Accounting (MS)
See: Accounting (MS)
College/School: HEB School of Business and Administration
Program Accreditation: Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs
The master of science in accounting degree is a 30-hour program designed to provide the opportunity for concerned, enlightened, globally and socially aware students to achieve the professional competencies required for entrance to the accounting profession, and to provide candidates the opportunity to obtain the credentials required by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy to sit for the national CPA licensing examination. The program offers tracks in taxation and assurance/financial reporting, and the traditional non-track plan remains available for students not interested in track specialization.
The Tax track focuses on contemporary aspects of taxation for use in individual tax practices and business entities. This track is designed to enable students to become proficient in tax research, analysis, and problem solving relevant to the current regulatory environment.
The Assurance/Financial Reporting track provides a practical and theoretical exposure to current audit and assurance service topics. Students analyze and evaluate financial statements and related disclosures while gaining an understanding of the relationship between the responsibilities of entities and the public accounting profession.
All students have opportunities to participate in accounting internships.
Admissions
- The program offers two routes for admission:
- Baccalaureate degree with an accounting major or concentration, with a 3.0 GPA in the undergraduate prerequisite accounting courses.
- Baccalaureate degree not in business, or otherwise not presenting the minimum undergraduate prerequisite accounting and business courses.
- Applicants with the baccalaureate degree and without the minimum undergraduate prerequisite accounting and business courses may be admitted on probationary status. Applicants admitted on probationary status are required to complete the undergraduate accounting and business course deficiencies prior to enrollment in the last full semester of study.
- All applicants for admission must present an acceptable statement detailing the applicant’s reasons for pursuing the Master of Science in Accounting degree. Grade point averages, transcripts, prior work experience (if any), and the applicant’s statement will be considered in the admission decision.
Apply to UIW
Application for the Master of Science in Accounting program.
Program of Study
Candidates complete the Master of Science in Accounting program within three possible tracks.
Elective courses in the Tax Track and in the Assurance/Financial Reporting track must include one course designated ACCT. Acceptable electives include all graduate level courses offered by the H-E-B School of Business and Administration other than ADMN 6310 Accounting Concepts & Issues. Students must meet existing prerequisites for entrance to elective classes. ACCT 6388 Accounting Internship may be substituted for ACCT 6333 in the Tax Track if the internship work is in taxation.
The State of Texas requires 30 hours of approved upper division accounting courses, plus 24 hours of approved upper division business courses, an approved three semester hour course in ethics, and approved credits in accounting or tax research and business communications, included within a total of not less than 150 semester hours, and a degree, as qualifications to sit for the CPA examination. Not less than half of the 30 accounting hours must be from traditional on the ground classroom courses.
Note that some courses designated as ACCT are not accepted by The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy as part of the 30 hours of accounting courses required for qualification, but may be accepted for other purposes, such as the ethics requirement or as business courses. The ethics course must be taught in a traditional classroom environment. The approved three semester hour course in ethics is required in addition to the 30 hour requirement. State Board of Public Accountancy rules change from time to time. While it is our intention that our courses meet State Board rules, there can be no assurance that any particular course is acceptable at any particular time. It is each student's responsibility to see that they meet TSBPA requirements.
Required Courses for each track
Traditional track (15 hours)
The traditional track is for those students who do not wish to specialize in a certain area.
Tax track (15 hours)
ACCT 6388 Accounting Internship may be substituted for ACCT 6333 in the Tax Track if the internship work is in taxation.
Assurance and Financial Reporting track (15 hours)
Accounting Electives (9–15 hours)
Elective courses in the Tax Track and in the Assurance/Financial Reporting track must include one course designated ACCT. Acceptable electives include all graduate level courses offered by the H-E-B School of Business and Administration other than ADMN 6310 Accounting Concepts & Issues. Students must meet existing prerequisites for entrance to elective classes.
Required to Sit for the CPA Exam (6 hours) See *Note
*NOTE: ACCT 6318 and ACCT 6339 are not part of the degree program. They are required only to qualify for the CPA exam. If the student has already satisfied the TSPCA Ethics for Accounting/Business and/or the TSPCA Business Communications requirement for the CPA exam, then that student can take additional electives (3 or 6 hours) for the degree program.
The State of Texas requires these qualifications to sit for the CPA examination:
- 30 hours of approved upper division accounting courses, plus
- 24 hours of approved upper division business courses, plus
- an approved three semester hour course in ethics, plus
- approved credits in accounting or tax research and business communications, included within a total of not less than 150 semester hours, plus
- a degree.
Not less than half of the 30 accounting hours must be from traditional courses with physical attendance in regular course meetings on the campus of the institutions granting credit. Note that some courses designated as ACCT are not accepted by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy as part of the 30 hours of accounting courses required for qualification, but may be accepted for other purposes, such as the ethics requirement or as business courses. The ethics course must be taught in a traditional classroom environment. The approved three semester hour course in ethics is required in addition to the 30-hour requirement.
The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy rules change from time to time. There can be no assurance that any particular course is acceptable at any particular time. Note: It is the student’s responsibility to meet TSBPA requirements.