Master of Science in Accountancy

The Master of Science in Accountancy degree provides a formal integrated sequence of courses at the graduate level, which emphasize intensive study of the topics relevant to the work of a professional accountant, including the competence required for successful preparation for the CPA Examination. The program is intended for students who did not have accounting coursework in their bachelor's degree. The MSA permits students to move into the following career areas: advanced accounting positions, auditing or tax in a CPA firm, government careers with the Internal Revenue Service or Securities Exchange Commission, corporate careers in internal auditing and accounting or consulting.

The program is designed to provide students with an understanding of the graduate business disciplines that are an integral part of the accounting discipline, the ability to critically analyze information, make decisions and solve problems, business writing, oral communication and research skills; exposure to the technical knowledge required to pass the Certified Management Accountant Examination and the Certified Public Accountant Examination.

Students entering specialized master's programs are expected to have ethical understanding and reasoning abilities, analytical skills, proficiency with information technology, an understanding of diversity and multiculturalism, reflective thinking skills and communication abilities. These are general education requirements based on the accreditation standards of AACSB International or the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Curriculum

Students are expected to have an adequate background before starting the Master of Science in Accountancy program. Those that do not will be required to take Financial Accounting (ACC 500). After these prerequisite requirements are met, students may complete the curriculum below.

15 Required Courses

• ECO 501 Concepts of Micro and Macro Economics
• FIN 555 Financial Management
• GSB 420 Applied Quantitative Analysis
• ACC 541 Financial Accounting Theory and Practice I
• ACC 542 Cost and Managerial Accounting I
• ACC 543 Financial Accounting Theory and Practice II
• ACC 545 Advanced Topics in Accounting Theory
• ACC 547 Audit and Regulation of Corporate Financial Reporting
• ACC 548 Tax Treatment of Individuals and Property Transactions
• ACC 550 Advanced Topics in Auditing
• ACC 551 Tax Treatment of Corporations and Partnerships
• ACC 552 Legal and Ethical Environment of Accounting Practice
• ACC 610 Accounting Information Systems
• ACC 640 Accounting Theory and Policy Formation (5 quarter hours)
• 1 elective approved by the Program Advisor, chosen from current accountancy or business course offerings.

Note: Undergraduate courses in financial accounting and managerial accounting are required. If this course was not taken as an undergraduate, it will be added to the list of required courses. Students should also have an adequate background in calculus, statistics and basic computer skills.

View the MSA Course Flowchart for the Accountancy courses listed above.

Annual Schedule

Note: This schedule may be subject to minor changes depending upon curriculum scheduling and faculty availability. Visit http://campusconnect.depaul.edu to view current course offerings.

Notes: ACC 640 will be offered in Autumn Quarter beginning in 2009.

Degree Requirements

• Satisfactory completion of the college residency requirement.
• Satisfactory completion of at least 45 quarter hours applicable to the degree.
• Satisfactory completion of the management core, the required accountancy courses as outlined above and at least one accountancy elective approved by the program advisor.
• All courses for credit toward the degree must be completed within six calendar years after the candidate’s first term of enrollment in the Kellstadt Graduate       School of Business. After a lapse of six years a course is expired. An expired course is not acceptable for the purpose of satisfaction of degree requirements and is not applicable to the degree without the written permission of the program advisor or the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business.

Program Director

Dr. Mark Alford
E-mail: ralford@depaul.edu
Phone: 312/362-5633

Contact Us

School of Accountancy & Management Information Systems
1 East Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60604-2287
Phone: 312/362-8770
Fax: 312/362-6208
E-mail: accountancy@depaul.edu