Nov 07, 2024  
2023-2024 Online College Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Online College Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Master of Accountancy


The Master of Accountancy Program is intended for both career changers and career advancers. The program prepares people with an undergraduate degree in business, or, those who have successfully completed the equivalent undergraduate foundation in accounting, for a career in the public accounting profession. This program prepares future certified public accountants (CPAs) to exercise their developed technical competence and interpersonal skills with integrity. The Master of Accountancy program also satisfies the widely adopted 150-hour educational requirement for certification and license as a CPA.

The program outcomes for the Master of Accountancy include the abilities to:

  • Interpret and apply the Professional Code of Conduct.
  • Conduct research on topics on current issues in accounting using the primary standard setting entities.
  • Plan for the internal control components needed for accurate accounting information and use.
  • Develop contextual and practical strategies for assessing and planning your professional development.
  • Understand the role that auditing plays in a market economy.
  • Make informed decisions about testing internal controls and communicating audit findings to stakeholders.
  • Gain a clear understanding of accounting for mergers, acquisitions, and liquidations.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of accounting in the international marketplace.
  • Understand the need and implications for liquidation and corporate reorganization.
  • Create and apply analytical reasoning tools.
  • Appraise the components of taxable income determination across taxable business entities.
  • Assess possible tax approaches and communicate tax conclusions and recommendations.
  • Apply foundational theories in finance.
  • Practice fraud prevention and detection, methods, techniques, strategies, and thinking processes utilized in forensic accounting.

Curriculum


The Master of Accountancy Program at Saint Joseph’s College provides accounting professionals with the knowledge and skills for effectiveness in practice, as well as, CPA exam success. The integrated interdisciplinary curriculum includes course work in Ethics, Leadership, and Accounting towards preparing its graduates for the next level in their career. 

The Master of Accountancy program has been designed to satisfy the academic credit hour requirements for most states and the topical requirements of the CPA exam.  Each state sets their own licensure requirements, so those interested in CPA licensure must follow the guidelines outlined by the state’s licensure board. A quick reference to each state’s requirements can be found on the AICPA website and is a good place to start.

Candidates must satisfactorily complete the 30 graduate credits, with an overall GPA of Saint Joseph’s College courses of 3.0 or higher.

Courses are offered in five terms per year and are 10-weeks in length. This allows opportunity for students to engage and participate like they would in a traditional class but without the requirement of everyone being online at the same time or on the same day.

Bachelor degree applicants who meet all of the admission and preparatory coursework requirements who elect to take two courses in each of the five ten week terms can complete the program in one year!

Admission Requirements


Matriculates in the MAcc program must hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally / nationally accredited academic institution, with at least a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale.

Applicants must submit a resume or work history to supplement their application and allow for a comprehensive evaluation that takes professional credentials into consideration when determining the required preparatory coursework.

Policy Note:  Undergraduate students in their final semester may apply to the MBA or MACC programs. These applicants may be conditionally accepted, pending submission of their final transcript with conferral date, for their undergraduate degree.  Full acceptance will be granted after proof of an undergraduate degree has been submitted by the student.

Preparatory Coursework


Successful completion (C / 2.0 GPA or better) or other evidence of competency in of each of the following prior to graduate course (500 level and above) enrollment is required.  *In some cases professional experience may waive prepatory requirements. Students with undergraduate degrees who have not yet completed any or all of these courses may do so through our online offerings prior to enrolling in 500 level courses.  SJC courses are indicated in parentheses and include both campus and online courses.

Financial Accounting (AC 210)

Managerial Accounting (AC 211)

Business Finance (FI 301)

Federal Tax (Individual) (AC 312)

Once the preparatory coursework has been successfully completed, students may enroll in the following intermediate accounting courses, sequentially.  These two courses do not qualify for professional experience consideration, but course completion(s) from elsewhere that meets the B- grade requirement may be transferred into the program. 

Intermediate Accounting I (AC 310)

Intermediate Accounting II (AC 311)

*Applicants must also submit a resume or work history to supplement their application and allow for a comprehensive evaluation that takes professional credentials into consideration.

Scheduling of Preparatory and Intermediate Accounting Courses

Courses that only require AC 210 as a prerequisite:

AC 312 - Federal Income Taxes  

FI 301 - Business Finance  

Prerequisite Scheduling Sequence.  Students should enroll in the courses needed according to the following sequence (A First, then B, then C and then D):

A.  AC 210 - Financial Accounting  

B.  AC 211 - Managerial Accounting  , AC 312 - Federal Income Taxes  , FI 301 - Business Finance  

C.  AC 310 - Intermediate Accounting I  

D.  AC 311 - Intermediate Accounting II   

*B courses may be taken concurrently with any other B, C or D course.