Study Accounting in Maryland
You have many options for completing your accounting degree online. On the one hand, you can enroll in a bachelor’s degree program based in Maryland or surrounding states. On the other hand, you can explore a master’s program in accounting, whether your undergraduate degree is in accounting or not.
In fact, there are many graduate program options in Maryland and offered online from out-of-state schools. Regardless of the degree level, type, and school location, though, the online learning format allows you to work on your degree with minimal impact on your current career and life obligations.
This guide explores some of the popular options to consider as you seek to become an accountant in Maryland.
Online Accounting Degrees in Maryland
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online accounting degrees in Maryland:
- University of Maryland Global Campus
- Seton Hall University
- Southern New Hampshire University
- University of Baltimore
- Capella University
- Grand Canyon University
- Maryville University
University of Maryland Global Campus
Online Bachelor of Science in Accounting
The online campus of the University of Maryland offers a Bachelor of Science in Accounting with a focus on career preparation. Throughout the program, you’ll have opportunities to master topics such as auditing, budgeting, tax law, and more.
The 120-credit curriculum offers broad accounting studies and training that prepare you for a range of industry certifications. For example, completing this degree prepares you to sit for the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) exam and the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) exam. Likewise, the 120 credits you complete in this program count toward the 150-credit requirement to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam.
Most students need four years to complete this program. However, you can take extra classes each semester and speed up the timeline to graduate. Conversely, you can study part-time and take up to seven years to finish the program. Either way, you’ll participate in projects, case studies, data visualizations, and other activities that help you apply what you learn in your classes.
The curriculum is divided into three components: general education classes, major-area credits, and minor and elective classes. General education classes are just as they sound – broad studies in a wide range of topics. These courses, which explore fields like natural sciences, social sciences, math, English, and others, are required of all students regardless of major.
For example, you might take the following general education courses during your first year of college:
- Public speaking (to satisfy the communications requirement)
- Information technology (to satisfy the technology requirement)
- Pre-Calculus (to satisfy the mathematics requirement)
- Introduction to Anthropology (to satisfy the social sciences requirement)
- Introduction to Biology (to satisfy the biological and physical sciences requirement)
You must complete 41 general education credits, most of which will occur during your first two years in the program. The final two years focus on major-area credits, minor credits, and electives. For example, you must take Principles of Accounting I and II, Intermediate Accounting I and II, and Cost Accounting Data Analytics as part of the major-area requirements.
Furthermore, you’ll take courses exploring specific accounting applications, such as Internal Auditing, Federal Income Tax, and Forensic Accounting. Courses in related fields are also required. As an example, you must take Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and Business Law. Other related courses include the following:
- Business Finance
- Management and Organization Theory
- Marketing Principles
- Ethics and Professional Accounting or Business Ethics
You can tailor your degree to your specific interests through the minor and elective portion of the curriculum. If, for example, your interests are in accounting applications in business, you might minor in Business Administration or Economics. Conversely, you could minor in Personal Financial Planning if you prefer to apply your accounting skills in a financial field.
The University of Maryland Global Campus also offers an accelerated bachelor’s and master’s degree program if you want to get an advanced education in less time. This accelerated pathway allows you to earn up to six credits that count toward both degrees, thereby reducing your time to graduate by about a semester.
You must have a high school diploma or the equivalent and submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended when applying.
Seton Hall University
Online Bachelor of Science in Accounting
Though Seton Hall is in nearby Pennsylvania, its online Bachelor of Science in Accounting is available to you as a Maryland resident. This general accounting degree explores essential topics in accounting and prepares you to sit for various accounting exams, including the CPA and CIA exams noted earlier, as well as the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) exam.
Additionally, you can choose to combine this bachelor’s program with a FastForward MBA. This unique program allows you to earn both degrees in just five years. This short timeline is achieved with fast-track 8-week courses and a generous transfer policy that allows you to count approved credits from other schools toward the requirements for earning this dual degree.
A total of 120 credits is needed to complete this program. Approximately half of those credits are in the general education category explained above. While the specific general requirements for each program are a little different, you can expect to complete coursework in traditional liberal arts fields like quantitative methods, natural and physical sciences, the human experience, languages, and more.
The accounting curriculum includes 63 credits of studies in introductory and advanced concepts. Basic coursework includes the following:
- Principles of Accounting I and II
- Managerial Accounting
- Intermediate Accounting I and II
- Principles of Finance
- Federal Taxation
These and other 100- and 200-level courses (e.g., Auditing) provide you with a solid foundation of accounting knowledge, skills, and techniques required for more advanced studies. Your advanced coursework – which includes 300- and 400-level classes – explores more specific topics in accounting.
For example, you’re required to take a Financial Statement Analysis class that explores topics like capital budgeting, ratio analysis, and financial projections. You’re also required to take two Business Law classes that help you understand contracts, securities and corporate takeover, bankruptcy, and antitrust regulations, to name a few.
Other advanced accounting courses include the following:
- Advanced Accounting
- Introduction to Forensic Accounting
- Information Technology Management
- Nonprofit and Government Accounting
- Corporate Partnership and Nonprofit Tax
The accounting curriculum also includes studies in related business fields. For example, you’ll take a Business Communication course that teaches you how to communicate accounting data in a meaningful and understandable way to various stakeholders. You’ll also take courses in Economics and Data Analytics, and complete a capstone in Strategic Management.
Seton Hall offers a host of benefits for online students like you. All students get access to campus facilities, like libraries and student health centers. This program offers the flexibility of studying part-time or full-time as well. Likewise, this program is divided into six sessions per year rather than two semesters. Having short sessions allows you to take classes when it’s convenient for you, skip sessions, and resume studies again during a later session without much time passing.
You can apply to Seton Hall online for free. The admissions requirements are as follows:
- Have a high school diploma or the equivalent.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Submit official SAT or ACT scores (unless you have a 2.5 high school GPA or higher or scored 165 or higher on all parts of the GED test).
Optional items to include in your application include a 200-word essay explaining why you wish to study at Seton Hall and letters of recommendation from teachers or guidance counselors.
Southern New Hampshire University
Online Bachelor of Science in Accounting
Another out-of-state online degree option worth your consideration is the Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Southern New Hampshire University. You can also choose a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance if that track aligns more closely with your career goals.
The BS in Accounting is a cutting-edge program that’s specifically aligned with the 2024 changes on the CPA exam. You must complete 30 credits of college coursework beyond the 120 credits needed to graduate from this program. However, the close alignment of this curriculum to the CPA test makes it more likely you’ll earn a passing score.
SNHU makes it easy to use credits you’ve already earned, too. You can transfer up to 90 approved credits, meaning you might only need to take 30 credits (or about one year of classes) to earn your degree. If you don’t have prior credits to transfer, you’ll learn everything you need to:
- Analyze and interpret quantitative accounting data.
- Evaluate regulations in financial accounting.
- Utilize tools and technologies to create and disseminate financial reports.
- Effectively communicate accounting data to others.
This program includes studies in the same areas as the degrees described earlier. However, where this program differs is in the ability to earn certifications within the program. For example, you can earn certificates in general soft skills like negotiation, critical thinking, and leadership. Likewise, SNHU offers a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) certificate that teaches you how to prepare and file tax returns for underserved communities.
Another certification you might consider is Wiley Excel for Accountants. This specialization focuses on critical accounting procedures like analyzing data, calculating profits and losses, and performing what-if analyses. These and other Excel-related skills are critical to have and can help you gain employment after graduation.
Another unique option in this program is the Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination Concentration. Forensic accounting explores accounting procedures, fraud investigations, case studies, and case law. You’ll learn how to uncover, analyze, and assess potential fraud cases, as well as the requirements to prosecute financial crimes.
If you choose the BS in Accounting but want to continue in a master’s program, SNHU offers a BS-to-MS pathway that might be a great fit. If accepted to this program, you can earn up to 12 graduate credits as an undergraduate, allowing you to save time and money while getting your master’s degree. Usually, students complete this pathway in five years.
With a bachelor’s degree, you can pursue any number of accounting careers, including public accountant, forensic accountant, management accountant, or auditor. Whatever career path you choose, this flexible degree option that’s accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs – which features 8-week terms and no set class times – will help you develop all the competencies you need.
The application for admission to this program is available here. To apply, simply fill out the application (which is free), provide your high school diploma or equivalency, and submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
University of Baltimore
Online Master of Science in Accounting and Business Advisory Services
If it’s an advanced degree you’re after, the online Master of Science in Accounting and Business Advisory Services from University of Baltimore is a flexible option that you can complete in as little as a year and a half. To do so, you must take 9-12 credits in the fall and spring semesters, then six credits in the summer.
This program, which is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), requires just 30 credits to complete, provided you have an undergraduate degree in accounting or business. However, you can still enroll in this program without a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
If, for example, your degree is in a different field, you’ll need to complete a sequence of prerequisite courses to gain essential accounting skills before starting your advanced studies. Up to 27 prerequisite course credits can be accepted. This allows you to transition to an accounting degree and career, even if your undergraduate degree is in a completely unrelated field.
You can enjoy a lot of flexibility with this program. For instance, you can focus your studies on general accounting to widen your job prospects. You can also choose to focus on specialized areas like Data Analytics, Nonprofit Financial Management, or Taxation. In fact, this program allows you to choose two of these concentrations to develop a bespoke degree.
For example, since data analytics is a growing component of accounting, the specialization in this field can help you develop cutting-edge expertise that’s highly sought-after by companies big and small. You must take the following classes to complete the 9-credit specialization:
- Data Science Toolkit I and II
- Database Management Systems
- Visual Business Intelligence
The other specialization options also require three courses (9 credits in total), so it’s easy to incorporate one or more specializations into your master’s degree studies. The Nonprofit Financial Management Specialization requires courses like Performance Management and Accounting Controls, Advanced Reporting Issues, and Accounting Ethics. Meanwhile, the Taxation specialization requires that you complete classes such as Tax Practice and Procedure, Taxation of Entities, and Fundamentals of Federal Income Tax.
These specialized studies are done alongside the general requirements for this master’s degree. Over the course of 18 required credits, you’ll gain advanced skills in topics such as Financial Accounting, Strategic Profitability Analysis, and Financial Management. Other required courses include the following:
- Taxation of Entities
- Advanced Topics in Assurance Services
- Corporate Finance
- Topics in Information Systems or IT for Business Transformation
The combination of these general and specialized studies helps you build skills related to accounting research, analytical thinking, effective communication, and ethical practice.
Applications for this program are accepted at three points during the year: August 15th for fall admission, January 1st for spring admission, and May 1st for summer admission. You must meet the following admissions requirements to be eligible for this program:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Provide a current resume.
- Submit a personal statement in which you clearly discuss your background, interests, and why this program is the right fit for you.
- Provide one letter of recommendation.
GMAT scores are not required for admission. However, earning a high GMAT score (e.g., 600 or higher) combined with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher qualifies you for priority consideration for graduate scholarship opportunities.
How Do I Become an Accountant in Maryland?
To become an accountant in Maryland, follow these steps:
- Education: Obtain at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and complete 150 credit hours
- CPA Exam: Pass all four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination.
- Work Experience: Gain one year of full-time accounting experience under the supervision of a CPA.
- Ethics Exam: Pass the Professional Ethics exam offered by AICPA.
- Licensure: Apply for CPA licensure, including proof of education, experience, and exam scores.
Educational Requirements
There is a difference between the educational requirements for sitting for the CPA Exam and obtaining CPA licensure. To sit for the CPA Exam, you need a baccalaureate or higher degree from an institution accredited by one of the following bodies:
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
- Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
- Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
- Maryland Board of Public Accountancy
To be eligible for the CPA Exam, you must complete 120 semester hours (or equivalent) with a major in accounting, including 30 semester hours in accounting and ethics subjects as follows:
- 3 semester hours in auditing
- 3 semester hours in cost or managerial accounting
- 3 semester hours in U.S. Federal Income Tax
- 9 semester hours in financial accounting
- 9 semester hours in additional accounting courses
- 3 semester hours in ethics (business, accounting, or philosophy ethics)
For CPA licensure, you must complete a total of 150 semester hours (or equivalent) that include 21 semester hours in business-related topics, covering 5 of the following 9 subject areas:
- Statistics
- Economics
- Corporation or Business Finance
- Management
- Marketing
- U.S. Business Law
- Business Communication
- Quantitative Methods
- Computer Science/Information Systems
Passing the CPA Exam
The CPA Exam consists of four sections. You must score at least 75 in each section within an 18-month period to pass.
Work Experience Requirements
The Maryland Board of Public Accountancy requires you to demonstrate a minimum of one year of full-time professional experience, endorsed by a licensed CPA. This experience can include services in public practice, government, private industry, or academia, such as:
- Accounting
- Attest
- Management Advisory
- Financial Advisory
- Tax
- Consulting Skills
CPA Ethical Exam Requirements
You must complete the AICPA’s Professional Ethics Course and send the completion certificate to the Maryland Board of Public Accountancy within two years before your license application. This course evaluates the profession’s ethical standards and the code of conduct for CPA licensees. The final exam requires a passing score of 90% or higher.
Applying for a CPA License in Maryland
When submitting your application for an initial license, you must:
- Have official transcripts proving 150 semester hours (225 quarter hours) of education sent to the Maryland Board of Public Accountancy.
- Have a bachelor’s degree or higher with an accounting concentration.
- Pass all four sections of the Uniform CPA Exam within an 18-month period and submit the results to the board.
- Submit the CPA Experience Form directly to the board.
Maryland CPA License Renewal Requirements
You must renew your CPA license every two years from the issuance date. You must fulfill the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirements to apply for renewal via an online application.
As an active CPA in Maryland, you must earn a minimum of 80 hours of CPE every two years to renew your license. The education can be in either technical or non-technical subjects, but you must complete at least four hours of CPE in professional ethics. Additionally, you must retain your CPE supporting documents for four years, and no credits can be transferred or counted toward the next term.
How Long Does It Take to Become an Accountant in Maryland?
Including education, work, and licensing requirements, becoming a fully licensed CPA in Maryland typically takes 6 to 7 years.