Master of Science in Accounting
The Master of Science in accounting program prepares students for careers with accounting firms, corporations, government/not-for-profit organizations, and academia. The program instills in students a deeper understanding of professional accountancy across a wide range of topics including financial reporting, tax planning, accounting research, and financial analytics, simultaneously honing student acumen with crucial skills in leadership, communication, critical thinking, and emerging technologies. It also provides exposure to academic accounting research and related statistical techniques. Students gain advanced knowledge of accounting, statistics, data analytics tools such as Python and Tableau, and rapidly evolving technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain and their application to analyze and communicate complex financial information.
Preparation Courses
The Master of Science in accounting program does not require an accounting undergraduate degree. However, the student must have sufficient background in financial accounting, tax accounting, and auditing before starting the program. This can be demonstrated through completion of any undergraduate degree and completion of the following courses or their equivalent: ACC 301 (financial I), ACC 302 (financial II), ACC 401 (tax), and ACC 451 (audit). These courses should be completed before graduate course work in accounting begins. Some students may be counseled to consider additional business or accounting courses in preparation for the program.
30 credits
Professional Accounting Concentration, 30 credits
Required courses, 21 credits
| ACC 610 | Financial Analytics | 3 |
| ACC 625 | Tax Planning and Strategy | 3 |
| ACC 640 | Introduction to Accounting Research | 3 |
| ACC 650 | Assurance Services in a Big Data Environment | 3 |
| ACC 675 | Seminar in Financial Accounting | 3 |
| ACC 690 | Seminar in Professional Issues | 3 |
| ACC 695 | Accounting Capstone | 3 |
Electives, 6 credits from
Students must complete 6 credit hours of additional graduate coursework as listed below. Students may also complete this requirement with other 600-level graduate courses with prior permission of the Program Director.
| ACC 630 | Accounting Information Systems | 3 |
| ACC 655 | Selected Topics in Accounting | 3 |
| ACC 660 | International Accounting Issues | 3 |
| ACC 670 | Pedagogical and Practice Research in Accounting | 2 |
| ACC 671 | Advanced Accounting Research I | 2 |
| ACC 672 | Advanced Accounting Research II | 2 |
| MBA 601 | Leadership | 3 |
| ISOM 621 | Contemporary Business Information Systems | 3 |
| MBA 611 | Stats and Quantitative Methods | 3 |
| MBA 640 | Introduction to Healthcare Administration | 3 |
| MBA 647 | Financial Management and Performance Evaluation in Healthcare Organizations | 3 |
| MBA 649 | Health Care Policy and Strategy | 3 |
| MBA 651 | Economic Analysis for Managers | 3 |
| MBA 661 | Managerial Finance | 3 |
| MBA 671 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| ECON 624 | Econometric Methods and Applications | 3 |
| FIN 650 | Investment Management | 3 |
| ICS 625 | Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning | 3 |
| ISOM 608 | Business Analytics | 3 |
| ISOM 610 | Data Visualization for the Professions | 3 |
| ISOM 613 | Data Management and Analytics | 3 |
| RMI 670 | Risk Management and Insurance | 3 |
Electives, 3 credits from
Students must complete at least one of the following courses:
| ACC 645 | Sustainability Accounting and Accountability | 3 |
| ACC 665 | Seminar in Management Accounting | 3 |
Research and Analytics concentration, 30 credits
Required courses, 21 credits
| ACC 610 | Financial Analytics | 3 |
| ACC 640 | Introduction to Accounting Research | 3 |
| ACC 670 | Pedagogical and Practice Research in Accounting | 2 |
| ACC 671 | Advanced Accounting Research I | 2 |
| ACC 672 | Advanced Accounting Research II | 2 |
| ACC 680 | Accounting Research Methods | 3 |
| ACC 699 | Research in Accounting | 3 |
| FIN 645 | Business Analysis for Value Creation | 3 |
Electives, 9 credits from
Students must complete 9 credit hours of additional graduate coursework as listed below. Students may also complete this requirement with other 600-level graduate courses with prior permission of the Program Director.
| ACC 625 | Tax Planning and Strategy | 3 |
| ACC 630 | Accounting Information Systems | 3 |
| ACC 645 | Sustainability Accounting and Accountability | 3 |
| ACC 650 | Assurance Services in a Big Data Environment | 3 |
| ACC 655 | Selected Topics in Accounting | 3 |
| ACC 660 | International Accounting Issues | 3 |
| ACC 665 | Seminar in Management Accounting | 3 |
| ACC 675 | Seminar in Financial Accounting | 3 |
| ACC 690 | Seminar in Professional Issues | 3 |
| ACC 695 | Accounting Capstone | 3 |
| MBA 601 | Leadership | 3 |
| MBA 611 | Stats and Quantitative Methods | 3 |
| ISOM 621 | Contemporary Business Information Systems | 3 |
| MBA 640 | Introduction to Healthcare Administration | 3 |
| MBA 647 | Financial Management and Performance Evaluation in Healthcare Organizations | 3 |
| MBA 649 | Health Care Policy and Strategy | 3 |
| MBA 651 | Economic Analysis for Managers | 3 |
| MBA 661 | Managerial Finance | 3 |
| MBA 671 | Marketing Management | 3 |
Accelerated Master's Program
Undergraduate students accepted to the Accelerated Master's Program (AMP) may take any course that is part of the program as long as they meet the prerequisites and may seek guidance from the program director on course selection.
Total Credit Hours: 30