Abstract
This study examines which factors impact the number of master's programs being offered to complete the 150-hour accounting curriculum requirement, and if there is a link between the number of programs, accounting program performance, and market orientation. To date, all states and all U.S. jurisdictions, with the exception of the U.S. Virgin Islands, require 150-hours of formal collegiate education for licensure as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Nonetheless, the 150-hour requirement does not mandate a graduate degree, but universities that offer graduate accounting programs may have a competitive advantage (Donelan and Reed 2000). Survey responses were analyzed from 201 business school deans and accounting chairs from universities with undergraduate accounting programs in the United States. The results indicate that the number of master's program offerings related to accounting has increased in the last five years. The results also indicate that there is not a significant relationship between the number of master's program offerings with accounting program performance and market orientation, suggesting that quality, not quantity, is important. Not surprisingly, the number of faculty members, size, accreditation, and type of institution did have an effect on the number of master's program offerings. The results of this study suggest that attention might be better served on the content of the additional hours rather than on adding more master's degree options.