ACCOUNTING
PROFESSORS:
File, Garsombke, Kwak, Ortman, Trussell
ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS:
Armitage, Copple, Watanabe
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR:
Lee

Objectives of the Master of Accounting MAcc Program

The primary objective of the MAcc degree program is to provide a graduate-level educational experience as a basis for a career in accounting. Students with or without undergraduate degrees in accounting can be admitted to this program. The program provides a broad-based preparation for individuals seeking careers in public, private or not-for-profit organizations. By choosing specific elective courses, however, individuals desiring a particular career path may pursue an area of specialization, such as Auditing, Information Systems, Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting or Taxation. For more information regarding these areas of specialization, please call 554-3650 or visit the website at http://cba.unomaha.edu/acct/MAcc/index.cfm.

The MAcc program is designed for dedicated students with career aspirations demanding a high level of accounting expertise. As such, the program involves both intensive and extensive professional preparation. Upon completion of the program, most students will have the educational prerequisites for the following professional examinations: Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Financial Manager (CFM), and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA). Students planning to sit for any certification examination should see their MAcc Advisor as soon as they begin their master's program.

Program of Study

The MAcc program has two alternative tracks. The first is a 152-hour undergraduate-graduate option that requires UNO undergraduate accounting majors to apply to the MAcc program as soon as they achieve senior status. Application to the 152 MAcc track requires that the student successfully complete the GMAT. UNO undergraduate accounting majors should see the Director of the MAcc program in their junior year to determine how they can enroll in this joint program.

The second option is for graduates of accredited undergraduate institutions who wish to earn a Masters degree in accounting. The first stage of this track of the MAcc program contains sufficient undergraduate accounting preparation to pursue graduate education. These courses may be waived upon satisfactory evidence of prior preparation. In the second stage, students complete a core of required courses in accounting and supporting business disciplines. In consultation with an adviser, electives are selected to meet a student's specific career goals. Both MAcc tracks require a professional report based on independent research.

Admission Requirements

All applicants must meet the requirements of the Graduate School as stated in the Graduate Catalog. All applicants must submit a completed application, two official copies of all transcripts, and results of the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) prior to admission to the program. Although other factors are considered, the general admission formula is:

GMAT (minimum 550*) + (200 x Upper Division GPA) is greater than or equal to 1170
*(minimum verbal 26; minimum quantitative 35)

International students must provide letters of recommendation, statements of financial independence, and evidence of ability to speak and write the English language; i.e. a minimum of 600 on the TOEFL (250 if computer based). The baccalaureate degree must have been received from an institution accredited by the proper accrediting agencies.

"There is no guarantee that admission will be granted simply because the indicated scores have been achieved. If granted provisional admission, the student must earn grades of "B" (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or above in the first 12 hours of MAcc course work (in some cases the first 18 hours). Students not meeting this standard are subject to dismissal."

  1. Foundation Courses

    2. ACCT 2010 Principles of Accounting I
    ACCT 2020 Principles of Accounting II
    ACCT 3020 Basic Federal Income Taxation
    ACCT 3030 Intermediate Financial Accounting I
    ACCT 3040 Intermediate Financial Accounting II
    ACCT 3050 Intermediate Managerial Accounting
    ACCT 3080 Accounting Information Systems
    OR
    BSAD 3100 Management Information Systems1
    ACCT 4080 Principles of Auditing
    BSAD 3160 Managerial Statistics for Business
    BSAD 8180 Analytical Foundations of Economics
    OR BOTH
    ECON 2220 Principles of Macro Economics
    ECON 2200 Principles of Micro Economics
    Courses successfully completed (i.e., earning a 2.0 grade, "C" , or higher on a 4.0 system) in the student's undergraduate program at a four-year institution are considered as sufficient preparation. Otherwise, the student must complete the foundation requirements prior to enrolling in a graduate course (see Section D.ii). Students who consider themselves proficient through experience or self-study in any of these areas may complete a "Satisfaction by Exam" in lieu of course work. Those who will be sitting for the CPA exam also must take Managerial Communications (MGMT 3200) or an equivalent business communications course.

    Academic Performance

    In addition to the Quality of Work Standards located in the Registration and Credits section of this catalog, MAcc students may repeat only once any ACCT 8--0, or 8--6 level course in which they receive any grade, including "W" or "I".

    Students earning a third grade of "C+" or lower (or any single grade below "C- "(1.67 on a 4.0 scale) will be automatically dismissed from the MAcc program. Dismissed students will be immediately administratively withdrawn from all courses in which they are enrolled for MAcc credit in any subsequent semester or summer session until reinstatement has been granted by the MAcc Graduate Program Committee (MAcc GPC).

    Students who have been dismissed from the MAcc program may submit a written petition for reinstatement to the MAcc GPC. Students who have petitioned the MAcc GPC for reinstatement may not enroll in any courses for MAcc credit. Upon receiving a petition for reinstatement, the MAcc GPC will evalaute the student's written petition for reinstatement. As part of the reinstatement petitioning process, the MAcc GPC reserves the right to examine the student's academic record and reserves the right to speak to any previous instructor who has taught the student and this information may be used by the MAcc GPC in the reinstatement decision. Information provided by previous instructors will not be shared with the student. Reinstatement is a privilage and not all students who are dismissed will be reinstated. Students who have been reinstated will serve a probationary period of the MAcc GPC's discretion and must satisfy the probationary conditions specified by the MAcc GPC. In addition to probationary conditions, reinstated students will be subject to additional reinstatement conditions as specified by the MAcc GPC. These reinstatement conditions will include retaking one or more courses in which the student must earn a grade of "B" (3.0) or higher (the exact grade requirements for retaken courses may in fact be higher that "B" (3.0)). Students not achieving the probationary or reinstatement conditions will be automatically dismissed.

  2. Master of Accounting

    1. Required Accounting Courses - 15 hours
      ACCT 8900 Independent Research2

      Any four of the following courses:

      ACCT 8210 Financial Accounting Theory
      ACCT 8230 Strategic and Operational Planning and Control
      ACCT 8250 Seminar in Accounting 3
      ACCT 8270 E-Business and the Accounting Profession

      ACCT 8220 Federal Estate and Gift Taxation
      OR
      ACCT 8260 Federal Tax Research and Planning

      Note: Students interested in the area of taxation may elect to take ACCT 8220 or ACCT 8260 as one of the required accounting courses listed above and the other tax courses as one of the student's three elective courses or take ACCT 8220 and 8260 as two of the students's three elective courses.
    2. Contemporary Business Environment - 12 hours

      Required Courses4
      BSAD 8010 Legal, Ethical and Social Environment
      BSAD 8310 Managing Performance in Organizations
      BSAD 8400 Marketing Policies
      BSAD 8500 Financial Management
    3. Electives - 9 hours5

      In consultation with the MAcc adviser, nine (9) hours of additional graduate work must be selected. Students are encouraged, but not required, to select a minor in an area such as Management Information Systems or a specialization in Finance. A minor usually requires nine (9) graduate hours (no 8--6 courses) and the permission of the minor department/school. A student may select elective courses in Accounting from the following list:

      ACCT 8016 Advanced Financial Accounting
      ACCT 8046 Federal Taxation of Corporations and Partnerships
      ACCT 8066 Advanced Managerial Accounting
      ACCT 8076 Governmental/Nonprofit Accounting and Auditing5
      ACCT 8096 Advanced Auditing
      ACCT 8220 Federal Estate and Gift Taxation
      ACCT 8250 Seminar in Accounting3
      ACCT 8260 Federal Tax Research and Planning
      ACCT 8910 Special Topics in Accounting

    4. Other Requirements

      1. A maximum of nine (9) hours of "8--6" (cross-listed) courses may be included in a graduate program of study.
      2. All foundation courses must be completed with a minimum grade of "B" (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) before registering for graduate courses.
      3. Students also are subject to all policies and procedures of the Graduate College as stated in this Graduate Catalog.
      4. A student may elect to write a thesis for 6 credit hours in lieu of 6 elective hours.

    Footnotes:

    1 Those who will be sitting for the CPA exam in Nebraska must take Accounting Information Systems (ACCT 3080); Management Information Systems (BSAD 3100) will not fulfill the requirement.

    2 Before registering for this course, a student must complete an ACCT 8900 Application Form.

    3 The content of this course may change with each offering, and if this is so, it may be repeated up to six (6) hours.

    4 Students who have completed courses in one or more of these areas must, in consultation with an MAcc adviser, select another non-accounting graduate course(s).

    5 Those who will be sitting for the CPA exam in Nebraska must take ACCT 8076 Governmental/Nonprofit Accounting and Auditing. This course can be taken as an elective in your MAcc program, assuming that a student has already taken 9 hours of 8--6 courses.

    Internships

    Students in the 152-hour MAcc program are encouraged to apply for full- or part-time internships. The MAcc program does not grant graduate credit for internships nor is an internship required for the program. Students seeking information about internships should see the Accounting Department's Director of Internships.

    Financial Assistance

    A limited number of graduate scholarships, assistantships and non-resident tuition waivers are available to full-time students. Those interested in receiving an application may call (402) 554-3650 or download an application from our website. Employed applicants should explore tuition reimbursement plans from their employers.

    For more information...

    about the graduate program in accounting, please call (402) 554-3650 or visit the website at http://cba.unomaha.edu/acct/MAcc/index.cfm. You can e-mail us from our website if you have any questions.

    Course Descriptions--Accounting

    Course Descriptions--Business Administration