accountancy - master's and certificate

program overview
admissions requirements
courses
tuition & aid

successfully pass the cpa exam and earn your licensure

there has never been a better time to pursue an accounting career, with demand for accounting professionals exceeding candidates. we know graduate business education is costly, so a lipscomb master of accounting comes with several special opportunities to provide more value.

this uniquely-designed macc program curriculum equips you to work in the professional world and pass the licensure exam. our first-time exam pass rate exceeds the national average. aacsb

get hands-on experience with a full-time internship at the height of tax season. score more than 600 on the gmat, and you could receive a significant scholarship. score 700 or higher on the gmat and qualify a full-tuition scholarship. after graduation, you'll join your peers — who all got the work they were looking for.

just need a few more hours for cpa eligibility? our graduate certificate of accountancy for professionals (gcap) is for professionals like you. if you're in need of 12 accounting hours or less, you'll be eligible for your licensure after receiving this certificate. complete an academic course for a corresponding part of the cpa exam, and you'll be on your way.

accounting boot camp

do you need the prerequisites for a master of accountancy program? or are you interested in pivoting from your current career to the field of accounting? lipscomb’s accounting boot camp can get you where you want to go!

accounting boot camp is a rigorous, accelerated program that will prepare you with the basic accounting skills necessary to begin our master of accountancy program. boot camp is fast-paced! beginning in may and available online you’ll quickly get the knowledge you need to move forward in your career.

learn more about accounting boot camp

master of accountancy program outcomes

the master of accountancy degree program is designed to provide all knowledge and skills necessary to sit and pass the cpa exam. coursework ensures students gain the ability to practice accounting from the beginning of their careers. whatever pathway you choose, students are instilled with the qualifications and confidence to become an expert in the field.

required core competencies

executives-in-residence

why earn your master of accountancy degree at 世界杯2022预选赛录像回放 ?

cpas are in high-demand, but individuals need an advantage in experience to stand out among other candidates in the field. our macc program provides multiple opportunities for students to gain experiences and skills that set them apart.

students have access to mentorship through our executives and partner in-residence program, which cannot be overstated in importance for networking and learning directly from real-world professionals. they are even guaranteed a busy season internship at the height of tax season for hands-on training and receive a global perspective through an international taxation course.

lipscomb continues to maintain its reputation for educating well-qualified accountants, and access to a vast network of successful and engaged alums in a variety of industries in nashville. everything we do is for the good of our students' futures.

admissions requirements

prerequisites

applicants for the macc program should have an undergraduate gpa of 3.00 or higher. the gmat is optional for applicants who completed their bachelor's degree at an aacsb-accredited institution. an internship or other relevant employment in the field is strongly encouraged. a gmat waiver option is available for applicants with an undergraduate gpa of 3.2 or higher. applicants who are granted the gmat waiver, in turn, waive consideration for the macc scholarships based upon gmat scores. (try our sample gmat.)

macc candidates can satisfy the undergraduate prerequisite requirements in one of two ways.

first method: complete 18 hours in accounting

students must complete the following courses:

financial accounting (principles of accounting 1)
intermediate accounting 1 and 2
federal income taxation (individual tax)
principles of auditing

second method: students can complete lipscomb's accounting bootcamp course (macc 501v) to satisfy all undergraduate prerequisites.

learn more about accounting bootcamp

application requirements

resume
personal statement
references
gmat (optional)
official transcripts
interview

all students, particularly those without an undergraduate degree in business, should remember that many states, including tennessee, require students to have earned a specified number of hours in business to sit for the cpa exam. additional hours in business or accounting courses may be recommended to comply with such requirements.

applicants who completed their undergraduate degree from an institution outside the united states must submit a course by course evaluation of their transcript from world education services (wes). information about this process may be obtained on the wes website at www.wes.org.

international students should be proficient in written and oral english. a toefl, ielts, or duolingo score, credit earned in english language courses, letters from employers or instructors, or a personal interview may be presented to demonstrate proficiency.

there is no gmat waiver option for applicants who completed their undergraduate degree outside the us.

priority scholarship application deadline for fall is february 15.

courses

students pursuing a master of accountancy will embrace a rigorous curriculum designed to achieve a first-time pass for the cpa exam. click below to view the courses required for this degree:

master of accountancy courses

professional accountancy graduate certificate

for those who do not require a full master's degree, the 12-hour certificate program provides the additional hours needed to sit for the cpa exam. certificate students can shift to the macc or mba program, but must notify the graduate business office of their intent to change programs and submit the appropriate paperwork. a minimum 3.00 gpa is required to shift programs, with the same admission requirements as the macc program.

students take the following courses, which align with each section of the cpa exam to complete the graduate certificate:

professional accountancy graduate certificate courses

tuition & aid

tuition for the master of accountancy program is $1,250 per semester hour or $37,500 for 30 hours.

tuition for the graduate certificate of professional accountancy is $1,250 per semester hour or $15,000 for 12 hours.

$68 application fee and $200 graduation fee
program fee
international trip fee

types of aid

scholarships

student loans

as a graduate student, you are still able to file the fafsa—and you should! by filing the fafsa (free application for federal student aid), you may be eligible for a number of student loans.

federal stafford loan

a borrower must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment for at least six semester hours and must be working toward a degree or certificate. loans must be actively accepted in mylipscomb in order to be applied as an expected payment to the student bill. stafford loans will not pay until the student has completed both entrance counseling and the master promissory note at studentloans.gov. loans will not be credited to accounts until 30 days after classes begin or when a student begins the sixth credit hour, whichever comes last.

graduate plus loan

the graduate plus loan is available to independent graduate students. both loans require credit approval by the department of education, as well as a fafsa submission. apply.

private loans

in addition to the federal loans outlined here, you may consider private loans made by banks and other financial institutions. it is recommended that private loans only be considered in instances where funding is needed in addition to any federal loans, as interest rates may be higher. eligibility for these loans requires a credit check and students are often required to have a cosigner to qualify.

veteran aid/yellow ribbon program

through an agreement with the united states department of veteran affairs, 世界杯2022预选赛录像回放 will guarantee some level of graduate tuition funding, applicable to all 世界杯2022预选赛录像回放 graduate programs, for graduate students who qualify for the yellow ribbon program. depending on program tuition rates, the graduate tuition funding may or may not cover the total tuition cost of the program.

the yellow ribbon education enhancement program (yellow ribbon program) is a provision of the post- 9/11 veterans educational assistance act of 2008. this program allows institutions of higher learning in the united states to voluntarily enter into an agreement with va to fund tuition expenses. view eligibility requirements.

any questions concerning eligibility or benefits should be directed to the va school-certifying official located in the lower level of bennett campus center, suite 140, or visit their website.

contact information

graduate and adult admissions, admin

colleen curlee
assistant director graduate enrollment
(615) 966-5193
colleen.curlee@lipscomb.edu

graduate and adult admissions, admin

karen risley
senior director of graduate enrollment
(615) 966-5145
karen.risley@lipscomb.edu

year to complete

cpa exam preparation

prepare for the cpa exam through built-in studying and learning opportunities within the master's and certificate program options. pass the cpa exam the first time and be ready to advance your career with a licensure in accountancy.

tax season internship

get hands-on experience with a full-time internship at the height of tax season. score more than 600 on the gmat, and you could receive a significant scholarship. after graduation, you'll join your peers — who all got the work they were looking for.

networking

both our deeply connected faculty and our experiential learning opportunities offer myriad ways for you to form relationships with leaders in the industry. these connections will serve and support you throughout your career.

nashville, tn

a big city. an even bigger opportunity. we consider nashville, tennessee, an extension of our classroom, and as a leading city in many industries, that means you’ll gain experience and insight you won’t find anywhere else.

alumni and student stories

aneela rajaram - graduate certificate of accountancy ('17)

“i was amazed by the level of personalization. i had an appointment, a dedicated counselor and someone to accompany me to each of the offices i needed to get ready for my first day of classes. during my time at lipscomb, the shared service [i worked for] was restructured, and i was serving as manager of internal control. when i completed my studies at lipscomb, i was promoted to senior manager of that group."

deanie pedigo chaudoin - macc ('21)

“during my graduate studies, i learned how to ask thoughtful questions, how to be disciplined in my goals, and how to network with other professionals. my graduate education pushed me to pass my cpa before starting my first job. during my time in the macc program, i gained relationships with my professors that i cherish. they became mentors, advocates, cheerleaders, and counselors. ”

nathan morgan - macc ('20)

“the program prepared me to be more outspoken in the work environment. i work in audit, and i am coordinating and speaking with clients and other team members at many moments of every work day. the programs at lipscomb helped me to not only be less timid in these interactions, but also make me more confident to lead discussions with clients and team members.”

buck sheesley - current macc student

“as an accountant in the real estate industry, the classes build upon the knowledge and experience i already have to further understanding of financial reporting, auditing, information technology as well as other areas accounting touches. the program is offering me the opportunity to advance my career with my current company instead of changing jobs to continue growing.”

nolan ray - macc ('20)

“the sense of community at lipscomb is unique and something that i am thankful that i was able to be a part of. every professor i had at lipscomb was, and still is, willing to help me should i need anything. i just want to reiterate how thankful i am to the professors for being so willing to help me succeed in all aspects of my life, not just in accounting. they were all so genuine in that they just wanted what was best for me. i never felt like just another student.”

average cohort size

our faculty

mark jobe

professor

hilton & sallie dean endowed chair of accountancyÂ mark jobe is a native mississippian. he was born in elvis presley's home town, reared in the rolling hills of northeast mississippi, and...
meet mark jobe
perry moore

professor and director, graduate business programs

charles e. frasier professor of accountancy dr. perry moore is the charles e. frasier professor of accountancy, interim director of the macc program, and director of accreditation at 世界杯2022预选赛录像回放 's pfeffer...
meet perry moore
jeff jewell

accounting department chair

jeff was born in bloomington, indiana, but grew up in searcy, arkansas, where both of his parents were professors at harding university. jeff earned his ba in history from harding,...
meet jeff jewell
tim creel

adjunct faculty

dr. tim creel is an assistant professor of accounting at 世界杯2022预选赛录像回放 . he is a cpa, certified management accountant (cma), certified in corporate strategy and analysis (csca), and a certified...
meet tim creel

100%

job placement rate

career paths

accountants and auditors

accountants and auditors prepare and examine financial records. they ensure that financial records are accurate and that taxes are paid properly and on time. accountants and auditors assess financial operations and work to help ensure that organizations run efficiently.

lawyers

lawyers advise and represent individuals, businesses and government agencies on legal issues and disputes.

financial managers

advise and direct businesses as financial managers through data analysis in order to maximize profit and financial health of an organization.