Program Description

The two-semester Master of Accounting (MAcc) Program prepares students of varied backgrounds for careers in public accounting professional/financial services , corporate accounting, not for profits, and university teaching and research. Students have the option of graduating with a general degree or to include an emphasis in one of the following areas: Accounting Research, Auditing & Assurance, Accounting Information Technology & Advisory Services, Integrated Winter Field Experience, Taxation, or Valuation & Advisory Services. 

Academic Calendar

2015 Fall Semester

2016 Spring Semester

Fact Sheet

The MAcc program is designed for high-caliber students committed to achieving individual success by contributing their knowledge, integrity and skills to the business world. Problem-solving ability and intellectual acuity are fostered via teamwork with student colleagues as well as via extensive interaction with faculty and leading experts in the accounting field today.

Website: http://mason.wm.edu/macc

Length of program

9 months with additional summer study sometimes required.

Format

Full-time, two semesters; additional summer classes required for non-Accounting majors. Fall and Spring admission available. Spring admission is limited.

Admissions requirements

• Application
• A non-refundable application fee of $80 is required of all applicants, with the exception of active military candidates.
• GMAT (applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 3.25 or above from an accredited U.S. institution may apply for a GMAT waiver)
• TOEFL or IELTS for non-native speakers of English who did not obtain their undergraduate degree after a full course of study at a university in an English-speaking country.
• Transcripts
• Two letters of recommendation
• Interview

Prerequisites

Principles of Accounting, Statistics, Financial Management, Intermediate Accounting I and II, Auditing, Cost Accounting, and Introduction to (US) Federal Taxation. Applicants must receive a grade of C or higher in all prerequisites.

Application deadlines

 Rolling basis

Tuition and Other Expenses (2015-2016)

For information about financial aid, scholarships, or Graduate Assistantships, please see the section entitled “Student Financial Aid & Scholarships .”

MAcc Emphases

Enhance your career options by taking a deeper dive into a particular area of accounting by choosing a track that will let you specialize in Accounting Research, Auditing and Assurance, Accounting Information Technology & Advisory Services, Integrated Winter Field Experience, Taxation, or Valuation and Advisory Services.

Emphasis in Accounting Research - Students who pursue this emphasis must take 9 credits from qualifying courses.

Required courses: 1 credit each for a total of 3 credits

• Introduction to Academic Research in Accounting
• Data and Analysis in Accounting Research
• Design of Accounting Research Studies

Additional credits are acquired in the spring semester and students can choose from:

• Current Research in Accounting
• Contemporary Issues in Financial Reporting
• Data Analysis, Modeling & Simulation for Accounting
• Probability (MATH 501)
• Mathematical Statistics (MATH 552)
• Microeconomics & Econometric (in consultation with Accounting Department Chair)

Emphasis in Auditing - Students who pursue this emphasis take 9 credits of advanced auditing courses.

3 of these credits must include:

• Advanced Auditing and Audit Research (fall semester)  

Additional credits are acquired in the spring semester and students can choose from: 

• Governmental and Non-Profit Accounting
• Financial Statement Analysis
• Forensic Accounting
• Auditing Information Systems 

Students also have the option to take Accounting Information Technology & Advisory Services in the fall semester. 

Emphasis in Taxation - Students who pursue this emphasis take 9 credits of tax courses beyond the introductory level (Introduction to Taxation or its equivalent).  

3 of these credits must include:

• Tax Research & Current Topics (fall semester) 

Additional credits are acquired in the spring semester and students can choose from: 

• Taxation & Business Strategy
• Estate and Financial Planning
• International Taxation
• Partnership and LLC Taxation
• Taxation of Mergers and Acquisitions
• Advanced Federal Taxation

Emphasis in Valuation & Advisory Services - Students who pursue this emphasis will need to complete 6 credits beyond Valuation & Financial Statement Modeling, offered in the fall semester. 

Additional credits are acquired in the spring semester and students can choose from: 

• Forensic Accounting
• Financial Statement Analysis
• Data Analysis & Simulation for Accounting
• Driving Corporate Performance
• Project Management
• Probability (MATH 501)
• Mathematical Statistics (MATH 552)

Emphasis in Accounting Information Technology & Advisory Services - Students who pursue this emphasis take 9 credits of information technology oriented classes.

3 of these credits must include:

• Accounting Information Technology and Advisory Services (fall semester)

Additional credits are acquired in the spring semester and students can choose from:

• Auditing Information Systems
• Database Management
• Supply Chain Management
• Modeling and Simulation
• Advanced Modeling Techniques
• Lean Toolkit
• Six Sigma Toolkit

Integrated Winter Field Experience - Students who have secured a winter internship can pursue this emphasis. They will take 3 required courses in the spring semester. The first course is integrated with the winter internship and extends over the first half of spring semester.  During the second half of spring semester, students round out this emphasis with the following courses:  Contemporary Issues in Financial Reporting and Driving Corporate Performance.

The MBA-MAcc Dual Degree Program

MBA/MAcc candidates must meet the admission requirements for each program. Programs will share test score reports, recommendations and transcripts but applicants must file a separate application for In-State tuition privileges for each program.

The dual degree program requires 45.5 credit hours of coursework in the MBA program and 30 credit hours of coursework in the MAcc program. The MAcc and MBA degrees will be both be awarded at the conclusion of both degrees. Students will participate in graduation at the end of the second year.

The MAcc program requires eight prerequisite courses for admission. Principles of Accounting, Statistics, Financial Management, and Cost Accounting are fulfilled by courses taken by all MBA students during the first-year curriculum. The remaining prerequisites – Intermediate Accounting I and II, Auditing and Introduction to US Federal Taxation - may be taken as summer “bootcamp” intensive classes during either the summer preceding matriculation into the MBA program or the summer preceding matriculation into the MAcc program. These courses carry extra fees and students will be billed for the applicable credit hours at the summer tuition rate.