Program Overview

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Master of Accounting (MAcc) Degree

The Master of Accounting (MAcc) degree is a non-thesis master's degree that provides students with technical proficiency in the major aspects of public accounting, financial valuation expertise, strong written and verbal business communication skills, a sound knowledge of public policy and corporate governance, and a critical and analytical approach to problem solving.

Program Learning Outcomes for the MAcc Degree

Upon completing the MAcc degree, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate technical proficiency in the major aspects of public accounting.
2. Demonstrate financial valuation expertise.
3. Demonstrate strong written and verbal business communication skills.
4. Demonstrate a sound knowledge of public policy and corporate governance.
5. Demonstrate a critical and analytical approach to problem solving.

Requirements for the MAcc Degree

The MAcc degree requires:

• A minimum of 15 courses (33 credit hours) to satisfy degree requirements.
• A minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate-level study (graduate semester credit hours, coursework at the 500-level or above).
• A minimum of 24 graduate semester credit hours must be taken at Rice University.
• A minimum of 24 graduate semester credit hours must be taken in standard or traditional courses (with a course type of lecture, seminar, laboratory, lecture/laboratory).
• A minimum residency enrollment of 2 semesters of full-time graduate study at Rice University.
• A maximum of 2 courses (6 graduate semester credit hours) from transfer credit.
• A minimum overall GPA of 2.67 or higher in all Rice coursework.
• A minimum program GPA of 2.67 or higher in all Rice coursework that satisfies requirements for the non-thesis master's degree with a minimum grade of C (2.00 grade points) in each course.

Course Requirements

MAcc coursework is comprised of:

• 21 credit hours of accounting coursework
• 9 credit hours of business coursework
• 3 credit hours of ethics coursework

The required courses are:

• MACC 501: Accounting Ethics and Professionalism
• MACC 511: Issues in Financial Reporting II
• MACC 512: Financial Statement Analysis and Valuation
• MACC 513: Issues in Financial Reporting III
• MACC 531: Advanced Management Accounting
• MACC 541: Accounting Information and Control Systems
• MACC 542: Advanced Auditing
• MACC 562: Auditing: A Data Analytics Approach
• MACC 564: Accounting Information Systems and Data Analytics
• MACC 571: Federal Taxation
• MACC 502: Business Law for Accountants
• MACC 503: Accounting and Auditing Regulation
• MACC 504: Finance for Accountants
• MACC 563: Data Analytics for Accountants
• MACC 573: Business Tax Strategy: Industry Applications

Proposed Plan-of-Study

The proposed plan-of-study represents the current lockstep two-semester sequence in which students pursuing the MAcc degree complete the required coursework.

Policies for the MAcc Degree

Admission Requirements

Admission to the MAcc degree program is open to students regardless of their undergraduate major, but the program is highly selective and access is limited to those who have performed with distinction across all areas of the application.

• A bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from an accredited undergraduate institution is required before a student begins the program.
• Applicants participate in an interview by invitation as part of their admission requirements.
• All applicants to the MAcc degree program must submit:
  • An online application and application fee
  • Transcripts from all degree-granting institutions and/or institutions at which an applicant completed 15 or more credit hours
  • Resume
  • Essays
  • Names and contact information of two professional references
  • A score from TOEFL, Duolingo, or IELTS is required for international applicants whose undergraduate degree was from an institution where the primary language of instruction was not English.
• At their discretion, applicants may also provide a GMAT or GRE standardized test score.

Academic and Professional Standards

Students must meet both academic and professional standards to continue academic work and to graduate.

• A minimum overall grade point average of 2.67 (B-) is required for graduation.
• Only grades of C (2.00 grade points) and above are counted for credit toward graduation.
• Students with an overall grade point average lower than 2.67 at the end of any semester will be recommended for dismissal to the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Grade Appeal Process

The procedure for appealing a course grade is as follows:

1. The student should first pursue any grading question with the instructor following whatever formal or informal process the instructor has outlined for the course.
2. If the matter is not resolved in step 1 above, the student must file (via email) a written appeal to the instructor, copying the senior associate dean of degree programs.
3. If the issue is not resolved to the satisfaction of both the student and the instructor within two weeks of the student's written appeal in step 2, the student may appeal to the Academic Standards Committee by emailing a written notice.
4. The Academic Standards Committee will consider the appeal based on information provided by the instructor and the student.
5. The decision rendered by the Academic Standards Committee is generally final, except for extraordinary cases in which there was a procedural error or major information omission in the steps above.

Withdrawal Policy

A Jones Graduate School of Business student, participating in any offered program, may voluntarily withdraw from school at any time.

Transfer Credit

For Rice University's policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit.

Opportunities for the MAcc Degree

Rice Undergraduate Students

Rice undergraduate students completing studies in Business (the major or minor) are eligible for admission to the MAcc degree program prior to completing their undergraduate degree.