Program Overview

Program Overview

The M.Acy. program is accredited by AACSB International The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. For more than a century, AACSB accreditation has been synonymous with the highest standards in business education. Fewer than 200 universities worldwide earn accreditations in both business and accounting.

Course Work

This program requires undergraduate accounting background course work before applying to the program and while enrolled (most undergraduate accounting degrees meet these requirements). The M.Acy. degree requires 15 hours of core courses and 15 hours of business and accounting electives. Core courses include studies in financial accounting, tax, research, and ethics. The program offers three areas of specialization with electives to be selected from a set of accounting and business courses. No thesis is required. The core courses meet the research and ethics requirement to take the CPA exam in Texas. Additionally, courses in the program can be used to satisfy the 150-hour education requirement in Texas.

Degree Options

• Degree: M.Acy.
• Concentration: No Concentration
• Hours: 30
• Location: San Marcos
  • Degree: M.Acy.
  • Concentration: Auditing and Analytics
  • Hours: 30
  • Location: San Marcos
  • Degree: M.Acy.
  • Concentration: Professional Accounting and Reporting
  • Hours: 30
  • Location: San Marcos
  • Degree: M.Acy.
  • Concentration: Taxation
  • Hours: 30
  • Location: San Marcos

Program Mission

The McCoy College of Business Department of Accounting is dedicated to preparing our diverse student population for professional success in an ever-changing global economy. The master of accountancy (M.Acy.) degree broadens the educational experience of individuals preparing for a career in public accounting. Students explore the social, ethical, and environmental effects of accounting information on those who rely on it for their decision-making needs. The M.Acy. program can be used to satisfy the 150-hour education requirement for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam in Texas. An undergraduate degree in accounting is not required.

Career Options

The program prepares students for careers in many areas, including:

• Public accounting as an auditor, tax professional, forensic accountant, or business consultant
• Industry as an internal auditor, controller, financial analyst, or chief financial officer
• Government as an IRS agent, FBI agent, or defense contract auditor
• Not-for-profit organizations
• Education as an accounting academic

Program Faculty

The Department of Accounting has research faculty who publish in diverse areas of accounting, including auditing, financial accounting, fraud, managerial accounting, governmental accounting, and tax. Faculty members' research has been published in top-tier journals, including The Accounting Review, Journal of Accounting and Economics, and Accounting Horizons. Faculty engage in research and intellectual contributions that impact the practice of accounting, enhance the understanding of the accounting discipline, and improve the process of educating future accountants.

Admission Requirements

The items required for admission consideration are listed below.

• Application
  • Completed online application
• Application Fee
  • $55 nonrefundable application fee, or
  • $90 nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials
• Transcripts & GPA
  • Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university.
  • A copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted.
  • An overall competitive GPA or a competitive GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work, plus any completed graduate courses.
  • Background course work (see below).
• Test Scores
  • Official GMAT/GRE will not be required for applicants
  • Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores
    • Official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall and minimum individual module scores of
      • 19 listening
      • 19 reading
      • 19 speaking
      • 18 writing
    • Official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
    • Official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and minimum individual module scores of 6.0
    • Official Duolingo scores with a 110 overall
    • Official TOEFL Essentials scores with an 8.5 overall
• Documents
  • Responses to specific essay questions (two essays are required)
  • Resume/CV detailing your work experience, extracurricular and community activities, and honors and achievements
  • Two forms of recommendation from persons best able to assess your ability to succeed in graduate school

Application Deadlines

• DEADLINES | U.S. CITIZEN | INTERNATIONAL
• DEADLINES Fall - Priority | U.S. CITIZEN February 1 | INTERNATIONAL February 1
• DEADLINES Fall - Standard | U.S. CITIZEN August 1 | INTERNATIONAL June 1
• DEADLINES Spring - Priority | U.S. CITIZEN September 1 | INTERNATIONAL September 1
• DEADLINES Spring - Standard | U.S. CITIZEN November 1 | INTERNATIONAL October 1
• DEADLINES Summer I - Priority | U.S. CITIZEN January 1 | INTERNATIONAL No Admission
• DEADLINES Summer I - Standard | U.S. CITIZEN May 1 | INTERNATIONAL No Admission

Priority Deadline

Ensures full consideration for admission and eligibility for certain funding opportunities, including scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships, and guarantees that your application will be considered in the initial review.

Standard Deadline

Represents the last day a complete application can be submitted, but does not guarantee admission consideration. After the priority deadline, applications are reviewed on a rolling, space-available basis until the program is full, at which point, applications will close.