WCU's Master of Accountancy program is moving to an online format beginning with the 2024 fall semester.
By Bill Studenc
甜瓜视频app鈥檚 Master of Accountancy Program, previously located at WCU鈥檚 instructional site at Biltmore Park in Asheville, is moving to an online format beginning with the 2024 fall semester.
The move, which takes effect in August, is designed to accommodate the needs of students as they seek advanced degrees in a changing landscape nationally for graduate programs, said Mariano Garrido-L贸pez, director of graduate programs for WCU鈥檚 College of Business.
鈥淭oday鈥檚 students are looking for more flexibility in their academic pursuits,鈥 Garrido-L贸pez said. 鈥淭hey want the ability to complete their master鈥檚 degrees while pursuing their professional careers and raising their families.鈥
The shift to an online format will mean that students from across Western North Carolina 鈥 and beyond 鈥 will no longer have to travel to Asheville for master鈥檚 degree courses in accountancy.
鈥淥ur own WCU undergraduate students have expressed a desire to continue with their master鈥檚 degree program after completing their bachelor鈥檚 degree,鈥 Garrido-L贸pez said. 鈥淭he online option allows them to continue studying with their accounting undergraduate faculty, whom they love. Our accounting faculty team is a group of individuals who are especially passionate about what they do and really care about their students.鈥
Alumna Katelan鈥嬧嬧嬧 Price, who earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in mathematics in 2010 and master鈥檚 degree in accountancy in 2012, said she welcomed the change after seeing two of her classmates turn to master鈥檚 programs in accountancy at other institutions because of the lack of an online format at WCU.
鈥淚鈥檓 so excited for 甜瓜视频app to push our MAcc online. This move continues to place WCU on the cutting edge of our profession and serve a larger generation of upcoming accountants. It demonstrates our continued excellence and commitment to Western being in the business of changing lives and graduating Business Ready庐 students,鈥 said Price, system and organization controls audit supervisor for Smith + Howard Advisory in Atlanta.
鈥淎ccounting firms are facing a pipeline problem that starts at the university level. Transitioning the Master of Accountancy to an online program broadens the reach of WCU to beyond the mountains of North Carolina, thus providing students with a different path to become a certified public accountant while retaining the benefits that Western Carolina offers.鈥
Part of WCU鈥檚 FORVIS Accountancy Program, the Master of Accountancy is designed to provide students with the necessary foundation for successful careers in public accounting, industry, government and not-for-profit institutions. It prepares students to meet the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants and state board 150-hour requirement for licensure as a CPA.
WCU consistently is listed among the best providers of online undergraduate and graduate degree programs in annual rankings compiled by U.S. News & World Report.
For more information about the Master of Accountancy Program, visit macc.wcu.edu, download the brochure at or email businessgrad@wcu.edu.