W. P. Carey alum Sara Shultz returned for flexibility, specialized knowledge of online master's in accounting

Sara Shultz (BS Finance/Management '24, Online MACC '25) knew she would need additional education to reach her career goal of becoming a CPA, but she had just graduated and was about to begin working. The Online Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics (Online MACC) from W. P. Carey allowed her to gain that necessary education while working full-time.

Sara Shultz (BS Finance/Management '24, Online MACC '25) knew she would need additional education to reach her career goal of becoming a CPA, but she had just finished her undergraduate degrees and was about to begin working.

Learning about the Online Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics (Online MACC) from ASU's W. P. Carey School of Business helped all of the pieces fall into place for Shultz, as it would allow her to gain that necessary education while working full-time.

Not only did the Online MACC offer convenience, but it also provided Shultz with a community of like-minded, supportive individuals. "I have had such an amazing opportunity to meet some of the brightest people I know through this program, classmates and professors alike," she says. "The knowledge that they've shared with me has been invaluable, as well as the experiences we've had through this program together."

W. P. Carey News spoke to Shultz about her decision to pursue a master's degree in accounting, her experience with ASU’s unique Online MACC format, and her plans for the future.

Why W. P. Carey?

As a W. P. Carey alum, Shultz was familiar with the school's supportive environment and vast resources for students. So when she decided she was interested in a future career in accounting and needed more education to do so, ASU was the natural choice.

"During the summer of 2024, ASU reached out to me, and I learned about the Online MACC program," Shultz says. "This would allow me to gain adequate knowledge in accounting, all while meeting the credit hour requirement for the CPA exam. These factors, alongside the flexibility of an online program, were particularly attractive to me, considering my full-time job started during the school year."

One aspect of the Online MACC experience that Shultz greatly appreciated was the two live sessions on Zoom each week for those in the one-year program. The mix of asynchronous and synchronous experiences gives students more opportunities to get to know each other and faculty, as well as work more collaboratively on projects.

"A big part of this program is group work and collaboration in class, which I didn’t have the opportunity to experience at a high level during my undergrad degree," says Shultz. "Our professors taught in a way that encouraged class discussion and to learn from other students. It allowed me to learn from other students' experiences, especially people who have been working in the industry for years already."

Why accounting?

Shultz's undergraduate studies were in finance and management. After gaining some work experience through an internship, she realized that she was interested in a slightly different career path than expected.

"I was waiting to hear back from one of the Big 4 accounting firms, KPMG, about my start date," says Shultz. "I had interned with them on their internal audit team, and realized that I was drawn to a career in consulting — particularly in internal audit — and would be interested in becoming a CPA in my future."

CPA certification is one of many paths available for Online MACC students. Through the W. P. Carey School’s partnership with Becker CPA Review, students have the opportunity — depending on their academic background — to prepare for and pass the CPA exam while still in the program.

While Shultz came into the program with an interest in accounting, she discovered even more intriguing aspects of the industry through engaging coursework like ACC 586: Shareholder Value Creation.

"We walked through the entire process of valuing a company from start to finish, and it was a really in-depth process where we looked into a company's 10-K and other information we gathered ourselves to be able to forecast future financials," she says. "I've never done anything like that before, so it was a great experience and changed the way I looked at companies when I considered things like investing or even deciding to work for a company."

What's next?

The Online MACC program has prepared Shultz to take the CPA exam over the next year, setting her on the path to achieving her career goals. While completing her master's degree, she has also been gaining work experience as an advisory associate at accounting firm KPMG.

When it comes to where her career may go, Shultz says, "I know I enjoy helping people, whether that's as a consultant helping the companies that hire me, or through providing learning opportunities."

Shultz enthusiastically recommends W. P. Carey to any students who are considering it, especially those looking for the flexibility that programs such as the Online MACC offer, calling it a "no-brainer."

"You have an endless amount of opportunities here, a network of facilitators who really care about you, and so many people to connect with both professionally and personally," she says.

"There are so many opportunities to guide your education in the path you're interested in, tons of people to be able to ask questions to if and when you get confused, and a group of peers who have similar interests waiting to learn and grow with you!"