Dr. Raymond S. Kulzick, Program Coordinator
rkulzick@stu.edu
The Master of Accounting degree program provides the student with intensive professional preparation in accounting and with an opportunity to specializa in taxation or Forensic Accounting.
The program is designed to enhance the professional development and competence of students and professionals who are planning to enter: public accounting, public institution accounting, or private accounting.
Upon completion of the Master of Accounting degree, the graduate should meet the requirement of the Florida State Board of Accountancy for 30 credits of education beyond the baccalaureate degree. Final determination of one’s eligibility to take the Uniform CPA Examination rests with the State Board.
DEGREE PROGRAM
To earn the Master of Accounting degree the student must successfully complete
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Required accounting courses
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15 Credits
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Business-related courses
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6 Credits
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Accounting elective courses
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3 Credits
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General elective courses
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6 Credits
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TOTAL degree program requirements
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30 Credits
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All Graduate School academic standards apply, including the requirement that students must maintain a 3.0 (B) cumulative grade point average at all times for continuation in the program. Withdrawal for more than one consecutive semester subjects the student to reapplication procedures.
SPECIALIZATION IN FORENSIC ACCOUNTING or TAXATION
Students may obtain specialization with the Master of Accounting degree in either Forensic Accounting or Taxation by completing the required 12 credits (four courses) within the specialization area.
This can be accomplished within the 30 credit MAC program only through careful planning and scheduling of coursework. Consult with an advisor in advance if you are interested in these specializations. Specialization courses normally require at least one and one-half years to complete. Details of course requirements are presented below.
MAC Course Requirements (30 credits)
Accounting (15 credits)
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ACC
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502
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Advanced Auditing
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ACC
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503
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Management Accounting II - Cost Analysis
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ACC
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504
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Advanced Accounting Information Systems
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ACC
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505
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Advanced Taxation
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ACC
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507
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Governmental and Institutional Accounting
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Management (6 credits)
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BUS
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670
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Advanced Operation Management
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MAN
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510
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Management Ethics
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Accounting Electives (3 credits)
One course from:
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ACC
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508
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International Accounting
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ACC
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540
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Fraud Examination
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ACC
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541
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Forensic Accounting Application
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ACC
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542
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Forensic Accounting Practice Issues
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ACC
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543
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Computer Auditing and Investigation
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ACC
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605
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Seminar in Accounting Theory
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ACC
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755
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Seminar : Selected Topics in Accounting
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ACC
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781
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International Taxation
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ACC
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783
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Tax Research
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ACC
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785
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Taxation of Estates, Trusts and Gifts
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ACC
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786
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Advanced Corporate Taxation
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ACC
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788
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"S" Corporation and Partnership Taxation
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*ACC
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790
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Accounting Internship I
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Electives (6 credits)
Two courses from:
Any of the above listed Accounting Electives, or
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*ACC(BUS)
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791
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Accounting Internship II
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BUS
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673
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Management Writing and Reporting
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BUS
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707
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Marketing of Services
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BUS
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771
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International Business Law
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BUS
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775
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International Business
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ECO(BUS)
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671
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International Economics
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FIN(BUS)
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772
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International Finance and Banking
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*These courses are available with some restrictions and only with the advanced approval of the MAC Program Coordinator.
Forensic Accounting Specialization
The Specialization in Forensic Accounting is designed for the Master of Accounting student who wishes to expand their knowledge in the broad area of forensic accounting.
Courses in this specialization are designed to provide the accountant with a broad base of knowledge across the field of forensic accounting and more specialized knowledge within the areas of fraud and computer applications and investigation. Forensic career opportunities are available with private companies, government agencies, public accounting and consulting firms, as well as in specialized individual practices.
The graduate specialization will be awarded to those who complete four courses (12 credits) at St. Thomas University from the following forensic accounting courses at the same time as they complete the MAC degree:
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ACC
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502
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Advanced Auditing
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ACC
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540
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Fraud Examination
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ACC
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541
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Forensic Accounting Application
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ACC
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542
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Forensic Accounting Practice Issues
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ACC
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543
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Computer Auditing and Investigation
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Taxation Specialization
The Specialization in Taxation is designed for the Master of Accounting students who wish to expand their knowledge in the area of taxation.
Many candidates for the specialization will be practicing public accounting professionals desiring to improve their skills. For this reason, a practical viewpoint will prevail, i.e., an emphasis on case-problem solution analysis.
The graduate specialization will be awarded to those who complete four courses (12 graduate credit hours) from the following graduate taxation courses at the same time as they complete the MAC degree:
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ACC (BUS)
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505
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Advanced Taxation
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ACC(BUS)
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755
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Seminar: Selected Topics in Accounting*
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ACC(BUS)
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781
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International Taxation
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ACC(BUS)
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783
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Tax Research
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ACC (BUS)
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785
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Taxation of Estates, Trusts, and Gifts
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ACC
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786
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Advanced Corporate Taxation
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ACC(BUS)
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788
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"S" Corporation and Partnership Taxation
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* Taxation topics only, e.g., Seminar: State and Local Taxation.
Prerequisites:
Although an undergraduate degree in accounting or its equivalent is a prerequisite for admission to the MAC, it is possible for an applicant to be admitted to the MAC program with a baccalaureate degree in another business discipline or some other discipline if he or she agrees to complete the prerequisites for the MAC program. The prerequisites as expressed in terms of St. Thomas University courses are as follows:
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ACC 201 + ACC 202
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Principles of Accounting I & II
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6
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or ACC 530
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Essentials of Accounting
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3
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ACC 301 + ACC 302
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Financial Accounting I & II
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6
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ACC 303
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Management Accounting I: Cost Principles
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3
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ACC 304
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Accounting Information Systems
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3
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ACC 305
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Federal Income Tax
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3
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ACC 401
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Advanced Accounting
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3
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ACC 402
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Auditing
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3
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BUS 220
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Business Law I
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3
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BUS 322
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Business Law II
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3
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Business and Economics courses (upper division)
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18
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Total prerequisite credits 42 to 51
If a student is admitted without one or more prerequisites, he or she must complete the prerequisite course(s) with a grade of B or higher before he/she can take the graduate course(s) for which the prerequisite(s) is (are) necessary.
Some students with an undergraduate degree in accounting may be interested in completing their graduate accounting education by earning our MBA specialization in Accounting or Master of Science in Management (MSM) specialization in Accounting. Although the general admissions requirements for the MBA and MSM differ from those for the MAC, the above listed accounting prerequisites are the same for all three graduate programs.