2018-19 Academic Catalog

Adkerson School of Accountancy

This is an archived copy of the 2018-19 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.msstate.edu.

Director: Dr. Shawn Mauldin
Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Clyde Herring

300 McCool Hall
Box EF
Mississippi State, MS  39762
Telephone: 662-325-3710
Fax: 662-325-1646
E-mail: sac@business.msstate.edu

Graduate study is offered in the Adkerson School of Accountancy leading to the Master of Professional Accountancy (M.P.A.) degree or the Master of Taxation (M.TX.) degree.  The objective of graduate study at the master’s level is to further the student’s education in business and accounting in preparation for a professional career in accounting.

The Adkerson School of Accountancy cooperates in interdisciplinary programs leading to the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Business Administration degree (see the Business Administration section of this publication).

Master of Professional Accountancy

The objective of the Master of Professional Accountancy (M.P.A.) program is to further the student’s education in business and accounting while preparing for a professional career in accountancy.  The accountancy program is accredited by AACSB International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, as part of the overall accreditation of the College of Business, as well as the separate and additional accreditation of accounting programs at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.

Admission Criteria

An applicant to the M.P.A. program should hold a bachelor’s degree from a fully recognized four-year institution of higher learning that enjoys unconditional accreditation by appropriate regional accrediting agencies. In addition, the applicant for the M.P.A. degree must take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). Regular admission to the M.P.A. program requires an acceptable GMAT score, a minimum overall GPA or upper-level business GPA of 2.75, and acceptable recommendation letters.  

International Applicant

An international applicant not holding a prior degree from a U.S. institution must submit an  indicator of English proficiency including one of the following: (1) TOEFL score of 575 PBT (84 iBT)  or (2) IELTS score of 7.0. 

Provisional Admission

An applicant who has not fully met the GPA requirement stipulated by the University may be admitted on a provisional basis.  The provisionally-admitted student is eligible for a change to regular status after receiving a 3.00 GPA on the first 9 hours of graduate courses at Mississippi State University (with no grade lower than a C).  The first 9 hours of graduate courses must be within the student's program of study.  Courses with an S grade, transfer credits, or credits earned while in Unclassified status cannot be used to satisfy this requirement.  If a 3.00 is not attained, the provisional student shall be dismissed from the graduate program. While in the provisional status, a student is not eligible to hold a graduate assistantship.

Prerequisite Courses

A grade of C or better is required on all undergraduate prerequisite courses. The prerequisites listed below, or their equivalent, must be completed either before or during graduate coursework.  A complete transcript evaluation will be more specific in individual cases.

ACC 3003Accounting Information Systems I3
ACC 3013Cost Accounting3
ACC 3023Intermediate Accounting I3
ACC 3033Intermediate Accounting II3
ACC 4013Income Tax I3
ACC 4033Auditing3
EC 2113Principles of Macroeconomics3
EC 2123Principles of Microeconomics3
FIN 3123Financial Management3
BL 2413The Legal Environment of Business3

Computer literacy and written communication skills are other prerequisites.

NOTE:  Where appropriate, M.B.A. foundation courses may be used to satisfy some of the prerequisites.

Academic Performance

A grade of C or better is required on all undergraduate prerequisite courses.  A student in any graduate degree program in the College of Business may not continue with grades below B in more than 6 hours of program coursework, regardless of the overall average. Thus, any program is terminated automatically when a seventh credit hour below B is recorded on program coursework.  In addition, the normal MSU requirements for satisfactory progress in a graduate program will be applied.

Completion Requirements

  1. A student must complete the required curriculum and a minimum of 30 graduate semester hours.
  2. A student must have no more than 6 hours of C grades on program coursework.
  3. A student must achieve a 3.00/4.00 GPA on graduate accounting work attempted.
  4. A student must achieve a 3.00/4.00 GPA on all graduate work attempted at MSU after being admitted to the degree program.

Master of Taxation

The primary objective of the Master of Taxation (M.TX.) program is to further the student’s education in business and accounting with an emphasis in taxation while preparing for a professional career in accounting and taxation.

Admission Criteria

An applicant to the M.TX. program should hold a bachelor’s degree from a fully recognized four-year institution of higher learning that enjoys unconditional accreditation by appropriate regional accrediting agencies. In addition, the applicant for the M.P.A. degree must take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). Regular admission to the M.P.A. program requires an acceptable GMAT score, a minimum overall GPA or upper-level business GPA of 2.75, and acceptable recommendation letters.  

International Applicant

An international applicant not holding a prior degree from a U.S. Institution must submit an indicator of English proficiency including one of the following: (1) TOEFL score of 575 PBT (84 iBT) or (2) an IELTS score of 7.0.

Provisional Admission

An applicant who has not fully met the GPA requirement stipulated by the University may be admitted on a provisional basis.  The provisionally-admitted student is eligible for a change to regular status after receiving a 3.00 GPA on the first 9 hours of graduate courses at Mississippi State University (with no grade lower than a C).  The first 9 hours of graduate courses must be within the student's program of study.  Courses with an S grade, transfer credits, or credits earned while in Unclassified status cannot be used to satisfy this requirement.  If a 3.00 is not attained, the provisional student shall be dismissed from the graduate program. While in the provisional status, a student is not eligible to hold a graduate assistantship.

Prerequisite Courses

The prerequisites listed below, or their equivalent, must be completed either before or during graduate coursework.  A complete transcript evaluation will be more specific in individual cases.

ACC 3003Accounting Information Systems I3
ACC 3013Cost Accounting3
ACC 3023Intermediate Accounting I3
ACC 3033Intermediate Accounting II3
ACC 4013Income Tax I3
ACC 4033Auditing3
EC 2113Principles of Macroeconomics3
EC 2123Principles of Microeconomics3
FIN 3123Financial Management3
BL 2413The Legal Environment of Business3

Computer literacy and written communication skills are other prerequisites.

NOTE: Where appropriate, M.B.A. foundation courses may be used to satisfy some of the above prerequisites.

Academic Performance

A grade of C or better is required on all undergraduate prerequisite courses. A student in any graduate degree program in the College of Business may not continue with grades below B in more than 6 hours of program coursework, regardless of the overall average. Thus, any program is terminated automatically when a seventh credit hour below B is recorded on program coursework.  In addition, the normal MSU requirements for satisfactory progress in a graduate program will be applied.

Master's Degree Completion Requirements 

  1. A student must complete the required curriculum and a minimum of 30 graduate semester hours.
  2. A student must have no more than 6 hours of C grades on program coursework.
  3. A student must achieve a 3.00/4.00 GPA on graduate accounting work attempted.
  4. A student must achieve a 3.00/4.00 GPA on all graduate work attempted at MSU after being admitted to the degree program.

Consult the Director, Adkerson School of Accountancy for further information.

Master of Professional Accountancy

Required Accounting Courses
ACC 6063Income Tax II 13
ACC 8013Seminar in Financial Accounting Theory3
ACC 8023Advanced Managerial Accounting3
ACC 8033Assurance and Audit Data Analysis3
ACC 8043Fraud Examination and Data Analysis3
Accounting Electives9
Select three of the following:
Financial Accounting Policy
Research in Tax Practice and Procedures
Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders
Taxation of Partnerships, S Corporations, Trusts, and Estates
Advanced Individual Taxation and Wealth Management
Tax Topics
International Accounting
Business Electives
Select 6 hours of graduate-level business or accounting courses.6
Total Hours30

NOTE: No more than nine hours of coursework in the 30-hour program may be at the 6000 level.

Master of Professional Accountancy, Systems Concentration

Required Accounting Courses
ACC 6063Income Tax II 13
ACC 8023Advanced Managerial Accounting3
ACC 8013Seminar in Financial Accounting Theory3
ACC 8033Assurance and Audit Data Analysis3
ACC 8043Fraud Examination and Data Analysis3
Accounting Electives9
Select three of the following:
Financial Accounting Policy
Research in Tax Practice and Procedures
Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders
Taxation of Partnerships, S Corporations, Trusts, and Estates
Advanced Individual Taxation and Wealth Management
Tax Topics
International Accounting
Concentration Courses (total of 9 hours) 29
select both of the following:
Advanced Systems Analysis and Design 3
Advanced Database Design Administration
Total Hours33

NOTE: No more than nine hours of coursework in the 30-hour program may be at the 6000 level.

Master of Taxation

Required Tax Courses
ACC 8063Research in Tax Practice and Procedures3
ACC 8073Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders3
ACC 8113Advanced Individual Taxation and Wealth Management3
ACC 8093Taxation of Partnerships, S Corporations, Trusts, and Estates3
ACC 8033Assurance and Audit Data Analysis3
ACC 8013Seminar in Financial Accounting Theory3
ACC 8043Fraud Examination and Data Analysis3
ACC 8123Tax Topics3
Electives
Any approved graduate-level accounting or business courses6
Total Hours30

Master of Taxation, Systems Concentration

Required Tax Courses
ACC 8063Research in Tax Practice and Procedures3
ACC 8073Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders3
ACC 8113Advanced Individual Taxation and Wealth Management3
ACC 8093Taxation of Partnerships, S Corporations, Trusts, and Estates3
ACC 8033Assurance and Audit Data Analysis3
ACC 8013Seminar in Financial Accounting Theory3
ACC 8043Fraud Examination and Data Analysis3
ACC 8123Tax Topics3
Concentration Courses (total of 9 hours) 19
Advanced Systems Analysis and Design 2
Advanced Database Design Administration
Total Hours33

Graduate Minor in Business Analytics (9 credit hours in total)

In lieu of the 6 hours of graduate-level business or accounting courses, the student will select the two courses below:

  • BIS 8413 Data Analytics
  • BQA 6413 Business Forecasting and Predictive Analytics

ACC 6023 Advanced Accounting: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite:Grade of C or better in ACC 3033). (Not open to PACC students). Three hours lecture. Financial accounting and reporting related to consolidations, partnerships and international business issues

ACC 6043 Municipal and Governmental Accounting: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ACC 2023) . (Not open to PACC students). Three hours lecture. Accounting theory and practice applied to governmental units, state operated schools and colleges; classification and use of funds; fiscal procedures; bugetary control; financial statements; reports

ACC 6063 Income Tax II: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in ACC 4013). (Not open to PACC students). Three hours lecture. Examining federal tax implications of property transfers between entity and owners on formation, reorganization, and liquidation of corporations and flow-thru entities; brief study of trust and federal transfer taxes (gift/estate)

ACC 6200 Accounting Internship: 6 hours.

(Prerequisite: Senior Standing and approval by the internship director prior to the internship). Credit to be arranged based on time and circumstances of the internship providing professional experience in audit, tax and other accounting related areas

ACC 6990 Special Topics in Accounting: 1-9 hours.

Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)

ACC 7000 Directed Individual Study in Accounting: 1-6 hours.

Hours and credits to be arranged

ACC 8013 Seminar in Financial Accounting Theory: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ACC 3033) . Examination of the theoretical concepts, definitions, and models espoused in the accounting literature and relevant to analyzing various contemporary issues in financial accounting and reporting

ACC 8023 Advanced Managerial Accounting: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ACC 3013). Three hours lecture. The study of theoretical conceptual and technical issues in planning, control and decision making

ACC 8033 Assurance and Audit Data Analysis: 3 hours.

Three hours lecture. Students will gain an in-depth knowledge of professional auditing standards, financial statement auditing procedures, and audit reporting requirements. Students will develop data analysis skills applicable to auditing practice. Students will also gain exposure to theoretical arguments surrounding professional rules of conduct and audit quality indicators

ACC 8043 Fraud Examination and Data Analysis: 3 hours.

Three hours lecture. Students will gain an in-depth knowledge of the nature of fraud, fraud examination, and the communication of the findings from a fraud examination. Emphasis will be placed on the use of advanced data analysis techniques and procedures to detect errors and frauds

ACC 8053 Financial Accounting Policy: 3 hours.

(Prerequisites: ACC 3033). Three hours lecture. Integrative course examining recent trends and developments in public accounting. Various problems and cases in financial reporting issues, ethics, and other accounting topics

ACC 8063 Research in Tax Practice and Procedures: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ACC 4013) . Three hours lecture. Preparation of tax protests, tax planning; use of tax services; client representation; structure of Internal Revenue Service; and research problems in taxation

ACC 8073 Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ACC 4013) Examination of federal income tax laws as applied to corporations and shareholders with an emphasis of how research issues deal with these topics

ACC 8093 Taxation of Partnerships, S Corporations, Trusts, and Estates: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ACC 4013). Three hours lecture. An examination of the income taxation of partnerships, S corporations, trusts, and estates with an emphasis on how to research issues dealing with these topics

ACC 8101 Analysis Accounting Data: 1 hour.

One hour lecture. The analysis of accounting data extracted from an enterprise resource planning system to monitor business activities and support managerial decision making

ACC 8113 Advanced Individual Taxation and Wealth Management: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ACC 4013 or consent of instructor). Three hours lecture. An in-depth examination of advanced topics related to individual taxation and transfer taxes

ACC 8123 Tax Topics: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite:ACC 4013). Three hours lecture. An examination of specialized taxation topics such as real estate taxation, state and local taxation, and bank taxation

ACC 8183 International Accounting: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ACC 2023). A study of the international dimension of accounting as it relates to multinational corporations and the international environment. Some specific topics include: international financial reporting; financial reporting outside the USA; foreign exchange; accounting harmonization; international financial disclosure issues

ACC 8203 Advanced Accounting Analysis for Decision Making: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ACC 2023). Three hours lecture. Application of accounting principles and concepts to alternative business possibilities as an aid to management decision making

ACC 8213 Financial Statement and Management Accounting Report Analysis for Decision Making: 3 hours.

(Prerequisites: ACC 2203 or equivalent). Three hours lecture. Analysis of financial statements and internal accounting reports to help management make decisions

ACC 8990 Special Topics in Accounting: 1-9 hours.

Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)

ACC 9000 Dissertation Research/ Dissertation in Accounting: 1-13 hours.

Hours and credits to be arranged

ACC 9013 Seminar in Financial Accounting: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ACC 8013) . Review and analysis of historical and current research in financial accounting theory. Emphasis on developing critical analytical skills for evaluating financial accounting research

ACC 9033 Seminar in Accounting Research: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor) Evaluation and analysis of academic research strategies and methodologies, emphasis on (1) understanding and evaluating empirical research results and (2) formulating and writing research proposals