Nov 27, 2024

2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

Accountancy, M.Acc.

J. Human, Graduate Program Director

Purpose

The Master of Accountancy (MAcc) degree program supports the mission of Northern Kentucky University to educate “students to be productive citizens, to prepare them for success in careers and occupations….” There are four concentrations within the MAcc degree program. The Professional concentration is to allow those with an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited university, who have successfully completed the courses listed below with a C or better, to meet the requirement that candidates for the certified public accountant examination have 150 semester hours including a bachelor’s degree. The second concentration is the Accounting Practice and Reporting concentration. This concentration meets the needs of students who do not have an undergraduate degree in accounting but who wish to pursue a career in accounting. The third concentration is the Expedited MAcc concentration and is for current accounting undergraduate students. This concentration will enable students to begin working towards their MAcc degree as undergraduates. The fourth concentration Data Analytics/Data Visualization, is similar to the Professional concentration. The concentration is a 30 hour program consisting of 10 courses, three of which concern data analytics and data visualization. The goal of this concentration is to prepare MAcc students in both accounting and data analytics/data visualization, which is in high demand in the current industry.

Admission Process

A portfolio approach is used in evaluating prospective students for acceptance into the MAcc program. Factors considered for admission include:

Online application and fee
Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) coursework. Acceptable transcripts should show evidence of successful completion of quantitative courses.*
Current resume.
A statement of purpose explaining your interest in a MAcc degree in general and the NKU MAcc degree in particular.
If applicable, an official copy of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

*Students are required to take the GMAT or GRE if their transcripts do not show evidence of successful completion of quantitative courses. Although scores make up only one factor in the admissions process, it is anticipated that successful applicants will have a minimum overall score of 520 on the GMAT (comparable GRE scores will also be considered).

To enter the Expedited MAcc concentration, undergraduate BSBA students at NKU who have completed ACC 200 may be invited to apply. Students applying to the MAcc Expedited Track must submit the following:

Statement of Purpose
Resume

In addition, Expedited MAcc applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and must have completed at least 15 credit hours at NKU. GMAT and application fee are waived.

Submit applications and all supporting documents to the Office of Graduate Education, graduate@nku.edu, Northern Kentucky University, 1 Nunn Drive, Highland Heights, KY 41099.

♦ Indicates prerequisite.

Program Requirements

Additional Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the MAcc program, applicants must meet all requirements for admission to a Haile of Business program (detailed above). All academic requirements of the Haile College of Business program related to transfer credit and academic standing (see above under Haile College of Business main section in the graduate section of this catalog) are enforced for the MAcc program. Students who are enrolled in or have completed the MBA at NKU and choose to pursue a MAcc in the professional concentration may transfer up to nine semester hours completed under the MBA to degree requirements of the MAcc with the approval of the graduate program director.

Professional Concentration Requirements (30 credits hours)

The Professional Concentration is a 30 semester hour program composed of 24 semester hours of required courses and six semester hours of electives. To enter this concentration, students must have an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited university and must have completed the following undergraduate accounting courses, with a grade of C or better:

ACC 200 (or equivalent) - Introduction to Financial Accounting
ACC 201 (or equivalent) - Introduction to Managerial Accounting
ACC 300 (or equivalent) - Intermediate Accounting I
ACC 301 (or equivalent) - Intermediate Accounting II
ACC 320 (or equivalent) - Tax Planning
ACC 350 (or equivalent) - Management Cost Accounting
ACC 400 (or equivalent) - Auditing

Required Courses (24 credit hours):

Two electives may be selected from any graduate course approved by the MAcc program director (such as ACC 630 , ACC 634 , ACC 638 , and ACC 650 ). For all courses, prerequisites must be met, unless approval is granted by the program director.

Electives (6 hours)

Choose two electives from the following or other Graduate courses as approved by MAcc director.

Accounting Practice and Reporting Concentration Requirements (36 credit hours)

The Accounting Practice and Reporting concentration is a 36 semester hour program composed of 12 required courses. The required courses are listed below. For all courses, prerequisites must be met, unless approval is granted by the program director.

Required courses (36 credit hours):

Expedited MAcc Concentration Requirements (30 credit hours)

The Expedited MAcc concentration is a 30 semester hour track of the MAcc program composed of 30 semester hours of required courses. Applicants will be accepted into the Expedited MAcc concentration when they are NKU undergraduate BSBA students and may complete the program in one year after earning their BSBA degree. Students enrolled in the Expedited MAcc concentration can earn both a BSBA and a MAcc degree in a five-year period.

ACC 500 and ACC 520 will be completed while Expedited MAcc concentration students are enrolled as undergraduate BSBA students.

Required courses (30 credit hours):

MAcc-Data Analytics/Data Visualization Concentration (30 credit hours)

The MAcc Data Analytics/Data Visualization concentration is similar to the Professional concentration. The concentration is a 30 hour program consisting of 10 courses, three of which concern data analytics and data visualization.

Required Courses (21 credit hours)

Electives (9 credit hours)

Choose THREE Electives from the following or other Graduate Accounting, MBI, or CSC courses as approved by MAcc director (at least one elective course MBI or CSC)

inside NKU