Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting Online

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Advance your knowledge of technologies and platforms that are changing the face of the accounting profession and meet the demand for specialized expertise.

Apply by: 5/9/24
Start class: 5/30/24
Request Info

Program Overview

Discover the advantages of the Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting

As the accounting profession becomes increasingly driven by technology, major firms are seeking specialists with advanced skills in information systems, data management and analysis, and machine learning.

Earn credentials faster than a full master’s degree in this STEM-designated, AACSB-accredited certificate program. You will become versed in systems concepts and their application in the design, implementation, control and audit of accounting information.

More cost effective than a graduate degree and with a faster completion time, this unique certificate equips you with specialized skills you can immediately apply in the workplace. You may also opt to apply credit hours toward the M.S. in Professional Accounting, which prepares you for advanced leadership roles.

The online Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting prepares you to specialize in the following areas:

  • Data mining, warehousing, analysis and display
  • Statistical theory and methods
  • Design, testing and evaluation of computer systems and applications
  • Modeling and forecasting market performance
  • Optimization, operations analysis and decision-making
  • Data mining, warehousing, analysis and display
  • Statistical theory and methods
  • Design, testing and evaluation of computer systems and applications
  • Modeling and forecasting market performance
  • Optimization, operations analysis and decision-making

Also available:

Looking for a master’s degree in accounting? We also offer an M.S. in Professional Accounting and an MBA in Accounting.

Total Tuition $6,570*
Duration As few as 6 months
Credit Hours 15

Accreditation

AACSB Accredited Logo

Ranked among The Princeton Review’s 300 Best Business Schools, the Lamar University College of Business offers you access to a powerful business school alumni network and a business education backed by AACSB International accreditation – the gold standard of quality in business education worldwide.

Need More Information?

Call 866-223-7675

Call 866-223-7675

Tuition

Take advantage of our budget-friendly tuition

The following is the tuition breakdown for students pursuing the Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting online. Our tuition is affordable and can be paid by the course.

Financial Aid

Ready to get started on your program online but need help finding ways to fund your education? We can help you discover student financing sources that include grants, loans and other payment options. Learn more about financial aid here.

Tuition breakdown:

Total Tuition $6,570*
Per Credit Hour $438

Calendar

Keep these key dates and deadlines in mind

Our online Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting features multiple start dates to accommodate your busy schedule. Find the start date that works best for you and apply before the application deadline associated with it.

8 week coursesProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlinePayment DueLast Class Day
Summer I5/30/245/9/245/16/245/23/248/1/24
Fall 18/22/248/1/248/8/248/15/2410/9/24
Spring I1/16/2512/26/241/2/251/9/253/7/25

Now enrolling:

Apply Date 5/9/24
Class Starts 5/30/24

Have questions or need more information about our online programs?

Ready to take the rewarding path toward earning your degree online?

Admissions

Your online Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting admissions checklist

The Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting has specific requirements that applicants must meet to enroll. Please read the admission guidelines to ensure you qualify.

Admission Requirements:

  • Submit your application and one-time $25 application fee online
  • Bachelor's Degree
  • Official Transcripts

University Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the following standards:

  • Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with a minimum GPA of 2.5 (cumulative or last 60 hours, 4.0 system). The GMAT/GRE is waived if the GPA is 2.5 or higher.
  • If you do not have an undergraduate degree in accounting or upper-level accounting courses, you may be required to complete leveling courses.

*All applicants must submit official, sealed transcripts from each institution attended to the Admissions Office. All degrees must be from a regionally accredited institution. Lamar University Office of Admissions will no longer require or college community college transcripts for graduate applicants. Official transcripts from all other institutions will be required. However, if a department or program wishes to review a community college transcript for decision purposes, the department or program may directly request the applicant to submit the official community college transcript(s) to the Office of Admissions for processing.

Send all required documents to:

Lamar University Online Admissions
PO Box 10017
Beaumont, TX 77710

OR

Submit electronically to [email protected]

Check to see if the program is offered to residents in your state before applying by clicking here.

Courses

Explore the courses in your online Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting

The Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting online curriculum is comprised of four core courses and one elective. Customize your program based on your goals and interests.

Duration: 8 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is a study of advanced topics in financial accounting and reporting. It focuses on complex corporate reporting issues. This course will emphasize the development of skills and knowledge necessary to conduct professional research and to identify appropriate accounting treatment of complex issues. This will not only entail the study of current financial reporting and disclosure requirements, but will include controversial and emerging practices. Prerequisites: ACCT 3320 and Graduate Standing Offered: Fall, Spring
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An extensive examination of the methods employed to determine defensible solutions to problems in federal taxation. Emphasis is placed upon research methodology, proper documentation of research findings and effective communication of research findings to interested parties. The text is supplemented with outside readings and case studies. Significant oral and written reports are required. Prerequisite: Graduate standing with a minimum of eighteen semester hours of accounting that include ACCT 3380 and ACCT 3390 or their equivalent and six semester hours of Intermediate. Offered: Fall
Duration: 8 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides a basis for determining firm value. Students are introduced to fundamental analysis concepts and techniques that can be used to critique and interpret the financial health of the firm. The course integrates research in the areas of accounting, finance, and management which has proved useful in the financial analysis of organizations. Prerequisites: ACCT 5200 or equivalent and Graduate Standing Offered: Summer
Duration: 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3

Choose one from the following.

Duration: 8 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Advanced study of the role of auditors as a profession. In depth discussion of professional ethics and liability to clients and other third parties. Study of audit failures, employing the case method. Also, the use of statistical sampling methods in auditing. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and ACCT 4300 Offered: Summer
Duration: 8 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is primarily focused on hands-on access to innovation and how to optimize or automate existing accounting, auditing and tax tasks. Students will be introduced to a range of technology tools used by professionals. Inefficiencies in business processes ad problems with manual tasks are explored for automation.
Duration: 8 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course will provide the student the opportunity to learn about data analytics as it applies to the accounting profession. Data Analytics is a topic of increasing importance for many organizations as the need for data-driven insights and recommendations grows throughout the business industry. This course provides in-depth coverage of data analytics, giving students hands-on experience working with different types of data and the tools use to analyze it. The topics covered in this course include but not limited to: Critical Thinking, Data Preparation and Cleaning, Data Modeling and Evaluation, Data Presentation, Audit Analytics, Generating Key Performance Indicators, and Financial Statement Analysis. Various software tools will be introduced to enhance students’ hands-on capabilities.
Duration: 8 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course presents systems concepts and their application in the design, implementation, control, and audit of accounting information systems, including computerized systems. Prerequisite: ACCT 3320 and Graduate Standing Offered: Fall, Spring
Duration: 8 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Combined academic and work components allow students to gain experience in the professional field of accounting. Course supervised by a graduate faculty member and appropriate personnel of the approved organization. The student will keep a diary comprising a chronological list of all work experience gained in the internship. The student writes a paper demonstrating the knowledge gained in the internship. The internship course shall not be taken until a minimum of 12 semester hours of upper division accounting course work has been completed. Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

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