Accounting, MS
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Program Description
Program Introduction
The Master of Science in Accounting program prepares students for professional careers in accounting. The Master of Science in Accounting ( program is designed to launch students’ careers, through active learning and professional networks, by producing graduates who are empowered leaders who possess passion, knowledge, skills, values, and engaging perspectives.
The Master of Science in Accounting ( program will offer current and prospective students the ability to earn, at an affordable cost, the skills and knowledge necessary for entry and advancement in the accounting profession while satisfying the education requirement and some of the experience requirement for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure.
The program is designed for those with undergraduate degrees in Business who have successfully completed specific upper-level accounting courses and who wish to pursue a career as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Additionally, current Stockton accounting majors can pursue an accelerated dual-degree pathway which provides an opportunity to complete an undergraduate and graduate degree in as few as five years.
The program requires completion of six core courses, including a 3-credit internship, and students choose among elective courses in forensic accounting and business analytics, and/or complete extended internships.
Admission to the Program
Students apply for admission to The Master of Science in Accounting ( Program through Graduate Admissions. Enrollment in the program requires that students have earned a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university and have completed the prerequisite undergraduate accounting and business courses with a “C” or better. Application materials include an application essay, undergraduate transcripts, two letters of recommendation, and a resume detailing accounting and business work experience (which may include internships). International students are expected to show evidence of English proficiency. Admissions decisions are based on a holistic review of applicant materials.
The Master of Science in Accounting ( program is designed for incoming students who have completed the following undergraduate prerequisite courses (information in parenthesis provides the Stockton equivalents):
Foundational Business Courses:
Statistics (CIST 1206)
Macroeconomics (ECON 1200)
Microeconomics (ECON 1400)
Financial Accounting (ACCT 2110)
Managerial Accounting (ACCT 2120)
Technology in Business (BUSA 2110)
Introduction to Business Analytics (BUSA 2120)
Introduction to Management (MGMT 2110)
Marketing Principles (MKTG 2110)
Business Law (PLAW 2120 or 3110)
Introduction to Financial Management (FINA 3110)
Operations Management (BUSA 3120)
Upper-level Accounting courses:
Intermediate Accounting I (ACCT 3110)
Intermediate Accounting II (ACCT 3120)
Cost Accounting (ACCT 3122)
Taxation of Individuals and Entities (ACCT 3251)
Auditing (ACCT 4110)
Advanced Accounting (ACCT 4120)
Non-Matriculated Enrollment
Students may enroll as a maximum of two courses on a non-matriculated basis prior to formal admission into the program. Successful performance as a non-matriculated student does not guarantee admission to the program. Contact the Graduate Admissions Office for the forms to complete to be considered for enrollment as a non-matriculated student. For more information see https://stockton.edu/admissions/non-matriculated-registration.html.
Direct Entry
Direct Entry allows eligible students to apply for admission to The Master of Science in Accounting ( program with a waived application fee and through a different process than general admission. To be eligible, a Stockton graduate must apply within two years of their undergraduate graduation from Stockton University and meet all of the MSAC foundation and prerequisite requirements through their undergraduate coursework. Direct entry applicants must have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher, AND a grade of B- or higher in the following courses: Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Intermediate Accounting I, Intermediate Accounting II, Introduction to Business Analytics, Cost Accounting, Taxation, Auditing, and Advanced Accounting. Direct Entry applicants must complete the electronic Direct Entry Request form and must submit an application essay and a detailed resume. For more information on Direct Entry refer to https://stockton.edu/graduate/direct-entry.html.
Students whose undergraduate degree was awarded more than two years prior to applying to the MSAC program, should apply through the general admissions process above.
Program Organization and Graduation Requirements
The program offers students an opportunity to earn a Master of Science in Accounting degree which includes a set of required core courses to develop knowledge and skills critical to success as a Certified Public Accountant, as well as a set of electives to allow students to follow their own interests. The MSAC degree is discussed below with full curriculum details available on the program’s webpage.
The MSAC program requires 36 credits, as follows:
18 credits in MSAC core courses, including a 3-credit internship
18 credits in MSAC electives.
Transfer Credits
Students who have received credit for graduate study in business at another college or university may receive transfer credit for a maximum of 9 graduate-level credit hours (three courses) if those courses correspond to courses at Stockton University provided the student earned a grade of B or better in the course(s). Students must formally apply to the MSAC Program Chair in writing to request transfer credit, preferably at the time of the admission application, but no later than the first semester of matriculated study. At a minimum, the student requesting transfer credit must complete the Graduate Transfer Equivalency Form and provide a catalog description of the course, a course syllabus, a description of course content and the textbook used in order to have the course evaluated for acceptability as transfer credits.
Program Distinction
Graduates of the MSAC program with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.97 will be awarded an MSAC with Program Distinction.
Good Academic Standing, Probation, and Dismissal Procedure
Good Academic Standing
A letter grade C or above is a passing grade. Students must, however, maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or above. Students must have a 3.0 or above to graduate from the MSAC program. A student with a semester GPA below 3.0 or a cumulative GPA below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation and notified accordingly.
Academic Probation and Dismissal
A student on Academic Probation is expected to meet with his/her advisor/preceptor to discuss a performance improvement plan upon receiving notification of probation status.
Students on Academic Probation in the MSAC program must raise their cumulative GPA to a 3.0 by the time they have taken no more than nine (9) additional graduate credit hours in order to regain good academic standing. A student on probation who does not accomplish this is subject to dismissal from the graduate program and from the University. Written notice of such dismissal will be provided to the student.
If after completing the nine (9) additional graduate credit hours noted in the preceding paragraph, a student is subject to dismissal from the program but has the potential to raise their cumulative GPA above a 3.0 after completing a single three credit hour course, the student is permitted to send a letter of appeal to the MSAC Program Chair. This appeal must be submitted within one week of the posting of final grades, and before the student is formally dismissed from the program. If the appeal is successful, the course and the conditions under which the course can be completed will be decided at the discretion of the MSAC Program Chair in consultation with the MSAC Program Faculty. The “single course to raise the GPA to 3.0” option can only be granted once throughout matriculation in the MSAC program.
If there is a procedural error in terminating a student from the MSAC program for academic reasons, the student may appeal in writing to the Dean of the School of Business with a copy to the Provost. The appeal must be accompanied by evidence in support of the appeal and must be submitted no later than two weeks following notice of academic termination from the Program.
Time Limits
The time limit for transfer of graduate credits from other institutions, or graduate courses taken at Stockton, is 6 years from the time the final grade was awarded (excluding the time of leave of absence). If students wish to extend this time limit, they must submit a written request for an extension to the Graduate Admissions Office and to the MSAC Program Chair.
The curriculum worksheets for the program, including dual-degree options, updates and additional details about the program can be accessed on the MSAC webpage and the dual-degree BS/MSAC webpage
Bs/MSAC Accelerated Dual-Degree Program
For highly qualified students, the School of Business offers an accelerated dual-degree program in which students may obtain an undergraduate degree (B.S. in Accounting) and an M.S. in Accounting in as little as five years. Dual-degree students follow a modified undergraduate program that substitutes twelve undergraduate credits (3 required courses) with twelve graduate credits (4 required courses), which count towards the requirements in both programs. These graduate courses are taken in the senior year. Special permission of the BS/MSAC Dual Degree Program Coordinator must be obtained before taking a fifth graduate class while still in undergraduate status. Full curriculum details for the dual-degree option are available on the BS/MSAC dual degree program’s webpage.
The undergraduate degree will be awarded when the student completes the undergraduate accounting program requirements and reaches 128 credits. These 128 credits may include undergraduate and up to 12 graduate credits.
For all dual-degree students, the graduate MSAC degree requires a minimum of 36 graduate credits. The MSAC degree will be awarded when all MSAC requirements are fulfilled.
Dual-degree students must finish their undergraduate requirements and apply for undergraduate graduation as soon as possible – usually as they are finishing their fourth graduate class. Permission of the Dual Degree Program Coordinator of the dual-degree must be obtained before taking a fifth graduate class while still in undergraduate status.
Entry into the Dual-Degree BS/MSAC Program
Incoming First-Year Students:
High school seniors interested in an accounting major will be considered for early conditional admission into the dual-degree program if they meet all of the following requirements:
3.7 (out of 4.0) cumulative GPA,
Math SAT score of 570 or better or an ACT score of 24 or better, and
Successful completion of Calculus or Honors Pre-calculus
Qualified students will be issued letters of acceptance to Stockton University as undergraduate students and given conditional admission to the MSAC program.
Continuing or Transfer Students:
Students interested in the dual-degree program should formally apply for acceptance before or during the second semester of their junior year. To be considered for this program, students must have an overall minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 at time of application.
Once accepted, dual-degree students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.2 to remain in the dual-degree program.
The curriculum worksheets for the program, including dual-degree options, updates and additional details about the program can be accessed on the MSAC webpage and the dual-degree BS/MSAC webpage
