Accounting (Smeal)

The Master of Accounting allows students to complete the educational requirements to become a certified public accountant in Pennsylvania, as well as most other states. Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) conduct independent audits and provide accounting, tax, and management advisory services. The program emphasizes quantitative methods, analytics, and management science as they relate to the modern accounting profession. The program prepares students to enter into careers in public accounting, corporate accounting, management accounting, governmental accounting, financial analysis, and law enforcement.

Admission Requirements

Applicants apply for admission to the program via the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies.

Applicants must:  

• Submit a completed online Graduate School Application for Admission, including short admissions essay, resume, and three professional references with complete contact information.  
  • Résumé reflecting relevant professional experience including internships and co-op experiences.  
• Submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.  

GMAT and/or GRE scores will not be required for admission. Accordingly, these scores will not be accepted.  

The language of instruction at Penn State is English. English proficiency test scores (TOEFL/IELTS) may be required for international applicants. See GCAC-305 Admission Requirements for International Students for more information.

Degree Requirements

Master of Accounting in Accounting (M.Acc.)

Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-700 Professional Degree Policies.

Students must complete a minimum of 33 credits. The 33 credits must be earned in 400-, 500-, or 800-level courses. At least 18 credits must be earned in 500- and 800-level courses.

Integrated Undergrad-Grad Programs

Integrated B.S. in Accounting and M.Acc. in Accounting

Undergraduate Degree

• University Park

Graduate Degree

• University Park

Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in GCAC-210 Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate (IUG) Degree Programs.

The Department of Accounting offers an integrated program allowing students to receive a B.S. in Accounting and Master of Accounting (M.Acc.) degrees within a five-year period. Students typically are admitted into the integrated program in the spring of the second year of the undergraduate program and the program is completed in the subsequent three years.

Admission Requirements

Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies.

Students must apply to the program via the Graduate School application for admission, and must meet all the admission requirements of the Graduate School and the Accounting graduate program for the Master of Accounting degree, listed above. Before applying to the Graduate School, students must have completed entrance to their undergraduate major and have completed no less than 60 credits. Students must be admitted no later than the end of the second week of the semester preceding the semester of expected conferral of the undergraduate degree. Transfer students must have completed at least 15 credits at Penn State to enroll in an IUG.

In addition, the Department may request an interview with an applicant, or require a GMAT exam or other exam. Admissions decisions will be based upon the student’s application, undergraduate record, SAT scores and, if applicable, interviews and examination results.

In consultation with an adviser, students must prepare a plan of study appropriate to this integrated program, and must present their plan of study to the head of the graduate program or the appropriate committee overseeing the integrated program prior to being admitted to the program. The plan should cover the entire time period of the integrated program, and it should be reviewed periodically with an adviser as the student advances through the program.

Degree Requirements

Students must fulfill all degree requirements for each degree in order to be awarded that degree, subject to the alterations and double-counting of credits as outlined below. Degree requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Accounting are listed in the Undergraduate Bulletin. Degree requirements for the Master of Accounting degree are listed on the Degree Requirements tab. If students accepted into the IUG program are unable to complete the M.Acc. degree, they are still eligible to receive their undergraduate degree if all the undergraduate degree requirements have been satisfied.

Students must complete the requirements for a B.S. in Accounting with the following alterations. Some of prescribed courses for the B.S. must be taken in sections that are available only to students enrolled in the program. These prescribed courses, which all count toward the undergraduate degree in accounting, are:

The student need not satisfy the requirement that 6 credits be completed from the following list of courses:

The following courses cannot be used to satisfy the degree requirements of the B.S. or the M.Acc. for students in the integrated B.S./M.Acc. program:

Up to 12 credits may be double-counted towards the degree requirements for both the graduate and undergraduate degrees; a minimum of 50% of the double-counted courses must be at the 500 or 800 level. Independent study courses and credits associated with the culminating experience for the graduate degree cannot be double-counted.

Minor

A graduate minor is available in any approved graduate major or dual-title program. The default requirements for a graduate minor are stated in Graduate Council policy GCAC-218 Minors.

Student Aid

Refer to the Tuition & Funding section of the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School's website. Students in this program are not eligible for graduate assistantships.

Courses

Graduate courses carry numbers from 500 to 699 and 800 to 899. Advanced undergraduate courses numbered between 400 and 499 may be used to meet some graduate degree requirements when taken by graduate students. Courses below the 400 level may not. A graduate student may register for or audit these courses in order to make up deficiencies or to fill in gaps in previous education but not to meet requirements for an advanced degree.

Accounting (ACCTG) Course List

Business Administration (BA) Course List

Business Law (BLAW) Course List

Finance (FIN) Course List

Learning Outcomes

1. COMMUNICATE: Argue one’s point persuasively in written form and oral presentation.
2. KNOW: Assess and explain the global forces that influence business decisions and accounting practices.
3. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: Assemble and support a team as both a principled leader and a valuable member while adhering to professional accounting standards.
4. APPLY/CREATE: Analyze a complicated business problem using the best tools, theories, and evidence, complemented by the ability to recommend solutions and implement plans.
5. THINK: Compare and contract perspectives in analyzing and recommending solutions to business problems.
6. APPLY/CREATE: Apply quantitative skills through the use of complex searchable databases and analytical search tools in the financial accounting and auditing environments.

Professional Licensure/Certification

Many U.S. states and territories require professional licensure/certification to be employed. If you plan to pursue employment in a licensed profession after completing this program, please visit the Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures by State interactive map.

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