2022-2023 Academic Catalog

Offered in: Chicago | Schaumburg

The Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) program is designed to enable graduates in the liberal arts, sciences, engineering, and other fields, as well as graduates in business, to complete an advanced degree in accounting on a part-time or full-time basis. The MSA program offers two tracks, Professional Accounting and Accounting Forensics.

The focus of the learning process is a shared responsibility of the student and instructor. Our classes are small, the contact personal. We stress teamwork and group projects, with many case analyses that include written and oral presentations. Above all, we expect each student to contribute to the education of his or her colleagues, believing that adult learners have considerable expertise to share with classmates.

The MSA program will help prepare students to test for various industry certifications, including the CPA, CIA, CFE, and CMA, by completing their professional training and/or fulfilling professional exam requirements.  Below are the recommended programs and/or courses for these exams. 

• CPA: MSA, Professional Track

• CIA: MSA, Professional Track or Forensic Track.

• CFE: MSA, Forensic Track or Professional Track; Professional Track students could include forensics classes as their electives in preparation for this exam.

• CMA: MSA, Professional Track.

In addition to the MSA program, the Heller College of Business offers several other accounting programs at the graduate level: the MBA with a concentration in Accounting or Accounting Forensics, and the Master of Science in Forensic Accounting (MSAF).

• As a whole, our Accounting programs are designed to meet the needs of any of the following groups:

• Students who wish to complete their professional accounting education.

• Students who wish to pursue a terminal program that will enable them to enter the fields of public accounting, managerial accounting, governmental or nonprofit accounting, and auditing.

• Students who seek a concentration in fraud examination studies.

• Students with majors in the liberal arts, sciences, engineering, and other fields who want to complete a professional accounting program.

• Accountants and teachers of accounting who wish to advance their careers through further study.

Requirements

Students entering with a non-business baccalaureate degree will have their prior course work evaluated and may be required to take additional foundation Accounting course(s) in addition to the 10-course MSA program.   In these cases, the foundation accounting course(s) will not count toward the degree.  ACCT 403 and ACCT 405 will not count toward the MSA degree, including as degree electives.

MSA, Professional Track:  Students must successfully complete at least 30 credit hours;  three core courses, five required track courses, and two Accounting electives (six credit hours).

MSA, Forensic Track:  Students must successfully complete at least 30 credit hours; three core courses, and seven track courses. 

Your degree map is a general guide suggesting courses to complete each term on the academic pathway to your degree. It is based on the most current scheduling information from your academic program. Your program’s degree map is reviewed annually and updated as schedules change (although you retain the same course requirements as long as you are continuously enrolled in your degree program).

Always work closely with your academic advisor to understand curriculum requirements and scheduling, as each student’s academic plan can look slightly different. No more than two grades of C (not C-) may be applied toward the 36 hours used for the degree. A graduate course can only be repeated once; no more than two courses can be repeated.

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ACCT 406 is a prerequisite for ACCT 414, ACCT 433, ACCT 442, and ACCT 456

Your degree map is a general guide suggesting courses to complete each term on the academic pathway to your degree. It is based on the most current scheduling information from your academic program. Your program’s degree map is reviewed annually and updated as schedules change (although you retain the same course requirements as long as you are continuously enrolled in your degree program).

Always work closely with your academic advisor to understand curriculum requirements and scheduling, as each student’s academic plan can look slightly different. No more than two grades of C (not C-) may be applied toward the 36 hours used for the degree. A graduate course can only be repeated once; no more than two courses can be repeated.

¹

ACCT 406 is a prerequisite for ACCT 414, ACCT 433, ACCT 442, and ACCT 456