MBA with an Accounting Concentration

Study at Keller on campus, online or a mix of both

We give you the flexibility to attend classes at any of our 95+ campus locations, take all of your graduate courses online or even do a combination of both.

Explore online learning

At Keller, we offer online graduate classes taught with the same focus on personal attention and academic rigor as classes taught on campus. And because courses are offered online, you can schedule working on your education around working on your career — not the other way around.

On campus and online

For those students who need the flexibility of studying online to balance work, school and life, but also want a classroom experience, we offer a mix of both on campus and online learning. Take some courses online and some at a location convenient for you, whichever best fits your schedule.

Tuition, fees and expenses^†
MBA with an Accounting Concentration¹

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Note: Tuition for Canadian residents enrolled in U.S.-based programs delivered online is charged in Canadian dollars at rates shown.
† Effective beginning July 2012.
1 Availability varies by location.
2 At average estimated per-course expense for textbooks and materials of $175; average estimated per-course expense does not apply to exam-prep courses, the per-credit-hour cost for which includes textbook and materials expense.
3 At current tuition rates and credit hours shown; includes $40 application fee ($30 for applicants at locations in Florida, Georgia and Tennessee), and average estimated textbook and materials expense.

Experience the real value of a graduate education

Not only will you be learning skills that could help you rise to the top of your field, you'll also be gaining a valuable credential that may affect your entire career. A graduate education could change your earning potential, ability to be promoted and more.

Financing options

There are many scholarships and other financial aid options available for qualifying students that may help make your graduate education more affordable. Click one of the links below for more info.

MBA in Accounting Graduation Requirements

Total program length varies based on the number of courses taken per 8-week session. That means that if you take 1 class per session, you could complete your degree program in as few as 32 months.

MBA in Accounting Coursework

Required program courses (30 credit hours)

We've designed the core program courses in our MBA to provide you with the fundamentals to make an impact in the business world. See MBA Required Program Courses for a list of required coursework.

Accounting concentration courses (12 credit hours)

The concentration coursework is designed to further focus your MBA curriculum to better prepare you for success in a specific field or industry. To add a concentration to your MBA degree program, you may choose courses totaling 12 credit hours from the following list:

Click on a course name below for its full description.

Accounting Ethics and Related Regulatory Issues (ACCT530) - 3 credit hours

This course examines core values such as ethical reasoning; integrity; objectivity and independence; and processes for ethical decision-making. Current state, national and international regulatory developments are addressed. Case studies and analyses focus on concepts of professional responsibility and values, legal requirements and codes of professional conduct related to the accounting profession. Prerequisite: ACCT505

Professional Research for Accountants (ACCT540) - 3 credit hours

This course examines professional research skills critical in the accounting profession. Students identify research problems and authoritative sources, develop search criteria, gather and evaluate data, and formulate conclusions using a real-world case study approach in the areas of financial accounting, tax and audit. Students prepare a written report of their research and findings, and present recommendations. Prerequisite: ACCT551

Intermediate Accounting I (ACCT550) - 3 credit hours

This course deals with financial accounting practice and theory, including generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP); the conceptual framework; accounting information systems, including financial statement reporting and disclosures; the time value of money; cash controls; and accounting and reporting for cash, receivables, inventories and long-term assets. Prerequisite: ACCT505

Intermediate Accounting II (ACCT551) - 3 credit hours

Intermediate Accounting II extends the coverage of ACCT550 to include investments; intangible assets; current and long-term liabilities; stockholders' equity; contributed capital and retained earnings; dilutive securities; and earnings per share. Prerequisite: ACCT550

Intermediate Accounting III (ACCT557) - 3 credit hours

Intermediate Accounting III extends the coverage of ACCT551 to include revenue recognition; accounting for income taxes; pensions and postretirement benefits; leases; changes and error analysis; statement of cash flows; and disclosure issues. Prerequisite: ACCT551

Cost Accounting (ACCT552) - 3 credit hours

Cost Accounting deals with measurement and control of business production activities and improvement of corporate profitability through cost management. Topics include job order and process cost systems; flexible budgets and standard costs; overhead applications; variance analysis; pricing decisions; and performance measurements and rewards. Topics are covered within the context of dramatic changes in production methods that will have a profound impact on the structure of cost measurement, control and management. Prerequisite: ACCT505

Federal Taxes and Management Decisions (ACCT553) - 3 credit hours

This course deals with the need to recognize important tax consequences of common business transactions and how substantially different tax liabilities can result from nearly identical economic events. The course emphasizes practical results rather than technical compliance requirements to achieve those results. Prerequisite: ACCT505

External Auditing (ACCT555) - 3 credit hours

External Auditing deals with accepted principles, practices and procedures used by public accountants for certification of financial statements. The major focus is on external audit services; auditor and management responsibilities; professional standards of external auditors; evidence and procedures used by external auditors; and audit reports. Prerequisite: ACCT551

Budgeting (ACCT556) - 3 credit hours

Budgeting addresses managers' need to understand the goals, technical procedures and effects of budgeting. The course provides a comprehensive and integrated approach to budgeting - from the details of preparing the many schedules that compose a master budget to fundamental managerial issues affected by the profit planning and control process. Prerequisite: ACCT505

Advanced Financial Accounting and Reporting Issues (ACCT559) - 3 credit hours

This course covers financial accounting practice and theory in relation to consolidations; foreign currency transactions and financial statement translations; and partnership accounting, including formation, maintenance, reorganizations and liquidations. Prerequisite: ACCT557

Advanced Studies in Federal Taxes and Management Decisions (ACCT560) - 3 credit hours

This course expands the foundation of tax topics for non-tax accounting and financial professionals. The course furthers the coverage, and examines the complexity, of corporate and partnership taxation, as well as introduces topics such as estates and gifts, fiduciary accounting, tax-exempt entities, and qualified and nonqualified plans. Prerequisite: ACCT553

Auditing: An Operational and Internal Perspective Including Fraud Examination (ACCT562) - 3 credit hours

This course examines why increased complexity in organizations requires management to establish means of monitoring control systems. Coursework examines the audit process using criteria and controls to evaluate causes and effects of - and conditions for - operational, performance and fraud audits. Emphasis is placed on standards, objectives, principles and procedures involved in reviewing the reliability and integrity of information; compliance with policies, plans, procedures, laws and regulations (including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002); means of safeguarding assets; appraising economical and efficient use of resources; and reviewing achievement of established objectives and goals (including accounting ethics) for operations and programs. Prerequisite: ACCT505

Advanced Managerial Accounting Issues (ACCT563) - 3 credit hours

This course focuses on analysis and problem-solving skills used in planning and controlling organizations. Managerial tools and concepts such as target and activity-based costing; activity-based management; strategy and management accounting; measuring and managing quality costs and capacity; and emerging managerial accounting issues are explored. Prerequisite: ACCT552

International Accounting and Multinational Enterprises (ACCT564) - 3 credit hours

Topics in this course are studied in the context of multinational enterprises and from a strategic perspective. Topics include accounting for foreign currency transactions, translation of foreign financial statements, transfer pricing, comparative accounting standards, taxation, and multinational systems and control. Prerequisite: ACCT505

Accounting Information Systems (ACCT571) - 3 credit hours

This course addresses computerized accounting information systems, focusing on reporting objectives, management needs, transaction trails, documentation, security, internal controls, and integration of accounting systems in software evaluation and selection. Systems analysis techniques are discussed. Coursework also prepares students interested in pursuing the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential. Prerequisite: ACCT504

Accounting Fraud Examination Concepts (ACCT572) - 3 credit hours

This course focuses on federal legislation related to fraud examinations (including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), including laws preserving rights of individuals suspected of committing fraud, laws governing civil and criminal prosecutions, admittance of evidence and testimony of expert witnesses. Coursework also continues preparing students interested in earning the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential. Topics include the U.S. Federal Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure, and the U.S. Federal Rules of Evidence. Prerequisite: ACCT504

Accounting Fraud Criminology and Ethics (ACCT573) - 3 credit hours

This course examines the nature of occupational fraud and how it is committed, and introduces actions to detect it and procedures to deter it. The course also covers how allegations of fraud should be investigated to meet requirements of civil and/or criminal court procedures. Coursework prepares students interested in earning the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential, examining tools and techniques for gathering evidence and information during fraud examinations. Prerequisite: ACCT504

Forensic Accounting: Ethics and the Legal Environment (ACCT574) - 3 credit hours

This course focuses on conducting fraud examinations, and includes discussion of procedures used in forensic accounting examinations and reasons behind using these procedures. In addition, coursework addresses how allegations of fraud should be investigated to meet requirements of civil and/or criminal court procedures. Also covered are detection, investigation and prevention of specific types of fraud. Coursework focuses on preparing students interested in earning the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential, examining criminology and ethics. Prerequisite: ACCT504

CPA Exam Preparation: Auditing and Attestation (ACCT591) - 2 credit hours

This course covers auditing procedures, auditing standards generally accepted in the United States (GAAS) and other standards related to attestation engagements. Also covered are skills needed to apply that knowledge in auditing and other attestation engagements. The auditing and attestation section of the CPA exam tests knowledge in the context of five broad engagement tasks. (The course is two semester-credit hours and is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.) Prerequisite: ACCT551 or equivalent

CPA Exam Preparation: Business Environment and Concepts (ACCT592) - 2 credit hours

This course prepares students to pass the business environment and concepts section of the CPA exam. Coursework focuses on business structure; economic concepts essential to understanding an entity's operation, business and industry; financial management; information technology; and planning and measurement. Students become familiar with underlying business reasons for - and accounting implications of - transactions, and gain skills needed to apply that knowledge in financial statement audit and attestation engagements as well as perform other functions affecting the public interest. (The course is two semester-credit hours and is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.) Prerequisite: ACCT551 or equivalent

CPA Exam Preparation: Financial Accounting and Reporting (ACCT593) - 3 credit hours

This course prepares students to pass the financial accounting and reporting section of the CPA exam. Coursework covers accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) that affect business enterprises, not-for-profit organizations and government entities. Also addressed are skills needed to apply such knowledge, as well as financial accounting concepts and standards. (The course is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.) Prerequisite: ACCT551 or equivalent

CPA Exam Preparation: Regulation (ACCT594) - 2 credit hours

This course prepares students to pass the regulation section of the CPA exam. Topics include federal taxation, ethics, professional and legal responsibilities, and business law, as well as skills needed to apply that knowledge. Topics address CPAs' professional and legal responsibilities, and legal implications of business transactions, particularly as they relate to accounting and auditing. Coursework focuses on federal and widely adopted uniform state laws, as well as principles of - and procedures for - federal income, estate and gift taxation. (The course is two credit hours and is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.) Prerequisite: ACCT551 or equivalent

*CPA Exam Preparation courses integrate Becker Professional Education's CPA Exam Review Methodology. As these courses factor in differently than other electives, you may need to take additional courses to fulfill your requirement. Six additional credit hours are required to meet the elective course requirement. You can choose a course in the Keller Academic Catalog for which you meet the prerequisite(s).

Elective courses (6 credit hours)

You can take your electives in a variety of career fields. Students may choose any electives for which they meet the prerequisites. Download the Academic Catalog and view "Course Offerings" for a complete list of courses that could satisfy your elective requirements.