MBA – Advanced Accounting Emphasis
Colorado Christian University seeks to give graduate students an advantage in the working world by providing excellent education, small class sizes and specialized training. In alignment with these goals, CCU Online offers an emphasis in Accounting for students working toward their MBA. CCU's online accounting MBA program combines a Christian worldview with essential business and accounting principles.
Program Focus
Accounting ethics, accounting research, advanced auditing, and advanced tax accounting
The online MBA in advanced accounting is designed to help students who desire to pursue careers in business and accounting. Therefore, this program is limited to students who have an undergraduate degree (preferably an accounting degree) or a solid foundation from a prior accounting program.
- 39 total credit hours
- Program Format: 100% online
- Prerequisite(s) or applicable transfer credit required
- MBA courses are taken one at a time and are typically completed in five-week and seven-week blocks
- Designed for busy adult learners; complete in as little as 18 months of consecutive coursework, even with a full-time or part-time job
- Students can transfer up to nine graduate-level credit hours
- Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
- Program Brochure
MBA Courses
CCU's MBA curriculum includes 13 online courses designed to develop effective, ethical leaders. Each course is typically taken over a five-week time period. Weekly assignments are required, but the course design generally allows participants to complete coursework at the times and places that work best for them (prior to scheduled deadlines).
CCU students utilize Brightspace, a leading solution in electronic education, to participate in MBA classes that blend the latest in eLearning technology with the latest business theory and practice. Students in this MBA accounting program attend classes electronically, do research using the Internet, exchange email, and participate in online discussions. Assignments and tests are submitted online for in-seat students as well as those taking their program online.
MBA Accounting Emphasis Courses
CCU's accounting courses will prepare you to blend a focused business experience with technical aspects of accounting. You'll integrate academics with moral principles from Scripture so you can grow as a servant leader, strengthen your ethical framework, and responsibly influence your profession.
The accounting emphasis courses at CCU include:
- Accounting Ethics. This course provides MBA students with a lens through which to examine biblical and ethical standards that will be necessary for accounting practice, such as integrity, due care, confidentiality and much more.
- Advanced Managerial/Cost Accounting. This course introduces students to cost accounting, including but not limited to: budgeting and control, job and activity-based costing, variance performance reporting, and the balanced scorecard.
- Research and the Accounting Regulatory Environment. This class presents a survey of the accounting regulatory environment along with research strategies for locating applicable accounting principles and auditing standards in complex accounting situations.
- Advanced Tax Accounting. This course develops a conceptual framework for analyzing taxation of property transactions, corporations, partnerships, and exempt organizations.
- Auditing Forensics for Accounting Information Systems. This class combines a review of the scope of audit work and the major steps in the audit process with an overview of the steps in forensic analytics and investigation practices.
- International Accounting Standards. This course presents the challenges and opportunities of incorporating the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) into practice given the convergence of the global marketplace.
Admission to the MBA Program
Admission to the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at Colorado Christian University is selective. Applicants are evaluated on the basis of previous academic performance, personal and professional accomplishments and goals, and strength of character. A strong desire to complete graduate-level work in a Christ-centered, biblically based community is important.
Application Deadlines
You can enter the MBA program at multiple points in the academic year. You should complete the admission process as early as possible so you will have adequate time to work with an advisor and qualify for financial aid.
Prerequisite Coursework
All applicants to CCU's MBA program are required to have fulfilled prerequisite courses for Accounting, Finance, and Statistics. Specific emphases may have additional prerequisites.
Review the MBA Prerequisites prior to application submission.
Admission Requirements
- Complete the graduate admission application online (including essay and transcripts).
- Provide a professional resume and employment record. It is expected that MBA candidates will have at least 5 years of professional work experience or the equivalent.
- Submit an official transcript that reflects a bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited higher education institution. For those seeking an emphasis in advanced accounting, a bachelor's degree in accounting is required.
- Have a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants with an undergraduate grade point average between 2.0 and 2.49 will be admitted on a conditional admit (CAD) basis for the first semester. CAD students must maintain a 3.0 GPA or better in their first nine (9) credits to remain in the program.
- Complete any needed prerequisite courses. Review the MBA prerequisites prior to application submission.
- The Office of Admission reserves the right to request additional information as deemed necessary to make a selection decision.
Transfer of Courses
Students may transfer up to nine semester hours of graduate credit from an accredited college or university. The coursework must be comparable to that offered at CCU and fulfill the CCU MBA degree requirements.
International Applicants
If you are not a U.S. citizen, you are considered an international student. Learn more about whether or not you'll be required to submit TOEFL scores, and find additional information on our International Students page.
To submit application-related materials that were not already submitted through the online application, email them to AdmissionsSupport@securemail.ccu.edu or mail to:
Colorado Christian University
Attn: Registration Services/Transcripts
8787 W. Alameda Ave.
Lakewood, CO 80226
Why get an MBA in Accounting
With the leadership and marketing focus in the MBA, students aspiring to become an accountant or pursue other roles in accounting or business will have additional doors open in higher levels of business. Many find that they:
- Have greater job responsibility and opportunities
- Know how to pursue career advancement
- Obtain professional certification, and/or
- Discover new opportunities to give back (such as through project-based ministries designed to serve charitable causes)
Who should consider an MBA with an Accounting emphasis?
Although MBA accounting emphasis students may have many unique backgrounds, students who select a master's degree in accounting tend to have strong background knowledge in accounting, finance, economics and statistics. CCU's program equips future business and nonprofit leaders and managers with a Christian worldview, along with a broad business administration background and technology base.
Students who participate in this program will have a biblical background that highlights both the benefits of serving with excellence and making ethical decisions to further the Kingdom of God. Graduates from this program will have a unique understanding of how accounting can also be ministry, whether through living above reproach, or knowing how to take their faith into the workplace, as well as the scriptural basis for making good stewardship decisions.
If you're interested in career development for accounting professionals, fill out the form on the page today! Our enrollment counselors can answer your questions about CCU's Accounting graduate degrees.
State Exclusions for Online Students
Colorado Christian University is required by the U.S. Department of Education to be in compliance with state laws regarding where we can offer distance and/or online education. The College of Adult and Graduate Studies at Colorado Christian University offers courses to online students in all states with some exceptions for specific academic programs.
