- November 13, 2026
- By Gregory Muraski
Beginning in Fall 2027, the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business will offer an online Master of Science in accounting program designed to help early- to mid-career working professionals and recent graduates develop advanced accounting expertise, pursue CPA licensure or transition into the accounting field.
The new degree builds on Smith's graduate accounting program, ranked No. 1 in the Baltimore-Washington region and No. 35 nationally by U.S. News & World Report in 2026. Its 30-credit, three-semester (16-month) online format is designed to equip students with skills in AI, accounting analytics and automation without requiring them to pause their careers.
The program offers two specialized pathways tailored to applicants' backgrounds:
- CPA Foundations: Designed for students from non-accounting backgrounds, including finance, economics, criminology, psychology and the behavioral sciences, to complete courses required for the Maryland CPA exam and build a structured path into accounting.
- Advanced Accounting and Analytics: Designed for students with an accounting foundation who seek deeper expertise in AI tools, data analytics and strategic IT consulting.
“Our new online M.S. in accounting pairs the rigorous, top-ranked foundation of Smith’s full-time graduate accounting program with a cutting-edge curriculum in AI, automation and analytics," said program Academic Director Lei Zhou. “Designed for maximum flexibility for working professionals, this program empowers students to master future-ready skills and advance seamlessly toward CPA licensure and leadership in modern accounting."
Throughout the program, students will engage in applied coursework and hands-on projects supervised by faculty experts, including Zhou, a cybersecurity and accounting analytics expert, and Samuel Handwerger, a senior lecturer, CPA and founder of TerpTax and Justice for Fraud Victims, who brings decades of high-level tax planning and forensic accounting experience to the classroom.
The curriculum incorporates industry-standard tools and technologies, including GenAI, Alteryx, Automation Anywhere, Microsoft SQL, MindBridge Analytics, Tableau and Power BI.
Graduates will master core competencies in financial statement analysis, forensic accounting, automated auditing, valuation and individual taxation, preparing them for high-demand roles in public accounting, corporate finance, financial consulting, risk management and forensic investigation.
Alums of Smith’s master’s programs in accounting are regularly recruited by leading regional and international employers.
Prospective applicants and UMD undergraduates can learn more about admissions deadlines and pathway options by contacting the Smith School’s MBA and Business Master's Admissions Office.