Graduate Certificates in Accounting (and Data Analytics)

Advance Your Skills, Learn to Make Managerial Decisions and More

Do you hope to grow in your career or sharpen your skills, but you aren’t necessarily ready to commit to a master’s program? A graduate certificate in accounting and data analytics from Michigan State University can help you meet your goals now while providing you the option to continue your education in the future.

At MSU, you’ll find four graduate certificates in accounting and data analytics you may pursue as stand-alone programs or transfer toward a master’s in accounting and data analytics.

Certificate Programs

This nine-credit, online graduate certificate in accounting and data analytics program is designed to meet the professional development needs of accounting professionals like you. It also serves as an alternative pathway for students who are seeking to fulfill the 150 hour rule requirements for certified public accountant certification.

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This nine-credit, online graduate certificate in managerial analysis for decision making is designed for business and accounting professionals who are interested in transitioning into a corporate accounting role.

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This online, graduate-level taxation certificate is designed to help business and accounting professionals pursue a career as a tax professional or gain a better understanding of accounting for income taxes, the principles of tax and tax planning, and more.

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The online transaction services graduate certificate is designed for business and accounting professionals who are interested in taking advanced courses in accounting to learn more about the fast-paced world of deals and transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, restructurings and bankruptcies.

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Online

Complete in 9–12 months

9–12 credits

3–4 seven-week courses

Flexible

Asynchronous with optional synchronous interactions

Designed for Professionals Seeking Advanced Skills in Accounting, Data Analytics and More

Are you looking for an alternative pathway to meet the certified public accountant education requirements? Maybe you’d like to hone your skills to make better, more effective managerial decisions? Whether you hope to pursue a corporate accounting role, become a tax professional, or you’re interested in transaction services such as mergers and acquisitions or other advanced courses in accounting — or all of the above — our graduate certificates in accounting and related studies can help you take the next step in your career.

Why Earn a Graduate Certificate in Accounting and Data Analytics at MSU?

There is much to consider when you decide to pursue a graduate certificate in accounting and data analytics.

As you prepare to earn a graduate-level accounting or taxation certificate, a certificate to help you make more strategic managerial decisions, or transition into transaction support roles in the dynamic field of mergers and acquisitions, you need a program that aligns with your goals.

You also need graduate-level certificate courses and advanced courses in accounting that you can take on your schedule while also juggling your other responsibilities.

We’re confident you’ll find just that at MSU.

Modern skills to keep up with emerging technology and trends

Information processing technologies, the availability of data and the use of high-tech tools to carry out business and financial tasks are changing how accountants and business professionals work and what they do.

As you take advanced courses in accounting and analytics online at MSU, you’ll leverage MSU’s experiential learning opportunities and alumni connections to develop the technical knowledge and professional communication skills you need to succeed in a variety of roles in accounting and business.

World-class instruction

At MSU, you’ll take advanced courses in accounting and related fields with knowledgeable, connected faculty who bring firsthand experience to the classroom. Not only will they provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in accounting and in business, but they’ll show you how to apply it in the real world, too.

Our faculty are committed to helping you understand organizations on a deeper level through accounting: the language that businesses, nonprofits and governments rely on to tell their stories. You’ll benefit from our faculty’s work and research as you also build community and network with your instructors and peers.

Real-world, hands-on experience

As you complete your graduate certificate in accounting and data analytics, taxation certificate or transaction services certificate, or as you study how to make better managerial decisions, you’ll practice and sharpen your new skills right away.

If you’re seeking the graduate-level certificate for managerial decisions, for example, you’ll gain and practice essential skills using accounting information to facilitate better decision-making. If you’re interested in pursuing the transaction services graduate certificate, you’ll develop and hone skills for financial forecasting, accounting for mergers and acquisitions, transactions from start to finish, data analysis, visualization and more.

Steps to Apply

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Students interested in graduate certificates in Accounting Analytics, Managerial Analysis for Decision Making, and Taxation can start in any semester. Students interested in a graduate certificate in Transaction Services can start the program in the fall or spring semester.

Applications must be received at least one month prior to the desired starting semester.

The MSU Broad application process starts when you complete the online application for a Graduate Certificate. Once an application is started, it can be saved and edited until you submit it as complete.
- Within the application “Other Information” section, select the graduate certificate to which you are applying.
- GRE/GMAT scores are not required.
- Any employment or activities not listed on your resume should be included in those respective sections of the application.
- The graduate certificate programs in the Department of Accounting and Information Systems do not require letters of recommendation so there is no need to include recommenders in the “References” section of the application.
- Upload a statement of purpose answering the following questions:
  - - Why are you interested in this program?
    - What are your career goals and interests and how will the program contribute to achieving these?
Submit your application and pay the application fee.
- After you complete the first part of the graduate school application, you will gain access to the Graduate Education Student Portal. This allows you to check your application status, send e-messages to the department, and upload the required additional documents.
- The following documents are required. Please upload:
  - - An unofficial transcript (An unofficial transcript is a copy or screenshot of your transcript, as opposed to the official transcript, which comes directly from your college or university.)
    - A resume

After you complete the MSU application, we will work as quickly as possible to inform you of our decision.

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To learn more about our graduate certificates in accounting and data analytics, please complete our brief request for information form. We look forward to connecting with you.

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