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Future-proof your career

Gain skills beyond the numbers

Acquire the foundational financial training and critical thinking skills that make certified public accountants (CPAs) highly valued professionals at public and private organizations around the world. Learn how to bring an accountant’s perspective to issues that are priorities in today’s boardrooms, including professional ethics, diversity, and sustainable business practices. Prepare for the CPA exam, which 71.4 percent of our graduates recently passed, ranking Clark’s program among the top in Massachusetts.

Secure your future with in-demand expertise

Big data, machine learning, and other technological advances are dramatically transforming the accounting profession, and your Clark degree prepares you for the exciting opportunities available. Our curriculum is constantly evolving to reflect changes to industry standards and the CPA exam. Our graduates have gained employment at a wide range of companies and organizations across industry sectors worldwide.

This program is STEM-designated for students beginning study in Fall of 2023. International students who graduate with a STEM degree today may be eligible to remain in the U.S. for up to 36 months on Optional Practical Training (OPT).*

Earn a highly respected degree

Clark University has been a prestigious pathway for advanced-degree students since its founding in 1887 as the first all-graduate institution in the United States. Scholar-practitioner faculty members bring real-world insights to their classroom teaching, and our students have secured excellent internships and jobs. Be a blue-chip candidate upon graduation.

A lifetime credential that sets you apart

  • Earn your master’s degree in accounting from a globally ranked and accredited university – Clark has been named a Princeton Review Best Business School, achieved repeated recognition from U.S. News & World Report, and is among the elite 5 percent of business schools to receive AACSB accreditation.
  • Qualify to sit for the CPA exam with a high likelihood for success – our graduates achieved a 71.4 percent pass rate in 2019, ranking Clark’s program among the top in Massachusetts.
  • Join a close-knit learning community representing 90-plus countries and 150 nonprofit and business partners around the world.
  • Learn in a highly collaborative academic environment with talented peers from all over the world and scholar-practitioners who share their deep professional experience with you.
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Bringing American accounting principles home to China

Helen Wang, pursuing her M.S. in accounting in the School of Business, came to Clark University because of its prestigious reputation in Beijing. She has learned how to apply accounting best practices learned in the U.S. to help companies in China.

Most international companies know Clark, and they want to have people who know the American accounting standard well to help the company. Clark offered me lots of opportunities, and that’s very unique.
—Helen Wang

The Essentials

Program Overview

Clark’s M.S. in Accounting program is designed to prepare you for success. Your coursework begins with core accounting courses to learn foundational financial skills. From this foundation, you can choose more advanced courses to enhance your capabilities. Classes emphasize putting skills into practice through in-depth case studies and group projects based on real accounting scenarios.

You have the flexibility to complete your degree at your own pace — either as a full-time or part-time student, beginning in the Fall. You can earn your degree within one year if you meet certain requirements.

  • Tax strategies
  • Legal aspects of accounting
  • Cost-volume-profit analysis
  • Collaboration and communication skills
  • Management Accounting
  • Financial and Operational Auditing
  • Accounting Information Systems
  • Federal Taxation

Requirements

12 course units

  • 2 foundation courses*
  • 8 core courses
  • 2 electives

*Foundation courses are waived for students with previous accounting coursework.

Course Catalog

Relevant. Challenging. Transformative.

Faculty Research Areas

Inshik Seol

Inshik Seol

Associate Professor

Judgment and Decision Making

Professor Seol’s research interests include judgment & decision making, corporate social responsibility, environmental accounting, management accounting, & accounting education.
Zhihong Wang

Zhihong Wang

Associate Professor

Apply big data in accounting research

Dr. Wang’s research utilizes machine learning technology to analyze unstructured accounting big data and generated great impact in accounting and business research.
Da "Will" Wu

Da "Will" Wu

Assistant Professor

Factors affecting audit quality and outcome

Professor Wu studies the effects of audit market competition and audit regulations on audit quality, and the impact of executive compensation on financial reporting and audit outcomes.

Explore what the School of Business has to offer.

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