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MS in Accounting Transitions Track
About the Program
We’ve designed the MS in Accounting Transitions Track for students with non-accounting backgrounds who would like to enter this rapidly growing field. It's an affordable, flexible, world-class education that prepares students for new career possibilities.
Why Switch to a Career in Accounting?
The accounting field is booming. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that demand for accounting expertise will grow 10 percent from 2016 to 2026. Isenberg’s MS in Accounting, which is AACSB-accredited at both the school and program levels, is an efficient, flexible, and affordable path to a career in accounting.
The Isenberg MS in Accounting Transitions Track will provide you with skills and expertise to pursue a career in the field of accounting. You will gain knowledge in auditing, tax, financial valuation and explore ethical standards, and can choose from three focus areas of specialized knowledge in Forensic Accounting, Data Analytics and Taxation.
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A Path to an Accounting Career
Our Transitions Track – which requires between 33 and 45 credits – is designed for students with non-accounting backgrounds who would like to enter this rapidly growing field. The curriculum includes all core courses of the MS in Accounting, along with foundational accounting courses that get students up to speed for more advanced concepts.
Fulfill your elective credit requirements with focus areas in forensic accounting, data analytics, or taxation, and add the specialized skills and knowledge demanded by firms today.
Flexible and Accessible
We built this program for maximum flexibility. All of the accounting foundation courses are offered online only. Students can then choose to take their remaining classes online, or take some classes on the UMass Amherst campus.
Our online offerings allow you to take classes from any place at any time, completing your assignments at a time that works for you. Depending on work and family obligations, students can complete the program in as little as 1.5 years.
Fast Track to Career Success
The quality of our department is reflected in the excellent record of student placement, the success of our graduates, and the strong support of our alumni. We are a primary recruiting school for the most distinguished employers in public accounting, including the Big 4 public accounting firms and many outstanding regional and local firms.
Isenberg's Office of Career Success offers the career and professional development support you need for an accounting career. Work with a dedicated career coach and visit the IConnect portal for job postings, career events, and a suite of resources
$68,000
MS in Accounting Graduate Average Starting Salary
10,000+
Accounting Alumni Network
#1
Best Graduate Accounting Program in New England (Public Accounting Report, 2018 & 2019)
4+1 Master's Degrees
4+1 Master's Degrees
Undergraduate students at UMass Amherst and other colleges in the Five College Consortium can pursue a 4+1 option, completing their undergraduate degree and their master's degree in 5 years. Isenberg's Master of Finance, Master of Science in Accounting, and Master of Science in Business Analytics all offer this option.
For UMass Amherst students, the 4+1 option can also be accelerated, allowing students to complete both their undergraduate and master's degrees in fewer than 5 years.
Interested students should apply to a master's degree program in their junior year or early in their senior year.
There are so many different directions you can take with accounting. I didn't expect my prior skillset to carry over so much to accounting but I'm finding it useful. Despite accounting being about the numbers, you still need to have customer service skills, persuasive abilities, and above all else time management.
Karyn Boutin '19
The Transitions program set me up to succeed in the more evenly paced MS program. It was a balancing act, because the career services piece involved lots of networking, job interviews, and presentations by public accounting firms.
Sylvia Wu '18
I entered the MSA program by completing the Accounting Transitions Program, which I did relatively recently. I am most excited to learn as much as I can and hopefully find a career path in which I can apply myself mathematically and analytically.
Martin Wiedershein '20
AACSB Accounting Accreditation
AACSB Accounting Accreditation
AACSB represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide. Isenberg is part of the one percent of the worlds' 13,000 business programs that have earned this recognition. AACSB-accredited schools produce highlight skilled graduates valued by employers over graduates from non-accredited schools. Isenberg is proud to have this distinction.
Accolades
Online MS in Accounting
#6 Overall
#6 Overall
U.S. News & World Report, 2024
MS in Accounting
#3 Overall
#3 Overall
Fortune Education, 2023
Callout Blocks
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)
UMass Amherst accepts students from all 50 states into online programs and classes. The University of Massachusetts Amherst operates distance education classes and programs for out-of-state students under the terms and provisions of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). California does not participate in the Agreement but allows all public institutions to offer distance education to its residents.
Revolutionary Flexibility
Revolutionary Flexibility
This Isenberg program participates in the UMass Flex initiative, providing students with flexible access to courses offered at UMass Amherst.
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Take the first step.
Fill out the form to start the conversation and one of our program specialists will follow up with you directly. You'll also receive a link to download our MS in Accounting brochure and program information emails.
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Apply Now
Apply Now
Follow our step-by-step process to complete your online application.
- Review the program specific admissions requirements.
- Click Apply Now to go to the University's Graduate School site where you can find a link to the secure online application.
- First-time users will need to create an account to start a new application. Note: You can submit your application before you have all your materials ready, simply save and resume your application as you gather required materials.
- After submitting, track your application at the Graduate School Status of Application page.