Master of Science in Accounting

Curriculum – Prior Non-Business Degree

Undergraduate Non-Accounting/Non-Business Major (38 credits)

As a Non-Business major, Merrimack has provided a seamless pathway for you to work towards a CPA credential and a career in the accounting industry. The curriculum includes the courses you need without having to take any pre-requisites prior to entry.

The minimum number of credits for degree completion is 38 credit hours and includes key accounting and business courses which are important for success in the accounting industry. The program meets the licensing requirements in the state of Massachusetts. If interested in licensing in another state additional courses might be required based on state licensure mandates. Your academic advisor will work with you to develop the best academic plan to meet your personal and professional goals.

Non-Accounting/Non-Business majors licensing in Massachusetts must take business electives to meet the CPA licensure requirements.

Students can choose courses in the areas of Organizational Leadership, Business Analytics, Strategic Human Resource Management, Marketing Management, and Quantitative and Digital Finance. These topic areas are prevalent in any industry and the business skills acquired will prove important as you work to bring value to your organization or clients.

If you have an interest in engaging in some of the Accounting-specific concentrations and your state of licensure allows additional accounting credits, we invite you to speak to your academic advisor to determine all of the available options.  With the different types of course choices available in your curriculum,  you will be building up your arsenal of knowledge as you prepare for your accounting career!

Core Courses (30 credits)

GMGT5140: Effective Managerial Communication
GMGT5130: Professional Skills
GACC5050: Foundations of Accounting *** (4 cr.)
GACC5060: Financial Reporting & Analysis I (4 cr.)
GACC5070: Financial Reporting & Analysis II (4 cr.)
GACC5150: Assurance Services (4 cr.)
GACC5080: Introduction to Federal Income Taxation (4 cr.)
ACC5225: Ethics in the Accounting Profession (2 cr.)
GACC5340: Business Law for Accountants (2 cr.)
GACC5310: Accounting Information Systems (2 cr.)
FIN5050: Finance Concepts (2 cr.)

***Note: If students have already completed financial and managerial accounting, they do not need to take Foundations of Accounting and can replace the course with electives.

For additional course detail, please view our Graduate Catalog.

Non-Business Major: Electives: (6 credits)

Organizational Leadership Concentration: 

GMGT5920: Leading Effective Teams (2 cr.)
GMGT5920: Leading Organizational Change (2 cr.)
GMGT5220: Responsibility and Integrity (4 cr.)
GMGT5950: Stakeholder Management (4 cr.)

Marketing Management: 

MGT5420: Marketing Strategy (4 cr.)
MGT5340: Digital Marketing Implementation & Optimization (2 cr.)
MGT5350: Innovation and Trends in Marketing (2 cr.)
MGT5410: Driving Business Success with Marketing Analytics (4 cr.)

Strategic Human Resource Management: 

MGT5420: Aligning Strategy, People and Performance (4 cr.)
MGT5340: Negotiation and Conflict Resolution (2 cr.)
MGT5350: Diversity and Inclusion (2 cr.)
MGT5410: Human Resource Analytics (4 cr.)

Quantitative and Digital Finance: 

FIN5410: Corporate Finance and Valuation (4 cr.)
FIN5420: Trends and Innovation in Finance (4 cr.)
FIN5430: Quant and Factor Investing (4 cr.)

For course description detail, please view our Graduate Catalog.

Accounting Leaders

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At Merrimack College, we’re proud of our long history of providing quality degrees to students entering the job market. Our faculty are more than just teachers. We are committed to helping you grow — academically, personally and spiritually — so that you may graduate as a confident, well-prepared citizen of the world.

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Accounting Leaders

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