Earn career capital with a Master of Science in Accounting from A&M-Commerce
A Master of Science in Accounting degree will take your accounting competencies and skills to the next level. Our AACSB-accredited accounting program will prepare you for a successful career in public accounting, corporate settings or government enterprises. More than just tax forms and Pro Forma, you'll learn what it takes to provide organizations with valuable insight into operations and trends that can drive company profitability.
Where It Is Offered
Commerce, Dallas, Online
Duration2 years
Foreign LanguageNo foreign language credits required
Get your basics. Don’t have an undergraduate degree in business? No problem, we’ve got you covered.
Intermediate Accounting 1&2 (ACCT 502)
Core Accounting Courses
Core Accounting Courses:
Develop Professional Skills. Dive into topics like investment, corporate finance, monetary management, and financial reporting covered in the core courses.
Accounting Research and Communication (ACCT 595)
Advanced Managerial Accounting(ACCT 525)
Auditing(ACCT 527)
Business Law for Accounting(ACCT 568)
Financial Statement Analysis(ACCT 575)
Forensic & Investigative Accounting(ACCT 562)
Government and Not for Profit Accounting(ACCT 522)
Individual Income Tax (ACCT 538)
Advanced Income Tax Accounting(ACCT 540)
Advanced Accounting (ACCT 521)
Electives
Electives:
Make it your own. Customize your degree with electives covering a wide range of financial subjects.
2 Accounting Courses from COB Catalog
Available Minors
Available Minors (4 Courses) :
Invest in your future. Stand out from the crowd by adding a minor to your degree.
Business Analytics
Cyber Security
Digital Marketing
Economics
Finance
Financial Planning
Economics of US Healthcare
Marketing Analytics
Corporate Management
Entrepreneurship
Real Estate
Available Certificates
Available Certificates (No Prerequisite Required)
Get noticed. Add a certificate to boost your job skills, and get hired!
The College of Business offers an in-house Career Services Center focused on guiding business students seeking internships or employment.
Nationally Accredited
The College of Business is one of only 800 schools worldwide to be accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Industry Connections
Through guest speakers, company tours and internships, professional networking, and other opportunities, students, faculty and alumni are connected with the business community.
Accomplished Faculty
Engage with exceptional faculty who are industry leaders and significant scholars, producing cutting-edge research in their field.
A degree in accounting will offer you the opportunity to:
Develop skills that prepare you for the demands of the global business environment.
Prepare you for a number of certification exams.
Learn about federal income tax on both individual and corporate levels.
Sharpen your abilities to research, analyze and communicate topics in accounting and/or tax by using qualitative and/or quantitative research methodology.
Gain an understanding of cost management concepts.
Explore information systems that provide accounting and other information to make effective and efficient decisions.
Accounting gives you the ability to achieve competency in internal control systems, managerial accounting, income tax accounting, financial accounting and not-for-profit accounting. Our MS in Accounting degree program provides advanced learning in all major areas of accounting including business law, forensics and investment accounting. As a result, the courses in this degree program will position you to meet the trends in the business environment.
Career Possibilities and Current Median Salaries
Accountant
$68,000
Tax Manager
$99,700
US DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2018
We offer various minors that can be combined with your Accounting (MSA) degree. You can learn more about the available minors and their course requirements by visiting the Minors for Graduate Programs page.
Learning is experiential in our MS in Accounting program. With courses covering tax accounting, audit, international accounting, business ethics and even forensics, you will develop the analytical skills and professional expertise demanded by top firms around the world. The College of Business Career Center will assist you in building a foundation for long-term career growth through internships and other services.
Courses
to Prepare You for Your Career
Foundation courses including Research and Communications, Auditing, Financial Statement Analysis and Government and Not-For-Profit
Core accounting courses including Advanced Accounting and Advanced Income Tax Accounting
You will cover the principles and methodologies of detecting and deterring fraud using accounting, auditing, and investigative skills. You will learn about skimming, larceny, misappropriations, fraudulent financial statements, interviewing witness and support for litigation.
Sales, Franchise & Other TaxesACCT 550
You will explore taxes imposed by state and local governments. You will be exposed to different taxing bodies that impose taxes and the justifications and amounts subject to taxation. You will use online tax research services.
GLB/International AccountingACCT 531
You will be introduced to international financial reporting standards (IFRS) and related issues. You will cover comparative accounting, internationalization of capital markets, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, and other issues.
Accounting (MSA) :: 1.13 Course Delivery and Resources
Course Delivery and Resources
Our programs are designed to be flexible, meeting the needs of working professionals who want the convenience of a fully online degree, full-time students who prefer face-to-face classes and blended options for those who need the convenience of both. We offer a graduate-level business degree to fit your lifestyle and career aspirations.
Beta Alpha Psi is an international scholastic and professional financial information honors society. The primary objective of the society is to encourage and give recognition to scholastic and professional excellence in the fields of accounting, finance and management information systems.
National Association for Black Accountants
National Association for Black Accountants (NABA) is dedicated to bridging the opportunity gap for black accounting and finance professionals by providing leadership and technical training, as well as networking and career opportunities. NABA is the largest professional membership organization focused specifically on African-Americans and people of color in the accounting, finance and business-related fields. NABA’s members share and promote a professional ethos – “Lifting as We Climb!” NABA is represented at Texas A&M University-Commerce campus. For more information, please visit the Department of Accounting and Finance.
Select “Create a new graduate school admissions application.”
Select “Texas A&M University-Commerce (Commerce)” as your “Target University.”
Select “Accounting, MSA” as your “Major.”
Pay the $50 application fee.
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Provisional Status
After you submit your application, you may be granted provisional status, which means you can enroll in one semester of courses. You will not be eligible for financial aid until you submit all of your documents and are accepted into the program.
Step 2. Submit Documents
Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to [email protected].
We recommend that you request transcripts for all of your academic work.
Postal Alternative
If your institution is unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:
Texas A&M University-Commerce Attn: Graduate School PO Box 3011 Commerce, Texas 75429-3011
We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact [email protected] for more information.
One Letter of Recommendation
Request one signed letter of recommendation, on letterhead, from a professional who can attest to your goals and ability to succeed in the program. That individual should:
How long does it take to complete the MSA program?
Some students may be able to totally complete the program in one year and one semester; however, everyone’s situation is different and it could take longer.
The research component previously used to satisfy the Research requirement of the State Board (CPA exam) has been removed. ACCT 595 no longer satisfies the State Board’s requirement for research.
Please see “Where can I get the required research hours?” for more information.
During your last semester you must apply for graduation to initiate the Comprehensive Exam process. When you apply for graduation (in your final semester) you will be notified regarding the exam expectations. The exam details will come about 1-2 weeks after the graduation application period closes to your MyLeo Email.
Comprehensive exams are typically given around midterms. Contact the graduate advising office [email protected] no later than the second week of the semester if you have any questions.
The State Board approved ACCT 521 and ACCT 538 for one-hour of research each. Going forward, both courses (ACCT 521 and ACCT 538) will each provide one hour of the required research credit.
Do the changes to ACCT 595 mean I need to take additional classes?
Not necessarily.
If you are not planning to take the CPA exam, changes to ACCT 595 are not relevant.
If you completed ACCT 521 and ACCT 538 in Fall 2014 or later, then you have earned the research hours required. If you need research credit to satisfy the State’s requirements, you may take ACCT 588, which will count as an elective course.
No, they do not form part of the degree. They are required so that you have the background in accounting to be able to take the courses which comprise the MSA program.
If you have already completed a particular course, or subject material, elsewhere and are not getting credit for it in the MSA, you will choose an elective to achieve your required hours rather than repeating the course again.
