MASTER OF SCIENCE ACCOUNTING

PROGRAM The objective of the Master of Science in Accounting program is to prepare accounting students for management positions in accounting. The program will build on the knowledge and tools from the students’ undergraduate education, allowing them to achieve a greater degree of sophistication in accounting, auditing, and tax. This graduate degree will provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to have successful careers in both the public and private sector. This graduate program achieves the following:

1. Offers the educational emphasis consistent with the educational requirements of the American Society of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) for the CPA examination; 2. Meets the 150-hour education requirement (30 credits at the graduate level after completion of 120 undergraduate credits in accounting) as prescribed by the Board of Public Accountancy in Massachusetts for eligibility for a certificate as a Certified Public Accountant;

3. Meets standards that are congruent with criteria for level 1 status by the Board of Public Accountancy; and 4. Offers a flexible program in the evening for working adults that may be completed in 15 or 16 months depending upon a fall or a summer semester start.

Our 30-credit (minimum) program consists of 18 credits (6 core courses) in Accounting; 6 credits (2 electives) in Accounting/Finance; and 6 credits (2 electives) in Business.

COURSES For those with an accounting degree

Required 18 credits (6 courses) ACC 800 Accounting Analysis for Decision Making ACC 830 Advanced Accounting Systems ACC 850 Corporate Financial Reporting ACC 805 Tax Factors in Business ACC 870 Advanced Auditing ACC 890 Financial Accounting Theory

6 credits of Accounting/Finance Electives (2 from the following) ACC 860 International Financial Reporting ACC 840 Advanced Forensic Accounting FIN 868 Financial Statement Analysis ACC 820 Accounting for Governmental and Non-Profit Entities

6 credits of Business Electives (2 from the following) ODS 800 Operations Management BUS 840 Managing in the Global Environment FIN 800 Finance Decision Making and Value Creation MGT 800 Managing Human Performance in Organizations MKT 805 Marketing Management and Strategy

FACULTY FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2018-19 • Lisa Chen, PhD, Associate Professor of Accounting and Graduate Program Coordinator for the MS, Accounting (ACC 820 and ACC 890) • Jayanti Bandyopadhyay, PhD, CPA, Professor of Accounting and Graduate Program Coordinator for the MBA (ACC 860) • Douglas Chene, PhD, CPA, MST, Associate Professor of Accounting and Chair of the Department of Accounting and Finance (ACC 805, ACC 800) • Hongtao Guo, PhD, Associate Professor of Accounting (ACC 850) • Norbert Tschakert, PhD, CPA, CFE, Gassett-Schiller ‘83 Endowed Chair and Professor of Accounting (ACC 840) • Linda Hall, Visiting Professor of Accounting (ACC 830) CAREERS The MS in Accounting will provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to have successful careers in public and private accounting. Completion of this 30-credit program will help students in meeting the 150-hour education requirement for eligibility for a certificate as a Certified Public Accountant as provided in section 252 CMR 2.07(2)(a) of the Board of Public Accountancy.

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS Students will be evaluated for the three different tracks within the MS in Accounting program based on their prior degrees and/or courses in accounting and business. For all tracks, students applying for the MSA will be required to have an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.7 (overall) and a comparable GPA in accounting, or at least a 2.7 GPA in the Salem State undergraduate accounting certificate, and a GMAT score of at least 400 or a GRE score of at least 290. Furthermore, as a general rule, students will be required to attain a total score of at least 1,000 points when their GPA and GMAT or GRE score are substituted into the following formula: (GPA * 200) + GMAT or GRE. These minimal standards are not the only factors considered in making a decision.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS • A complete online application at salemstate.edu/apply and $50 non-refundable application fee • Official transcript or transcript evaluation • Three references • Official Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores from within the past five years. The GMAT or GRE may be waived in certain circumstances. Please contact the graduate program coordinator, Lisa Chen, PhD, at lisa.chen@salemstate.edu for clarification on GMAT/GRE waivers. • Statement of purpose • Resume

COST For Massachusetts residents, each credit costs $530.70*, which includes tuition and fees. For non-Massachusetts residents, each credit costs $620.70.* The program is 30 to 45 credits (excluding prerequisites). For assistance funding your graduate education, options such as financial aid, graduate assistantships, employer reimbursement and tuition remission, and veteran’s benefits may be available. Visit salemstate.edu/graduate to learn more. *Please note that tuition and fees are subject to change.

Apply: salemstate.edu/graduate/application

Financial Aid: salemstate.edu/finaid

Email: gradadmissions@salemstate.edu

Phone: 978.542.6200

For accommodations and access information, visit salemstate.edu/access.