Accountancy (Master of Accountancy)

DESCRIPTION

There is an increasing demand for accountants which can be attributed to four primary factors:  sector growth, improvement in the national and regional economy, the retirement of CPAs and an an increasingly complex tax and regulatory environment.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts a 10% growth in the employment of accountants and auditors between 2016 and 2026. This is a greater rate of growth compared to many other occupations. According to U.S. News & World Report, accountants rank #7 in best business jobs, making the profession attractive to students. Accounting Today reports that there are 42,000 CPA firms in the nation, and over 664,000 licensed and active CPAs.  Another positive factor is that the median pay in 2017 was $69,350 per year (BLS, 2018). For accountants with a master's degree, the typical salary falls in the range of $52,000 to $135,000.

Slippery Rock University's Master of Accountancy will prepare students to reach the 150-hour education requirement for the certified public accountant (CPA) certification.  Students who have a master's degree will need less work experience in order to be licensed as CPAs - 1 year of work experience and a master's degree instead of the 2 year's work experience if candidates have a bachelor's degree and 150 credits. The Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy requires that CPA candidates hold a bachelor's degree, at minimum, and have no fewer than 150 semester hours of formal education with a minimum of 36 credits of coursework in accounting.

Accounting undergraduate students will have the opportunity to participate in the 4+1 program and earn a BSBA and Master of Accountancy in 5 years.  Students participating in this option may elect to take up to four graduate courses as undergraduates. 

Highlights

Slippery Rock University's Master of Accountancy offers:

• A 30 credit professional degree that can be completed in 12 months (full-time) and 24 months (part-time)
• Flexible enrollment:  can enroll full-time or part-time (fall, winter, spring, summer)
• There will generally be two 100% online classes each semester (fall and spring) as well as two blended classes
• Classes offered in summer and winter terms are 100% online
• On-site courses are offered at the Regional Learning Alliance (RLA) in Cranberry Township, PA either one or two nights per week depending on part-time or full-time status with an online component (blended)
• Preparation to pass the C.P.A. exam, satisfying the 150-credit requirement of Pennsylvania and other states
• A competitive curriculum for a competitive advantage in the job market

Requirements

• Online Application
• Graduate Application Fee
• Official Transcripts (Undergraduate/Graduate), with a minimum of a 3.00 GPA or higher (official transcripts must be sent by the institution via e-script to graduate.admissions@sru.edu)
• Two Electronic reference Forms (students are responsible for forwarding this link to evaluators)
• Resume' (upload to graduate.admissions@sru.edu)
• GMAT is required but waived for business related undergraduate degree or minor

The SRU Masters of Science in Accountancy (MAcc) program requires a Bachelors Degree in Accounting or a Bachelor's degree with any major and completion of the following prerequisite courses prior to the start of the MAcc program:

• Financial  Accounting
• Intermediate Accounting I
• Cost Accounting
• Auditing

*Applicants may submit supplemental application materials as a PDF or JPEG file via email (graduate.admissions@sru.edu), fax (724.738.2146), or mail.