Frequently Asked Questions

What Kind of Program Is It?

Walden University's M.S. in Accounting program with a specialization in Accounting for the Professional provides you with the opportunity to develop leadership skills necessary to manage financial risk, compliance, auditing, and other areas of accounting. Courses in the specialization address techniques and methods used for understanding and overseeing risk management, corporate governance, accounting policy development, fraud detection, and international taxation and foreign exchange issues. The core program covers accounting ethics, trends, legalities, communication tools, and decision-making processes.

What Are the Prerequisites?

Before enrolling in the M.S. in Accounting program with a specialization in Accounting for the Professional, you should have experience in the corporate finance, tax, or auditing department of nearly any type of organization. Candidates should have a bachelor's degree. Applicants may need to complete additional requirements for some programs.

What Are the Program Requirements?

Degree program curriculum and credits are subject to change, and you should contact Walden University for the most current information before enrolling in a program. To earn Walden University's M.S. in Accounting with a specialization in Accounting for the Professional, you must complete a total of 30 semester credits. This credit total is split evenly between core and specialization courses.

Required Courses

• Effective Communication for the Accountant
• Legal and Ethical Issues in Accounting
• Financial Management Tools for Decision Making
• Managerial Accounting for Organizational Performance
• Current Trends in Accounting Standards
• Managing Operational and Financial Business Risks
• Managing Regulatory Compliance
• Accounting Theory and Application
• Forensics and Advanced Auditing Topics
• International Perspectives in Accounting

What Could I Do After I Graduate?

Career Opportunities

As a graduate of Walden University's M.S. in Accounting program with a specialization in Accounting for the Professional, you could seek to assume greater responsibilities in your current position or pursue advanced opportunities in a new environment. Your duties could include regulatory management, auditing, or international accounting. Positions you could pursue include:

• Audit manager
• International trade accountant
• Management accountant
• Tax compliance specialist

Most states require individuals to complete 150 semester hours in certain subject areas in order to be eligible to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam and/or obtain a CPA license. Walden's B.S. in Accounting can help graduates progress toward meeting those requirements by offering 120 credit hours that include upper level courses in topics such as financial accounting, auditing, taxation, and management accounting.

In each state, there are specific policies that must be followed when an individual is seeking to become a licensed accountant. Some states will not allow individuals who complete the Walden accounting programs to sit for the CPA licensing exams due to state-specific issues such as professional accreditation or face to face instruction. For information on the educational requirements for your state, refer to the state's Board of Accountancy or related agency.

Walden enrollment advisors can provide guidance about accountant licensure, however, it remains the responsibility of the individual enrolling in the program to read, understand, and comply with the licensure requirements in the state they wish to practice. Walden University can make no representation, warranty, guarantee, or commitment that successful completion of a Walden program, or coursework for credit within a program, will make a graduate eligible to sit for a licensure exam or to obtain state licensure.