This course identifies developing areas in accounting and encourages students to research the issues, think critically, evaluate alternatives, and communicate conclusions orally and in writing. The course addresses the role of the contemporary accountant, international accounting standards, the future of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, standard-setting and regulation, ethics, and other developing issues.

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:

• Examine and summarize the role that the accountant plays as a strategic business partner
• Analyze the historical and current accounting standard-setting process
• Compare International Standards to US GAAP
• Research and summarize current accounting emerging issues
• Analyze the current Congressional business tax rulings
• Communicate conclusions with clarity and coherence

This course provides students with an understanding of how accounting and other information necessary to assess a firm’s economic status is created, packaged, and disseminated to a company’s management team and external users such as investors, customers, analysts, and the financial media. The course also covers academic writing used in the program and information literacy required for research.

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:

• Evaluate methods used to communicate complex accounting concepts
• Interpret how effectively annual reports communicate an organization’s objectives
• Develop different communication strategies for all stakeholders
• Employ multimedia, hypermedia, and electronic literature resources to gather and distribute accounting and business knowledge and information
• Employ clear writing and speaking skills appropriate to the audience
• Capture ideas, data, and relationships visually

This course covers how accounting leaders assist a company in making strategic financial decisions and explores the relationship between ethics and leadership. Students learn behaviors to accelerate high performance and create an ethical environment.

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:

• Develop a definition of ethical leadership that encompasses social responsibility and civic engagement
• Use tools for conflict resolution, managing diversity, and building teams
• Evaluate team strategies to enhance team productivity
• Analyze organizational theories to manage strategically
• Assess the congruence between personal norms and ethical principles
• Demonstrate respectful engagement with others’ ideas, behaviors, and beliefs
• Apply diverse frames of reference to decisions and actions
• Resolve issues based on evidence weighed against relevant criteria

This course uses data analytic processes and models to identify, translate, test, and communicate financial information. Students learn to identify data quality and reliability and to explore problem-solving through statistical data analysis.

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:

• Explain why data analytics matters to accountants
• Apply and translate accounting data
• Analyze and visualize data sets of an organization
• Develop and interpret results of KPIs and financial analysis
• Interpret and evaluate using the IMPACT approach
• Prepare text mining and sentiment analysis on financial statement data
• Communicate financial reporting data in a professional and engaging manner

• An undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution
• A minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
• If your overall GPA is below 2.75, you may receive conditional status in the program at the program director’s discretion

No prerequisite coursework or experience is required for this program.

No GRE/GMAT scores are needed to apply for this program.

Transfer credits are not accepted for this program.

Students with transcripts from universities outside the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada (except for the Quebec Province) must take and pass English proficiency testing

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 72
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 6.0
• Michigan Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) with a minimum score of 74%
• International Test of English Proficiency (ITEP) with a minimum score of 4.0 or Pearson Test of English with a score of 51
• Duolingo with a minimum score of 100

Whether you apply through our online application via hard copy or in person with a Saint Mary’s admissions counselor, your application must include the following items:

Official transcripts: An official transcript issued to the Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota from the institution posting the applicant’s completed degree and other relevant transcripts documenting program prerequisites and potential transfer credits must be sent separately and directly from your institution. The Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota accepts official transcripts electronically from previously attended institutions. Transcripts should be sent to oladmissions@smumn.edu or mailed to:

Transcript Processing Center
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
851 Trafalgar Court, Suite 420
Maitland, FL 32751

An up-to-date résumé: Include both your educational and professional experience

Two references: Provide the names of two people (including title, organization, email, and phone number) who can serve as professional references, if needed, during the application review process. The best references are those who know you professionally, such as current or former supervisors

Upcoming application deadlines for Saint Mary’s online Accounting Leadership Graduate Certificate:

• Spring: December 18, 2023
• Summer: April 22, 2024
• Fall: August 20, 2024

Upcoming start dates for Saint Mary’s online Accounting Leadership Graduate Certificate:

• Spring: January 8, 2024
• Summer: May 6, 2024
• Fall: September 3, 2024

Once you’ve submitted your application, expect to be notified about acceptance approximately two weeks after your submission date.