Master of Accounting

Interim Program Director: Byron Henry, PhD

The Master of Accounting (MAC) degree is structured to offer students the choice between a degree in General Accounting or, after completing the core curriculum and, if required, the foundation curriculum, a twelve credit Forensic Accounting concentration. Students without a degree in accounting or closely related field will take a forty-two credit hour program of study, while those with a background in accounting will qualify for Advanced Standing and may earn a Master of Accounting by successfully completed thirty credits. 

Mission:

The Master of Accounting programs seeks to help students achieve:

• mastery of the historic and developing authority standards of accounting and the ability to apply these standards appropriately in complex financial transactions,
• an understanding of accounting ethics with personal, business, company, and international scope,
• knowledge of ethical accounting practices adopted by professional accounting organizations such as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA).
• the ability to interpret and produce reports based onGenerally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) or International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS),
• skill in advanced management accounting issues, including cost behavior, activity-based costing, budgeting, pricing, cost management, capital investment, and inventory management.
• understanding of external auditing processes, including the documentation, testing, and evaluation of internal controls, and the design and implementation of corroborative substantive tests.
• understanding of taxation as it applies to sole proprietorships, C and S corporations, partnerships, limited liability entities, and fiduciaries.
• understanding of accounting theory within the context of policy setting and financial reporting,
• the ability to analyze, evaluate, and organize financial data to facilitate managerial decision making,
• experience in real world accounting applications, which include team directed problem-based learning, use of wicked problems and direct work with university partners.
• the ability to analyze an organization's financial information and provide written assessments of results.

The Master of Accounting provides students with the theoretical base, practical skills, and applicable competencies necessary to address the complex accounting issues of private corporations, governmental entities, public accounting practices, and non-profit organizations. The program extends the knowledge gained in an undergraduate accounting program by enhancing the skills of written communication, research, and complex problem-solving. The coursework is designed to help fulfill the 150-hour requirement for the Uniform CPA Examination.

Core Curriculum: Students without a background in accounting or a closely related field must enroll in the 42-graduate credit degree program and take the following seminars prior to pursing their 12 credit area of specialization. The seminars will be taken in the order outlined below. Full time students will take two, three-credit courses in each eleven-week term.

Core Curriculum for Accelerated Students: Students qualifying for Advanced Standing will commence with the core curriculum prior to completing the courses required for the General Accounting path or the Forensic Accounting concentration.