Master of Science in Accounting
Linda M. Hughen, Ph.D., CPA
Director of Master of Science in Accounting Program
Assistant Professor of Accounting
Phone: 203-365-4157
E-mail:@sacredheart.edu
The Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) program at the Jack Welch College of Business is designed to respond to a growing industry demand for professionally trained accountants. Graduates will learn and develop the fundamental concepts of accounting, effective accounting methods, and gain the knowledge and skills essential to pass the CPA exam.
Concentrations
The one-year Master of Science in Accounting program offered through the AACSB-accredited Jack Welch College of Business has two concentrations: forensic accounting and business analysis and reporting. The forensic accounting concentration will teach students how to apply forensic accounting principles in complex financial transactions such as mergers and acquisitions, bankruptcies, and contract disputes. The business analysis and reporting concentration is offered in response to the growing demand for technology and analytics in the accounting profession. Students will learn about the database management, descriptive and predictive analytics, data visualization, audit data analytics and tax analytics.
Program Benefits
The MSA program can be completed in one year with hybrid courses taken in a trimester format. Courses will be offered online with monthly Saturday seminars. Saturday classes will meet at our Fairfield West campus from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Our faculty members are established scholars in the accounting field and the program content is essential as students prepare for the CPA exam. Students enrolled in this program will have access to the Becker CPA Review materials.
Admissions Requirements
The following must be submitted and will be considered when applying:
- Online application and non-refundable application fee
- Official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions attended, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- No GMAT/GRE required
- One-page personal statement, résumé, and two letters of recommendation
This program is designed for students with business-related undergraduate degrees. The following conditions must be met to earn a master’s in accounting from Sacred Heart University’s Jack Welch College of Business & Technology:
- Students with a baccalaureate degree in accounting are required to complete 30 credits for the program.
- Undergraduates enrolled in the five-year program are required to achieve an overall “B” average in all accounting courses and an overall GPA of 3.0 or better to remain in the program.
Students with a baccalaureate degree in other business areas but have completed 6 accounting credits (3 credits of financial accounting and 3 credits of managerial accounting) must take the following 12 credits as prerequisites for the program:
- Financial Accounting (3 credits)
- Managerial Accounting (3 credits)
- Two intermediate accounting courses (3 credits each)
- Auditing (3 credits)
- Federal Taxes (3 credits)
Students with a baccalaureate degree in a field other than accounting or other business area are required to complete 15 credits of accounting and 15 credits of business prerequisites before an application to the MSA program will be considered.
Accounting Course Requirements
The Master of Science in Accounting is a 30-credit degree program with two concentrations to choose from:
- Business Analysis and Reporting
- Information Systems, Controls and Forensic Accounting
- Tax Compliance and Planning
Required Courses (21 credits)
| MSA 600 | Advanced Financial Reporting | 3 |
| MSA 621 | Federal Taxation | 3 |
| MSA 631 | Contemporary Issues in Auditing | 3 |
| MSA 650 | Introduction to Accounting Analytics | 3 |
| MSA 632 | IS Assurance and Advisory I | 3 |
| MSA 634 | Business Valuation and Emerging Attestation | 3 |
| MSA 624 | Personal Financial Advisory Services | 3 |
Students will select one of the following concentrations:
Business Analysis and Reporting Concentration (9 credits)
| MSA 603 | Special Topics in Financial Accounting | 3 |
| MSA 602 | Governmental and Not-for-Profit Accounting | 3 |
| MSA 651 | Advanced Data Analytics | 3 |
Tax Compliance and Planning
| MSA 622 | Individual Compliance and Planning | 3 |
| MSA 623 | Entity Compliance and Planning | 3 |
| MSA 695 | Research Capstone Project | 3 |
Information Systems, Controls and Forensic Accounting
Program Total: 30 credits