC

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Accounting Alumni Network

Alumni of the Whitman School of Management and Lubin School of Accounting live and work all over the world. The Whitman Accounting Alumni Council was established to nurture the expansive network of accounting alumni as well as other alumni practicing in the field.

The Accounting Alumni Council organizes various activities and resources to keep alumni in touch with one another as well as with Syracuse, including the following:

• Networking and social events, including happy hours and meetups at sporting events
• Presentations given to students by accounting alumni
• E-newsletters and an accounting alumni directory

Careers in Accounting and Related Fields

Graduates of an MBA program with a specialization in Accounting do not generally pursue careers as accountants, but rather as managers and leaders who help their organizations apply accounting best practices to achieve business success.

Below are some examples of positions these graduates may hold:

Take the Next Step

Ready to improve your accounting skills and make a difference for your organization? Request information about the online MBA with an Accounting specialization today.