MSA Academics & Curriculum
MSA Academics & Curriculum
The MSA provides in-depth knowledge of accounting, taxation, and auditing. Whether you want to expand your career as an external auditor in public accounting, an internal auditor in private accounting, a government auditor, or a tax consultant, you will be rewarded with excellence in your faculty, curriculum, and fellow students. Our 30-credit hour MSA program consists of 18 credit hours of accounting coursework and 12 credit hours of business electives.
MSA Program
The program accommodates the needs of working professionals. Students enrolling in the MSA program on a part-time basis may complete the program in 18 months. Students may also fast-track through the curriculum by completing their degree requirements in an accelerated 12-month time frame (depending on undergraduate coursework). Students may begin the program in the fall, spring, or summer semesters.
Flexible Scheduling
The UCCS MSA program is a 30-credit, hybrid graduate accounting program that combines in-person and online learning to provide students with optimal flexibility. Students who cannot meet in person for the on-campus accounting courses may attend the course remotely (synchronously). All on-campus classes are offered in the evening hours from 4:45 pm to 7:20 pm or 7:30 pm to 10:05 pm. Faculty will either meet weekly or will notify students about in-person/remote synchronous class meeting dates at least two (2) weeks prior to the start of the semester.
Students can elect to enroll in online business electives. The combination of campus, remote synchronous, and online provides flexibility to students who are also busy working professionals.
MSA Foundation Courses
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ACCT 4210/6710 | Individual Income Tax |
| ACCT 4600/6600 | Auditing |
*MSA foundation courses can be waived based on prior academic coursework within age and grade policy.
Required Accounting courses
(15 credit hours)
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ACCT 6010 | Seminar: Financial Accounting Theory |
| ACCT 6510 | Accounting Ethics and Institutions |
| ACCT 6620 | Advanced Auditing |
| ACCT 6720 | Coporate and Partnership Taxation |
| ACCT 6750 | Advanced Financial Accounting |
Plus one (1) of the following Accounting electives
(3 credit hours)
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ACCT 6110 | Advanced Managerial Accounting |
| ACCT 6730 | Introduction to Accounting Systems |
| ACCT 6740 | Accounting for Governments & Not-For-Profit Organizations |
| ACCT 6950 | Topics in Accounting - Graduate |
Additionally, students take 12 credit hours of business electives
MSA students choose their business electives from any 6000-level business courses in the MBA program (except ACCT 6100). The accounting faculty recommend the following classes as being particularly relevant to future accounting professionals.
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BUAD 6950 | Special Topics in Business |
| BUAN 6100 | Visual Analytics: Principles & Applications for Business |
| BUAN 6200 | Applied Predictive Analytics for Strategic Insights |
| BUAN 6300 | Business Intelligence for Managers |
| CYSM 6100 | Cybersecurity Technologies |
| CYSM 6200 | Enterprise Information Security |
| CYSM 6300 | Cybersecurity Governance |
| CYSM 6400 | Cybersecurity Law & Cybercrime Investigations |
| FNCE 6000 | Corporate Financial Management |
| FNCE 6100 | Problems & Policies in Financial Management |
| FNCE 6200 | Investment Management & Analysis |
| FNCE 6400 | International Financial Management |
| FNCE 6500 | Management of Financial Institutions |
| MGMT 6400 | Legal Issues in Managing Human Resources |
| MGMT 6550 | Applied Principles of Negotiation & Conflict Management |
Students in the Master of Science in Accounting program also complete an End of Program Assessment in their final semester.