2018-2019 Academic Catalog

Dec 12, 2024

2018-2019 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Science in Accounting, MSA

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Overview

Graduate Program

The Clark University M.S.A. program readies you for a career in public accounting and financial management. You will be able to develop and analyze accounting information, provide assurances of financial control and accuracy, develop investment and tax strategies, and advise top-level managers as they make important decisions.

Graduate Program Requirements

Clark’s M.S.A. program consists of 10-12 units. Students without previous accounting and quantitative coursework are required to take two units of foundations coursework in their first semester. Students who can waive both foundations requirements can complete the program in 10 units.

Every degree candidate takes six units of core courses and four units of elective courses from the lists below. Students with a strong accounting background may substitute elective courses for up to three of the core courses. The length of the program will not be less than 10 units. One or both of the foundation courses may be waived based on prior coursework or waiver exams.

Completion of a graduate internship is required for all full-time M.S.A. students except: those who have 3+ years of professional business work experience; those with full-time employment during the length of the program; and those who are participating in an exchange program (e.g. Sorbonne, Trier, etc.). It may be possible to waive this requirement for other reasons. Visit a member of the Stevenish Career Management Center for more information.

Full-time students typically complete the program in four or fewer semesters. Part-time students typically complete the programs in eight semesters or fewer.

Foundation Courses (2 units)

Students may satisfy one or both of the foundation course requirements through prior undergraduate or graduate coursework, or by passing a waiver exam. Waivers and eligibility for waiver exams are only considered and finalized at the time of admission into the program.

• Waiver of the financial accounting requirement is based on successful completion (B- or better within 6 years) of an undergraduate or graduate financial accounting course for credit, or a passing grade on the accounting waiver exam. If not waived, students will take ACCT 4101 Foundations of Financial Accounting to meet the foundation requirement.

• Waiver of the quantitative requirement is based on successful completion (B- or better within 6 years) of an undergraduate or graduate course for credit in statistics, operations management, or economics; or a passing grade on the statistics waiver exam. If not waived, students will take STAT 4300 Data Driven Decision Making to meet the foundation requirement.

Core Courses (6 units)

Based on prior accounting courses, a maximum of three core courses may be waived at the discretion of the M.S.A. Director. If a course is waived, an additional approved course must be taken in its place.

Elective Courses (A total of 4 units from the following 2 groups):

Group 1: A minimum of 1 unit from the following:

Group 2: A minimum of 1 unit from the following (1 unit must have an FIN prefix):

Other graduate courses in GSOM may be used as electives with the M.S.A. Director’s permission.

Group 2 elective courses with no prerequisites:

FIN 4200 Financial Management
MGMT 4708 Business Law I (1/2 unit)
MGMT 4709 Business in Society (1/2 unit)
MGMT 5201 Human Resources Management
MIS 4500 Management Information Systems

Group 2 elective courses with prerequisites:

Program Faculty

Dileep Dhavale, Ph.D., C.P.A.

Inshik Seol, Ph.D.

Zhihong Wang, Ph.D.

For a full list of faculty, including visiting and adjunct professors, please see the Faculty page on GSOM’s website.

Adjunct Faculty

Louis Hirsch, M.S.A.

Frank Jenkins, M.B.A.

Toni Molinari, M.B.A.