Program Overview

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Accountancy (MSA) program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a one-year, STEM-designated accounting degree that can be completed either on campus or online. The program is designed for students with limited prior accounting education as well as those with an undergraduate degree in accounting.

Program Details

• The MSA program begins in June each year with Summer Session II.
• The online Master of Science in Accountancy (iMSA) program begins in August and January each year.
• The program is a mirror of the on-campus MSA curriculum, using a flexible program format that allows students to balance academic life with other obligations.

Admission

All applicants to the Master of Science in Accountancy program should refer to the MSA program or the iMSA program for the online program.

Degree Requirements

The degree requirements for the MSA program are as follows:

• Course List Code | Title | Hours
  • ACCY 501 | Accounting Analysis I | 4
  • ACCY 502 | Accounting Analysis II | 4
  • ACCY 503 | Managerial Accounting | 4
  • ACCY 504 | Auditing | 4
  • ACCY 505 | Federal Taxation | 4
  • or substitute graduate accountancy courses approved by a program advisor
  • Graduate electives with at least 4 hours credit in a non-accountancy graduate course | 12
• Total Hours | 32

Other Requirements

• Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: 20 (of the total 32 required)
• Students shall earn at least 24 of the 32 total graduate hours while enrolled in the Graduate College at Urbana-Champaign.
• Electives shall form a coherent program of study approved by a program advisor.
• Minimum MSA program coursework cumulative GPA, both by semester and program overall | 3.0
• Minimum MSA accountancy coursework cumulative GPA, both by semester and program overall | 3.0

Learning Objectives

The MSA program has three learning objectives:

1. Discipline-based competency: Impart competency in traditional accountancy topics, with an expectation of performance at a level higher than undergraduates.
2. Social and Communication Skills: Students should be able to communicate with others regarding technical accounting topics.
3. Teamwork: Students should demonstrate the ability to collaborate as an effective team member in varying roles in a diverse group and in diverse tasks.

Graduate Degree Programs in Accountancy

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers several graduate degree programs in accountancy, including:

• Majors:
  • Accountancy, MAS
    • optional concentrations:
      • Corporate Governance & International Business
      • Data Analytics in Accountancy
      • Finance
      • Financial Reporting & Assurance
      • Information Technology & Control
      • Real Estate
      • Supply Chain Management
      • Taxation
  • Accountancy, MS (on campus & online)
    • optional concentrations:
      • Accountancy Analytics (online)
      • Corporate Governance & International Business
      • Data Analytics in Accountancy
      • Digital Marketing
      • Entrepreneurship & Strategic Innovation
      • Finance
      • Global Challenges in Business
      • Information Technology & Control
      • Supply Chain Management
      • Taxation
  • Accountancy, PhD
• Minors:
  • Accountancy
• Certificates:
  • Accounting Data Analytics, CERT (online)
  • Accounting Foundations, CERT (online)
  • CPA Pathways, CERT (online)
  • Taxation, CERT (online)