The courses are sequenced so that students have the requisite knowledge and preparation to take two parts of the CPA Exam – Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) and Business Environment and Concepts (BEC) – after the first two quarters and the other two parts – Auditing and Attestation (AUD) and Regulation (REG) – either during the last quarter of the M.S. program or immediately after finishing the program in September. Thus, students in the Saint Mary’s M.S. in Accounting program will have obtained a master’s degree in accounting, fulfilled the 150-hour educational requirement and have the option to take all four parts of the CPA exam – while working full time.

Summer Quarter

ACCTG 202 - Corporate Financial Reporting

ACCTG 203 - Strategic Management and Accounting Information Systems

Autumn Quarter

ACCTG 204 - Governmental and Not-for-Profit Accounting

ACCTG 205 - International Accounting

Students can sit for the FAR section of the CPA Exam in early January.

Winter Quarter

ACCTG 206 - Advanced Auditing and Forensic Accounting

ACCTG 207 - Federal Income Taxation of Business Entities

Spring Quarter

ACCTG 208 - Advanced Legal Issues and the Regulatory Framework

ACCTG 209 - Taxes and Business Strategy

Summer Quarter

ACCTG 210 - Financial Statement Analysis and Valuation 

ACCTG 211 - Accounting Professional Ethics and Responsibilities 

Students can sit for the AUD and REG parts of the CPA Exam in early July or October

*MASTERS COLLOQUIUM

The Masters Colloquium held at the end of the fifth quarter provides an opportunity for M.S. in Accounting students to present their research/project before a distinguished panel of professional accountants, tax experts, audit partners, regulators and academics. The research presented at the Colloquium will be part of the requirements of ACCTG 210 and ACCTG 211. The research can be on topics related to financial reporting, valuation, taxation, assurance or ethics.

Professional Development Program (PDP)

Students in the M.S. in Accounting program participate in quarterly professional development workshops that will provide them with key management skills, capacities and capabilities to enable them to be well-rounded and managerially skilled accounting professionals. These PDP workshops include: negotiation, leadership and followership, influencing without authority, navigating organizational politics, making outstanding presentations and other key skills that will enable an accounting professional to be an effective and managerially fluent professional.