Overview
Learn In-Depth About Our Graduate Certificate in Accounting
Diversify your career opportunities by earning a Graduate Certificate in Accounting online from Northwest Missouri State University. Develop specialized skills you can apply immediately in a broad range of accounting settings in a program designed for working professionals.
In this accredited online program, you will learn to present financial statements using theoretical concepts with practical techniques of financial analysis. You will gain expertise in assessing risk while applying audit principles in gathering evidence, developing conclusions and proposing solutions, as well as deepen your knowledge of the rules of financial reporting for business entities.
The curriculum provides an in-depth exploration of the fundamentals of cost accounting, taxation, accounting ethics and more. All of our courses are taught by highly qualified, caring professors with professional credentials who help you develop accounting expertise through relevant, real-world applications.
Adding an online graduate certificate to your accounting credentials can lead to added job security, new leadership roles or distinction from your peers. Plus, the coursework can be applied toward a Northwest online MBA in Accounting. According to Emsi Burning Glass, projected job growth for accountants and auditors is 4.4% over the next 10 years in Missouri and the contiguous states.
The business programs at Northwest Missouri State University are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). For more information about ACBSP accreditation, visit acbsp.org.
Graduate Certificate in Accounting career opportunities include:
- Accountant
- Accounting Clerk
- Accounts Payable/Receivable Specialist
- Bookkeeper
Have questions or need more information about our online programs?
Online graduate certificate programs also available
Tuition and Fees
Details on Our Affordable Tuition
Our Graduate Certificate in Accounting online program offers affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition, which is the same for in-state and out-of-state students. All fees are included.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Course | Per Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Certificate in Accounting | $400 | $1,200 | $4,920* |
Important Refund Information
| 2nd day of class | Last date for 100% refund for dropped course |
| 4th day of class | Last date for 75% refund for dropped course |
| 6th day of class | Last date for 50% refund for dropped course |
| 8th day of class | Last date for 25% refund for dropped course |
Required Fees:
Required fee per course: $30
Total required fees: $120
*Tuition and fees are subject to change. Current amounts are based on 2020-21 tuition rates. Textbooks and laptops are not included with tuition.
Northwest Missouri State University is ranked #1 among the "Best Online Colleges in Missouri" by SR Education Group (2019).
Calendar
Northwest Online Dates and Deadlines
Northwest online programs are delivered in an accelerated format ideal for working professionals, conveniently featuring multiple start dates each year.
| Term | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Due | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 1 | 01/11/23 | 01/03/23 | 01/03/23 | 01/04/23 | 01/06/23 | 03/03/23 |
| Spring 2 | 03/13/23 | 02/24/23 | 03/01/23 | 03/07/23 | 03/08/23 | 04/28/23 |
| Summer 1 | 05/09/23 | 04/25/23 | 04/28/23 | 05/02/23 | 05/04/23 | 06/23/23 |
| Summer 2 | 06/26/23 | 06/09/23 | 06/14/23 | 06/16/23 | 06/21/23 | 08/11/23 |
| Fall 1 | 08/21/23 | 08/07/23 | 08/10/23 | 08/14/23 | 08/16/23 | 10/06/23 |
| Fall 2 | 10/16/23 | 10/02/23 | 10/05/23 | 10/09/23 | 10/11/23 | 12/01/23 |
Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from Northwest?
Admissions
Here’s How to Get Started
At Northwest, we’ve streamlined the admission process to help you get started quickly and easily. Please read the requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Accounting online, including what additional materials you need and where you should send them. The requirements include:
View all admission requirements
Required Documentation
To apply to the Graduate Certificate in Accounting program without submission of a GMAT or GRE score, you must submit an official bachelor's degree with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale from a regionally accredited university plus one of the following:
- A resume including three years of continuous, full-time professional work experience
- A resume including three years of continuous, full-time United States enlisted or commissioned military service
- 3.5 overall undergraduate GPA
- Graduate degree from a regionally accredited university with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
- A score in the 70th percentile or above on the Business Major Field Test
If you do not meet the above requirements, you may apply if you have a bachelor's degree with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale from a regionally accredited university plus one of the following:
- A GMAT score of 440 or above
- A GRE score of 285 or above
- 3.5 overall undergraduate GPA
- An admission index of 1,100 (undergraduate GPA x 200 + GMAT)
- An admission index of 965 (undergraduate GPA x 200 + GRE)
Official transcript(s) can be emailed to: [email protected]. To submit official documents by mail, send them to:
Graduate Records SpecialistNorthwest Missouri State University
800 University Drive
Maryville, MO 64468-6001
Have a question? Call us at 844-890-9304.
Click here for State Authorization information.
Courses
Take a Look at Your Grad Certificate in Accounting Coursework
For the Graduate Certificate in Accounting online program, the curriculum is comprised of four courses (12 credit hours), including three concentration courses and one elective.
Applicants to this program who do not have a bachelor's degree in business are required to successfully complete the MBA Business Foundation (MGMT 54201) course as their first class, which is designed specifically for students who are new to business curriculum. The MBA Business Foundation course will not count towards the elective requirement for this program.
ACCT 51655: Financial Accounting Theory and Analysis
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course combines theoretical concepts underlying the presentation of financial statements with the practical techniques of financial analysis. Topics include analysis and application of key accounting concepts at a conceptual level including revenue recognition criteria, inventory accounting choices and implications, fixed assets and the impact of depreciation policy on business strategy, capitalizing vs expensing costs, evaluating purchase and lease options, liability reporting, statement of cash flows, pro forma financial statements, shareholder's equity, institutional and political contexts that affect the choice of a company's accounting policies and financial statement analysis as applied to an acquisition decision.
ACCT 51660: Contemporary Topics in Accounting
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course examines contemporary issues confronting accountants, business and their stakeholders. Topics such as corporate governance (the balance between economic and social goals and individual and communal goals), professional ethics, fraud examination, corporate social responsibility and sustainability reporting and critical accounting perspectives may be examined. Specific topics may change from year to year.
ACCT 51650: Applied Professional Accounting Research
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
The primary objective of financial reporting is to provide useful information for decision making. To serve this objective, various standards and rules have been adopted to govern financial reporting, auditing and tax reporting. Accounting, auditing and tax rules are complex and change rapidly over time in response to the economic, political, legal, cultural and social environment. Those standards also provide accountants and business leaders considerable discretion and require effective exercise of professional judgment on many aspects of financial reporting (i.e. accrual estimation, revenue recognition) particularly where there are no rules to follow or the existing rules conflict. This course introduces students to research methods, research appreciation and evaluation together with practice in conducting and reporting professional research projects in accounting, auditing and taxation.
Students must choose one additional advisor-approved MBA course that is not already required.
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