Master in Accounting (MSA) - Management

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Accounting (MSA), Management Track, equips individuals to excel as professional accountants and consultants. With a focus on managerial decision-making, control environments, and compensation systems, this program provides 30 credit hours of advanced coursework in accounting, tax, business law, and management. Upon graduation, graduates are well-positioned for careers in various sectors, including public accounting, industry, and financial institutions.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Master of Science in Accounting (MSA), Management Track is designed to prepare individuals for careers as professional accountants and consultants in various sectors, including:

• Public accounting
• Industry
• Financial institutions
• Government
• Nonprofit organizations
The program focuses on equipping students with the skills to utilize accounting data for:
• Making managerial decisions
• Monitoring operations
• Managing an effective control environment
• Designing effective compensation systems
The MSA degree is awarded upon successful completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours and a final written exit exam. A minimum of 21 credit hours must be completed in accounting, tax, or business law courses. Students can select additional courses with the approval of their program advisor to align with their interests and career goals.

Outline:

Track Prerequisites:

• All business and accounting foundation core requirements can be completed after admission to the program but must be satisfied before graduate MSA coursework can be undertaken.
• Students with a recent undergraduate accounting degree will likely have completed most, if not all, of the foundation prerequisite courses.
• Before taking any foundation courses, students should have their undergraduate transcripts reviewed by the MSA Program Adviser.

Business Foundation Core:

• Designed for students with a nonbusiness undergraduate degree (e.g., psychology, education, or engineering).
• Prepares students for the accounting foundation core and graduate MSA coursework.
• Courses include:
• ACG 2021 - Financial Accounting (3 Credit Hours)
• ACG 2071 - Managerial Accounting (3 Credit Hours)
• ECO 2013 - Macroeconomics (3 Credit Hours)
• ECO 2023 - Microeconomics (3 Credit Hours)
• QMB 3003 - Quantitative Business Tools I (3 Credit Hours)
• QMB 3200 - Quantitative Business Tools II (3 Credit Hours)
• FIN 3403 - Business Finance (3 Credit Hours)

Accounting Foundation Core:

• Designed for students with a nonbusiness undergraduate degree or an undergraduate business degree in a field other than accounting (e.g., finance, marketing, or management).
• Prepares students for graduate MSA coursework.
• Courses include:
• ACG 3131 - Intermediate Financial Accounting I (3 Credit Hours)
• ACG 3141 - Intermediate Financial Accounting II (3 Credit Hours)
• ACG 3361 - Cost Accounting I (3 Credit Hours)
• ACG 4401 - Accounting Information Systems (3 Credit Hours)
• ACG 4651 - Auditing (3 Credit Hours)
• ACG 4803 - Advanced Issues in Financial Accounting (3 Credit Hours)
• BUL 3130 - Legal and Ethical Environment of Business (3 Credit Hours)
• TAX 4001 - Taxation of Business Entities and Transactions (3 Credit Hours)

Degree Requirements:

• Required Courses (12 Total Credits):
• ACG6185 - Financial Statement Analysis (3)
• ACG6415 - Advanced Accounting Information Systems (3)
• ACG6805 - Accounting Theory (3)
• ACG6835 - Ethics and Professionalism in Accounting and Auditing (3)
• Required Specialization Courses (6 Total Credits):
• ACG6305 - Advanced Managerial Accounting (3)
• ACG6675 - Operational Auditing (3)
• Elective Specialization Course (3 Total Credits):
• Choose at least 1 of the following:
• TAX5015 - Advanced Tax Topics (3)
• QMB6358 - Software Tools for Business Analytics (3)
• Restricted Elective Courses (9 Total Credits):
• Earn at least 9 credits from the following types of courses:
• All tracks include 9 credit hours (3 courses) of restricted electives.
• MSA students can take additional ACG, TAX, or BUL courses as restricted electives (except for ACG 6425 and BUL 6444, which are not eligible for MSA credit).
• Most MBA electives may be taken as restricted electives.
• Some MBA courses may be restricted to only those students enrolled within a specific MBA track.
• Up to three hours may be selected from outside the College of Business.
• Courses outside the College of Business must be selected with the student's area of interest and/or career objectives in mind and with the approval of the program adviser.
• Comprehensive Examination (0 Total Credits):
• Satisfactory completion of an end-of-program comprehensive written examination is required.
• The MSA program does not require a thesis.

Total Credit Hours Required:

30 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree

Assessment:

• Comprehensive Examination: A final written exit exam is required for graduation.

Teaching:

• Faculty: The program is taught by experienced faculty members.
• Teaching Methods: The program utilizes a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, discussions, case studies, and group projects.

Careers:

• Potential Career Paths:
• Professional accountants
• Consultants
• Opportunities:
• Public accounting
• Industry
• Financial institutions
• Government
• Nonprofit organizations

Other:

• Financial Assistance: Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans.
• Fellowship Information: Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students.
• GPA Requirements: Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in the accounting foundation core.
• Course Grade Requirements: Students must earn a grade of "B-" (2.75) or higher in any undergraduate course taken after completion of the Bachelor's degree for it to count as a prerequisite or fulfill an admissions requirement for the MSA degree.
• Transfer Credits: 5000-level courses taken in the undergraduate career that are used to earn the undergraduate accounting degree cannot be transferred into the MSA degree program.