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Stillman School of Business
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Master of Science in Professional Accounting Curriculum

Degree Requirements

Completion of the M.S. in Professional Accounting requires a minimum of 30 credits of approved coursework, composed of 15 credit hours of required courses and 15 credit hours of graduate elective courses.

  • no course may be transferred if it has been applied to a prior degree;
  • a minimum of 24 credit hours of coursework must be completed at the Stillman School; and
  • students may not repeat courses taken previously at the graduate or undergraduate level.

As part of the graduation requirements for the M.S. in Professional Accounting, students are required to successfully participate in an assessment panel and complete a post-assessment test, preferably in their last semester before graduation.

Prerequisite Knowledge

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or equivalent, and the following courses or equivalent:

  • 3 credits of taxation of business entities (or essential of taxation)
  • 3 credits of auditing
  • 3 credits of advanced accounting
  • 3 credits of cost accounting
  • 3 credits of statistics
  • 3 credits of database management

Prerequisites not satisfied before admission can be satisfied with specific accounting/tax or graduate business electives taken as part of the degree program.

Course Sequence and Program Length

Candidates for the master’s degree are expected to fulfill all degree requirements within a maximum of five years after they have begun their studies. The program can be completed in approximately one year (evenings only).

M.S. in Professional Accounting Curriculum (Professional Accounting Major)

Course List

Code

Title

Hours

Required Courses

 

BACC 8001

Financial Accounting Seminar

3

or BTAX 6003

Tax Research

BSAN 7001

Intro Data Analytics - Bus Int

3

BLAW 7314

Commercial Law

3

BACC 7136

Big Data, Analytics and Business Impact

3

BACC 7127

Enterprise- Wide Accounting Information Systems II

3

Subtotal

15

Elective Courses

15

Graduate electives in accounting, taxation, and analytics that do not duplicate undergraduate courses.

 

Total Hours

30

Required Courses (15 Credits):

BACC 8001 Financial Accounting Seminar (3)

A capstone accounting course designed to see how students handle somewhat ambiguous accounting problems. The course is largely a case-study course with students expected to do significant accounting research with many written reports. Prerequisite: BACC 7123 or the equivalent.

 BTAX 6003 Tax Research (3)

Study of successful methodology of research in federal taxation applied to the solution of both routine and complex tax problems. Topics include research sources, materials and tools, including court reporters, government documents, IRS rulings, professional periodicals, tax services and citators, and computerized tax research.  

 BSAN 7001 Intro Data Analytics - Bus Int (3) 

Business decision-making should, when possible, rely on data and the conclusions that can be drawn from that data. This course is an introduction to business data analytics; it covers descriptive statistics, data visualization, probability basics, and relationships between two or more variables. One focus is on learning and contrasting traditional statistical approaches (inference) and “big data” approaches. Much of the course will entail the use of Excel, as spreadsheet software is arguably the most commonly available and most frequently used tool for analyzing business data. We will equally be using R – a popular, open-source, statistical package.

 BLAW 7314 Commercial Law (3)

This course will acquaint the advanced student of business and potential candidates who will sit for the CPA exam with certain advanced concepts in the study of law, mainly involving the Uniform Commercial Code and other aspects of commercial law. The course includes a thorough review of contract law; sales (Article 2); buyer's and seller's remedies under the Common Law and the Uniform Commercial Code; bailments (leases of commercial/personal property); a review of business organizations (liability and taxation); agency and employment issues (independent contractor); an introduction to securities law; bankruptcy; and security interests.

BACC 7136 Big Data Analytics (3)

This course explores the exponential growth in complex data and information created by business and society. Big Data has become so valuable that the World Economic Forum deemed it a new class of economic asset, like oil. Students will study various applications and analytical tools used to derive insight from big data, and how experts in accounting, finance, and operations utilize big data applications to manage reporting, risk management, and compliance. Students learn how different industries leverage the data to impact the bottom line and create competitive advantage. Prerequisites: BMBA 9111 or BQUA 2811

BACC 7127 Enterprise-Wide Accounting Information Systems II (3)

This course will provide participants with a clear understanding of enterprise applications like accounting, materials management, sales and distribution, materials requirement planning and process manufacturing. Each of these applications will be covered through the use of the SAP enterprise systems. In addition, the course will cover security, auditing, evaluation and implementation as applied to information systems. Prerequisites: BITM 7724 or equivalent.

Accounting/Tax Electives (15 credits)  

BACC 7101 Financial Statement Analysis (3)

The objective of this course is to provide students with the skills necessary for analyzing financial statements. Topics covered include ratio analysis, cash flows, inventories and off-balance sheet activities. Valuation models, including asset-based as well as discounted cash flow models, are also discussed. Special emphasis is placed on the effect of accounting principles on the reported results of operations, cash flows and ratios. Prerequisites: BACC 6101, BMBA 9453 or the equivalent.   

BACC 7121 Federal Income Tax for Individuals (3)

This course will provide students with an overview and basic understanding of the federal income tax structure with respect to individuals, as well as corporations, partnerships, estates, and trusts domiciled or engaging in business in the United States. This course is an introduction to the basic concepts of federal income taxation with particular emphasis on the concepts of gross income, deductions, exemptions, basis, recognition of gains and losses, and accounting methods and periods. Additional topics addressed include the formation, operation, and liquidation of business enterprises. Federal transfer taxes will also be explored.

BACC 7122 Federal Income Tax for Businesses (3)

Case study of federal income tax legislation with special attention to preparation of corporate returns.

BACC 7123 Auditing Standards and Procedures (Dual Degree Only) (3)

Case study of effective auditing procedures. Detection of fraud by analysis of accounts. Current finds of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Securities and Exchange Commission.  

BACC 7128 Advanced Accounting (Dual Degree Only) (3)

Course focuses on accounting for investments, including business combinations, and foreign currency accounting. Foreign currency financial statements, segment reporting and other advanced accounting topics are covered as well.

BACC 7150 Internal Auditing (3)

Conceptual frameworks, professional standards and practices that define the roles and responsibilities of the internal auditor. Emphasis on risk identification and management, business process improvement, and internal audit planning. Prerequisites: BACC2104, BMB9453, or equivalent  

BACC 7190 Accounting Internship I (3)

Prerequisite: permission of accounting chair or program director. May not be taken by students in the M.S. in Accounting program.

BACC 7191 Accounting Internship II (3)

Prerequisite: permission of accounting chair or program director. May not be taken by students in the M.S. in Accounting program.

BACC 7192 Accounting Internship (3)

A field-based opportunity to apply accounting knowledge in a real-world environment and to build professional skills. This course is specifically designed to allow students enrolled in the course to engage in off-campus internships. Prerequisite: permission of accounting chair.

BACC 7197 Directed Research-Accounting (1)

Individual research in the area of accounting independent of a formal course structure. Prerequisite: permission of supervising faculty member and department chair prior to registration. 1 credit

BACC 7198 Directed Research-Accounting (2)

Individual research in the area of accounting independent of a formal course structure. Prerequisite: permission of supervising faculty member and department chair prior to registration. 2 credits

BACC 7199 Directed Research-Accounting (3)

Individual research in the area of accounting independent of a formal course structure. Prerequisite: permission of supervising faculty member and department chair prior to registration. 3 credits

BACC 7200 Tax Lab (3)

Students will participate in the Internal Revenue Service Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, offering free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals. The course includes IRS training, in person or virtual volunteer flexible hours, and regular meetings with the professor during the semester. Prerequisite: BMBA8008

BACC 7210 Forensic Accounting (3)

Students will learn the twin towers of forensic accounting - litigation support and investigative auditing - through classroom lecture and discussion, case studies and stories about the latest financial crimes and schemes, and guest speakers' experiences in this rapidly developing field. We will discuss how the application of internal controls can deter people from committing fraud. Examine the fraud triangle (the pressures, opportunities, and rationalizations) of occupational and management fraud. This, in turn, can proactively deter theft, concealment and conversion. Review how allegations of fraud should be investigated, evidenced, and resolved. Prerequisite: BACC 7100 or equivalent.

BTAX 6009 Tax Accounting (3)

Deals with federal income tax consequences and planning with respect to adoption of and change in accounting methods; income recognition and deduction allowance under the cash and accrual methods and installment reporting. Also covered is inventory accounting, including LIFO; adoption of and change in accounting periods; time value of money; transactional concepts, including the annual accounting concept, the claim of right doctrine, and the tax benefit rule; and income tax allocations for financial reporting. Prerequisite: BMBA 8008 or equivalent.

BTAX 7012 Federal Income Tax Practice and Procedure (3)

The organization and functions of the Internal Revenue Service, the role and regulation of the tax practitioner, administrative appeals and settlement opportunities and appeals to the courts. Provisions of the Internal Revenue Code involving assessment, collections, waivers, claims, civil and criminal penalties.