Accountancy (MS)

Offered Online Only

Overview
The Master of Science in Accountancy is registered with New York State to satisfy the 150 hour licensure education requirement. The program is primarily intended for students who have the equivalent of an undergraduate accounting degree and are looking to increase their knowledge in the accounting field to either advance in their professional accounting career or to qualify to sit for the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) exam. Students who may not have a background in accounting but desire an opportunity to broaden their capabilities and specialize in this area are afforded the option to do so with this program. These students would be required to include additional preparatory work in their program and would do that under the guidance of the program coordinator.

The MS program accommodates both full-time and part-time students. Full-time students can complete the program within an 18 month period. Part-time completion will vary based on total number of credits taken each term. A program of study will be developed with the program coordinator which responds to student needs and the department’s plan for course scheduling.

Mission Statement
The Department of Business Management is committed to offering high quality management and professional education that is focused on meeting the needs of students and organizations in the Mohawk Valley, New York State, and the global community. We are dedicated to providing undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree programs that are responsive to the dynamic business environment and accessible to qualified students. The Department of Business Management is committed to continuously improving its programs through learning assurance, scholarship, and service.

Accreditation
The Department of Business Management is accredited by AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), an elite distinction achieved by less than 5% of the world’s academic business programs. AACSB is the premier accrediting agency of collegiate business and accounting programs worldwide.

Career Paths
Graduates of the MS Accountancy program can pursue
careers in the following areas:

  • Public accounting (working as a Certified Public Accountant)
  • Corporate accounting (working as an accountant for a corporation or other for-profit company)
  • Not-for-profit accounting
  • Government accounting

Prerequisite Undergraduate Course Requirements
A grade of “C” or better is required in all prerequisite courses.

Intermediate Accounting I & II
Managerial or Cost Accounting
Tax Accounting
Advanced Accounting (upper division)
Auditing (upper division)
Commercial (Business) Law
Computer Science
Business Statistics
Economics
Two Business Courses

  • The need for completion of prerequisite undergraduate coursework is determined in consultation with the Graduate Admissions Office and the program coordinator.
  • Students must satisfy all accounting prerequite courses (identified by bold italic above) prior to taking any graduate-level accounting courses.

Program Requirements

The MS in Accountancy consists of 33 credit hours distributed as follows:
Accounting Core Courses: 15 credit hours
Business Core Courses: 15 credit hours
Electives:  3 credit hours

Accounting Core Courses (15 credit hours)

  • ACC 585 Financial Statement Analysis and Reporting
  • ACC 611 Advanced Income Tax Research
  • ACC 630 Fund Accounting
  • ACC 650 Advanced Auditing Theory
  • ACC 685 Advanced Financial Accounting Theory

Business Core Courses (15 credit hours)

  • FIN 525 Financial Management Problems
  • FIN 685 Seminar in Accounting & Finance
  • BUS 505 Multinational Economics of Technology
  • MGS 511 Quantitative Business Analysis
  • MIS 515 Management Information Systems

Electives (3 credit hours)

Complete any one graduate course offered by the Department of Business Management, not including the above core courses and ACC 520 (Accounting for Managers).

Degree Requirements Overview & Program Notes

  • Unless otherwise noted, all graduate courses are 3 credit hours.
  • All students must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher to graduate.
  • Over the course of their studies, students can only apply two “C” grades in courses taken toward the degree.
  • Students may transfer up to six credit hours, if applicable, from another graduate program.
  • Students must satisfy all accounting prerequisite courses (identified by bold italic above) with a grade of C or better prior to taking any graduate-level accounting courses.
  • Students must maintain continuous registration, equal to or greater than one credit while completing graduate degree requirements. MS Accountancy students can do this by registering for CMT 600 – Continuous Registration. This may be taken for up to six semesters at which time it is expected that all program requirements will have been met.  Students must be registered at SUNY Polytechnic Institute during the term they intend to graduate.