Accountancy - Master's and Certificate
Program Overview
Successfully pass the CPA exam and earn your licensure.
There has never been a better time to pursue an accounting career, with demand for accounting professionals exceeding candidates. We know graduate business education is costly, so a Lipscomb Master of Accounting degree comes with several special opportunities to provide more value.
Our uniquely-designed, nationally recognized MAcc curriculum is intentionally sequenced to align with the CPA exam to equip you to pass the licensure exam while completing your degree. Our student first-time exam pass rate exceeds the national average, with many completing the exam prior to the end of the program.
Classes are intentionally small, which means you’ll have opportunities to form lasting professional relationships with your professors and peers. Gain hands-on experience with an optional full-time internship at the height of busy season. After graduation, you'll join your peers — who all got the job they were looking for.
Simply need a few more hours for CPA eligibility? Our Graduate Certificate of Accountancy for Professionals (GCAP) is for professionals like you. If you're in need of 12 accounting hours or less, you'll be eligible for your licensure after receiving this certificate. Complete an academic course for a corresponding part of the CPA exam, and you'll be on your way.
We now offer a third path to CPA licensure through our unique MBA/CPA program. Combining 18 hours of MBA curriculum with 18 hours of MAcc coursework, you’ll build on your business leadership skills while completing the requirements necessary for CPA licensure.
Accounting Boot Camp
Do you need the prerequisites for a Master of Accountancy program? Or are you interested in pivoting from your current career to the field of accounting?
 | Lipscomb’s Accounting Boot Camp can get you where you want to go! Accounting Boot Camp is a rigorous, accelerated program that will prepare you with the basic accounting skills necessary to begin our Master of Accountancy program. Boot Camp is fast-paced! Beginning in May and available online you’ll quickly get the knowledge you need to move forward in your career. |
Master of Accountancy Program Outcomes
The Master of Accountancy degree program is designed to provide the knowledge and skills necessary to sit for and pass the CPA exam. Coursework ensures students gain the ability to practice accounting from the beginning of their careers. Whatever pathway you choose, students are instilled with the qualifications and confidence to become an expert in the field.
Why Earn Your Master of Accountancy Degree at Lipscomb University?
CPAs are in high-demand, but individuals need an advantage in 
experience to stand out among other candidates in the field. Our MAcc program provides multiple opportunities for students to gain experiences and skills that set them apart.
Students have access to mentorship through our Executives and Partner in-Residence program, which cannot be overstated in importance for networking and learning directly from real-world professionals. They are provided with an opportunity for a busy season internship at the height of tax season for hands-on training and receive a global perspective through a Global Accounting and Business Concepts course.
Lipscomb continues to maintain its reputation for educating well-qualified accountants, and access to a vast network of successful and engaged alums in a variety of industries in Nashville. Everything we do is for the good of our students' futures.
Admissions Requirements
Prerequisites
Applicants for the MAcc program should have an undergraduate GPA of 3.00 or higher. The GMAT is optional for applicants who completed their bachelor's degree at an AACSB-accredited institution. An internship or other relevant employment in the field is strongly encouraged. Applicants who submit a GMAT score are eligible for scholarships opportunities based upon GMAT scores. (Try our Sample GMAT.)
MAcc candidates can satisfy the undergraduate prerequisite requirements in one of two ways.
First method: complete 18 hours in accounting
Students must complete the following courses:
- Financial Accounting (Principles of Accounting 1)
- Intermediate Accounting 1 and 2
- Federal Income Taxation (Individual Tax)
- Principles of Auditing
Second method: Students can complete Lipscomb's Accounting Bootcamp course (MACC 501V) to satisfy all undergraduate prerequisites.
Learn More about Accounting Bootcamp
Application Requirements
- Resume
- Personal Statement
- References
- GMAT (optional)
- Official Transcripts
- Interview
All students, particularly those without an undergraduate degree in business, should remember that many states, including Tennessee, require students to have earned a specified number of hours in business to sit for the CPA exam. Additional hours in business or accounting courses may be recommended to comply with such requirements.
Applicants who completed their undergraduate degree from an institution outside the United States must submit a course by course evaluation of their transcript from World Education Services (WES). Information about this process may be obtained on the WES website at www.wes.org.
International students should be proficient in written and oral English. A TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo score, credit earned in English language courses, letters from employers or instructors, or a personal interview may be presented to demonstrate proficiency.
There is no GMAT waiver option for applicants who completed their undergraduate degree outside the US.
Priority scholarship application deadline for Fall is February 15.
Courses
Students pursuing a Master of Accountancy will embrace a rigorous curriculum designed to achieve a first-time pass for the CPA exam. Click below to view the courses required for this degree:
Professional Accountancy Graduate Certificate
For those who do not require a full master's degree, the 12-hour certificate program provides the additional hours needed to sit for the CPA exam. Certificate students can shift to the MAcc or MBA program, but must notify the graduate business office of their intent to change programs and submit the appropriate paperwork. A minimum 3.00 GPA is required to shift programs, with the same admission requirements as the MAcc program.
Students take the following courses, which align with each section of the CPA exam to complete the Graduate Certificate:
Tuition & Aid
Tuition for the Master of Accountancy program is $1,110 per semester hour or $33,300 for 30 hours.
Tuition for the Graduate Certificate of Professional Accountancy is $1,110 per semester hour or $13,320 for 12 hours.
- $50 application fee and $200 graduation fee
- Program Fee
- International Trip Fee
Types of Aid
Year to complete
Alumni and Student Stories
Aneela Rajaram - Graduate Certificate of Accountancy ('17)
“I was amazed by the level of personalization. I had an appointment, a dedicated counselor and someone to accompany me to each of the offices I needed to get ready for my first day of classes. During my time at Lipscomb, the shared service [I worked for] was restructured, and I was serving as manager of internal control. When I completed my studies at Lipscomb, I was promoted to senior manager of that group."
Deanie Pedigo Chaudoin - MAcc ('21)
“During my graduate studies, I learned how to ask thoughtful questions, how to be disciplined in my goals, and how to network with other professionals. My graduate education pushed me to pass my CPA before starting my first job. During my time in the MAcc program, I gained relationships with my professors that I cherish. They became mentors, advocates, cheerleaders, and counselors. ”
Nathan Morgan - MAcc ('20)
“The program prepared me to be more outspoken in the work environment. I work in audit, and I am coordinating and speaking with clients and other team members at many moments of every work day. The programs at Lipscomb helped me to not only be less timid in these interactions, but also make me more confident to lead discussions with clients and team members.”
Buck Sheesley - MAcc ('22)
“As an accountant in the real estate industry, the classes build upon the knowledge and experience I already have to further understanding of financial reporting, auditing, Information Technology as well as other areas accounting touches. The program is offering me the opportunity to advance my career with my current company instead of changing jobs to continue growing.”
Nolan Ray - MAcc ('20)
“The sense of community at Lipscomb is unique and something that I am thankful that I was able to be a part of. Every professor I had at Lipscomb was, and still is, willing to help me should I need anything. I just want to reiterate how thankful I am to the professors for being so willing to help me succeed in all aspects of my life, not just in accounting. They were all so genuine in that they just wanted what was best for me. I never felt like just another student.”
Average cohort Size
Our Faculty
Job placement rate
Career Paths
Accountants and Auditors
Accountants and auditors prepare and examine financial records. They ensure that financial records are accurate and that taxes are paid properly and on time. Accountants and auditors assess financial operations and work to help ensure that organizations run efficiently.
Lawyers
Lawyers advise and represent individuals, businesses and government agencies on legal issues and disputes.
Financial Managers
Advise and direct businesses as Financial Managers through data analysis in order to maximize profit and financial health of an organization.
