These days, business professionals looking to enter the competitive field of accounting and obtain their CPA license require an equally rigorous education — one that will prepare them with both the technical skills and soft skills employers demand. Ranked #20 nationally by U.S. News & World Report, the Fairfield Dolan Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) program delivers this kind of top education for aspiring CPAs.

Taught by faculty members who are CPAs with industry experience, students can choose between three specializations: assurance, business analytics, or taxation. 95 percent of graduates report working for a Big 4 or regional firm. Concurrent with their studies, students often pass CPA exam sections with pass rates that exceed national averages. Fairfield's MSA program was recently ranked #1 in Connecticut by The Accounting Path.

“We develop accounting professionals who have equally strong communication and leadership skills as they do technical skills,” explained MSA Program Director Kathi Mettler, CPA. “Our graduates progress through Fairfield’s rigorous one-year, full-time, 30-credit program as part of a close-knit cohort. Time and time again, our alumni report that Fairfield’s MSA program prepared them for their first busy season. And 99 percent of our students report landing a full-time job or internship. Our goal is to develop high-performing professionals who appreciate the importance of ethics, integrity, and inclusion in our profession.”

The program’s curriculum focuses on key topics and themes to prepare graduates to succeed in an environment that increasingly requires grounding in ethical, legal, and regulatory matters. Faculty members also place an emphasis on technology’s role in accounting, financial reporting, auditing, and tax. Furthermore, the program addresses the requirements of most states for CPA certification. 

Dolan MSA students receive individualized academic advising, résumé review, and an overview of the recruiting process. Through Fairfield Dolan’s strong alumni network and supportive Career Development Center, students also engage with alumni at speaker events and networking opportunities throughout the year. This guidance, combined with support from the dedicated program director and faculty, demonstrates the value and quality of the Fairfield Dolan MSA program.

To learn more about the admission requirements and what Fairfield Dolan’s MSA program has to offer, please contact Assistant Dean of Dolan Graduate Programs Leanne De Los Santos or MSA Program Director Kathi Mettler.