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Master of Science Degree In Accounting
Overview
Degree obtainment options -on-ground and on-line
Admission requirements
Program completion requirements
Program curriculum

Coordinator: Dr M Rujoub

Overview

The Master of Science in Accounting provides students with extensive specialization in accounting as well as breadth of knowledge in economics, management, and finance essential for professional careers in today’s global market. This graduate program provides sound professional preparation for careers as professional accountants in private industry, financial institutions, government, nonprofit organizations, and public accounting firms. Graduates will be prepared for a wide range of professional career opportunities and will be able to succeed not only in entry-level professional positions, but also to advance in life-long careers of increasing responsibility and leadership.


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Degree Obtainment Options

On Ground

ECSU offers students two ways to receive their MSACC: on ground and online. Designed for students who are engaged during day, the on-ground MSACC program is primarily an evening program.  Classes are kept small and are conducted in a seminar fashion by highly experienced and technically proficient university faculty.  ECSU’s MSACC on-ground program is perfect for eastern Connecticut residents who are looking to further their career in accounting but who are too busy to take classes during the day.

Online

For those students who cannot, or choose not to make the commute but still wish to pursue their degree, ECSU’s online MSACC program is the ideal alternative.  Students can take 50% of the classes online while the rest they should take in standard face to face classes. Unlike the traditional classroom structure, with ECSU MSACC online the classroom is wherever the student wants it to be.  Tuition remains the same for Connecticut residents as well as out-of-state residents and courses are taught by the same professionals that run the classroom; the only difference is the commute. Whether a resident of eastern Connecticut or a resident of the most far-reaching state in America it does not matter; ECSU’s online MSACC program is perfect for any individual looking to pursue their career in Accounting.
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Personal Expectations Reflected in the Program Objectives

  • Development of technical competency and extensive specialization in accounting

  • Development of analytical abilities

  • Development of communication and interpersonal skills, creativity, and cultural awareness

  • Development of broad knowledge in liberal arts, economics, and management essential for decisive action in professional practice

  • Exposure to a wide range of professional career opportunities

  • Preparation for lifelong careers of increasing leadership and responsibility.
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Admission requirements

Applicants seeking admission to the Graduate Program must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 2.75 and preferably an undergraduate degree in accounting. It is not necessary that they have practical experience in Accounting in order to start the program. Their records must show evidence of professional promise and ability to perform at the graduate level. Applicants with other credentials will be considered on a case by case basis. At time of admission, or prior to the completion of two courses in the program, students must take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). In order to observe AACSB guidelines, a minimum GMAT score of 450 is required. The GMAT requirement may be waived for those possessing a graduate degree in another discipline, a professional designation, or extensive experience in the field of accounting. Admission is limited to no more than twenty-five students per semester.

All applicants must submit:

1.         A completed application accompanied by a nonrefundable application fee of $40.00.

2.         A personal statement of academic and career goals as they relate to the program.

3.         Two letters of recommendation.

4.         Official undergraduate/graduate transcript(s) from all institutions above high school

5.         GMAT score

6.         International applicants whose native language is not English will need a minimum score of 575 on the Test of English as a Foreign language (TOEFL) and proof of financial support.
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Program Completion Requirements

Students must complete a total of 30 credits. The graduate seminars must be taken as the last six credits in the program of study. The remaining course work is taken in consultation with a faculty advisor.

Students entering this program without a strong background in accounting will be required to take at least 21 semester hours in accounting courses 300 and 400 level (i.e., ACC 301 Intermediate Accounting I; ACC 302 Intermediate Accounting II; ACC 303 Intermediate Accounting III; ACC 310 Cost Accounting Systems; ACC 311 Advanced Managerial Accounting; ACC 412 Auditing; and ACC 416 Federal Individual Taxation). In addition, these students must have earned at least 30 credit hours in economics and business education, and at least 60 credit hours in general education.

Academic Standing: Warning, Probation, and Dismissal

Quality of work by individual students is ensured by the standard of a minimum grade point average of 3.00 (“B”) to continue in matriculated status and to graduate. Students are also subject to dismissal if nine semester hours of “C” are earned in the accumulation of credits necessary to graduate or if grades of “C” or below are earned in consecutive courses. Regular warning, probation and dismissal procedures are used to discourage unqualified students from persistent enrollment in courses.
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Program curriculum
(all subjects carry three credits)

I Graduate Core

ECO    510      Managerial Economics                                              

BUS     545      Financial Management                                             

BUS     531      Organizational Behavior                                           

COM   530      Organizational Communications

 II Accounting Courses

ACC    515      Advanced Financial Reporting  

ACC    520      Accounting for Not-for-Profit Organizations 

                           and Governmental Units

ACC    525      Accounting for International Operations        

ACC    535      Advanced Studies in Taxation                          

III Graduate Seminars*

ACC    530      Topical and Current Issues in Accounting 

ACC    531      Professional Development in Accounting   

Total          30 credits
* The graduate seminars must be taken as the last six credits in the program of study. The remaining course work is taken in consultation with a faculty advisor.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

ACC 515                               Advanced Financial Reporting

Prerequisites:                      ACC 303; ACC 311; and ACC 416 or equivalent coursework taken at other accredited schools

 Provides the student with the procedures and techniques needed to prepare consolidated financial statements for a parent company and its subsidiaries.  Statutory mergers, consolidations and acquisitions result in a single accounting entity, which involve many reporting complexities.  Topics covered include pooling vs. purchase method, cost, equity method and various types of inter-company transactions.  Attention is also directed to the formation, operations, and liquidation of partnerships.  Other topics covered include methods of business formation, income sharing plans, changes in ownership and installment payments.

 ACC 525                               Accounting for International Operations

Prerequisites:                      ACC 303; ACC 311; and ACC 416 or equivalent coursework taken at other accredited schools

 The objectives of this course are to familiarize students with multinational enterprises and the accounting issues and problems peculiar to them such as consolidations of foreign subsidies, foreign currency translations, foreign investment analysis and multinational risk management.  Consideration will be given to international transfer pricing and the peculiarities of internal auditing in an international setting.

 ACC 535                               Advanced Studies in Taxation

Prerequisites:                      ACC 303; ACC 311; and ACC 412 or equivalent coursework taken at other accredited schools

 To discuss the traditional corporation and partnership taxation topics:  to provide an understanding of taxation concepts and terminology; to discuss recent developments in taxation and reporting practices promulgated by the Internal Revenue Code and how they are applied by tax practitioners in public accounting and industry.

 ACC 520                               Accounting for Not-For-Profit Organizations and Governmental Units

Prerequisites:                      ACC 303; ACC 311; and ACC 416 or equivalent coursework taken at other accredited schools

 A study of accounting principles, concepts and authoritative pronouncements applicable to not-for-profit organizations and governmental units.  Additional topics include the budgeting process and the tax treatment of public charities and private foundations.

 ACC 530                               Topical and Current Issues in Accounting

Prerequisites:                      ACC 303; ACC 311; and ACC 416 or equivalent coursework taken at other accredited schools

 To acquaint students with topics generally not covered in traditional accounting courses.  Attention will be directed to current issues and problems faced by accountants and the accounting profession.  Topical coverage may include the gaming and recreational industries, health care costs, derivatives, forensic accounting and ethics.

 ACC 531                               Professional Development in Accounting

Prerequisites:                      ACC 303; ACC 311; and ACC 416 or equivalent coursework taken at            other accredited schools

 Students will be required to attend professional development seminars accredited by the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and other professional organizations or complete individual research on a selected topic.

 BUS 545                            Financial Management

Prerequisites:                      ACC 311  or equivalent coursework taken at other accredited schools

 Application of financial concepts and techniques to corporate decisions, including capital budgeting, capital structure, leasing, mergers, and asset management.

 COM 530                          Organizational Communications

This course emphasizes the acquisition of organizational communication skills through the application of theoretical concepts in authentic organizational context.  The course utilizes both the applied body of knowledge developed by organizational communicators (what strategies are effective in actual organizations) and the theoretical underpinnings of the field (why those strategies work).

ECO 510                             Managerial Economics

This course provides a body of mainly microeconomic tools for managerial decision-making.  Its emphasis is on the methodical application of economic models to business situations for analysis and problem solving.  It incorporates theory into practice, providing a theoretical framework in formulating policies for short and long-term planning.  A wide range of topics will be discussed including elasticity and estimation of demand, production and cost functions, pricing and output decisions under different competitive conditions, break-even analysis, risk and uncertainty, etc.

 BUS 531                              Organizational Behavior

 Examines the managerial implication of the relationship between human behavior, organizational structure, and organization performance.

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For more information please contact the Program Coordinator's secretary at 1 860- 465 4620 or the Graduate Studies Office of the School of Education and Professional Studies.