Accounting is no longer a career reserved for accounting majors. As the profession evolves, employers increasingly value professionals who bring strong technical knowledge together with communication, critical thinking, technology skills and diverse perspectives.
Temple University’s Fox School of Business is responding with a redesigned Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program built not only for students from an accounting background, but also to help those with non-accounting degrees enter the profession.
Wei Wang, director of the MAcc program at the Fox School of Business, Temple University.
“We saw an opportunity to remove substantial barriers to entry and create a program that welcomes students from a non-accounting background while maintaining the rigor employers expect.” — Wei Wang, director of the MAcc program.
The Modern Accountant
For students with undergraduate degrees in fields such as finance, marketing, engineering, computer science, psychology or even music, accounting can offer a new way to put their existing strengths to work.
Today’s accountants do far more than prepare financial statements or tax returns. They help organizations navigate risk, technology, strategy and complex business decisions.
“Students from different disciplines contribute unique perspectives, stronger collaboration, creativity and communication skills,” Wang says. “Those varied experiences enrich classroom discussions and better reflect the multidisciplinary teams found in today’s organizations.”
The redesigned MAcc meets that need by welcoming talented students from a range of academic backgrounds and building on their existing strengths with the accounting foundation and advanced technical skills to succeed in the profession.
Get the inside perspective from two MAcc alumni who share their experience in the program.
CPA Readiness
Temple’s MAcc curriculum starts by building a strong accounting foundation and progressing efficiently into graduate-level concepts and CPA-focused preparation.
Students build their knowledge through increasingly sophisticated applications, case studies and CPA-style problems.
“CPA preparation is woven throughout the curriculum,” Wang says. “We integrate Becker CPA review materials into coursework so students begin preparing for the exam while completing the degree rather than waiting until after graduation.”
The program has also transitioned to a traditional 14-week semester, creating more opportunities for students to engage more deeply with CPA materials, practice problem-solving, receive feedback and build confidence as they prepared for the CPA exams.
“If you enjoy solving problems, working with data, helping organizations make better decisions and if you are a people person, accounting remains an outstanding career choice.” — Wei Wang, director of the MAcc program.
Technology-Driven
The MAcc curriculum includes three IT auditing courses, while AI and data analytics are integrated into other accounting coursework. These skills complement, rather than replace, the fundamentals of accounting.
“Employers consistently seek graduates with strong technical knowledge, communication skills, professionalism, adaptability and technology proficiency—including AI and data analytics,” Wang says.
The result is a graduate prepared not simply to enter accounting, but to participate in the profession’s continued evolution.
Built for Career Success
Temple’s MAcc combines career-focused learning, faculty mentorship and a supportive cohort model to help students succeed. Students learn alongside peers from diverse academic backgrounds while building connections with accounting firms, corporations and government employers through networking, recruiting, mentoring and experiential learning opportunities.
Career workshops and professional panels help students build the skills and confidence to pursue careers in audit, tax, advisory, consulting, forensic, corporate and governmental accounting.
“Some of the most successful accountants discover the profession after earning degrees in other fields.” — Wei Wang, director of the MAcc program.
Are you ready to rethink what comes next, learn more about the Fox School Master of Accountancy program.