Accountancy, Master of Accountancy
The 30-credit-hour Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program offered by the Graduate School of Business at Gardner-Webb University is structured to prepare students for the significant changes that are impacting the accounting profession. The MAcc is recognized as the professional graduate degree designed to enhance effectiveness in upper-level accounting and financial positions in public accounting, private industry, or government.
The flexibility of the MAcc degree provides for the creation of career-specific degree tracks. The degree tracks available are general accounting and taxation. Courses are offered only in the evenings and online to accommodate working professionals.
Purpose
Today’s global business environment is dynamic. There are significant challenges facing accountants. Today’s accountant is expected to know more and do more than ever before. It is not enough to know accounting rules and regulations. To be successful in providing value to employers and clients alike, today’s accountant must demonstrate a combination of technical competence, oral and written communication skills, analytical problem-solving skills, technology skills, and people skills. The intensive, applied nature of this MAcc program provides training in accounting through the use of practical techniques that can readily be utilized by the students in their existing positions. The program also provides students with an educational experience to meet the North Carolina State Board of Public Accountancy’s 150-hour requirement to sit for the Uniform Certified Public Accounting Examination.
Student Learning Outcomes
To accomplish the mission of Graduate Programs in individual courses within the Godbold College of Business, students completing a course in Accounting will be able to:
- Adapt themselves in advanced professional career positions in business, government, and other areas of human endeavor where organizational, managerial, and analytical skills in accounting are vital for success;
- Learn new advanced managerial skills in accounting that require advanced knowledge of computerized technology applications in business; and
- Respond to complex changes in accounting in a dynamic, global marketplace and demonstrate high Christian ethical standards in their place of work.
MAcc Degree Requirements
- Overall minimum grade point average of 3.0 in graduate studies
- Satisfactory completion of 30 graduate hours: 15 core graduate hours (five courses), nine accounting emphasis elective graduate hours (three courses), and six business elective graduate hours (two courses) within six calendar years
- Application for graduation by the dates published by the Registrar
- If desired, participation in the hooding ceremony and Commencement exercises
It is the student’s responsibility to be familiar with the preceding requirements for graduation.
MAcc Program Guidelines
ACCT 600 Managerial Accounting, ACCT 601 Federal Income Tax, ACCT 612 Accounting Theory and Practice, and ACCT 621 Government and Not-for-Profit Accounting should be scheduled early in the program. Preferred electives should be scheduled whenever they will be offered according to the two-year rotation.
ACCT 611 Advanced Auditing should culminate the program. A minimum of 21 hours of MAcc program courses that include ACCT 600 Managerial Accounting, ACCT 601 Federal Income Tax, ACCT 612 Accounting Theory and Practice, ACCT 621 Government and Not-For-Profit Accounting, and nine hours of emphasis and/or business electives or permission of the Director of Graduate Business Programs are required prior to enrollment in ACCT 611 Advanced Auditing. A grade of “B” or better is required to successfully pass ACCT 611 Advanced Auditing. A student receiving a final grade of less than “B” must repeat ACCT 611.
It is the student’s responsibility to plan the degree in accordance with the program requirements using the two-year course rotation and the degree planning form available from the advisor.
MAcc Curriculum (30 hours)
The Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate studies: 15 hours in the required core, nine accounting elective hours, and six graduate business elective hours. A student may take nine-to-15 accounting elective hours by selecting an emphasis, or by choosing courses from a combination of different areas. For students maintaining consistent full-time status, normal degree completion time is five consecutive Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. Students may begin in any semester. Within the MAcc program, a minimum of six hours is required for full-time status.
Prerequisites
An undergraduate business degree is not required for admission to the Master of Accountancy program, but specific prerequisite course material is required. A minimum grade of “C” is required for all prerequisite courses. The following general business prerequisites are required. (The foundation courses below are offered to satisfy some or all of these general business prerequisites.)
Accounting Principles I
Accounting Principles II
Principles of Finance
Microeconomics
Macroeconomics
Principles of Marketing
Information Systems or Excel proficiency
Business Statistics
Management Science
The following accounting prerequisites are also required for the MAcc degree. (The below accounting prerequisites will be considered met if the applicant is a currently licensed Certified Public Accountant [CPA].)
Intermediate Accounting I
Intermediate Accounting II
Cost Accounting
Advanced Accounting
Income Tax
Auditing
BADM 501 | Foundations of Accounting and Finance | 3 |
BADM 502 | Foundations of Marketing and Economics | 3 |
BADM 503 | Foundations of Management Science and Statistical Methods | 3 |
Required Core Courses (15 hours)
Accounting Emphasis Electives (9 hours)
Choose nine hours from any of the following.
Tax Emphasis
General Emphasis
Forensic Emphasis
ACCT 610 | Advanced Accounting Information Systems | 3 |
ACCT 630 | Fraud Examination | 3 |
ACCT 632 | Internal Auditing | 3 |
ACCT 634 | Forensic Accounting and the Legal Environment | 3 |
ACCT 636 | Forensic Accounting, Tax Investigation, and Fraud | 3 |
ACCT 638 | Ethics of Accounting Judgement and Decision-Making | 3 |
Business Electives (6 hours)
The elective courses are chosen from the large number of Accounting, Master of Business Administration (MBA), and International Master of Business Administration (IMBA) courses. These courses allow the student to address functional weaknesses or pursue additional specialization. For example, a student could take a group of courses related to health care management or banking and finance or international business. Students with no baccalaureate degree in accounting are encouraged to take more accounting electives in place of the business electives.
Total Credit Hours: 30