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The Master of Science in Accounting degree program is a graduate professional program designed to provide advanced, specialized training in accounting. The program requires 30 graduate units, with no fewer than 18 in the field of accounting from a variety of courses available through the school. The program allows for 12 units of elective material in the area of business including business analytics, MIS & information security, finance, healthcare management, and marketing. Individualized programs of study are defined by the student and the adviser.
Questions regarding admissions should be directed to the Accounting Graduate Program Coordinator: GradAcctPrograms@email.arizona.edu
The School of Accountancy offers the following programs:
These programs prepare students for careers such as the independent practice of public accounting, controllership, and general accounting management.
Graduate work in accounting is offered for those who strive for a stronger background in business and accounting, and for those who wish to teach in colleges and universities.
Mission Statement
The mission of the School of Accountancy is to:
Eller College of Management
Global Campus Experience - Online
Global - Amman - PSUT
University of Arizona - Main - Tucson
Arizona Online - Online
Admissions Requirements
GMAT & Letter of Recommendation Waiver
If you are a University of Arizona, Arizona State, or Northern Arizona University student majoring in accounting, you may qualify for a requirements waiver. The criteria are as follows:
1. The student is one semester away from earning their undergraduate degree in Accounting or has earned their Accounting degree within the past 12 months, AND
2. The student achieved an overall GPA of 3.2 (or higher), including courses taken at all institutions attended and an upper division accounting GPA of 3.0 (or higher) at the time the application is reviewed by the admissions committee.
If you meet the criteria above, you will not need to submit the following materials:
Prerequisites
The following are prerequisite courses for the MSA program. All prerequisites must be taken at an institution that teaches United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and U.S. taxation. For in-person students, all of the prerequisites can be completed during your program. For online students, all of the prerequisites except for Introduction to Financial Accounting can be completed during your program.
Required test(s): GMAT, Proof of English Proficiency for some international candidates. See Admission Requirement for more details.
Financial Aid: Many students choose to take out a loan to pay for all or part of the costs associated with attending the Master of Science in Accounting program. Eligibility for loans and scholarships is determined by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form available on line at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Many funds are limited, so those students who have their FAFSA completed by March 1st each academic year receive priority processing. Applicants must have been admitted to the MAcc program before The University of Arizona Office of Student Financial Aid(OSFA) will make financial aid awards. Graduate students must be enrolled at least halftime in order to receive federal loans.
School of Accountancy Scholarship: Scholarship for in-person MSA students are available on a limited basis. See our webpage for more information: https://eller.arizona.edu/programs/masters/accounting/ms-accounting/roi/funding#scholarship
Teaching Assistantships: Teaching assistantships are offered on a semester by semester basis to students enrolled in the in-person Master of Science Accounting program at the University of Arizona. These positions involve working with professors teaching undergraduate accounting courses and providing overall support to School of Accountancy programs. Positions are limited and will be provided to applicants who are most qualified. Qualifications include GPA, GMAT score, recommendations from professors, demonstration of skill in the courses for which you are seeking a TA position, and other qualitative factors. All prerequisite courses must be completed to be considered for a TA position. To be considered for a TA position, students must apply to the MSA program by the TA consideration deadline of March 1 (fall semester) or October 1 (spring semester). Applicants should indicate on the application that they want to be considered for a TA position.
Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. If at any time the GPA drops, they lose their assistantship. Students will be required to work 10 hours per week on average (at .25 FTE). Accepting a TA position indicates that you agree to not hold an outside job during the regular semester. All TA’s must attend a mandatory training session before classes start. Benefits for TAs include an out-of-state tuition waiver, 50% in-state tuition waiver, medical insurance, and a stipend of approximately $3,000 per semester.
Main Campus MSA Program
Aside from the strict TA consideration deadlines and international application deadlines indicated above, the admissions committee continues to accept applications on a rolling basis until program capacity has been reached.
Online MSA Program
International applicants may be considered for conditional admission to this program at the department's discretion.
4832
ETS Major Field Code(s) for this program: 4001,4002,4003,4323
30
Students in the MSA program must complete at least 18 units of graduate accounting coursework and up to 12 units of non-accounting electives. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required in the program, with no course grades below a C.
Students must choose a minimum of 9 of their accounting units from the following core courses:
Students must choose an additional 9 units from the courses above or below:
*Classes may only be taken if not previously taken in undergraduate studies
For their 12 units of electives, students may take additional graduate accounting coursework from the previous lists, or they may select other approved business electives. Electives can be focused in a number of areas: Business Analytics, MIS/Information Security, Healthcare Management, Finance, or Marketing.
The most common non-ACCT electives taken by MSA students are as follows:
MSA Exam
An MSA exam is required to be taken and passed by every student in order to graduate. It is a comprehensive exam covering materials learned throughout the program. This exam is typically held in the last semester of the program.
The test consists of 2 components:
*Students who do not pass the exam on the first try will be given one retake opportunity.
School of Accountancy Academic Integrity Policy
The accounting profession is built on a foundation of integrity and ethics. As such, we strive to prepare Accounting professionals who will succeed in demanding and competitive business environments with skill and integrity. The School of Accountancy’s Academic Integrity Policy exists to provide faculty and students a guide to our standards of ethical conduct and to the penalties associated with their violation. Our success in promoting a culture of honesty and respect will depend on the extent to which all members of the Eller community embrace these standards, holding themselves and those with whom they work accountable to them in their daily actions and words.
All members of the School of Accountancy are expected to know the University of Arizona Academic Integrity Policy's content and implications. Lack of familiarity with the policy will not excuse integrity violations. Complete information about the Code of Academic Integrity can be reviewed at http://deanofstudents.arizona.edu/codeofacademicintegrity.
The School of Accountancy has a zero tolerance policy related to academic integrity violations. Students found to have violated this policy will be removed from the accounting graduate program. In addition to being removed from the School of Accountancy program, students could receive a failing grade, notation on their transcript, and could face removal from the Eller College. Faculty members are responsible for describing rules specific to their classes beyond the general policy and will determine the additional penalties for violations.
Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.