Accountancy, MAcc

Program Description

The Master of Accountancy (MAcc) degree program is intended to provide students with the education necessary to prepare them to succeed in their careers, whether that career relates to public, private, or governmental accounting; pursue a doctoral degree; or seek another career in business or education. For students pursuing a CPA, the program provides students a pathway to meet the “150-hour” education requirement for CPA licensure in the State of Missouri and for membership in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

An accelerated option is available for eligible Missouri State University undergraduate accounting majors. Students must apply during the second semester of their junior year. If accepted, up to 6 hours of 600-700 level accounting courses may be counted toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. This option allows Missouri State University accounting majors to obtain both the Bachelor of Science and MAcc degrees in five years with a total of 152 semester hours rather than the normal 158 hours.

An online option is available for the Master of Accountancy. Admission requirements to the online program are the same as those for the Traditional MAcc.

The MAcc program is accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Admission

To apply for admission, go to the Graduate College website and apply online.

XF Policy

High standards of professional conduct are required for admission to the accounting profession and to obtain and retain professional accounting certifications (CPA, CMA, CIA, CFE, etc). Prospective graduate students who have been assigned a grade of XF (failure due to academic dishonestly) at Missouri State University (MSU), or the equivalent at another institution of higher education, may be denied acceptance to any graduate program offered by the SOA including the Master of Accountancy, and Graduate Certificates offered by the SOA. Students who have been assigned a grade of XF at MSU, or the equivalent at another institution of higher education, are required to inform the SOA Graduate Program Director of such grade at the time of application, even if the X was subsequently removed. Failure to inform the SOA Graduate Program Director of this previous XF or equivalent grade will result in removal from the program. A student assigned a grade of XF while studying toward completion of one or more of the previously listed graduate programs or certificates will be immediately removed from the program(s).

Admission - Traditional MAcc

Admission to the MAcc program is competitive. The student must have received an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.

1. Overall GPA of at least 3.00 and 3.00 in upper-division accounting courses.
2. The School of Accountancy uses a holistic approach when evaluating applicants for admission. The GMAT is not required. Applicants who wish to include the GMAT as part of their application are welcome to do so.
3. Applicants whose native language is not English must submit scores on the internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A total score of at least 90 is required, along with the following minimum scores in the component parts:
   1. Reading: 15;
   2. Listening: 15;
   3. Speaking: 18;
   4. Writing: 17.
4. Applicants must have completed appropriate prerequisites as determined by the MAcc Program Director. Normally, recently completed courses that include the study of FASB standards, AICPA Statements on Auditing standards, PCAOB Auditing standards, and IRS code will meet some prerequisite requirements. Applicants who need to complete prerequisite courses must complete them before starting graduate courses.
5. Applicants who do not meet the normal admission requirements, but who show an indication of high promise, may be considered for admission by the Program Director.
6. All other University and Graduate College requirements for admission to a degree program will also apply.

Admission - Accelerated MAcc

Admission is competitive. Students enrolled in the undergraduate accounting program at Missouri State University may apply for admission into the Accelerated MAcc program. This program allows students to count up to six hours of graduate coursework toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree. The following are preferences for admission to the MAcc program:

1. Completion of at least four of ACC 301, ACC 302, ACC 311, ACC 321 and ACC 341 with a GPA of 3.00 or better.
2. An overall GPA of 3.00 or better.
3. A competitive score on the GMAT. Students with an overall GPA of 3.25 and a 3.25 GPA in four of ACC 301, ACC 302, ACC 311, ACC 321 and ACC 341 may waive this GMAT requirement.
4. For a courses to be designated as Mixed Credit, the MAcc Program Director, the SOA Director and the Graduate College must approve by signing the Permission for Mixed Credit form. This form must be obtained prior to registering for the courses.
5. All other University and Graduate College requirements for admission will also apply.
6. Accounting students from Evangel University and Southwest Baptist University may qualify for admission into the Accelerated program through a cooperative agreement.

Prerequisite Courses

The MAcc can accommodate students without undergraduate degrees in accounting. Deficiencies in a student’s undergraduate business or accounting education must be removed by taking appropriate prerequisite courses. Those courses add to the number of hours required to complete the program. To determine the extent of deficiencies, students should contact the MAcc Program Director for a transcript analysis.

By completion of the MAcc Program, the student is expected to meet the common body of knowledge requirements of the AACSB International. These requirements involve course work in economics, statistics, computer information systems, finance, business law, management and marketing that is essentially equivalent to that required of Missouri State University undergraduate accounting majors.