Accounting, Master of Accountancy with Financial Accounting/Audit or Tax Program

Department of Accounting

Ahuja Hall 512
(216) 687-4720
http://www.csuohio.edu/business/academics/act/macc.html

Bruce McClain, Chair and Graduate Program Director

Programs of Study

Financial Accounting/Audit
Tax

Accreditation

The graduate business programs of the Monte Ahuja College of Business are accredited by AACSB International. In addition to the business accreditation, the curriculum of the Accounting Department has accounting accreditation from AACSB. The accounting programs at Cleveland State were the first in the State of Ohio to receive this accreditation.

Faculty

Current faculty information can be located on the Cleveland State University Faculty Profile page.

Introduction

The primary aim of the program is to develop competent accountants, knowledgeable in the areas of professional practice financial accounting/audit and tax. The program accommodates students on a full-time or part-time basis.

This program appeals to four general classifications of students:

1. Undergraduate accounting majors who wish to broaden their knowledge of accounting and expand their expertise in financial accounting/audit or taxation.
2. Undergraduate computer and information science majors who wish to expand their expertise to the area of accountancy.
3. Undergraduate business administration majors in areas other than accounting and computer and information science who wish to specialize in accountancy.
4. Students with undergraduate preparation in any area and a strong interest in the practice of accountancy.

Faculty Research and Publications

Accounting faculty members have published numerous books and journal articles on topics ranging from computer auditing and control, cost accounting, and financial accounting, to federal taxation. Articles written by department faculty have appeared in the following journals:

Accounting Review
Journal of Accounting Research
Behavioral Research in Accounting
Journal of Accountancy
The Internal Auditor
Catalyst
Journal of Business Ethics
The International Journal of Accounting
Strategic Finance
Journal of the American Taxation Association
Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly
Journal of Taxation
Journal of Accounting Education
Journal of Management Information Systems
Information Systems Audit and Control Journal
Tax Adviser
The CPA Journal
Applied Business and Administration Quarterly
The Practical Accountant
Journal of Business, Finance, and Accounting
Corporate Controller
Practical Tax Strategies
Today’s CPA
Bank Accounting and Finance

Extensive computer facilities and databases are available to aid the research efforts of faculty members and graduate students.

Financial Assistance

The College of Business Administration has a limited number of graduate assistantships available each year. Students may apply for an assistantship by completing an application form available from the Graduate Business Programs Office. Copies of completed applications are circulated to department chairs, graduate program directors, and other appropriate parties within the College. Interviews with prospective graduate assistants are arranged directly by department chairs and others who hire and supervise graduate assistants.

Career Information

The Master of Accountancy is designed to prepare students for careers in business, internal audit, government, consulting, and public accounting. The primary goals and objectives of the program are to develop competent accounting professionals who are knowledgeable in the various areas of professional practice and who possess:

• the ability to provide, interpret, and communicate financial and operating information essential to understanding the activities of an enterprise;
• the preparation to assume increasing levels of responsibility and leadership in the organizations they join; and
• the qualifications to enter advanced programs in business and/or accounting.

Programs of Study

The Master of Accountancy allows the student to pursue one of two programs of study:

1. The Financial Accounting/Audit program is designed to develop competent accountants, who are knowledgeable in financial processes and procedures and are able to provide and interpret sophisticated financial information for the business community.
2. The Tax program prepares individuals for entry into, as well as advancement in, professional tax practice.

The Master of Accountancy provides students with the opportunity to develop basic technical and statistical skills, to obtain knowledge of the business disciplines, and to pursue advanced course work in accounting or taxation. Graduates of the program are prepared to enter the accounting profession and to pursue satisfying and stimulating lifelong careers. Many graduates join public accounting firms, while others seek a variety of positions in the private and public sectors. Graduates of the program are well placed and have performed well in their job assignments, according to employers. A large percentage of students become CPAs, and recently there has been an increased interest in the Certified Management Accountant (CMA), the Certified Fraud Examiner, the Certified Internal Audit (CIA), the Certificate in Financial Management, and the Certified Information Systems Audit (CISA) examinations.

Admission Information

Applicants to the Master of Accountancy program must meet the admission requirements for the Graduate College, as well as the following additional requirements:

1. Students with an undergraduate GPA less than 3.0 are required to take the GMAT or GRE examination. Admission to the Master of Accountancy program is based on a combination of the applicant’s undergraduate GPA and the combined verbal and quantitative scores of the GMAT or the average of the verbal and quantitative scores of the GRE examination.

The GMAT/GRE is not required for students with a 3.0 or better undergraduate GPA. Students not required to take the GMAT/GRE are evaluated based on their transcripts, and letters of recommendation, if provided.

2. Students who take the GMAT/GRE and score below the 20th percentile on the verbal section of the test are required to take the following remedial courses in business communication: GAD 502  (16th through 19th percentile); or GAD 501  and GAD 502  (below 16th percentile) Students scoring below the 25th percentile on the quantitative section of the GMAT/GRE are required to take a two-credit business mathematics course, OSM 500 .
3. The GMAT is waived for applicants holding an advanced degree (master’s, doctoral, MD, JD, Ph.D. or other equivalent degree).
4. An official transcript from each college or university previously attended must be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
5. Letters of recommendation may be submitted but are optional.
6. For students who are not required to take the GMAT or GRE, OSM 500  may be required if the grade point average for college mathematics courses is less than 3.0.

English language proficiency for international students is assessed with the University-mandated TOEFL test. Minimum scores for the Internet-based TOEFL (IBT) are as follows: reading, 20; speaking, 20; listening, 21; and writing, 17.

Effective: January 1, 2009.

Apply Now: http://www.csuohio.edu/gradcollege/admissions/apply.html