Academic Term
10-week quarters
Program Length
9–10 months (without prerequisites)
Specialty Tracks
Assurance
Deals advisory
Create your own track
Or specialize in accounting, technology and analytics and earn a separate degree
Entry Points
Fall quarter (September)
Spring quarter (March)
Stem designation
Our Master of Accountancy (MAcc) and STEM-designated Master of Science in Accounting, Technology and Analytics (MSATA) degrees produce skilled, highly successful graduates who are in demand at local, national and international accounting firms.
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97% of students accept positions within 6 months of graduation
94% of students take part in internships
Curriculum
Our Master of Accountancy (MAcc) and Master of Science in Accounting, Technology and Analytics (MSATA) degrees provide rigorous training in accounting fundamentals with specialties in assurance, analytics and deals advisory.
Whether your background is in business or liberal arts, our customized degree plans ensure you have the knowledge, experience and accounting skills sought by top employers. Nearly 100 percent of our domestic graduates accept positions within 6 months of graduation; many at top accounting firms such as PwC, Deloitte, EY, KPMG and Plante Moran.
Our degree offerings let you build a degree that matches your interests and future goals. And as the third-oldest accounting program in the U.S., we have the solid foundations and the established network that will move your career forward.
Prerequisites
Students entering School of Accountancy graduate programs must demonstrate competency in introductory and intermediate financial accounting and introductory managerial accounting. There are 4 prerequisite courses totaling 16 credit hours. These prerequisite competencies can be demonstrated via (1) satisfactory grades in specified coursework, (2) passing appropriate waiver exams or (3) completing prerequisite courses at the University of Denver. See details below on general prerequisite policies and how to satisfy the requirements. Many students are admitted to the program before these requirements are met and take the additional courses as they complete the program.
- Students can demonstrate competency in introductory accounting courses by earning a B- or better in equivalent courses at a regionally accredited institution. Competency in intermediate accounting courses can be demonstrated by passing equivalent courses at an AACSB-accredited business school. Students with any other prior coursework must demonstrate competency by passing an on-campus exam.
- The intention of the waiver exams is that the student has already mastered the material and may need limited time to “brush up” on the topics. It’s not the intention for students to sit for all of these exams in one week having never taken the courses.
- Students are only offered waiver exams during orientation week and at no other time. There are no retakes or delayed opportunities for waiver exams in subsequent quarters.
Dual Degree Options
Select any combination of our master’s degree programs to customize your degree and put your career goals on the fast track. Explore the options with your graduate admissions counselor to pick the dual degree that’s best for you.
- Master of Science in Applied Quantitative Finance
- Master of Science in Business Analytics
- Master of Science in Management
- Master of Science in Marketing
- Master of Science in Real Estate and the Built Environment
- The Denver MBA (full time)
- Professional MBA (part time)
- Executive MBA (part time)
- Online MBA
Courses and Electives
The degree plan includes courses that examine contemporary topics through case studies and courses that build technology and data analysis expertise through hands-on projects.
Contact Us
Zoe Jackson
Assistant Director, Graduate Admissions
Reach out to Zoe any time if you have questions about the MAcc or MSATA or the admissions process.
303-871-3416 | Contact Zoe
Connect with a Student
MAcc and MSATA Tuition
Base tuition (2024-2025): $66,720† | Non-U.S. accounting degree holders tuition (2024-2025): $80,064‡
Typical scholarship range (% of tuition): 10-65%*
† Up to 16 additional credits of prerequisites may be required, at a cost of $1,612 per credit. Students may have prerequisite requirements waived based on previous coursework or by passing waiver exams.
‡ Accounting students who earned their accounting degree at schools lacking AACSB accreditation often need to take at least two prerequisite courses and should build this additional expectation into their degree plans.
* Scholarships are based on academic record, testing and employment credentials, and are not guaranteed. Contact the Office of Graduate Admissions online or at 303-871-3416 for more information.
“DU's offering of a unique course combination of accounting, technology and analytics will give an accounting graduate a competitive edge. Due to the evolution of the accounting profession, technology and big data analysis are used for reporting historical patterns and predictive information for effective decision-making.”
Program at a Glance
Program Start Dates
Daniels operates on a quarter system, meaning that we have three main terms (fall, winter and spring) that each span 10 weeks, as well as an optional summer term, which is nine weeks long. The MAcc and MSATA programs have two entry terms per year:
- Fall quarter begins in mid-September
- Spring quarter begins in mid-to-late March
Program Curriculum
The MAcc and MSATA programs range between a minimum of 10 classes and a maximum of 14 classes for those who need to complete prerequisite coursework. This includes:
- 4 potential prerequisite courses
- 4 core accounting classes for both programs
- 6 courses to distinguish your degree
Program Specializations
MSATA students take IT Auditing and Robotic Process Automation and choose 4 electives to deepen their specialization in either analytics or technology.
MAcc students may use their 6 elective courses to target a specific aspect of the accounting industry through specialty tracks:
- assurance
- deals advisory
Learn more about specialization tracks >
Create Your Own Track
Students with particular interests can build a specialty track with advisor-approved courses. For example, a student can specialize in accounting for complex financial instruments by taking the following courses:
- FIN 4860 Derivatives
- FIN 4890 Fixed Income Analysis
- ACTG 4290 Financial Accounting Theory
Students who want to specialize in helping corporations achieve performance goals may want to take the following courses:
- FIN 4420 Capital Expenditure Analysis
- ACTG 4284/85 Consolidations & Foreign Operations
- FIN 4410 Financial Planning and Analysis
Faculty can help design a course plan to achieve your goal.
CPA Qualification
The majority of MAcc/MSATA students pursue the program in order to meet CPA exam requirements, though this certainly is not the only option. Students wishing to pursue CPA designation in any state should be familiar with their previous accomplishments towards such requirements, as DU has not determined whether the MAcc/MSATA program curriculum meets the educational requirements for CPA licensure or certification in any state. Visit the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy exam website for more information on Colorado’s requirements for the CPA exam and the CPA exam for other states.
Part-time vs. Full-time Enrollment
Students work individually with a Capstone Partner from our network of over 500 organizations to solve a current business problem with live data. Capstones are guided by an individual faculty advisor and overseen by the Center for Analytics and Innovation With Data. Students showcase their talents in their final quarters in Capstone Briefings to our partners, faculty and their peers.
Program Timeframe
Students may complete the degree at their own pace. The length of time required to obtain the degree depends upon whether or not students need to complete prerequisites within the program.
- Without prerequisites: Students may complete the program’s 10 classes in as little as 9 months or in as much as 2.5 years, depending on their individual pace.
- With prerequisites: Students who need to complete all 14 classes may complete the program in as little as 1 year or as much as 3.5 years.
Class Times
Classes are usually offered on Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday in two-hour increments throughout the day. The School of Accountancy also schedules classes to accommodate working professionals who need to complete the program through evening coursework.
Experiential Learning
Get out of the classroom and into the field interacting with business leaders, solving actual business problems and using your business skills when the stakes are real. You’ll emerge sharp, field tested and ready to lead—adaptable to new situations and well-versed in both big-picture strategic thinking and cross-functional intricacies.
Gain Real–world Experience
At Daniels, our deep connections around the world create ample opportunities for you to meet and learn from the top professionals in your industry of interest.
- Global Opportunities (GO) Program: Students travel abroad to tackle a real-world project for a partner organization. Many projects focus on sustainable development issues; how to balance profit and growth with social, cultural and environmental implications. Fulfills the Enterprise Solutions requirement.
- Executive and Alumni Mentoring: Gain insight from an executive and/or alumni mentor in your field of interest.
Compete Against the Best
Case competitions provide you with a chance to showcase your critical-thinking, problem-solving and presentation skills—experiencing firsthand the challenges of the business world.
- Race & Case: Daniels’ signature event that combines an ethics case competition with a ski race.
- Inclusive Excellence Business Case Competition: Daniels is proud to host one of the country’s few business case competitions focused on diversity. Students tackle a current issue around inclusive excellence, which is a strategic imperative for a participating company.
- Cable Apprentice Challenge: This unique combination of education and networking with the best and the brightest in the business is a challenge to develop research and analysis tactics to help Comcast Colorado.
International Student Resources
At Daniels, we are dedicated to creating an environment of inclusive excellence for all of our students.
- DU’s International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) department works closely with our graduate students to help make the most of their OPT and CPT time.
- We offer flexibility in our Master of Accountancy and Master of Science in Accounting, Technology and Analytics programs that can enable you to maximize your stay in the U.S.
How to Apply for the MAcc and MSATA
The School of Accountancy welcomes applicants from all professional backgrounds and academic disciplines, allowing students to complete the program by meeting additional coursework requirements to cover knowledge gaps.
To apply, you must submit:
- Official college transcript(s)
- Professional resume
- Essays
- $100 application fee
GMAT or GRE scores are optional. If you determine that your application will be stronger with GMAT or GRE scores, please submit them when you apply.
All accepted students are automatically considered for scholarships. No additional application is needed.
Visit our graduate admissions page for more information about application requirements.
Hear from a student why they chose the Master of Accountancy at Daniels
Points of Pride
- Customized curriculum
Our flexible degree plan allows you to maximize or minimize your time at DU. If you have a non-business bachelor’s degree, preparatory coursework is worked into your curriculum to provide you with the fundamentals needed to succeed. - State-of-the-art technology
Our courses on sophisticated enterprise software and databases ensure you have the technological literacy demanded by today’s marketplace. - Engaged faculty
With our faculty/student ratio of 1:15, our professors become mentors. - Alumni
The School of Accountancy Alumni Engagement Council offers a mentorship program and frequent networking events.
Companies who recently hired our graduates
FAQs for the MAcc and MSATA
What's the difference between the MAcc and the MSATA?
The Master of Accountancy and the Master of Science in Accounting, Technology and Analytics share most of the same required courses. But for the MSATA, two of the MAcc’s elective courses are replaced with two required courses, IT Auditing and Accounting Process Technologies.
Also, the MSATA is STEM-designated, meaning that students in the program on an F-1 visa qualify for a STEM OPT extension.
Can someone review my transcript and advise me on the qualifications I need to sit for my CPA?
Our Office of Graduate Admissions can coordinate a meeting for you with the Accountancy department for a personalized assessment. Contact us at daniels@du.edu.
Do I need to take prerequisite courses?
Students entering the program must demonstrate competency in introductory and intermediate financial accounting and introductory managerial accounting. This requires taking 4 prerequisite courses totaling 16 credit hours. Prerequisites may be waived for students who have already taken accounting courses or who pass waiver exams. Learn more about prerequisites and waiver exams.
If you didn’t complete an undergraduate degree in accounting from an AACSB-accredited school, you’ll likely have to take the prerequisite coursework. Many students are admitted to the program before these requirements are met and take the additional courses as they complete the program.
If you have questions about prerequisites or waivers, contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at daniels@du.edu.
What is the class schedule?
Classes are usually offered on Mondays/Wednesdays or Tuesdays/Thursdays in 2-hour increments throughout the day. The School of Accountancy also offers evening courses to accommodate working professionals.