Master of Science in Accounting
Find the education and preparation to succeed as an accounting professional.
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Earn a Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) degree from the H-E-B School of Business and Administration. The 30-hour MSA program provides graduates with the skillset needed in the competitive world of professional accounting. Graduates will have the credentials required by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy to sit for the national CPA licensing examination.
Courses in the MSA program are offered on weekday evenings to accommodate the schedules of working professionals. Classes meet once per week in eight- or 16-week terms. Classes are taught by full-time faculty with decades of experience in professional accounting, each with a CPA license. Learn more about our faculty.
MSA Curriculum Overview
Graduate accounting students may enroll in the traditional MSA degree plan or choose from one of two areas of specialization – the Tax track or the Assurance and Financial Planning track.
- Tax
- Assurance and Financial Planning Track
- Traditional MSA (non-track based)
Invest In Your Future
$78,000
Average base salary of Master of Science in Accounting holders in the U.S.*(1)
7%
Growth of the employment of accountants and auditors from 2022 to 2032*(2)
126,500
Projected job openings for accountants and auditors over the next decade.*(3)
How It Works
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✔ Step 1
Connect with UIW & apply
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Start your degree
The University of the Incarnate Word's MSA program is designed for students seeking to pursue careers in the Accounting industry.
The Tax track for the MSA degree focuses on contemporary aspects of taxation for use in both individual tax practices and business entities. This track is designed to enable students to become proficient in tax research, analysis and problem solving relevant to the current regulatory environment.
Required Courses:
- ACCT 6318 Ethics for Accounting and Business (3 hours)
- ACCT 6333 Problems in Tax Practice (3 hours)
- ACCT 6339 Business Communication (3 hours)
- ACCT 6340 Advanced Financial Reporting (3 hours)
- ACCT 6342 Accounting for Non-Profit Organizations (3 hours)
- ACCT 6345 Federal Tax Research (3 hours)
- ACCT 6355 Estate, Trust and Gift Taxation (3 hours)
- Electives (9 hours)
Elective courses in the Tax Track must include one course designated ACCT. Acceptable elective classes include all graduate level courses offered by the H-E-B School of Business and Administration other than ADMN 6310 Accounting Concepts and Issues. Students must meet existing prerequisites for entrance to elective classes. ACCT 6388 Accounting Internship may be substituted for ACCT 6333 in the Tax Track if the internship work is in taxation.
The Assurance and Financial Reporting track for the MSA degree provides a practical and theoretical exposure to current audit and assurance service topics. Students analyze and evaluate financial statements and related disclosures while gaining an understanding of the relationship between the responsibilities of entities and the public accounting profession.
Required Courses:
- ACCT 6318 Ethics for Accounting and Business (3 hours)
- ACCT 6336 Financial Statement Analysis (3 hours)
- ACCT 6339 Business Communication (3 hours)
- ACCT 6340 Advanced Financial Reporting (3 hours)
- ACCT 6342 Accounting for Non-Profit Organizations (3 hours)
- ACCT 6348 Advanced Auditing (3 hours)
- ACCT 6350 Problems in Accounting (3 hours)
- Elective (9 hours)
Elective courses in the Assurance/Financial Reporting track must include one course designated ACCT. Acceptable elective classes include all graduate level courses offered by the H-E-B School of Business and Administration other than ADMN 6310 Accounting Concepts and Issues. Students must meet existing prerequisites for entrance to elective classes.
The traditional MSA degree is available to students who do not wish to specialize in a certain area.
Required Courses:
- ACCT 6340 Advanced Financial Reporting (3 hours)
- ACCT 6318 Ethics for Accounting and Business (3 hours)
- ACCT 6339 Business Communication (3 hours)
- ACCT 6342 Accounting for Non-Profit Organizations (3 hours)
- ACCT 6345 Federal Tax Research (3 hours)
- ACCT 6348 Advanced Auditing (3 hours)
- ACCT 6350 Problems in Accounting (3 hours)
- Electives (9 hours)
The annual mean wage for accountants and auditors was $78,000 in May 2022.
Examples of Career Opportunities for MSA graduates:
- Financial Managers
- Financial Analysts
- Budget Analysts
- Certified Public Accountants
- Personal Financial Advisors
- Management Analysts
- Tax Examiners
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics - May 2022
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