Master of Science in Accounting

About the Program/Admission Prerequisites

Master of Science: 45.0 quarter credits (for students entering with an undergraduate degree in accounting)

The MS program in Accounting, which can be completed in a one-year or two-year format, is designed to meet the needs of those who plan careers in public accounting, corporate accounting, not-for-profit accounting, or government accounting.

The one-year option is for students already awarded an undergraduate degree in accounting. Students who do not have an undergraduate degree in accounting can be considered for admission to the two-year Accounting program, where prerequisite courses are completed in the first year of study.

The MS in Accounting offers students the opportunity to obtain the technical knowledge, analytical skills and communication proficiency required to serve as ethical and effective accounting professionals. Upon completion of the program, students will be qualified to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination.

The program builds on knowledge equivalent to the requirements for a Drexel University baccalaureate degree in business with a concentration in accounting. Some or all of the prerequisite courses may be waived at the time of admission for those who have completed equivalent courses in their undergraduate education and who can demonstrate proficiency. Applicants must have earned a minimum grade of C in each of the following prerequisite courses:

For Drexel University students planning on entering this program, they are expected to be at Drexel for five years (4 undergraduate years + 1 year for the MS degree) with one co-op residency as part of their combined BS/MS program. Students with undergraduate accounting degrees from non-AACSB accredited schools and non-US schools will be reviewed based upon the curriculum and its comparability to the LeBow undergraduate program. These students may be required to take additional prerequisite courses prior to being admitted to the MS in Accounting program. Further, while students with undergraduate degrees in accounting from non-US schools may be eligible for admission to the program, completion of the program will not necessarily make them eligible to sit for the CPA examination. These students will be responsible for assessing whether their academic backgrounds make them eligible to sit for the CPA examination.

Students with undergraduate degrees in areas outside of accounting can be considered for admission to the program only after they acquire the necessary prerequisite undergraduate accounting and/or business courses. These students should contact the LeBow Advising Office to determine what courses are needed to gain admission to the MS in Accounting program.

State CPA Requirements
Under the accountancy law that becomes effective in Pennsylvania in 2012, an individual interested in practicing as a CPA will be required to have the equivalent of 150 semester credit hours of university education and 36 semester-credits in accounting subjects. The MS in Accounting program satisfies this Pennsylvania state certification requirement. If students are interested in taking the CPA examination in another state (e.g. , Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland), they will need to work in conjunction with the relevant State Board of Accountancy, the Accounting Department, and the LeBow Advising Office to ensure their eligibility to sit for the CPA examination in their desired state.

Students should contact the Accounting Department for additional information.

1-Year Degree Requirements 

Students should contact the Accounting Department for additional information.

Two-Year Program: Degree Requirements

Facilities

Major advances in the technologies used in the corporate world are being constantly matched by upgrades on campus. LeBow College classrooms and seminar rooms are designed as professional-quality settings for student discussions and presentations.

Centers of Excellence are catalysts for research and innovation, think tanks for nationally significant trends and issues, and incubators for opportunities in business and integration among disciplines. LeBow's Centers of Excellence provide students with meaningful experiential learning and impact the performance of business in our region and around the world.

• Center for International Business and Economics
• Center for Corporate Governance
• Sovereign Institute for Strategic Leadership
• Laurence A. Baiada Center for Entrepreneurship in Technology
• Center for Research Excellence
• Center for Teaching Excellence

The LeBow Network sponsors forums, lectures and events. These events enhance the educational experience and provide opportunities for students to meet and interact with fellow professionals

Student organizations such as LeBow Graduate Student Association (LGSA) and Drexel Women in Business (DWIB) make the LeBow experience more comprehensive.

Leonard Pearlstein Business Learning Center
Housed in the Center for Corporate and Executive Education in the state-of-the-art Leonard Pearlstein Business Learning Center at 33rd and Market, the Executive MBA program is LeBow's accelerated and integrated program designed to enable experienced professionals to leverage valuable work experience to maximize their leadership potential.

Made possible by a generous gift from George Krall '58 and his wife, Lois, the Center features the latest in classroom decor and technology, flexibly designed to comfortably accommodate business professionals.

Thanks to the gracious generosity of Drexel Trustee Melba Pearlstein and her family, LeBow students now have the distinct advantage of learning the intricacies of business in an ultramodern facility that combines high technology classrooms with a sophisticated corporate learning environment.

The Pearlstein Center includes:

• State-of-the art classrooms, flexibly designed to comfortably accommodate executives in classroom instruction.
• A multi-purpose room for breakout sessions, buffet lunches, or an additional classroom.
• A workroom where students may send/receive faxes, photocopy materials, prepare and revise classroom assignments and presentations.

Accounting and Tax Faculty