The Master of Accountancy

A prestigious program preparing students for successful professional careers

The Master of Accountancy degree program is designed for students whose primary career interests are accounting and assurance services. The program prepares students for professional careers in these fields by focusing on the development of research, cognitive thinking, interpersonal, and communication skills.

In conjunction with the prerequisite undergraduate accounting coursework, the Master of Accountancy program provides graduates with the accounting courses required to sit for the CPA exam.

Program Info

Students must take a minimum of 30 hours of graduate courses, including a minimum of 21 hours of accounting courses. The curriculum in the accounting courses has been developed to prepare students with the skills necessary for a successful career in accounting/finance. Up to nine elective hours may be chosen from 500-level courses and must be approved by the coordinator of the MAcc program.

Students are encouraged to leverage their accounting expertise within their personal interests by selecting electives that align with their career goals:

  • Assurance
  • Healthcare
  • Wealth management
  • Fraud investigation
  • Sports management
  • And many more

However, students are free to choose their own elective tracks.

The Master of Accountancy degree program is designed for students whose primary career interests are accounting and assurance services. The program prepares students for professional careers in these fields by focusing on the development of research, cognitive thinking, interpersonal and communication skills.

The Master of Accountancy degree program is a fifth-year professional program. The objective of the program is to provide students with greater breadth and depth of understanding in accounting and business than is possible in an undergraduate program. The program prepares students for careers as professional accountants in public accounting, financial institutions, industry, and nonprofit organizations. Graduates are prepared to research various databases related to troublesome accounting problems, and to exercise judgment in making accounting-related decisions by drawing on their integrated, comprehensive body of accounting and business knowledge. Graduates will also develop cutting-edge data science techniques to analyze large datasets, identify anomalies, perform statistical analysis, and construct data visualizations.

In conjunction with the prerequisite undergraduate accounting coursework, the Master of Accountancy program provides graduates with the accounting courses required to sit for the CPA exam. The program provides graduates with the necessary development of key skills and attributes to facilitate their growth as accounting professionals.

Accounting Course Requirements for MMA program

Students must take a minimum of 30 hours of graduate courses, which includes the following 21 hours of accounting courses.

Watch a video on each course!

Admission Requirements

Before admission to the program, students should have completed the following accounting courses or their equivalents:

Application Requirements

  • A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college.
  • Transcripts from all colleges attended.
  • A Statement of Purpose outlining your reasons for desiring the degree.
  • An up-to-date Resume.
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation (at least one of which should be from an accounting professor).
  • GMAT score*
*GMAT Waiver Policy:  Applicants who meet any of the following criteria qualify to have the GMAT requirement waived (Applicants that do not meet any of the criteria may apply for a waiver which will be considered on a case-by-case basis):
  • Applicants with an Accounting GPA of 3.25 or above in a minimum of 15 upper-division credit hours.
  • Applicants with a graduate degree.
  • Applicants who have passed the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam.
  • Applicants with five years of management experience that includes significant budgetary and leadership responsibility and a 3.0 (or better) upper-division undergraduate GPA from an accredited university.

Q: What financial assistance is available?

A: The following types of financial assistance are available:

  • University Fellowships

The department is allowed to nominate a small number of students who compete with students from other colleges on campus for fellowship positions.  For additional information please see the following website and/or contact the Program Director Troy Pollard, tjpollard@culverhouse.ua.edu, or Department Chair Rich Houston, rhouston@culverhouse.ua.edu. https://graduate.ua.edu/prospective-students/graduate-school-scholarships-fellowships/

  • Graduate Assistantships

Every applicant accepted for admission into the program is automatically considered for a graduate assistantship.  Assistantships are awarded based upon the materials submitted as part of the application to the program (e.g. Academic transcripts, Statement of Purpose, Letters of Recommendation, Resume).

  • Cash Scholarships

Cash scholarships are awarded based on a number of different criteria (merit, financial need, etc.) according to the desires of our generous alumni. Students should fill out the scholarship application detailing any specific details of their background and financial situation. See the following link for the application.

Q: What do graduate assistants do?

A: Graduate assistants are typically assigned to one of the following roles: tutors for undergraduate courses, research assistants, LIFT leaders, teacher assistants, or AC210 lab instructors.

Q: What time of year can I start the program?

A: You can begin the program in the Spring, Summer, or Fall. Accounting courses are taught exclusively in the Spring and Fall however they are not taught in sequence so students may start at any time during the academic year. Some electives are offered in the Summer, however, the majority are also offered in the Spring and Fall semesters.

Q: Is there an application deadline?

A: No, we review applications as they are submitted. However, students are encouraged to apply before scholarships are awarded in order to receive full consideration for financial assistance. Typically, cash scholarships are awarded the semester prior to when the student starts coursework.

Q: Does the program provide career counseling?

A: Yes, the accounting department organizes career fairs each semester in which students can network with employers located around the globe as well as others located exclusively in the Southeastern United States.

The Culverhouse School of Accountancy awards scholarships and assistantships to eligible students in the Master of Accountancy or Master of Tax Accounting programs based on factors such as merit and/ or need, depending upon the underlying scholarship agreements.

Currently Enrolled Alabama Accounting Students

You should use the undergraduate scholarship application for currently enrolled UA students for MAcc and MTA scholarships. To be considered for scholarships as an incoming MAcc / MTA student, you must be listed as an accounting major complete the scholarship form as follows:

  1. On myBama, go to your Admissions/Scholarships Tab.
  2. In the left-hand column titled “Scholarships,” you will see a section labeled “Undergraduate Students Only.” Click on the link underneath the title labeled “Current Student Scholarship Application.”
  3. Once you access the application, please select the following information:
    • Anticipated class status: Senior
    • Anticipated college: Culverhouse College of Commerce.
    • Anticipated Graduation Term: Select either Spring 2023 or Summer 2023 depending on your estimated graduation date.
    • Complete Section C of the form (the written section). This is your opportunity to provide details about your financial situation and other special circumstances. We urge you to use the section concerning extraordinary circumstances / special needs to describe personal circumstances that create financial need and/or have had a significant impact on your academic performance. These circumstances may be physical, emotional, or financial. It is important that the scholarship committee knows all it can about you and your specific needs/circumstances.

The deadline for this scholarship application is March 1, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. We cannot extend this deadline, so be sure to complete the application as soon as possible. You do not have to have your Graduate School Application complete in order to submit the scholarship application. If you have any questions concerning this process, please contact Sydney Simmons in the accounting office for assistance (ssimmons@culverhouse.ua.edu).

 

Outside Students Seeking Enrollment into our MAcc/MTA

Applicants to the MAcc or MTA program from other Universities should complete this form for scholarships: MAcc/MTA Scholarship Application for Non-Alabama Students and contact Dr. Rich Houston (rhouston@culverhouse.ua.edu) for information about assistantships.

You do not have to have your Graduate School Application completed in order to submit the scholarship application.

The deadline for this scholarship application is March 1, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. We cannot extend this deadline, so please complete the application as soon as possible. You do not have to have your Graduate School Application complete in order to submit the scholarship application. If you have any questions concerning this process, please contact Sydney Simmons for assistance (ssimmons@culverhouse.ua.edu).

The Culverhouse School of Accountancy hosts career fairs each semester. Students have the opportunity to network with professionals in public accounting, corporate accounting, finance, government, and non-profit organizations.  Recent job placements include:

  • Deloitte
  • Ernst & Young
  • KPMG
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers
  • Aprio
  • BDO
  • Bennett Thrasher
  • BMSS
  • CBIZ
  • Cherry Bekaert LLP
  • Class Advisors, Inc.
  • CRI
  • Crowe
  • Dixon Hughes Goodman
  • FBI
  • Freddie Mac
  • Grant Thornton
  • Home Chef
  • Jackson Thornton
  • LeCroy Richardson, PC
  • McAbee Construction, Inc.
  • Mercedes-Benz U.S. International
  • Moore Colson
  • Norfolk Southern
  • RSM
  • Smith, Dukes, and Buckalew
  • TravelSky
  • Warren Averett, LLC
  • Way, Ray, Shelton & Co., P.C

Interested in learning more?

Ask a Question
Get More Information
Apply Now

Contact Us

Troy Pollard | Director of the MAcc Program

Rich Houston | Department Head

April Ingram | Director of Specialized Masters and Ph.D. Programs