Accountancy

Dr. Douglas M. Boyle, Chair, Department of Accounting

570-941-4047- douglas.boyle@scranton.edu

James Boyle, Online & On Campus Masters in Accountancy Program Director

570-941-6594- james.boyle@scranton.edu

 

Department of Accounting Faculty: Professors- Brian Carpenter, CMA, Daniel Mahoney, CPA, CFE; Associate Professors- Douglas M. Boyle (Chair), CPA, CMA, Ronald J. Grambo, Robyn Lawrence, CMA; Assistant Professors- James Boyle, CPA, David Salerno, CPA

 

The demand for flexible, high quality accounting education at the masters level is at an all-time high and is expected to continue growing at a rapid rate. Such growth is fueled by two key market dynamics: (1) most State Boards of Accountancy now require candidates to fulfill 150 credit hours in order to obtain a license (for most CPA candidates who are bachelor degree holders, this means at least 30 credit hours of extra coursework is necessary), and (2) current hiring by public accounting firms is not only at a record high, but continued growth is projected.

Given the robust current and projected demand for high-quality flexible masters-level accounting education, students may enter the Master of Accountancy program one of three ways:  

     1. A masters in accountancy program delivered entirely on campus and targeted toward recent graduates from bachelors in business programs, professionals working in industry, as well as international students residing in the United States. Students must hold an undergraduate bachelors in accounting degree or hold an undergraduate bachelors degree in business with the completion of satisfactory accounting coursework at the intermediate level such as:  ACC 361 Intermediate Accounting I,  ACC 362 Intermediate Accounting II, ACC 363 Federal Taxation, ACC 461 Cost Accounting, and ACC 464 Auditing Theory, as determined by the Accounting Department Chair;

     2. A masters in accountancy program delivered entirely online and targeted toward graduates from bachelors in business programs as well as professionals working in industry. Students must hold an undergraduate bachelors in accounting degree or hold an undergraduate bachelors degree in business with the completion of satisfactory accounting coursework at the intermediate level such as:  ACC 361 Intermediate Accounting I,  ACC 362 Intermediate Accounting II, ACC 363 Federal Taxation, ACC 461 Cost Accounting, and ACC 464 Auditing Theory, as determined by the Accounting Department Chair.

     3. A five-year, combined bachelors/masters in accountancy program with a mix of on-campus and online courses.  The student has the option to complete the fifth year through any ratio of campus-based and online courses, enabling him/her to choose to fulfill the fifth year entirely online.

 

The Kania School of Management has established the following Learning Goals for the Accountancy Program.

Students will gain extensive knowledge in the field of accounting and understand the manner in which accounting information is generated and disseminated.

1. Students will research advanced current topics in accounting and demonstrate an understanding  of both theoretical and practical applications of their findings.
2. Students will understand the processes of the governing bodies charged with the creation and oversight of the various accounting and auditing standards/practices.
3. Students will understand how accounting information is generated and how it is used by key stakeholders.

Students will be capable of applying an advanced level of accounting knowledge as a means of solving business problems.

1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of advanced accounting concepts and the ways in which such concepts can be applied  to current reporting requirements.
2. Students will demonstrate the ability to use accounting information in solving current real world problems commonly faced by key stakeholders like managers and current and prospective investors/creditors.

Students will be capable of critically analyzing accounting information and utilizing their knowledge of the field to disseminate value-added insights throughout the firm.

1. Students will analyze business situations and provide value-added insights and recommendations to contribute to the decision making process.
2. Using appropriate accounting methods, students will critique the firm’s performance and provide a foundation for performance improvement.                                                                                                                                                                                       Students will be able to effectively identify and evaluate the kinds of ethical challenges often faced by accounting professionals and express their ability to appropriately respond in a manner that is consistent with the profession’s high ethical expectations.
3. Students will demonstrate a comprehensive  understanding of ethical theory, principles, and rules via direct application to practical ethical dilemmas.
4. Students gain an understanding of the high ethical expectations of the profession and how to become more aware of their own behaviors and life choices as a means of fulfilling such expectations.

Students will understand the global environment of the accounting profession and the critical leadership role they must be able to fill within the broader business environment.

1. Through analyses of specific management scenarios, students will analyze the critical role accounting professionals play in the global business environment.
2. Students will apply accounting techniques to add value and insights and thus enable  the firm to capitalize on emerging business opportunities.

Students will demonstrate the kinds of advanced communication skills that are consistent with the profession’s high demands and expectations.

1. Students will understand the importance of providing effective communication to key stakeholders within and outside of the firm.
2. By way of a series of writing assignments targeted toward satisfying the expectations of key stakeholders, students will demonstrate a mastery of writing skills.

 

Combined Bachelor and Masters in Accountancy (MAcc) Program

For a student to be eligible for application to the five-year combined program, he/she must be currently enrolled as an undergraduate accounting major at the University of Scranton.  The student may elect to reserve an admission position in the Master of Accountancy program as an incoming freshman.  Such position will be reserved as long as the student maintains the GPA requirements of the program.  The student is formally admitted into the Master of Accountancy program after applying and being accepted as early as their junior year in the Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the Kania School of Management at The University of Scranton.

 

Once a student is admitted to this combined program, he/she would be permitted to take two graduate courses while still classified as undergraduate student. If the two courses are “cross-listed” (graduate/undergraduate) courses as indicated below, they may count toward both the Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and the Master of Accountancy degree.

• ACC 460 Advanced Accounting I and ACC 540 Contemporary Financial Accounting Topics
• ACC 463 Financial Statement Analysis and Research and ACC 527 Financial Reporting and Research
• ACC 465 Accounting Communications and ACC 538 Effective Accounting Communications
• ACC 473 Advanced Auditing and ACC 531 Advanced Auditing
• ACC 475 International Accounting and ACC 525 International Accounting

Once classified as a graduate student, a student may take any ratio of campus-based and online courses to complete his/her Master of Accountancy degree, enabling the student to choose to fulfill the fifth year entirely online.  A minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.00 and a minimum GPA of 3.00 in the undergraduate accounting major is required in order to advance from the undergraduate component of the accounting program into graduate study.  A minimum overall GPA of 3.00 must be achieved and maintained for all graduate courses.  The student is awarded the Master of Accountancy degree upon completion of the graduate requirements. 

 

Five Year Combined Program Course Requirements

Existing Three Undergraduate Tracks:

General, Forensic, Information Systems (120-125 credits)

 

Courses Required (3 credits each):

ECO 507  - Managerial Economics     

FIN 508  -   Financial Management     

ACC 538  - Effective Accounting Communication

ACC 539  - Accounting Ethics: The Foundation of the Profession

ACC 540  -Contemporary Financial Accounting Topics

ACC 550  - Applied Accounting Research (capstone)

Total Required Hour                                                                                                      18 credits

 

Electives Graduate Courses (select any 5; up to 4 may be taken online):

ACC 514  - Accounting Integration and Configuration (online only)

ACC 522   - Federal Taxes (on-campus only)

ACC 525  - International Accounting (both online & on-campus)

ACC 527  - Financial Reporting and Research (both online & on-campus)

ACC 531  - Advanced Auditing (both online & on-campus)

ACC 532  - Advanced Taxation & Regulation (both online & on-campus)

ACC 536  - Contemporary Managerial Accounting Topics (online only)

ACC 537   - Advanced Financial Accounting (on-campus only)

ACC 541  - Financial Reporting Fraud Detection & Prevention (online only)

ACC 542  - Occupational Fraud & Abuse (online only)

Total Elective Hours                                                                                                       12 credits

 

On Campus Masters in Accountancy (MAcc) Program

For a student to be eligible for admission into the online Masters in Accountancy program, he/she must hold a bachelor’s degree in accounting must hold an undergraduate bachelors degree in business with the completion of satisfactory accounting coursework at the intermediate level such as:  ACC 361 Intermediate Accounting I, ACC 362 Intermediate Accounting II, ACC 363 Federal Taxation, ACC 461 Cost Accounting, and ACC 464 Auditing Theory, as determined by the Accounting Department Chair. A minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.00 and a minimum GPA of 3.00 in the undergraduate accounting major is required for admittance to graduate study.  A minimum overall GPA of 3.00 must be achieved and maintained for all graduate courses.  The student is awarded the Master of Accountancy degree upon completion of the graduate requirements.

 

Online Masters in Accountancy (MAcc) Program

For a student to be eligible for admission into the online Masters in Accountancy program, he/she must hold a bachelor’s degree in accounting or students must hold an undergraduate bachelors in accounting degree or hold an undergraduate bachelors degree in business with the completion of satisfactory accounting coursework at the intermediate level such as:  ACC 361 Intermediate Accounting I, ACC 362 Intermediate Accounting II, ACC 363 Federal Taxation, ACC 461 Cost Accounting, and ACC 464 Auditing Theory, as determined by the Accounting Department Chair. A minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.00 and a minimum GPA of 3.00 in the undergraduate accounting major is required for admittance to graduate study.  A minimum overall GPA of 3.00 must be achieved and maintained for all graduate courses.  The student is awarded the Master of Accountancy degree upon completion of the graduate requirements.

Online Masters in Accountancy Program Course Requirements

Required Graduate Courses (3 credits each):

ECO 507  - Managerial Economics     

FIN 508  - Financial Management     

ACC 538  - Effective Accounting Communication

ACC 539  - Accounting Ethics: The Foundation of the Profession

ACC 540   - Contemporary Financial Accounting Topics

ACC 550  - Applied Accounting Research (capstone)

Total Required Hours                                                                                                     18 credits

Elective Graduate Courses (select any 4)

ACC 514  - Accounting Integration and Configuration 

ACC 525  - International Accounting

ACC 527  - Financial Reporting and Research

ACC 531  - Advanced Auditing

ACC 532  - Advanced Taxation & Regulation

ACC 536  - Contemporary Managerial Accounting Topics

ACC 541  - Financial Reporting Fraud Detection & Prevention

ACC 542  - Occupational Fraud & Abuse

Total Elective Hours                                                                                                       12 credits

Program Total                                                                                                                  30 credits

 

Capstone Experience

ACC 550  - Applied Accounting Research - The capstone experience immerses the student (through discussion, analysis, data gathering, and writing) in current practitioner research topics requiring him/her to demonstrate a mastery of the research process, tools, techniques, findings, and journals while applying critical thinking skills.  The research spectrum will include ethical, financial, international, forensic, and auditing topics. 

Other Graduate Level Accounting Courses

The MAcc Program Director may recommend that other graduate level accounting courses count as MAcc program elective courses, such as ACC 502 : Accounting  for Management and ACC 529 : Special Topics.

 

Online Masters in Accountancy (MAcc) Program Provisional Acceptance

A student who has not completed an undergraduate bachelor’s degree in accounting may be eligible for provisional acceptance into the Online Masters in Accountancy Program if he/she completed an undergraduate bachelor’s degree in business. The MAcc Program Director will consider any accounting courses completed by each student applicant, as well as any relevant accounting professional work experience, in making a recommendation about whether to provisionally accept a student applicant into the Online Masters in Accountancy Program and in determining each accepted student’s required bridge coursework.

In general, in addition to the normal MAcc program required coursework, provisionally accepted students must complete the following courses:

ACC 502   Accounting for Management Accounting

ACC 505   Intermediate Accounting I

ACC 506   Intermediate Accounting II

ACC 507   Intermediate Accounting III

In view of the above additional required accounting coursework, ACC 540  is normally waived. Therefore, provisionally accepted Online Masters in Accountancy Program students must normally complete 39 credits of required coursework. The MAcc Program Director may also recommend additional required coursework or may waive ACC 502  , depending on each student’s previous accounting courses completed and the grade(s) earned, as well as any relevant accounting professional work experience.