Kelley's Graduate Accounting Programs at IU Indianapolis offers multiple pathways for students to pursue graduate business education in accounting and taxation. Learn more about the curriculum for each of these options to discover which starting point fits your goals.
Whether you want to pursue a master’s degree in accounting now or start with a graduate certificate that leads to an MSA later, Kelley's Graduate Accounting Programs at IU Indianapolis prepares you to meet your goals. A career in accounting can lead to job opportunities in:
Fill out the form to get additional information about graduate accounting programs and discover the right path for you.
Whether you’ve worked as an accountant for several years or you’re changing careers, the MSA will help you advance your skills and unlock new opportunities while preparing you for the CPA exam. To sit for the CPA exam, half of your credit hours must be in accounting.
The Graduate Certificate in Accounting is suited for applicants with an undergraduate degree in accounting who may want to pursue a master’s degree. Prepare for the CPA exam with relevant courses, and then decide if you want to apply these credits toward the master's in accounting.
Internal auditors ensure an organization’s operations or finances run smoothly and follow company and regulatory guidelines. With a Graduate Certificate in Internal Audit from Kelley Indianapolis, you can successfully evaluate a company’s finances or operations.
“Once you understand accounting, you understand the language of business, which provides deeper insights into anything you do in business. Kelley Indianapolis helps you get there.”
Jonathan Jared, BS’19, MSA’22Staff Accountant at Salesforce
The demand for tax professionals is high. However, the specialized education needed to tackle this career isn’t easily learned from on-the-job training. Tax professionals help corporations, small businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies navigate the complexities of tax laws to understand how their tax strategies fit into the organization's overall plan.
With only one prerequisite required, you can start your training as a tax expert right away without a business or accounting degree. Our Graduate Certificate in Taxation prepares you for several career opportunities:
Whether you are an entry-level tax professional looking to focus your skills, an attorney seeking greater expertise in estate and tax law planning, or a busy professional seeking more specialized training, the Graduate Certificate in Taxation can set you apart from other tax professionals.
The Kelley Graduate Accounting Programs at IU Indianapolis works with you to determine the best degree path for your career goals.
Whether or not you earn a CPA depends on the kind of job you want to pursue. If you want to work in public accounting at a Big 4 or regional accounting firm, or you want to earn an upper-level accounting role, a CPA is crucial. This requires additional education beyond a bachelor’s degree. Earning those 120 credit hours through the Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) degree or the Graduate Certificate in Accounting will give you a deep understanding of the material and prepare you for the CPA exam.
If you want to pursue a career as a tax auditor, an internal auditor, a government auditor, cost manager, or a staff accountant, a CPA usually isn’t necessary. Our Graduate Certificate in Accounting offers additional experience in this field to people with an undergraduate degree in accounting. The Graduate Certificate in Internal Audit prepares you for a career assessing a company’s risk, identifying controls, and evaluating legal and regulatory compliance.
The Kelley Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) delivers long-term career stability and financial security. When you’re first starting out as an accountant and a CPA, having a master’s degree may not make a big difference. But five years down the road, when it’s time for your big promotion, you’ll be competing with candidates who have only a CPA and an undergraduate degree. Having that master’s degree training will help you stand out.
Also, if you decide to move into the private sector, these employers are typically looking for someone with a master’s degree.
The Kelley School of Business has a reputation for excellence that stretches far beyond Indiana. We have long-standing relationships with top accounting firms and global companies, such as EY, Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, Lilly, and Cummins. When you earn a Kelley graduate degree, it means something to hiring managers.
The Master of Science in Accounting prepares you for a future in accounting. Kelley professors complete ongoing, cutting-edge research that shapes the accounting profession and populates future textbooks. We also have faculty members who work full-time in the industry and share the most practical and hands-on lessons in the classroom.
Our convenient location in the thriving downtown IU Indianapolis campus perfectly positions you to complete year-round internships with local companies and interact with corporate and accounting firm recruiters who visit campus to meet our students. Because of our central location and evening classes, you can also work full time while earning this master’s degree, offering you flexibility to grow your career without pausing it.
If you’re unsure about pursuing a master’s degree, the Kelley School of Business Indianapolis offers three specialized graduate certificates. These certificates offer a flexible path by allowing you to take the necessary coursework without committing to a full master’s degree. You can decide later to apply the 12 credits you earn in a certificate towards a master’s degree if you choose to pursue the MSA in the future.
Our three graduate certificates:
To determine the right accounting path for you, consider your career goals, educational background, and whether you plan to become a CPA. Answer these questions:
Do you have a bachelor’s degree in accounting, or are you working toward one?
The Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) and the Graduate Certificate in Accounting are best suited for people who aim to become CPAs and work in public accounting. The Graduate Certificate in Accounting can be used as a stepping stone to the MSA for those who are not ready to fully commit to a master’s degree.
Do you have a non-accounting bachelor’s degree?
If you do not hold an undergraduate accounting degree, you can still pursue the Graduate Certificate in Internal Audit or the Graduate Certificate in Taxation. These programs offer you the ability to gain specialized knowledge without committing to a full master’s degree.
Contact us to discuss which path will take your accounting career to the next level.