Accelerated Bachelor of Science-Master of Science in Accounting Program

The accelerated BS/MSA program allows outstanding, full-time accounting students to earn both BS and MS degrees by completing 150 semester hours of coursework, which is the minimum number of credit hours required to sit for the CPA exam in Ohio and most other states. All students in this program will complete 30 credits of graduate coursework to fulfill the requirements for the master's degree, nine of which will be taken during the senior year. The program will also provide students with funding opportunities for the fifth year through graduate assistantships, professional internships, and scholarships.

Additional Information

BS/MSA students must complete a total of 30 graduate credits from the following groups of courses listed below. No more than nine credits can be 500-level (6200:5xx) courses. At least 12 credits must be 600-level accounting (6200:6xx) courses.

Courses to be taken senior year (select 9 credits):
6200:531	Business Entity Taxation	3
6200:554	Information Systems Security	3
6200:520	Advanced Financial Reporting and Analysis	3
Accounting and Assurance Core (12-15 credits):
6200:615	ERP and Financial Data Communications	3
6200:637	Contempory Accounting Issues	3
6200:658	Enterprise Risk Assessment and Assurance	3
6500:660	Accounting and Assurance Project (capstone course)	3
Taxation Core (3-6 credits):
6200:628	Tax Research	3
6200:631	Corporate Taxation I	3
*Students are required to take a different taxation course if they have completed the equivalent of 6200:627 or 6200:531. Students are required to complete at least one course but no more than two courses in the taxation core.
Accounting Electives* (0-6 credits):
6200:554	Information Systems Security	3
6200:570	Governmental Accounting	3
6200:659	Assurance Services and Data Mining	3
*These electives are open only to students who have not previously completed similar courses.
Information Systems Electives (0 - 9 credits):
6500:643	Analysis and Design of Business Systems	3
6500:641	Business Database Systems	3
6500:648	Management of Telecommunications	3
6500:678	Project Management	3
The Chair of the School of Accountancy may approve or substitute other relevant information systems courses not listed above. Students pursuing the Accounting Information Systems Option must complete a minimum of 12 credits of information systems courses (i.e., Group D and accounting information systems courses from Group C).
Finance Electives (0 - 9 credits):
6400:631	Financial Markets and Institutions	3
6400:645	Investment Analysis	3
6400:674	Strategic Financial Decision Making	3
6400:678	Capital Budgeting	3
6400:681	Multinational Corporate Finance	3
6400:691	International Markets and Investments	3
The Chair of the School of Accountancy may approve or substitute other relevant finance courses not listed above.

Admission Requirements

Minimum 3.0 undergraduate grade point average in business coursework and overall
Grades of "B" or better in 6200:301, 320, 321, 322
Two letters of recommendation
Statement of purpose
Resume
Must be admitted by the start of the senior year

Application Deadline

August 1 for Fall enrollment
December 1 for Spring enrollment
May 1 for Summer enrollment (preferred start for senior year)

International Student Applications

It is recommended that international students apply six weeks prior to these dates to allow time for admission and I-20 visa processing. I-20 forms are processed by UA Immigration Services in the International Center, Buchtel Hall. Proof of English Proficiency is required by producing an acceptable TOEFL or IELTS score.

Additional information on Accelerated BS/MSA Admission Requirements

BS/MSA students will be monitored closely and be given professional accounting advice through the School of Accountancy. Students must earn and maintain a 3.0 or better GPA (business, accounting, and overall) to stay in the program. Students who are not able to do so will complete the regular bachelor’s program instead of the accelerated BS/MSA program.

All students in the program will complete 30 credits of graduate courses to fulfill the requirements for the master’s degree. They will complete nine credits of 500-level graduate courses during their fourth (senior) year and the remaining 21 credits of 600-level graduate courses during their fifth year. The nine credits of 500-level graduate courses will count toward both their graduate and undergraduate degree programs. A total of 150 credits of graduate and undergraduate courses are required to complete the Accelerated BS/MSA program. BS/MSA students must take at least 120 undergraduate credits to achieve the required 150 hours needed for graduation.

BS/MSA students may be eligible for graduate assistantships during their fourth and fifth years of the program only if they are registered for at least nine graduate credits in each semester. Honors students may be eligible for funding from the Honors College during the fourth year and receive a graduate assistantship during the fifth year.

Students currently admitted to this program may have different course requirements than those listed here. Refer to your official Program Checklist and DPR in My Akron for your program requirements.

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