MSA Professional Frequently Asked Questions

Our MSA Program - Professional track is designed for students who have completed their undergraduate degree in accounting. If you do not have an undergraduate accounting degree but you believe you have taken the necessary accounting coursework to be eligible for the professional track, please contact [email protected] to discuss your eligibility.

Residency is not a part of the requirement as the MSA can be completed 100% online and can be done from anywhere in the world.

No, the MSA program does not require any work experience for its incoming students. Upcoming and recent graduates are encouraged to apply.

Fall Start

Priority: June 1

Final: July 15

Spring Start

Priority: October 1

Final: November 15

Summer Start

Priority: February 1

Final: March 15

Yes - you may be able to take up to 6 credits as a non-degree student (try-a-class option); however, certain prerequisites may apply so please reach out to us before registering. Find more details here.

Once you access the online application, under the “Program” tab in the “Program Selection” section, please choose “Accounting" and select the "Accounting – Professional Program (M.S. Acctg)” under “Intended Degree(s)”. 

All applicants will receive an acknowledgement letter via email from the Graduate Admissions Office which includes a link to log into the Admissions Portal. This will enable you to keep track of application materials that have been received. Additionally, the Isenberg Graduate Programs Office will be in touch about any incomplete materials and next steps.

Acceptance decisions are posted in SLATE with instructions to confirm acceptance and an electronic acceptance letter will be posted by the UMass Graduate School. The Associate Dean and your academic advisor will email you with additional information to get started.

Accepted students can defer their acceptance once, for up to one year. Contact your academic advisor to discuss further.

Graduate School application and $85 application fee (waived for military and current UMass Amherst undergraduates)

Personal statement

Resume/CV 

Official transcripts of all universities/colleges attended

Two letters of recommendation

GMAT/GRE score (only required at the request of the Program Director)

TOEFL/IELTS score (for international applicants only)

A personal statement should be one to two pages in length, and include information about your past and current academic and professional history, your future goals and reasons for pursuing the MS in Accounting, and other pertinent details that will help us evaluate you as a candidate.

Please submit your transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, undergraduate and graduate, where nine (9) or more credits were earned. Unofficial transcripts uploaded to the Additional Materials page of your application are acceptable. Upon admittance, official transcripts will need to be submitted, either electronically or in paper format, directly by each institution's Registrar to the Graduate Student Service Center. Review After You Apply for instructions on submitting official transcripts.

*Current UMass Amherst undergraduate students do not need to supply official transcripts. The Graduate School will post your official transcript to your application materials.

If your current transcript has all of the courses and grades (GPA-based) from the previous institutions included, you are not required to submit the transcripts. We highly encourage you to double-check with the University Registrar office. Otherwise, you are required to submit transcripts from all previous institutions where 9 credits or more were earned. 

Recommendations should be requested from individuals who know you on a professional level and well enough to provide specific examples and details regarding your past performance and competencies. If you are a current or recent undergraduate student, two academic references are acceptable. If you have a few years or more of work experience, at least one professional reference is preferred. 

GMAT/GRE scores are only required at the request of the Program Director. If you have a score that you would like to submit, we will include it in our overall review of your application. A solid GMAT/GRE score enhances any application. Instances where the Program Director will ask for a score are when an applicant has both below a 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA and completed their bachelor’s degree within only one to two years of applying.

School Code: Isenberg-UMass Amherst - 3917

The MSA Professional track requires a total of 30 credits for graduation; six required core classes and four elective classes. 

Yes, you can choose elective courses that will help you get ahead in a particular area of accounting. An academic advisor can assist you in developing a tailored concentration which would strengthen your skill set in areas of your choice. Nine elective credits establish a focus area.

Focus areas are available in: Data Analytics, Forensics, and Taxation.

No, students do not need to choose a focus area to complete their degree.

We follow a typical semester system – fall and spring semesters are 14 weeks, summer semester is 10 weeks (no classes offered during August), and the winter session is typically 5 weeks. Some courses (based on credit hour) may vary from the traditional semester structure.

All MSA classes are 100% online. Online classes are conducted through Canvas, utilizing an asynchronous presentation style including recorded lectures, discussion groups, readings, and exams/papers. (Please note that each class varies, and the presentation methods/materials are at the discretion of the professor). 

The MSA program does not allow for Pass/Fail and SAT/UNSAT grading.

Yes, you can. The four core certificate courses (12 credits) will transfer directly into the MSA program. Taking the certificate before the MSA program does not guarantee admission to the MSA program. There are separate application processes for each program. Taking the certificate program before the MSA is not required.

We strongly recommend that students complete the MS in Accounting Professional Track program within three years, and many students complete the program in as little as two semesters. Due to the ever-changing evolution in business education, MS in Accounting courses which were taken more than six years ago cannot be counted toward your degree and will need to be retaken. 

Yes, we are accredited by AACSB, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. We have the distinction of having earned separate AACSB accreditation for our accounting department and programs – only 1% of business schools in the world have this distinction.

No, the MSA program is not STEM certified.

If you are interested in taking the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam, required courses vary by state. For specific CPA requirements by state, please visit the "Exams" section of the NASBA website.

Incoming students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the basics of Excel.   Additionally, students should regularly check their UMass email for notifications and updates about the program. 

Undergraduate accounting students at Isenberg can pursue a 4+1 option, completing their undergraduate degree and the MSA degree in 5 years or less. Undergraduate students apply to the MSA program in their junior year or early in their senior year and can then take up to 12 credits of MSA coursework during their senior year. See the 4+1 page for more information. 

Yes. Prior to the beginning of classes, join our Career Planning Kickoff to help you develop a plan for career and professional development. During Orientation and Bootcamp, you will be introduced to our many career resources and will be given a chance to do some initial goal setting and learn more about the career options available upon earning your MSA. 

No, the MS in Accounting program does not qualify for an F1 visa.

Yes, we offer many events including networking events, discussion panels, as well as social gatherings. If you’re in the area, we welcome you to attend our events. Events may be offered both virtually and in-person. 

Isenberg Resources:

• IConnect  (tools, tips, tricks, recruitment, events, connections, etc.)
• Isenberg Alumni LinkedIn Group (Join at student level)
• A dedicated Career Coach is available for MSA students to schedule individualized sessions throughout the course of the program. 

UMass Resources:

• Connect UMass
• UMass Handshake (UMass Amherst wide resource to connect with recruiters and view job openings)
• UMass Alumni Association (Students can request an Alumni ID using first time registration access as an accepted student)

Yes! Isenberg student organizations provide many opportunities for students to tailor their experience. Student organizations open the doors to relationships, leadership development, and professional growth. Isenberg organizations include the Graduate Business Association, Business Analytics Club, and Women in Business. You can learn more about these organizations here. 

Isenberg grads have secured roles including Chief Financial Officer, Tax Accountant, Audit Associate, Forensic Accountant, and Financial Analyst. Recent grads have been hired by top firms including PwC, Ernst & Young, RSM, and CohnReznick, with an average starting salary of $86,692 per year. 

Up to two classes (6 credits) of coursework from another institution may be eligible for transfer if the courses: 

1. are graduate level courses with a grade of B or better; 

2. have not been applied toward the completion of another degree; and 

3. were taken within three years of admission to the Isenberg MSA.  

Courses and their respective credits that transfer will reduce the number of credits required to complete your Isenberg MSA degree.  

In order for courses to be considered for transfers, please send us your transcript as well as a description and syllabus for each course. Please be specific about which Isenberg course you are requesting to have reviewed. We prefer to receive these requests via email to [email protected]. 

The Graduate Programs Office will contact you to let you know which course(s) has been approved for transfer or waiver.

Yes, the performance in your non-degree courses will be reviewed as part of your admissions process. Overall successful completion of non-degree courses does not guarantee admission into the program. 

Yes, 6 credits of non-degree courses are eligible for transfer into the MSA program. A grade of “B” or better is required for transfer.

Individuals interested in taking non-degree courses must first complete the non-degree student enrollment application. Please follow this link for the instructions.

To register for courses as a non-degree student, you must make an enrollment appointment. Please follow this link for the instructions. Once you have an enrollment appointment, please reach out to [email protected] for assistance. 

Non-degree registration typically opens two weeks after registration opens for our matriculated students. Please contact a staff member for recommendations on course availability: [email protected]

Please refer to the Academic Calendar to see the last day of registration, as well as the first and last day of classes of each semester. 

You need to activate your Student IT Account to get access to SPIRE, UMass Email, and Online library resources. On the SPIRE Logon page, click Activate Your Account under IT Accounts.  You will need your NetID and temporary password sent to you via email or regular mail.

All students can use the Browse Courses tool to review Isenberg course offerings. To register, login to SPIRE and click on Main Menu > Enrollment > Add Classes. Online courses will be designated as “UWW”.

To access your online class for the first time, use your UMass login credentials to sign-in to Canvas.

Yes! The University uses an Online Learning Management System called Canvas. Canvas courses are available a week prior. This is a great opportunity to introduce yourself and start to learn the navigation before having to learn the course content.

You can find out what course materials will be required by looking at the course notes and/or course syllabus all available in SPIRE.

If you are unable to take a class in a fall or spring semester, register for continuous enrollment. Contact your advisor for more details.

If you do not enroll in a minimum of one course in the spring and fall semesters by the add/drop deadline OR do not apply for continuous enrollment, you will be withdrawn from the University for “failure to enroll.” Should this happen and you wish to be readmitted, you must contact the Graduate Programs Office, pay the program fees and a readmit fee. Readmission is not guaranteed.

All students can use the Browse Courses tool to review Isenberg course offerings. To register, login to SPIRE and click on Main Menu > Enrollment > Add Classes. Courses will be designated as “Univ +” and online course meetings will be listed as “online”. 

Congratulations on reaching your goal of completing your degree! If you are enrolling in your last class this semester, you must complete the Degree Eligibility Form in Spire.

Note: An overall 3.0 GPA (B) must be maintained in order to graduate.

No, only the Graduate School can edit the date shown in SPIRE for your expected graduation date. The date that shows is set using the 4-year statute of limitations allowed to complete your degree. Once the Graduate School receives your complete and signed degree eligibility form, they will confirm that your information is accurate and that you meet the minimum GPA requirement. When they complete this review, they will change your expected graduation date. Please understand that it may take several weeks for the review to be completed from the time you submit your form to your advisor.

Official Transcripts will not be available right after you complete your coursework. You will know that your transcript is finalized when you see “Degree Conferred” at the end of your transcript. If you completed a focus, you will see it with the Degree Conferred. 

Your confer date will be posted to your transcript in the weeks following your semester's confer date. Confer dates for each semester are February for fall and winter graduates, May for spring graduates, and September for summer graduates. 

The diploma will not reveal your focus area, but the transcript will.

Diplomas will be mailed two to three months after your degree has been conferred, to the Diploma Address listed on SPIRE at the time of mailing.

Yes, students in the top 10% are inducted into Phi Kappa Phi.

YES! All eligible MSA students can participate in graduation ceremonies and receptions. You are eligible to participate in graduation ceremonies and receptions if you complete your MSA credits by May of the same year as graduation. 

Your UMass email is viable up to six months after graduation. You will always have access to your SPIRE account. You’ll be able to request your official transcripts online and/or change your contact information. 

Yes, tuition is the same for online courses regardless of state or even country residency. To find current tuition rates, please go here.

You will be billed directly by the University Bursar's Office. Billing information will be sent to your UMass email account. Paper bills will not be generated. The bill can be viewed within SPIRE and paid directly online, or it can be downloaded and mailed with a check. If your employer is paying for your tuition, you may also use Agency or Corporate Billing. Bills are generally posted on the 15th of the month. Any questions related to your bill should be directed to the Bursar’s Office.

No, we do not require any deposit payment for the MSA.

MSA students may be eligible for student loans. Please refer to the Financial Aid page for more information regarding eligibility and policies.

For specific partnership benefits, please reference your individual educational partnership page.

You will need to complete and sign the Extended Payment Plan agreement found here.

Full-time Massachusetts state employees, their spouses and unmarried dependent children (through age 25) who meet eligibility and admission requirements will receive a 50% reduction of class fees for online courses. For more information, visit this site.