Accountancy Curriculum
The Carlson School Master of Accountancy program is designed to help you develop critical thinking and analytics skills that will help you excel in the dynamic accounting landscape and become a leader in your profession. You'll gain an understanding of the full business spectrum and how accountants play a vital role in an organization's success. Our flexible program is here to help you succeed in this high-demand field.
Carlson School's Master of Accountancy Earns STEM Designation
The Carlson School of Management is proud to announce that its Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program has been officially designated as a STEM degree. This recognition highlights the program's rigorous, data-driven curriculum that develops critical thinking and analytical skills for success in today's accounting landscape.
Curriculum Tracks
We offer two STEM-designated tracks in our Master of Accountancy program:
- A 30-credit track for those with undergraduate accounting degrees
- A 44-credit track for those with non-accounting undergraduate degrees
Both tracks feature a quantitative and data-driven curriculum, equipping you with in-demand analytical skills. The tracks can be completed full-time or part-time, and satisfy the 150 credit hour requirement to qualify for the CPA exam in most states. The STEM designation also allows eligible students to apply for an optional practical training extension after completing their degrees.
You’ll take this track if…
You studied accounting as an undergrad; take this track to understand the “whys” of accounting and develop a deeper understanding of the field. If you studied finance as an undergrad, you might also apply for this sequence.
Track requirements
You’ll complete a minimum of 30 credit hours. 14 of those hours cover the seven required accounting courses; the remaining 16 credit hours are for elective courses. This track is typically completed in two semesters.
Sample program sequence
Below is an example of a typical program sequence for accounting undergrad students.
| Course number | Title | Required or Elective | Term | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACCT 5161 | Financial Statement Analysis | Required | Fall Term A | 2 |
| ACCT 6602 | Securities & Exchange Commission | Required | Fall Term A | 2 |
| ACCT 6601 | Internal Control | Required | Fall Term B | 2 |
| ACCT 6606 | Financial Reporting Data Analytics | Required | Fall Term A or B | 2 |
| ACCT 5236 | Introduction to Taxation of Business | Required | Fall Term A or B | 2 |
| ACCT 5181 | Consolidations & Advanced Reporting | Required | Fall Term B | 2 |
| IDSC 6003 | Accounting & Information Systems | Required | Spring | 4 |
| N/A | Elective | Elective | Fall | 4 |
| N/A | Elective | Elective | Spring | 12 |
***Graduates typically take and pass the CPA exam shortly after they graduate from this track.
You’ll take this track if...
You did not major in accounting during your undergraduate studies, but this track will help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to pivot into the field.
Track requirements
You’ll complete a maximum of 44 credit hours. 28 of those hours cover 11 required courses; the remaining 16 credit hours are for elective courses. This track is typically completed in three or four semesters.
Sample program sequence
Below is an example of a typical program sequence for accounting undergrad students.
Year 1
| Course number | Title | Required or Elective | Term | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACCT 5102 | Intermediate Accounting II | Required | Fall & Spring Term | 4 |
| ACCT 5125W | Auditing | Required | Fall & Spring Term | 4 |
| ACCT 5135 | Fundamentals of Federal Income Tax | Required | Fall & Spring Term | 4 |
| IDSC 6003 | Accounting & Information Systems | Required | Fall & Spring Term | 4 |
| N/A | Elective | Elective | Fall & Spring Term | 4 |
| ACCT 6604 | Advanced Management Accounting | Required | Fall Term A | 2 |
| N/A | Elective | Elective | Spring Term A | 2 |
| BLAW 3062 | Law of Contracts & Agency | Required | Spring Term B | 2 |
| N/A | Elective | Elective | Spring Term B | 2 |
| N/A | Elective | Elective | Spring Term B | 2 |
Summer
Break, May - Mid-June
Course study
- Accounting Internship
- Study for and pass the CPA Exam
Year 2
| Course number | Title | Required or Elective | Term | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACCT 6601 | Internal Control | Required | Fall & Spring Term | 4 |
| ACCT 6602 | Securities & Exchange Commission | Required | Fall & Spring Term | 4 |
| ACCT 5135 | Fundamentals of Federal Income Tax | Required | Fall & Spring Term | 4 |
| IDSC 6003 | Accounting & Information Systems | Required | Fall & Spring Term | 4 |
| N/A | Elective | Elective | Fall & Spring Term | 4 |
| N/A | Elective | Elective | Spring Term B | 2 |
| N/A | Elective | Elective | Spring Term B | 2 |
You’ll take this track if…
You studied accounting as an undergrad; take this track to understand the “whys” of accounting and develop a deeper understanding of the field. If you studied finance as an undergrad, you might also apply for this sequence.
Track requirements
You’ll complete a minimum of 30 credit hours. 14 of those hours cover the seven required accounting courses; the remaining 16 credit hours are for elective courses. This track is typically completed in two semesters.
Sample program sequence
Below is an example of a typical program sequence for accounting undergrad students.
| Course number | Title | Required or Elective | Term | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACCT 5161 | Financial Statement Analysis | Required | Fall Term A | 2 |
| ACCT 6602 | Securities & Exchange Commission | Required | Fall Term A | 2 |
| ACCT 6601 | Internal Control | Required | Fall Term B | 2 |
| ACCT 6606 | Financial Reporting Data Analytics | Required | Fall Term A or B | 2 |
| ACCT 5236 | Introduction to Taxation of Business | Required | Fall Term A or B | 2 |
| ACCT 5181 | Consolidations & Advanced Reporting | Required | Fall Term B | 2 |
| IDSC 6003 | Accounting & Information Systems | Required | Spring | 4 |
| N/A | Elective | Elective | Fall | 4 |
| N/A | Elective | Elective | Spring | 12 |
***Graduates typically take and pass the CPA exam shortly after they graduate from this track.
You’ll take this track if...
You did not major in accounting during your undergraduate studies, but this track will help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to pivot into the field.
Track requirements
You’ll complete a maximum of 44 credit hours. 28 of those hours cover 11 required courses; the remaining 16 credit hours are for elective courses. This track is typically completed in three or four semesters.
Sample program sequence
Below is an example of a typical program sequence for accounting undergrad students.
Year 1
| Course number | Title | Required or Elective | Term | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACCT 5102 | Intermediate Accounting II | Required | Fall & Spring Term | 4 |
| ACCT 5125W | Auditing | Required | Fall & Spring Term | 4 |
| ACCT 5135 | Fundamentals of Federal Income Tax | Required | Fall & Spring Term | 4 |
| IDSC 6003 | Accounting & Information Systems | Required | Fall & Spring Term | 4 |
| N/A | Elective | Elective | Fall & Spring Term | 4 |
| ACCT 6604 | Advanced Management Accounting | Required | Fall Term A | 2 |
| N/A | Elective | Elective | Spring Term A | 2 |
| BLAW 3062 | Law of Contracts & Agency | Required | Spring Term B | 2 |
| N/A | Elective | Elective | Spring Term B | 2 |
| N/A | Elective | Elective | Spring Term B | 2 |
Summer
Break, May - Mid-June
Course study
- Accounting Internship
- Study for and pass the CPA Exam
Year 2
| Course number | Title | Required or Elective | Term | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACCT 6601 | Internal Control | Required | Fall & Spring Term | 4 |
| ACCT 6602 | Securities & Exchange Commission | Required | Fall & Spring Term | 4 |
| ACCT 5135 | Fundamentals of Federal Income Tax | Required | Fall & Spring Term | 4 |
| IDSC 6003 | Accounting & Information Systems | Required | Fall & Spring Term | 4 |
| N/A | Elective | Elective | Fall & Spring Term | 4 |
| N/A | Elective | Elective | Spring Term B | 2 |
| N/A | Elective | Elective | Spring Term B | 2 |
Electives
MAcc students must complete at 16 elective credits to reach their total credits required (30 or 44), selected in consultation with the advisor, from the following list. In some cases, graduate-level courses from outside this list may be taken with prior approval from the MAcc Director. How to choose the electives:
- Choose 2 credits from Group A Electives
- Choose 6 credits from Group A or B Electives
- Choose 8 credits from Group A, B, or C Electives
| Course number | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MBT 6347 | Tax Technology and Analytics Fundamentals | 2 |
| FINA 6121 | Debt Markets, Interest Rates, and Hedging | 2 |
| FINA 6125 | Cryptocurrency, Blockchain & Their Business App | 2 |
| FINA 6213 | Financial Capital Structure | 2 |
| FINA 6214 | Business Valuation | 2 |
| MGMT 6305 | The International Environment of Business | 2 |
| Course number | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 5126 | Internal Audit | 2 |
| ACCT 5311 | International Accounting | 2 |
| ACCT 6603 | Advanced Auditing | 2 |
| MBT 6383 | Transfer Pricing | 2 |
| FINA 6112 | Private Equity | 2 |
| FINA 6113 | Public Equity | 2 |
| FINA 6211 | Cash Flows & Project Selection | 1 |
| FINA 6212 | Working Capital Management | 1 |
| FINA 6222 | Mergers & Acquisitions | 2 |
| FINA 6322 | Introductory Financial Modeling | 2 |
| MGMT 6031 | Industry Analysis | 4 |
| MGMT 6085 | Corporate Strategy | 4 |
| Course number | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MBT 6201 | Tax Accounting Methods I | 2 |
| MBT 6202 | Tax Accounting Methods II | 2 |
| MBT 6221 | Tax Research, Communication, and Practice | 2 |
| MBT 6231 | Corporate Taxation | 2 |
| MBT 6346 | ASC 740 Computations and Analysis | 2 |
| MBT 6371 | Taxation of Property Transactions | 2 |
| FINA 6111 | Financing Over a Firm's Life Cycle | 1 |
| FINA 6123 | Financial Services Industry | 2 |
| FINA 6323 | Advanced Financial Modeling | 2 |
| FINA 6325 | Behavioral Finance | 2 |
| FINA 6623 | Economic Booms & Busts: Understanding Government Interventions | 2 |
| FINA 6624 | Growth in the Global Economy | 2 |
| BLAW 6158 | The study of laws affecting private business and publicly-traded companies | 2 |
| IDSC 6423 | Enterprise Systems | 2 |
| IDSC 6444 | Business Analytics for Managers I | 2 |
| MBA 6121 | Data Analysis and Statistics for Managers | 3 |
| MBA 6301 | Strategic Management | 3 |
| MBA 6315 | The Ethical Environment of Business | 2 |
| MGMT 6004 | Negotiation Strategies | 2 |
| MGMT 6084 | Management of Teams | 2 |
| MGMT 6311 | Cross-Cultural Management: Developing Intercultural Competence | 2 |
| MGMT 6411 | Corporate Responsibility | 2 |
| SCO 6041 | Project Management | 2 |
| IBUS 5212 | Economic Growth: A Cultural Perspective on the Middle Income Trap | 4 |
Preparing you for your future career
The Master of Accountancy faculty and curriculum prepares you to succeed in accounting careers after graduation and beyond.