WHAT ARE SOME PREREQUISITES FOR A MASTER'S DEGREE IN ACCOUNTING?

What are some prerequisites for a Master's in Accounting? This is a common question asked by students who are interested in getting a graduate degree in field, which often can lead to licensure as a Certified Public Accountant. Because graduate school is hard, it is best to know before you go into the application process what is required to ensure that you have a shot at winning a seat in the graduate program of your choice.

Resource: Top 20 Cheap Online Master's in Accounting Degree Programs

Accounting Courses

A masters program builds on the information you have learned at the undergraduate level, so to avoid having to take extra courses, try to take as many prerequisite courses in the field as possible. If you did not attend a school with an AACSB-accredited program in the subject, you might be missing a few key courses; these are undoubtedly offered as electives. The specific name of the course varies between schools, but courses that introduce you to the principles and fundamentals of the field, as well as advanced courses, are going to be necessary. Many graduate schools may not consider you if you haven't already taken them.

Business Courses

Becoming an accountant means working in the business sector, so there are prerequisite business courses needed for admission to grad school for this field. These are probably electives you can take at the undergraduate level, so if you haven't yet finished your degree, consider taking courses in economics, statistics, and commercial law as part of your degree plan. If you have finished your degree, or you got your degree in a non-business related field, consider taking these courses as a non-degree student or through massive online open courses; these can be taken for credit and are a great choice if you work full-time and can't go to school on a traditional schedule.

Undergraduate GPA

Graduate school is difficult and requires discipline on a student's part; many graduate candidates work full-time and expect to do so while studying, adding to their stress levels. Graduate school administrators want to make sure that you can handle the course load, so your undergraduate GPA matters. Don't worry if some of your classes bring your GPA down; as long as your courses in the field, as well as economics and business, have high GPAs, you will be fine during the application process.

Test Scores

Test scores, specifically the Graduate Management Admission Test, or GMAT, are important for your chance to get into a great business school. This test measures your verbal, writing, math, and reasoning skills and has been widely used by graduate schools to choose the most ambitious, articulate and hard working students for their programs. While some schools put a lot of weight on the test score, others don't; do your research to find out how much emphasis your chosen school puts on the GMAT. If you don't do well on tests like the GMAT, keep in mind that many schools are turning to a holistic approach when considering applications; this means they look at your application, essay, your scores, and your GPA in order to determine placement.

Applying for graduate school can be a stressful process for anyone, but what's important in the end is your motivation to achieve your goal of getting a masters in the field. With these answers to the question of what are some prerequisites for a Master's in Accounting degree, you are more prepared than ever to take on this task.