Accountancy

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The objective of the Master of Accountancy (M.Acc.) degree program is to provide an opportunity for students to achieve greater breadth and depth in the study of accountancy than is possible in the baccalaureate program. As preparation for entry into a dynamic profession the curriculum fosters clear, logical, and analytical thought processes, effective oral and written communications, and life-long learning skills. Graduates pursue careers as professional accountants in public practice, industry, financial institutions, government, and other not-for-profit organizations.

Master of Accountancy (M.Acc.) in Accountancy

Admission

Applicants for admission to the program are required to:

  1. Complete all requirements for admission to graduate study as specified by the Graduate School.
  2. Complete all requirements for admission to the Master of Accountancy program to include,
    1. Submission of all postsecondary academic transcripts
    2. Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree in accounting prior to enrollment or will need to complete accounting foundation requirements
    3. Submission of a current resume with 2 references provided.
  3. Pay a nonrefundable $65 application fee by credit card when submitting the application for Admission to Graduate Study in Accountancy.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Accountancy degree program includes three concentrations from which to choose: 1. Taxation, 2. Auditing/Accounting Information Systems, and 3. General. Degree requirements are dependent upon the concentration chosen.

Taxation Concentration

The taxation concentration is designed to provide in-depth exposure to the basic areas of taxation and to develop competence in the practical application of rules of taxation in the context of business and personal decision-making. Students must complete 30 credit hours of graduate-level course work.

Taxation Core Courses (18 credit hours)*

Six (6) of the following courses must be completed:

  • ACCT 541: Federal Income Tax Concepts (3 CH)
  • ACCT 542: Tax Research and Procedure (3 CH)
  • ACCT 543: Corporate Taxation (3 CH)
  • ACCT 544: Partnership Taxation (3 CH)
  • ACCT 545: State and Local Taxation (3 CH)
  • ACCT 546: Estate and Gift Taxation (3 CH)
  • ACCT 547: Tax Accounting Principles (3 CH)
  • ACCT 548: International Taxation (3 CH)
  • ACCT 549: Tax Planning and Business Strategy (3 CH)

Electives (12 credit hours)

  • ACCT 514: Ethics of Business (3 CH)
  • ACCT 561: Analytics for Accounting Data (3 CH)
  • ACCT 571: Governmental & Not for Profit Accounting (3 CH)
  • ACCT 575: CPA Review (3 CH)
  • ACCT 595: Internship (3 CH)
  • Any 500-level ACCT course not previously taken

Elective will be selected in consultation with the Director of the Master of Accountancy Program.

*Substitutions will be determined in consultation with the Director of the Master of Accountancy program when necessary.

Auditing and Accounting Information Systems Concentration

The Auditing and Accounting Information Systems concentration is designed for those interested in pursuing careers in assurance. The primary objective is to develop conceptual and technical abilities, research competence, and communication and human relation skills.

The program of study is designed to provide in-depth exposure to the basic areas of auditing and accounting information systems and to develop competencies in the practical application of these areas of expertise. Students must complete 30 credit hours of graduate-level coursework.

Auditing and Accounting Information Systems Core Courses (18 credit hours)*

Six (6) of the following courses must be completed:

  • ACCT 512C: Accounting Research Methods Seminar-Interpreting Data (3 CH)
  • ACCT 532: Advanced Managerial Accounting (3 CH)
  • ACCT 549: Tax Planning and Business Strategy (3 CH)
  • ACCT 560: Information Technology Risk and Controls (3 CH)
  • ACCT 561: Analytics for Accounting Data (3 CH)
  • ACCT 562: Governance, Risk, and Control (3 CH)
  • ACCT 563: Advanced Auditing (3 CH)
  • ACCT 565: Advanced Accounting Information Systems (3 CH)
  • ACCT 567: Fraud Examination (3 CH)
  • ACCT 568: Forensic Accounting (3 CH)

Elective (12 credit hours)

  • ACCT 514: Ethics of Business (3 CH)
  • ACCT 571: Governmental & Not for Profit Accounting (3 CH)
  • ACCT 575: CPA Review (3 CH)
  • ACCT 595: Internship (3 CH)
  • Any 500-level ACCT course not previously taken

Elective will be selected in consultation with the Director of the Master of Accountancy Program.

*Substitutions will be determined in consultation with the Director of the Master of Accountancy program when necessary.

General Concentration

The General concentration is designed for those interested in pursuing careers that cover all areas of accounting. This concentration is designed to provide a mix of taxation, auditing, and accounting information systems topics. Students must complete 30 credit hours of graduate-level coursework.

General Core Courses (up to 30 credit hours)*

  • ACCT 512C: Accounting Research Methods Seminar-Interpreting Data (3 CH)
  • ACCT 542: Tax Research and Procedure (3 CH)
  • ACCT 543: Corporate Taxation (3 CH)
  • ACCT 545: State and Local Taxation (3 CH)
  • ACCT 560: Information Technology Risk and Controls (3 CH)
  • ACCT 561: Analytics for Accounting Data (3 CH)
  • ACCT 562: Governance, Risk, and Control (3 CH)
  • ACCT 567: Fraud Examination (3 CH)
  • ACCT 568: Forensic Accounting (3 CH)
  • ACCT 571: Governmental & Not for Profit Accounting (3 CH)

Electives (up to 6 credit hours)

  • ACCT 575: CPA Review (3 CH)
  • ACCT 595: Internship (3 CH)

Elective will be selected in consultation with the Director of the Master of Accountancy program.

* Substitutions will be determined in consultation with the Director of the Master of Accountancy program when necessary.

Accountancy Certificates

The post-baccalaureate certificates allows those who want to receive specialized knowledge in different accounting areas. Three post-baccalaureate certificates are offered and the certificates are stackable to allow for the student to obtain the MAcc degree upon completion of two of the post-baccalaureate certificates. The student must be currently enrolled in a graduate degree program at SIUC or an individual holding a bachelor's degree and admitted to the Graduate School.

Certificate in Accountancy Foundation

The Accountancy Foundation consists of six current graduate courses which provide the student with the necessary foundation in accounting to enter the accounting profession and/or be prepared to take the CPA Exam. This graduate certificate is directed toward students who do not have an accounting undergraduate degree. The program requires students to complete 18 credit hours of graduate level coursework, as follows:

  • ACCT 501 Financial Reporting I
  • ACCT 502 Financial Reporting II
  • ACCT 504 Cost Management
  • ACCT 506 Taxation I
  • ACCT 508 Accounting Information Systems
  • ACCT 509 Assurance Services

Certificate in Accountancy Assurance Analytics

The Accountancy Assurance Analytics Certificate will consist of five current graduate courses which will provide the student with a specialization in Assurance Analytics. This certificate is directed toward students who have the accounting foundation and/or work as an accounting professional who want to get more specialized knowledge in the assurance analytics area. The program requires students to complete 15 credit hours of graduate level coursework, as follows:

  • ACCT 512C Accounting Research Methods Seminar-Interpreting Data
  • ACCT 560 Information Technology Risk and Controls
  • ACCT 561 Analytics for Accounting Data
  • ACCT 563 Advanced Auditing
  • ACCT 565 Advanced Accounting Information Systems

Certificate in Accountancy Taxation

The Accountancy Taxation Certificate will consist of five current graduate courses which will provide the student with a specialization in Taxation. The certificate is directed toward students who have the accounting foundation and/or work as an accounting professional who want to get more specialized knowledge in the taxation area. The program requires students to complete 15 credit hours of graduate level coursework, as follows:

  • ACCT 541 Tax Concepts
  • ACCT 542 Tax Research & Procedure
  • ACCT 543 Corporate Taxation
  • ACCT 544 Partnership Taxation
  • ACCT 545 State and Local Taxation

Foundation Requirements

A student not having an accountancy degree will be required to complete the following Accountancy Foundation courses (or equivalent). The Accountancy Foundation post-baccalaureate certificate will fulfill this requirement:

  • ACCT 501: Financial Reporting I
  • ACCT 502: Financial Reporting II
  • ACCT 504: Cost Management
  • ACCT 506: Taxation I
  • ACCT 508: Accounting Information Systems
  • ACCT 509: Assurance Services

Note: The student may request that undergraduate courses taken at universities other than Southern Illinois University (SIU), or that other undergraduate courses taken at SIU be evaluated as possible substitutes that would meet the above requirements.

The full-time student who qualifies for the minimum program in terms of course work requirements normally may expect to complete the Master of Accountancy degree in one calendar year (two semesters and one summer session).

In order to meet the graduate requirements, the students must obtain a 3.0 grade point average (4.0 = A) and obtain a B or better in seventy percent of all graduate-level courses taken after admission to the M.Acc. program.

Double Major Policy

Any graduate student wishing to pursue a double major for a master’s degree that includes business administration must satisfy the following requirements in addition to any requirements stated in the Graduate Catalog:

  • The individual must satisfy all requirements for admission to the relevant master’s program in business (M.B.A or M.Acc.).
  • The individual must satisfy all foundation requirements of the relevant master’s program in business.
  • The individual must complete all core classes, secondary core (M.Acc.) courses, and elective course requirements for the relevant master’s program in business.
  • No more than six credit hours of coursework outside the College of Business and Analytics may be counted toward elective requirements in the relevant master’s program in business.

M.Acc./J.D. Concurrent Degrees

A student who has been admitted separately to the School of Law and to the M.Acc. program may apply for permission to study concurrently for both the Juris Doctor and Master of Accountancy degrees. This permission must be requested from both the School of Law and the School of Accountancy, ordinarily prior to entry into the second-year curriculum of the School of Law.

During the first academic year of concurrent work on the two degrees, the student enrolls only in the first-year law curriculum. In any subsequent academic term, the student may enroll for courses either in the School of Law or in the Master of Accountancy program. A student registered for both law and graduate courses in the same term must enroll for a minimum of 10 hours in law, and 12 semester hours in total, in order to meet A.B.A. residence requirements and the academic requirements of the School of Law.

Completion of the concurrent program requires that the student successfully complete 90 credit hours of law courses and 30 credit hours of courses that meet M.Acc. requirements. However, up to nine credit hours of M.Acc. courses may be applied to the 90-hour J.D. requirement and up to nine credit hours of Law School courses may be applied to the 30-credit hour M.Acc. requirement. School of Law courses counting for graduate credit toward the Master of Accountancy degree must be approved by the Director of the Master of Accountancy program. Further, no more than six of the 30 credit hours may be taken in courses at the 400-level for graduate credit.

Differential Tuition

The College of Business and Analytics has a differential tuition surcharge of 15 percent of applicable tuition for graduate College of Business and Analytics majors. The differential tuition surcharge will be assessed at the in-state tuition rate and will be capped at 15 credit hours per semester.