Master's in Accounting

Redefining What an Accounting Education Looks Like

Prepare for a career that extends far beyond traditional accounting. The flexible 10-course Master’s in Accounting program at Leeds—with four specialized electives of your choosing—offers an unparalleled opportunity to customize your accounting education to your career ambitions.

While our program prepares you to be eligible for and succeed on the CPA exam, we go far beyond checkbox credentials. We're committed to developing well-rounded accounting professionals who think critically and solve unstructured problems; leverage cutting-edge technologies like data analytics and automation; and develop advanced interpersonal and networking skills.

Ìý ÌýInquire About the Program

Current Leeds Â鶹ÒùÔº
If you are a Leeds undergraduate student interested in an MS Accounting or MS Taxation degree, you should learn about the tuition savings possible via our BAM route. Please click here

"I chose Leeds MSACCT because I knew it was going to offer me a lot of benefits on the other side of the program."

- John GlaweÌý
ÌýÌý(MSACCT ‘24)

Program Details

  • Three start dates: fall, spring and summer
  • In-person, on-campus program completed in 9 months, including space for a summer internship and/or additional semesters.
  • Option to switch into the MS Taxation program after coursework begins
  • Electives tailored to specific interests including data analysis, artificial intelligence and ESG reporting.
  • Option to pursue ALTERYX certification
  • GMAT/GRE test scores optional
  • Prerequisite courses: Intermediate Accounting I and II, Individual Income Tax, Cost AccountingÌý

CurriculumÌý ÌýTuitionÌý ÌýÌý

Careers in Accounting

Whether you’re seeking a career locally, nationally or globally, you’ll be a valuable asset to companies, public accounting firms, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies of every size and in nearly any place. And Leeds' students find jobs with companies like Plante Moran, EY (Ernst & Young), KPMG, Deloitte, PwC (Pricewaterhouse Coopers) and Armanino.

Our graduates land competitive jobs as an Accountant, Auditor, Assurance, Budget Accountant, Controller and Consultant.

More About MS Accounting CareersÌýÌý ÌýÌý

Master's of Accounting Info Session Video

CPA Exam Eligibility

Our Master’s in Accounting program prepares you to be eligible for the CPA exam through courses that strategically target topics on the exam. Leeds students aren't just prepared—our graduateÌýstudents consistently receive top scores in the state. We have had 3 Elijah Watt Sells winners in the past 7 years.Ìý

Â鶹ÒùÔº planning to obtain their CPA are responsible for ensuring they meet their .

To receive your CPA license, you will need the following four components:Ìý

At least 120 credit hours (equivalent to a bachelor’s degree) are required to sit for the CPA exam, and you’ll need to complete an additional 30 credit hours to qualify for licensure. You will also need to ensure that your credits meet your state’s required hours within the areas of accounting, auditing, and business. Every jurisdiction has its own educational requirements to sit for the CPA exam and to become licensed as a CPA. These requirements are subject to change and may affect the educational requirements for examination and licensure. Due to the changing nature of the education requirements, it is recommended that students review theÌýÌýwebsite where they are seeking employment for updated licensure requirements. A list of state board websites can also be found on theÌýÌýpage.

The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) is responsible for the creation of the uniform CPA exam. The exam is given in four sections: Financial Accounting and Reporting, Auditing and Attestation, Regulations, and Business Environment and Concepts. You are allowed to take the exam one section at a time and in any order. All sections of the exam must be completed within an 18-month testing period with a score of 75 percent or higher.

While experience requirements vary by state, CPA applicants in Colorado are required to complete 1,800 qualifying work hours within a period of 1-3 years in order to obtain licensure. Your experience must also be verified by a licensed CPA who oversees the work.

In some states, CPA applicants are required to complete an ethics course or exam in order to obtain their CPA license.

MS Accounting Faculty

Meet our award-winning faculty, recognized for their innovative teaching approach and their cutting-edge research in top academic journals.

Kit Maxwell

Assistant Teaching Professor

ACCOUNTING

Kit is an instructor of accounting at the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado at Boulder. ÌýHe is a certified public accountant. From 2002 to 2004 and 2005 to 2017, Kit worked at Deloitte & Touche LLP, where he was a partner from 2007 until his retirement in 2017. From 2004 to 2005 he was the corporate controller of a publicly traded real estate investment trust. From 1993 to 2002 Kit worked at Arthur Andersen & Co. He is a graduate of Colorado State University with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in business administration, with an emphasis in accounting.

Jeremiah Contreras

Assistant Teaching Professor • Kala and Shiv Khatri Endowed Faculty Scholar

ACCOUNTING

Jeremiah joined the business school accounting faculty in 2017. He holds an MBA, a BS in Accounting, and is an active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Colorado. Jeremiah's professional background includes auditing with KPMG, serving as a corporate controller for a global professional services firm, and working as a consultant in business management and systems.

Jeremiah’s passion lies in empowering students with accounting and critical thinking skills, instilling a commitment to strong ethics in their personal and professional lives, and preparing them for future leadership roles.

Jeremiah has been at the forefront of incorporating new AI technologies into business school education across various disciplines. He has developed innovative curricula that prepare students for the evolving landscape of AI in business, ensuring they are equipped with both traditional business knowledge and cutting-edge technological skills.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Jeremiah is a father of two who enjoys the Colorado lifestyle, often exploring the outdoors with his family and their dog Cooper.

Nikki Skinner

Assistant Professor • Craig and Cynthia Smith Faculty Scholar

ACCOUNTING

Nathan Marshall

Associate Professor • Tisone Memorial Fellow & KPMG Faculty Fellow • Accounting PhD Program Director

ACCOUNTING

Nathan Marshall is an Associate Professor in the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder. His research largely focuses on the intersection of financial accounting and the capital markets, with a particular emphasis on the communication, dissemination and processing of corporate information and the role of information intermediaries in this process. Broadly speaking, Nathan's research speaks to the following topics: (i) corporate communication of performance information; (ii) information intermediaries and the processing of information; and (iii) the discretionary decisions of information intermediaries. Prior to beginning his academic career, Nathan was a manager at the litigation consulting firm The Kenrich Group in Chicago, Illinois. He worked as a litigation consultant for six years, primarily calculating and quantifying corporate damages from contractual disputes. Nathan also worked as a credit analyst for Standard Federal Bank prior to his consulting work. Nathan is a certified public accountant in the State of Illinois.

Meet the MS Accounting Team at Leeds

Leeds' team of dedicated professionals help you maximize your experience in the MS Accounting program. Our student success team and career development coaches provide highly curated support to ensure you have everything you need to succeed.

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Application Deadlines

The application for 2025 entry is now open!

Round 1:ÌýOctoberÌý14, 2024

Round 2:ÌýFebruary 15, 2025

Round 3:ÌýMarch 15, 2025

Final International Deadline:ÌýMarch 15, 2025

Final Domestic Deadline:ÌýJune 1, 2025

Master's of Taxation Video

Master's of Accounting BAM Informational Video

Master's Program News and Updates