The Hood College Graduate School Accounting Certificate, a natural outcome of the school’s MBA accounting concentration, answers the rising demand for professionals in this facet of business operations. The program, offered on the school's Frederick, Maryland campus, meets the educational needs of individuals who want to change their focus to accounting or advance in their fields by developing specialized skills. Others may wish to fulfill credit requirements toward qualification for the CPA exam.
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The Certificate in Accounting is designed for professionals who want to change their career focus to accounting or obtain necessary credits to qualify to take the CPA exam. Students learn from industry and academic leaders in small, interactive classes in a setting conducive to professional networking. Instruction emphasizes dialogue and collaboration, while the curriculum focuses on:
The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies accounting as one of the professions experiencing the highest growth rate, with demand outstripping supply to at least 2031. In fact, the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area ranks fifth in the country for the concentration of jobs in accounting, and the Bethesda-Rockville-Frederick region of Maryland ranks fourth nationally for top pay in the field.
Certificate students learn from industry and academic leaders in small, interactive classes in a setting conducive to professional networking. Instruction emphasizes dialogue and collaboration, while the curriculum focuses on depth of knowledge in topics such as financial statements, cost analysis, management planning, control systems, financial reporting and accounting information systems.
The program comprises five courses for a total of 15 credits, which students who are admitted to the MBA program may apply toward the master’s degree. Classes are held in the evening to accommodate working professionals’ schedules. With regular enrollment, students will typically complete the program in one year.
* Please note that graduate certificate programs are now eligible for loans.
Hood College participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.
For students applying to the organizational management certificate program, please submit the following to the Graduate School:
Transfer Credit Policy for Admitted Students
Students may transfer a maximum of 6 graduate credits from an external, accredited institution, or another Hood graduate program prior to the first semester of study in the current program. Please review the full graduate transfer credit policy in the College catalog.
Students must complete five three-credit courses for a total of fifteen credits. Successful completion requires a student to maintain a minimum G.P.A. of 3.00. The following courses comprise the certificate:
| MGMT 553 | Foundations of Accounting | 3.0 |
| MGMT 562 | Financial & Managerial Accounting | 3.0 |
| MGMT 568 | Accounting Information Systems | 3.0 |
| MGMT 580 | Strategic Cost Management | 3.0 |
| MGMT 581 | Financial Statement Analysis | 3.0 |
Program Director
Assistant Director of Graduate Admission & Data Management
The MBA Director’s Award is generously funded by Hood MBA alum Chrissy Wheeler and was awarded to Rowela Silvestre.
Alumna Stephanie A. White works for Shelter House, a community nonprofit that provides services to victims of domestic violence.
The Fred and Lenora Ditzel MBA Award, established in honor of Dr. Anita Jose for the top student in her MBA capstone course, Management Policy, was presented to Richard Curtis at Hood College’s 2018 Graduate Degree Recipient Reception.