Earn an Online Master of Accounting From a Leading University
Accounting is far more than crunching numbers. Successful leaders in this multifaceted, rapidly growing field build on their accounting knowledge to analyze, interpret and communicate what the numbers mean—and they’re an integral part of executive business decision-making.
Prepare for a career as a business authority in a high-demand position with William & Mary’s Online Master of Accounting (MAcc) program. Our expert faculty and specialized curriculum develop your abilities to identify and illuminate nuances in data and make leadership decisions. Whether your ambitions lie in public or corporate accounting, you can be prepared to sit for the CPA exam and advance your career in as few as 16 months.
More importantly, we teach you to think: to go beyond the test and become an expert accountant and leader in business. With our flexible, 100% online format, you can balance your professional responsibilities while earning a prestigious degree that employers respect nationwide.
Program Details
- Complete the degree in as few as 16 months
- 32 Credits*
- 8 Courses
- 7.5 Weeks per Course
- Optional weekend residency opportunities (non-credit-bearing)
- Three opportunities to start per year: August, January and May
- No GRE or GMAT scores required for admission
*Students without prior accounting coursework may need to complete up to 8 credits of prerequisite courses.
Why Choose William & Mary’s Online Master’s in Accounting?
William & Mary’s Online MAcc program delivers a prestigious “Public Ivy” education that sets graduates apart in today’s competitive job market. Our program offers more than just CPA preparation—it provides a comprehensive pathway to accounting leadership.
- Prestigious “Public Ivy” Degree: Earn a nationally respected degree that commands employer recognition
- CPA Exam Readiness: Be prepared for CPA exam topics with a curriculum designed to prepare you for certification
- Career-Focused Curriculum: Develop expertise in accounting analytics, financial strategy, and executive decision-making
- Industry-Connected Faculty: Learn from former Big Four partners and corporate finance leaders who bring real-world expertise to the classroom
- Flexible Entry for Career Changers: Fast-track prerequisite courses make it seamless to transition into accounting from other fields
- Direct Access to Top Employers: Connect with Big Four and other major accounting firm recruiters through our extensive professional network
- Accelerated Timeline: Complete your Online Master of Accounting in as few as 16 months while continuing your career
Online Master of Accounting Courses Overview
Prerequisites—3.5 Weeks Each
Fast Track: BUAD 509A: Financial Reporting (2 Credits)
Fast Track: BUAD 509B: Cost Management (2 Credits)
Fast Track: BUAD 509C: Individual Income Taxes – Rules and Planning (2 Credits)
Fast Track: BUAD 509D: Audit and Assurance (2 Credits)
Core Courses—7.5 Weeks Each
Wheel 1: Complete both courses, in either order, before you go on to Wheel 2.
BUAD 5709: Financial Reporting Standards and Analysis (4 Credits)
BUAD 5719: Accounting Analytics and Information Systems (4 Credits)
Wheel 2: Complete these in any order after you complete Wheel 1.
BUAD 5417: Advanced Corporate Finance (4 Credits)
BUAD 5729: Advanced Auditing and Audit Research (4 Credits)
BUAD 5739: Financial Statement Analysis and Valuation (4 Credits)
BUAD 5749: Driving Organizational Performance (4 Credits)
BUAD 5759: Advanced Federal Taxation (4 Credits)
BUAD 5779: Accounting for Complex Business Transactions (4 Credits)
The Best of Academia and the Professional World
Gain the advantage of learning from prominent industry professionals—colleagues of your deeply connected faculty, and William & Mary Accounting alumni on successful career paths who have risen to leadership positions in globally recognized firms. Their involvement in your coursework enriches the experience of the online MAcc program and adds powerful connections to your professional network.
Having completed the Online MAcc degree program, you might join our graduates at:
Expedite Your Preparation for the CPA Exam
A Master of Accounting degree is an important step on the path toward becoming a certified public accountant (CPA), and the CPA examination is the most well-known credential of competency in the accounting profession. To sit for the CPA exam, most states* require students to complete 150 hours of coursework—the equivalent of five years of school—in addition to specific accounting and business credits.
William & Mary’s specialized Online Master of Accounting program helps you progress toward fulfilling CPA coursework requirements. If you need additional coursework to complete your 150 hours, you may be eligible to take any of our online courses across programs, based on availability and instructor approval.
*Eligibility determined by individual state licensure requirements. To find the requirements of the state in which you hope to gain licensure, start at NASBA.org.
William & Mary makes every effort to ensure state licensure or certification is current. State requirements, however, may change. If you are planning to pursue professional licensure or certification in any state or territory, it is strongly recommended that you contact the appropriate licensing agency in that state or territory to seek information and guidance regarding licensure or certification requirements before beginning an academic program. Please see W&M’s Disclosure notice for more information. We also encourage all prospective students to review the information available on the NASBA website thoroughly. Students should work with an advisor to ensure they are completing appropriate coursework. They should also be aware of additional, non-educational requirements such as professional work experience.
Experience Residency Weekend
The residency curriculum is structured around three themes:
Collaboration
Content and exercises designed to capitalize on face-to-face opportunities
Culture
Experiences to more tightly bind students to the culture of William & Mary and the Raymond A. Mason School of Business
Connections
Social interactions designed to create relationships between students and faculty that endure beyond the end of the program
As a student earning your Master of Accounting online, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in non-credit-bearing Residency Weekend experiences on trending business and accounting topics outside the program. These professional development activities allow you to build a broad range of experiences and hone specific skills.
Residency Weekends are offered twice per academic year. Even if you don’t participate in this optional component, you’ll have access to recordings of the on-campus sessions.
Learn From Accounting Leaders and Industry Experts
Before they were world-class university educators, the top-ranked faculty of the William & Mary MAcc online program were working professionals who held leadership roles in audit and tax functions at Deloitte, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Widely published in leading academic and professional journals, these innovative experts lead William & Mary’s residential MAcc program. Their commitment to student success is evident through their accessibility, constant support and impeccably high standards.
Dr. Kimberly Smith was an Academic Fellow at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and conducts research for the International Accounting Standards Board. Her work has been published in The Accounting Review, The Journal of Business, the Journal of Management Accounting Research, Issues in Accounting Education, and Accounting, Organizations and Society. Her current research into the effects of off-balance sheet arrangements stems from her work as a principal co-author of the SEC’s 2005 Study on Arrangements with Off-Balance Implications, Special Purpose Entities and Transparency of Filings by Issuers.
Dr. Jamie Diaz joined our faculty after a successful tenure as a senior auditor for Deloitte, where she served clients across diverse industries including retail, construction, non-profit and business services. The recipient of William & Mary’s Page Award for graduate teaching, she leads the undergraduate and graduate courses in auditing and accounting analytics. Her research has been published in “Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory, Current Issues in Auditing, and Accounting and Finance.” She is also the co-author of “Called to Account: Financial Frauds that Shaped the Accounting Profession.”
More Than a Degree.
This Is Your Launchpad.
A William & Mary education is not just a degree but a unique connection to a tight-knit community of students, alumni, bold educators and driven, principled, connected leaders. Build your brand with a university known for breaking barriers, championing integrity and channeling academic grit since its inception.
The Raymond A. Mason School of Business imparts essential business knowledge and builds the dynamic mindset necessary to lead in today’s challenging and rapidly changing business environment. As an online graduate business student, you will:
✓ Graduate with the perspective to envision and enact positive
change
✓ Access mentorship and experiential learning opportunities
✓ Receive personalized career support
✓ Build a lasting network to bolster your career for years to
come
This will only take a moment.
More Information
Interested in Our Online Programs?
- Retrieved on May 5, 2025, from princetonreview.com/business-school-rankings?rankings=best-professors