Since accounting professionals need a broad understanding of the business disciplines and how those disciplines interact with accounting, students with undergraduate degrees outside of business or accounting will be required to take a number of foundation courses prior to enrollment in graduate classes. In addition, all students who do not have prior experience in the accounting profession are strongly encouraged to participate in an internship experience as part of their program. Students may customize their MSA by spreading graduate electives over a variety of areas or by selecting electives in a particular non-accounting area complementary to their individual preference. All students must take at least three non-accounting electives as part of their program. Thus, the electives provide an opportunity for breadth or additional depth within the program.
Classes meet once a week in late afternoon and evening time periods.
Students, provided all prerequisites have been met, may be able to complete the MSA in one year of full-time study through careful scheduling and advanced planning with the MSA Director. Several factors are evaluated in determining a candidate's admissibility to the MSA program. Students offered regular admission must have a formula score of 1100 or higher. Admitted students should have a minimum GMAT score of 500. Exceptions may be made for students whose overall background indicates that they show high promise as graduate students.