Clarion University's Master of Science in accounting program was approved Wednesday,
Oct. 7, by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Board of Governors.
The new program will be offered completely online and classes will begin in January.
The approval comes after 18 months of work by a Clarion University committee to make the program a reality, said Associate Dean of the College of Business Administration & Information Science David Hartley, Ph.D.
The interest in this program is primarily from accounting professionals who need 150 credit hours in order to receive the Certified Public Accountant certification, Hartley said. A typical bachelor's degree is earned after 120 credit hours.
In order to meet those credit requirements, you can take random for-credit classes,
but many students believe it's beneficial to achieve a master's degree while earning
the extra credit hours, said Clarion University accounting Professor Anthony Grenci, Ph.D.
Classes in the program will prepare students to sit for the CPA exam which consists of four segments including auditing, financial accounting and reporting, regulation, and business environment, Grenci said.
"We're excited about the opportunity to become the leading accounting education provider in the region," Hartley said.
For more information about the program, please contact Juanice Vega at 814-393-1892.