Program Overview

Introduction to DePaul's Master of Science in Accountancy

DePaul University's Master of Science in Accountancy (MSA) program is designed to prepare students for the complexities of the accounting field and equip them with the necessary skills to succeed as accounting professionals. This program does not require a previous accounting degree.

Program Curriculum

The MSA program offers a challenging yet rewarding curriculum that blends theoretical foundations with practical applications. Led by experienced faculty members, the program provides a high-touch approach to education, focusing on career readiness and unique elective courses. This allows students to tailor their learning experience to align with their professional goals.

Online Delivery Format

The program's online delivery format is tailored to accommodate the work-life balance of students seeking a career change or advancement. It encompasses asynchronous core courses and flexible elective options.

Total Quarter Hours

The total quarter hours required for the program is 48.

Online Master of Science in Accountancy Required Courses

The online Master of Science in Accountancy requires a minimum of 12 courses, each counting for 4 quarter hours.

Core Accountancy Courses

The following are the 8 required accounting courses:

1. ACC 500 Financial Accounting: This introduction to financial accounting provides both a theoretical foundation and an opportunity to apply accounting logic in increasingly complex situations.
2. ACC 535 Principles of Accounting Information Systems: This course provides knowledge and practice about accounting information systems and their role in accounting functions and financial decision-making.
3. ACC 541 Financial Accounting Theory & Practice I: This course covers intermediate theory and preparation of financial statements, with emphasis on current assets and liabilities, property, plant and equipment, and intangibles.
4. ACC 543 Financial Accounting Theory & Practice II: This course continues the intermediate theory and financial statement preparation, with emphasis on the components of stockholder's equity and special problems.
5. ACC 545 Advanced Topics in Accounting Theory: This course provides comprehensive coverage of consolidations, partnership accounting, foreign operations, and not-for-profit accounting.
6. ACC 547 Auditing I: This course provides a conceptual introduction to the nature and value of financial statement audits, emphasizing professional skepticism and Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS).
7. ACC 548 Tax Treatment of Individuals and Property Transactions: This course covers the federal income tax treatment of individual taxpayers, including inclusions, exclusions, deductions, credits, and property transactions.
8. ACC 551 Tax Treatment of Corporations and Partnerships: This course covers the federal income tax treatment of corporations and partnerships, including ethics in tax practice and exposure to estate and gift taxation.

Degree Requirements

To complete the degree, students must:

1. Satisfactorily complete 12 accountancy courses as outlined.
2. Complete at least 48 earned graduate credit hours applicable to the degree.
3. Complete all courses for credit toward the degree with satisfactory grades within six calendar years after the candidate's first term of enrollment.

Elective Courses

Students must choose 4 elective courses from the list below:

• ACC 542 Cost and Managerial Accounting: Introduction to cost and managerial concepts and techniques.
• ACC 550 Auditing II: Builds upon the understanding and application of GAAS, focusing on audit procedures and evidence.
• ACC 552 Business Law for Accountants: Covers aspects of the legal environment of special concern to accounting practitioners.
• ACC 558 Tax Research: Examines sources of tax law used during a tax research project.
• ACC 560 Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders: Study of federal income taxation of corporations and shareholders.
• ACC 565 Tax Accounting, Periods and Methods: Deals with federal income tax planning as to the determination of the proper periods for reporting income and deductions.
• ACC 578 Data Analytics in Tax: Provides exposure to data analytic concepts and tools applicable to tax.
• ACC 615 Applied Statistics for Accountants: A statistical overview of concepts with emphasis on understanding and interpretation of outcomes.
• ACC 635 Introduction to Fraud Examination: Focuses on fraud principles related to asset misappropriations, corruption, and fraudulent financial statements.
• ACC 636 Internal Auditing, Corporate Governance and Internal Control: Addresses the overall role of internal audit in an organization's control and governance structure.
• ACC 637 Data Mining and Analytics: Introduces students to the field of data mining and data analytics.
• ACC 639 Audit Analytics: Familiarizes students with basic audit analytics knowledge, skills, and tools.
• ACC 640 Advanced Topics in Accounting Theory II: Emphasizes financial accounting research using the FASB Accounting Standards Codification.
• ACC 646 Forensic Financial Statement Analysis and Valuation: Focuses on financial statement fraud and valuation skills for public and private firms.