Master of Science In Accounting

Find the education and preparation to succeed as an accounting professional

Earn a Master of Science in Accounting (MSA) degree from the H-E-B School of Business and Administration. The 30-hour MSA program provides graduates with the skillset needed in the competitive world of professional accounting. Graduates will have the credentials required by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy to sit for the national CPA licensing examination.

Courses in the MSA program are offered on weekday evenings to accommodate the schedules of working professionals. Classes meet once per week in eight- or 16-week terms. Classes are taught by full-time faculty with decades of experience in professional accounting, each with a CPA license.

Graduate accounting students may enroll in the traditional MSA degree plan or choose from one of two areas of specialization – the Tax track or the Assurance and Financial Planning track.

Tax Track

The Tax track for the MSA degree focuses on contemporary aspects of taxation for use in both individual tax practices and business entities. This track is designed to enable students to become proficient in tax research, analysis, and problem-solving relevant to the current regulatory environment.

Required Courses

• Ethics for Accounting and Business (3 hours)
• Problems in Tax Practice (3 hours)
• Business Communication (3 hours)
• Advanced Financial Reporting (3 hours)
• Accounting for Non-Profit Organizations (3 hours)
• Federal Tax Research (3 hours)
• Estate, Trust and Gift Taxation (3 hours)

Electives (9 hours)

Elective courses in the Tax Track must include one course designated ACCT. Acceptable elective classes include all graduate-level courses offered by the H-E-B School of Business and Administration other than ADMN 6310 Accounting Concepts and Issues. Students must meet existing prerequisites for entrance to elective classes. ACCT 6388 Accounting Internship may be substituted for ACCT 6333 in the Tax Track if the internship work is in taxation.

Assurance and Financial Reporting Track

The Assurance and Financial Reporting track for the MSA degree provides practical and theoretical exposure to current audit and assurance service topics. Students analyze and evaluate financial statements and related disclosures while gaining an understanding of the relationship between the responsibilities of entities and the public accounting profession.

Required Courses

• Ethics for Accounting and Business (3 hours)
• Financial Statement Analysis (3 hours)
• Business Communication (3 hours)
• Advanced Financial Reporting (3 hours)
• Accounting for Non-Profit Organizations (3 hours)
• Advanced Auditing (3 hours)
• Problems in Accounting (3 hours)

Elective (9 hours)

Elective courses in the Assurance/Financial Reporting track must include one course designated ACCT. Acceptable elective classes include all graduate-level courses offered by the H-E-B School of Business and Administration other than ADMN 6310 Accounting Concepts and Issues. Students must meet existing prerequisites for entrance to elective classes.

Traditional MSA (non-track based)

The traditional MSA degree is available to students who do not wish to specialize in a certain area.

Required Courses:

• Advanced Financial Reporting (3 hours)
• Ethics for Accounting and Business (3 hours)
• Business Communication (3 hours)
• Accounting for Non-Profit Organizations (3 hours)
• Federal Tax Research (3 hours)
• Advanced Auditing (3 hours)
• Problems in Accounting (3 hours)
• Electives (9 hours)