Accounting

Graduate Programs

Description

The MAcc program is designed to prepare individuals for a successful career in public and private accounting. It provides students with the additional 30 credits needed to meet the 150 credit hours required to become a Certified Public Accountant. Students apply technical accounting knowledge to a variety of business situations and develop analytical, critical thinking, and communication skills. All classes are two credit hours and offered over eight-week modules.

Majors

 Program Locations Major / Total Credits
Accounting MACC MACC - Master of Accounting
  • Online
 30 / 30

Certificates

 Program Locations Major / Total Credits
Taxation GC
  • Online
 10 / 10

Policies & Faculty

Policies

Admission to the MAcc:

  1. An undergraduate degree is required for admittance.
  2. Undergraduates in Accounting who have a 3.0 cumulative GPA and have completed 5 upper-level accounting courses can apply for admission but would not be able to take MAcc courses until their degree is conferred.
  3. Applicants with degrees other than accounting must complete, at a minimum, Intermediate Accounting Financial Accounting 1 and 2, Individual Income Tax, Business Income Tax, and Auditing. A business law contracts course is strongly recommended as well.

Application form is at grad.mnsu.edu/applying.

After review of your application, the admissions committee, at their discretion, may also request the submission of two letters of reference. The committee may request that the applicant participate in an interview with the chair of the MAcc program.

Contact Information

150 Morris Hall

Main Office (507) 389-2965
https://cob.mnsu.edu/academics/accounting/master-of-accounting/

Faculty

Director
  • Byron Pike, Ph.D., MAcc
Faculty

600 Level

Credits: 2

The theoretical structure underlying financial accounting will be discussed. The relationship of accounting theory to basic financial statements and standard setting will be analyzed. Case analysis will require research in accounting standards and application of those standards to various situations.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 2

This course provides in-depth coverage of contemporary tools and techniques available for analyzing financial statements and other relevant data to derive measurements and relationships useful in decision making.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 2

This course examines accounting rules and regulations for governmental and not-for-profit entities.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 2

The course provides an overview of organizing, financing and managing corporations, risk management, bankruptcy and foreclosure. SEC oversight of publicly traded securities, insider trading restrictions, and liability issues are also examined. Professional and ethical responsibilities of accountants are discussed.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 2

This course addresses specialized topics in accounting, auditing, or taxation. Topics will vary by semester.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 2

This course examines the audit of investments, equity, estimates, going concern issues, and other advanced topics related to the audit of financial statements. The course also covers non-audit services such as compilations, SSARS reviews, and agreed upon procedures engagements.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 2

This course examines the principles and methodology of fraud detection and deterrence. Topics include skimming, cash larceny, check tampering, register disbursement schemes, billing schemes, payroll and expense reimbursement schemes, non-cash misappropriations, corruption, fraudulent financial statements, and interviewing witnesses.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 2

This course is designed for those interested in financial auditing. The course focuses on the processes involved in information technology (IT) auditing, from planning an IT audit to auditing controls. Topics include general controls, application controls, and audit technology applications. Auditing standards and frameworks, including the COSO and COBIT frameworks, are examined. The approach to performing a SOX audit for the IT infrastructure that supports key financial applications is discussed.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 2

This course concentrates on the skills needed to research tax questions. The research process employed to ascertain the state of the Federal tax law applicable to the facts, and the formulation of conclusions and professional recommendations is also explored.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 2

This course examines the tax impact of the conduit rule, partnership formation, operation, sale and dissolution of a partnership; income to the partners, withdrawal and retirement of partners; and basis calculations.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 2

This course examines issues and rules governing the taxability of C-corporations and their shareholders. The tax concepts and rules related to the activities of formation, operations, distributions, and liquidation are reviewed for the C-corporation entity and its shareholders.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 2

This course examines essential principles of the transfer tax system. The course will research, assess, and apply critical Federal and State transfer tax laws to factual scenarios.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 2

The course examines significant principles of the federal tax system as applied to individuals and entities to provide a deeper understanding and appreciation of tax rules and underlying policies. The course will utilize the study of critical tax cases and application of tax laws to factual scenarios.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 2

This course addresses the importance of using data for business decision making purposes. Students will learn to identify specific business problems, evaluate potential solutions, and use data to provide a foundation for making sound business decisions. This will be accomplished through the use of systematic problem solving tools, the exploration of commonly used business analytics methodologies, and the learned use of specific software packages.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 2

The course examines the IFRS reporting practices of various countries and examines recognition and disclosure differences of the major classes of assets and liabilities reported in accordance with IFRS and US GAAP. Hedging transactions of multinational corporations are also discussed.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 2

This course provides an overview of US electronic banking rules, commonly used financial instruments and collateralizing lending. Discussion will focus on equity, debt and convertible securities, as well as common uses of derivatives.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 2

Professional consulting services are a high growth area in many successful financial services firms and the demand for these services is expected to continue to increase. This course provides an overview of the professional consulting environment and explores the skills and tools necessary to be successful as a professional consultant.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-4

Participation in a paid full-time position with a cooperating business, governmental, or civic organization whose program has been approved in advance by the department in which the student has an approved major. Credits provided upon completion of all requirements.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 2

This course will employ hands-on application of accounting and tax concepts to case applications. Applications will include completion of the accounting cycle as well as researching in accounting standards and tax law to address appropriate treatment of transactions.

Prerequisites: MACC 615