Accountancy

[1] Objectives

The Department of Accounting in UCA’s College of Business Administration offers a Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program designed to provide a fifth year of accounting education to prepare students for careers in professional accounting.

The objective of the program is to give students greater breadth and depth of accounting knowledge. The program provides the academic background needed to begin a professional accounting career. Outstanding employment opportunities in public accounting, industry, and government await graduates of the Master of Accountancy program.

The MAcc program is comprehensive and develops students’ conceptual and technical accounting competence, communication skills, research and analytical abilities, and leadership skills. The UCA MAcc focuses on the common body of knowledge recommended by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and builds on the traditional undergraduate accounting courses. Consequently, graduates are well prepared to sit for and pass the CPA exam. However, UCA takes students beyond the knowledge required on the CPA exam. Students learn the theory behind accounting and auditing procedures so they can adapt to an ever changing environment. The program encourages life-long learning and is unique in two respects: (1) The UCA MAcc teaches leadership through a course that focuses on the application of leadership in business and accounting organizations. (2) The program also requires a case studies course in which students learn to use multiple resources to solve management and accounting problems.

Students who complete UCA’s Master of Accountancy should be CPA eligible in the State of Arkansas (requirements vary state to state). MAcc graduates will have the upper-division accounting hours (30) and total college hours (150) needed to sit for the exam and obtain a license. However, depending on undergraduate coursework, MAcc graduates will have between 18 and 30 of the business hours required (30) to sit for the CPA exam. Therefore, additional business courses may be required for CPA eligibility.

[2] Admission Requirements

In addition to admission requirements of the Graduate School (application, application fee, transcripts) and the Division of International Engagement (TOEFL score), the Master of Accountancy requires the following:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting (or a bachelor’s degree in another discipline) from an accredited institution including the 27 hours listed in Note 1 below.
• Undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 2.70, or 3.00 in the last 60 hours.
• GPA on all accounting courses completed of at least 2.70. Accounting GPA requirement may be waived for applicants with significant professional experience or accounting certifications.
• A current résumé.
• Score of at least 455 on the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) Focus Edition with a minimum score of 75 on the verbal. An equivalent GRE (Graduate Record Examination) score will also be accepted. Scores should be no more than five years old. Some students may be exempt from taking the GMAT or GRE. For exemptions, see Note 2 below. (The 10th edition of the GMAT will also be accepted if less than five years old; minimum score should be overall 450 and 18 on verbal.)

Applicants for admission to the Master of Accountancy program must submit a completed application packet that includes a completed application form, official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended, a résumé, and official GMAT or GRE scores (unless exempt), to the Graduate School.

Note 1

Note 2

[3] Degree Requirements

The Master of Accountancy requires 30 hours of course work beyond the baccalaureate degree, which is a minimum of 150 hours. Students who were dual enrolled in an undergraduate and graduate program—i.e., course(s) double counting for both degrees—must have 150 or more total college credit hours to complete the Master of Accountancy.

Courses will be scheduled so that a full-time student will be able to complete the program in one academic year.

[4] Curriculum

The Master of Accountancy requires a minimum of 10 courses: 6 required MAcc core courses, 3 additional courses required for students who did not have the undergraduate equivalent, and electives to complete the course requirement.

[4.1] Required MAcc Core (18 hours)

[4.2] Additional MAcc Requirements (0–9 hours)

These three courses are required for students who did not complete equivalent undergraduate-level courses.

[4.3] Approved MAcc Electives

Additional electives are required to bring total MAcc hours to 30 and total college credit hours to 150.

Students wishing to take electives not on this list must seek approval in advance from the MAcc advisor or the chair of the Department of Accounting.

[5] MAcc Curriculum with a Graduate Certificate in Data Analytics

Students wishing to do so may declare their intention to earn the MAcc and a Graduate Certificate in Data Analytics (GC-DA). This option will require between 10 and up to 13 courses (30-39 hours) as described below.

[5.1] Required MAcc Core (18 hours)

[5.2] Additional MAcc Requirements (0-9 hours)

These three courses are required for students who did not complete equivalent undergraduate-level courses.

[5.3] Data Analytics Courses (12 hours)

Take the following course (3 hours)

Take three of the following courses (9 hours)

Note 3

Note 4

[6] Graduate Course Links

Follow this link for ACCT course descriptions: course link.
Follow this link for CISA course descriptions: course link.
Follow this link for MBA course descriptions: course link.